Stylish, functional features for your pool & backyard

Swimming pool design trends are constantly evolving. As new materials and technology come on the market and as pool builders take creativity to new levels, you have more choices than ever for options to add interest and character to your pool & spa in fresh, exciting ways.

Looking to up your style game for your backyard resort? Stay ahead of the Joneses by getting up to speed on these five swimming pool design trends for 2016.

Benefits—and Factors Boosting Construction Costs

Imagine being able to use your home’s swimming pool year round—regardless of the weather outside. Particularly in areas of the country with short swim seasons, a concrete (gunite/shotcrete) pool that’s built inside—as part of a new or existing home—can be the answer.

However, this solution comes with a price. For the privilege of maximum privacy, convenience, and availability, building an indoor swimming pool can easily cost double or triple that of a regular backyard pool.

Is one right for your pool, spa, use, and climate?

Because heating a swimming pool & spa impacts homeowner utility costs, the smart approach is to determine which kind of heating system best suits your needs and can save you money.

Whether you are planning a new backyard resort or modernizing the equipment on an old one, you want to know if an electric heat pump is a better choice for your pool & spa than a traditional gas heater.

There is no “right” answer for everyone. Gas heaters are popular for a reason, but under the right circumstances, heat pumps are a superior fit. When choosing a system, what matters most is how and when you plan to use your pool & spa, coupled with your local climate and length of swim season.

A swimming pool provides healthy, backyard entertainment for your family and friends. These aquatic playgrounds get the most use during the spring and summer months, but many owners want the option of enjoying their pool & spa as much as possible throughout the year, including in cool weather.

10 Hot Style Examples—in Photos—to Inspire your Design Plans

One or more fire pits near your swimming pool can be a great way to create both jaw-dropping aesthetics and practical, appealing comfort for you, your family, and guests.

Nothing creates a cozy atmosphere like gathering around a fire. An open flame encourages everyone to pull up a chair and enjoy the heat and images of the dancing orange plumes. If you are building a new pool or putting in an outdoor living space, that’s a great time to include a fire pit.

5 Potential Benefits to Upgrading your Backyard Resort this Autumn

No longer limited to lavish swimming pools at resort hotels and homes of the ultra-wealthy, waterfall grottos are now common in backyards across America and can be the perfect complement to a lagoon-type pool.

A grotto typically is defined as a large rock waterfall with a nook or cavern-like space beneath it that’s large enough to swim into. Depending on the size, style, and configuration, a grotto can contain features like seating areas, lighting, or a therapy spa. They provide privacy and shade for swimmers, and kids can use them for imaginative play scenarios.

Large, elaborate installations are similar to actual sea caves from which swimmers can fully exit the water to lounge, have cocktails at the grotto bar, or get snacks from a built-in kitchen!

While that kind of ultra-deluxe grotto requires an ultra-deluxe budget, there are plenty of dramatic, beautiful grotto designs that an upper-end—yet realistic—pool budget can accommodate.