Water can become an integral part of a home’s architecture, supporting the mental well-being of the residents. The very presence of water enriches a person’s mood and promotes relaxation, relieving stress. The importance of water plays into swimming pool design for homes as well, and for those looking to build a pool for their home, there are many design aspects to consider.
A Guide to Swimming Pool Design for Homeowners
Swimming pool design for homes works best when the house’s architecture is considered. While properties are considered investments, and pools can help increase market value, larger architectural aspects often play into swimming pool design. For homeowners, the available space affects the pool’s shape, size, and features. Current building trends have advanced from decades ago, with regulations and technology playing increasingly important roles in swimming pool design for homes. While today’s larger homes and new technology offer more flexibility in swimming pool design, homeowners’ choices are limited now by state and local regulations that include fencing and other safety features.
Different Shape Options for Swimming Pools
Not every swimming pool design for homes can be customized. Fiberglass pools have set shapes, unlike those made from gunite or vinyl. Yet there are numerous options available for residential swimming pool design. For homeowners who like a clean, modern look with sharp angles, there are rectangular or square designs. Freeform and curvy swimming pool designs for homes add a natural whimsy, whereas pools shaped in a Roman style offer a stately traditional look reminiscent of Italian architecture.
There are also custom designs for home swimming pools that are only limited by the designer’s imagination. Each choice regarding shape has its pros and cons, however, people’s tastes also play into the best shape for a particular swimming pool. The design for a home’s swimming pool should be considered carefully within the surrounding structures’ architecture. Several different pool styles predominate, but ultimately choosing the best swimming pool design for a home should be based on both pragmatism and aesthetics.
Rectangular Swimming Pool Design
For most homes, swimming pools designed as rectangles, with which square pools can be included, tend to be the easiest to fit within a limited outdoor space. These are the most popular shapes as well, and thus can be sourced as preformed fiberglass swimming pool designs. For homeowners, these pools also offer a range of different sizes.
Advantages:
- Offer a clean and more modern aesthetic appearance
- Certain activities like swimming laps are easier
- Automatic pool covers are far easier to install
Disadvantages:
- Aesthetically less pleasing
While a classic design for domestic swimming pools, a rectangular swimming pool design for homes gives it a modern feel, with sharp lines and abrupt angles. If a home’s architecture is contemporary, rectangular pools will fit well with nearby structural architecture. For an area that’s surrounded by trees and plants, this swimming pool design is the best for installing a cover to mitigate debris from wind and storms.
Freeform Swimming Pool Design
In contrast to the more common rectangular swimming pool design, for certain homes, a nonlinear shape may work better. Freeform pool designs utilize flowing lines, with almost unlimited shapes. One example is the serpentine shape of the lagoon swimming pool design. For homes, these pool shapes provide a more natural feel that’s more fun and can work well on a property when artfully done. Certain freeform swimming pool designs for homes are even available as preformed fiberglass pools.
Advantages:
- Has a more natural feel
- Offers a more unique aesthetic to an area
Disadvantages:
- Curved edges mean sacrificing space within the pool and surrounding area
- Less apt to find a pool cover that works for the shape
- Tends not to work as well within modern architecture
Looking like a small pond or other natural body of water in the wild, the freeform swimming pool design for homes works well aesthetically. Yet though their natural shape is appealing, freeform swimming pools will have an uneven depth that makes them less appropriate for activities like swimming laps.
Roman End Swimming Pool Design
The classic Roman end pool design combines curves within a structured shape. Instead of a straight-edged end to the pool, the Roman-style pool utilizes an arch that’s centered at each end. Roman swimming pool designs for homes offer an elegant aesthetic, combining straight edges with arched ends that are reminiscent of classical architecture. Bringing a Roman or Greek influence, it offers a type of timeless décor to outdoor areas that don’t go out of fashion.
Advantages:
- Classic and timeless style
- Combines a look that uses both curved ends and straight edges
- Easier to install an automatic cover than on freeform pools
Disadvantages:
- Fewer options than rectangular or freeform pools
- More difficult to install an automatic cover than rectangular pools
For those who appreciate classical designs, Roman-end swimming pools for homes can be made to match both modern and traditional architecture.
Custom Pool Designs
With a custom swimming pool design, homeowners can let their imaginations go wild. Shapes are only limited by the designer’s creativity. While custom pool design will limit what materials are used, they can be made to work within nearly any space.
Advantages:
- Allows the ultimate creativity when it comes to design
- Enables a homeowner to have a pool unlike anyone else’s
Disadvantages:
- Automatic pool covers that fit will be difficult to find
- Can cost more depending on the complexity of the pool design
- Fiberglass is eliminated as an option
For those with a creative flair, custom swimming pool design offers an exciting opportunity to create unique aesthetics.
Choosing the Best Size for a Home Swimming Pool
In conjunction with shape, size is the next most important aspect of swimming pool design. For homeowners, space is often limited so the size of a pool must fit the area in which it will be built. So too are the number of people that it’s intended to hold, as well as its intended use. If it’s intended merely for exercise, like swimming laps, the size may not need to be so large. If swimming pool design for a home involves children, however, it’s best not just to accommodate kids who live in the residence, but their friends and those in the neighborhood as well.
Some size guidelines for swimming pool design for homes:
- Average pools in the United States are roughly 15 feet by 30 feet, though this varies considerably by region.
- The largest swimming pools for homes typically extend 40 feet in length.
- The material used for a swimming pool may limit its size:
- Fiberglass pools come in stock shapes and sizes.
- Vinyl, gunite and concrete offer greater flexibility in size and shape so can be more easily customized
- The smallest swimming pools for homes in the United States tend to be around 10 feet by 20 feet in area.
General Tips on Swimming Pool Design for Homes
Many companies that build pools can advise on different aspects of swimming pool design. For homeowners looking into constructing a new pool on their property, there are some factors to keep in mind:
- Areas where swimmers can sit or lie below the water will be most used, so pool design should especially consider benches, steps, and other similar areas.
- Build swimming pools in areas that won’t cut off a large section of the yard.
- Children will use a swimming pool, so if there are children in the household the pool’s design must consider their wants and needs.
- Diving in domestic pools is dangerous, so diving boards and other areas meant for diving should be discouraged.
- For households with kids, the pool should be readily visible from living areas for safety reasons.
- Homeowners can save money on fencing by placing the pool close to an already existing fence or wall along the boundary.
- Only one or two entrances into the pool area are needed to allow sufficient access.
- Pool fencing should contain as little area as possible within it, as the pool area will often not be useable throughout much of the year, though this depends on climate.
- Spa and step areas should be built into the pool itself, or at least halfway into it, as building these structures externally dates the design.
Contact the Pool Professionals at Halogen Supply
Halogen Supply is a trusted distributor of swimming pool and spa supplies, catering to both residential and commercial customers for over 70 years. Our extensive range of products includes pumps, filters, heaters, vacuum cleaners, lighting systems, and much more. Whether you need equipment for pool maintenance or are looking to enhance your swimming experience, Halogen Supply has everything you need. Contact us today and discover why they are the go-to choice for pool equipment and professional advice.