So you finally have that backyard space of your dreams. Spacious, good lighting, enough room for a variety of things for you and the family, and plenty of room for that big pool! Now what? Do you hire various installers and remain vaguely under construction for the next 2 years? Do you just slowly chip away at it until it’s perfect? Here are some tips to get you started on the pool scape, as well as the rest of your backyard.
1) Don’t Cheap Out On Installation
Make sure you do your research when hiring a company for pool installation. The look of it is extremely important, but making sure the material and building of the interior of the pool is at an equal level of quality will ensure that your pool not only looks good, but stays that way for a long, long time.
2) Map Out The Whole Area
Just because you have a big backyard doesn’t mean that it won’t run out of space quickly. You want a big pool, a deck area and still want enough grass for the kids the run around? Don’t estimate, measure it out. Know exactly how much space you’re working with, and you’re contractors will thank you in the future.
3) Do You Research On Pool Amenities
One of the most exciting parts about setting your backyard up will be the pool installation but make sure you know all your options before signing the contract. That includes how much tile surrounding it, what type of tile, what ladders and safety measures will be put in place (especially if there’s children involved), what type of filtration system as well as if you want underwater lights. Some filters are placed inside the lights to give the pool a smoother look. What color do you want everything to be? Do you want it fenced off from the grass area? Do you want a shed or small pool room nearby for toy and pool cleaners? There is no downside to putting in the work while researching, so make sure you do so, then get excited for your pool installation!
4) Be Aware Of Your Weather
If you’re in Southern California where it barely rains, you won’t need to put up any roofing or provide coverage for your backyard. Almost every other part of the country, however, you’ll need to be prepared. Don’t have electronics like a TV that can’t be covered, as they’ll quickly get destroyed in the rain. Make sure the materials you buy are weather-proof. There are plenty of decks that utilize retractable covers, which will equally be helpful on an extremely hot summer day. Make sure to buy extra covers for furniture during the off season so you don’t speed up the erosion of your expensive outside chairs!
5) Find A Specific Aesthetic And Stick To It
It can be easier to jump in and purchase all these beautiful materials, exciting pieces of equipment and colorful stoning, but make sure you’re not wasting money on things that’ll clash horribly at the end of the day. Pick a specific theme and stick to it. If you or your daughter want a beautiful mystic forest look in your background, stick to blue, pink and purple decorations, lights in the pool that match that, and forest-like designs for each part of the backyard so it all matches. If you want a sleek, modern look, then all of those forest designs that might look cute online will stick out like a sore thumb when they’re the only thing in your backyard that doesn’t fit. When your friends and neighbors comment on the design, let’s make sure they don’t find themselves being drawing to random materials that stick out, instead of what you actually want, which is praise over the entire design coming together.
6) Pool Doesn’t Have To Be The Only Thing You Have
Everyone loves a pool. But even more: everyone, especially teens and young adults, love a hot tub! There’s a plethora of extra amenities you can add to your backyard. A hot tub right next to the pool will be perfect for that warm plunge after doing a few laps. A closed-in sauna nearby where you can sweat out the stress of the day, just to jump in the pool after and get that cold plunge will do wonders for the body. A fireplace near the pool would be a perfect addition for once it gets too dark to swim, but your company still wants to hang out. Maybe even a bar set up for drinks instead of having to bring out a cooler and run inside every time you need a refill. Not all of these are mandatory, technically none of them are, but to add to your ambiance, consider adding some extra activities to the backyard.
7) A Pool Doesn’t Have To Be Perfectly Symmetrical
Especially if a hot tub is joining the equation, your pool can wrap around other aspects of the backyard. Some of the best backyard parties are due to the fact that the landscape around them has multiple interesting places to stand, so a generic styled pool may go against what you’re going for when trying to create the perfect backyard.
8) Greenery Is Your Friend
When starting on a new backyard, one may think that the first step is to fully wipe out all the plants and trees in the area to start fresh. While you certainly need to clear out the space for spots like the pool or the deck, don’t forget that many people are going outside to be part of nature, so your backyard can’t look entirely man-made, or it’ll just feel like another room of the house. Keep some trees, keep some plants and bushes. Maybe plant flowers or vegetables that can be fenced off from pets and animals. Don’t lose the natural aspect of a backyard by sanitizing the whole property.
9) Keep Your Grass Well-Fed
On the topic of greenery, grass is a fickle plant. Depending on the weather in your area, most grass remains alive due to rain and the sun, but if it’s too hot or too cold, the grass in your backyard will suffer from it. Install small sprinklers into the lawn to wet the grass every night, and the look of your backyard will thank you.
10) Be Open To Change
Designs that are “in” come and go like the seasons, so the backyard you perfected from scratch may look beautiful now but may feel dated in a few years. Without blowing through your wallet, make sure you keep on with current trends and new inventions to be placed in your backyard so that it matches the aesthetic of the time. This could be updated chairs, modern color styles, or even new smart technology that didn’t exist at the time of writing this. Tech is always changing, so keep an eye out for things that can add to your backyard, or special fun additions to your pool installation!
