Pool Design Series: Part Three Pool - Finding the Right Look for Your Home

Very few clients walk into a design meeting asking for a 'contemporary pool'. They usually describe how they want the space to feel: calm, elegant, sociable or connected to the garden. It's the designer's role to translate those aspirations into a pool that blends naturally into the property.

In the first two articles in our Pool Design Series, we explored whether a swimming pool is the right investment for your lifestyle and how to choose the ideal location. The next step is perhaps the most enjoyable: deciding what your pool should actually look like.

While trends come and go, great pool design is timeless. The finest pools don't compete with the architecture of a property - they enhance it, creating a seamless relationship between the house, the landscape and the water. Here are some of the design approaches worth considering.

Contemporary Pools

Modern homes often call for clean, architectural lines and a minimalist approach. Contemporary pools tend to feature crisp geometric shapes, large-format paving, subtle lighting and a restrained material palette. Water is often treated almost as another architectural element, reflecting the surrounding building and creating a sense of calm and space.

Features such as flush coping stones, hidden covers, integrated spas and elegant water features can all contribute to a sophisticated contemporary design without overwhelming the overall look. The emphasis is on simplicity, but achieving that simplicity requires careful design and attention to detail.

Traditional and Classical Designs

A sleek modern pool does not suit every home. Period properties, country homes and traditional family houses often benefit from a more classic approach that reflects their architectural character.

Traditional pools may incorporate natural stone surrounds, elegant steps, decorative paving and carefully balanced proportions. The landscaping often plays a larger role, softening the edges of the pool with planting that helps it sit comfortably within established gardens. Rather than standing out, these pools feel as though they have always been part of the property.

Naturalistic Pools

Some homeowners want the pool to become part of the garden itself. Naturalistic designs blur the distinction between landscaping and water, using softer shapes, planting and carefully selected materials to create a more organic appearance.

Even where a conventional swimming pool is preferred over a natural swimming pond, thoughtful landscaping can soften the overall design and help the pool blend beautifully into its surroundings.

This style works particularly well in larger gardens where mature planting and varying levels can create a tranquil setting.

Infinity-Edge Pools

Infinity-edge pools are often associated with dramatic hillside villas and spectacular coastal views. By allowing water to flow seamlessly over one or more edges, these pools create the illusion that the water extends into the landscape beyond.

While they may not be suitable for every site, the right location can produce breathtaking results. They are particularly effective where a property overlooks open countryside, lakes, or the sea, allowing the surrounding scenery to become an integral part of the overall design.

Infinity-edge pools demand a particularly high level of engineering precision to achieve their distinctive visual effect, making collaboration between designers and specialist engineers especially important.

Courtyard and Compact Pools

Luxury isn't defined by size. Many urban properties and smaller gardens can accommodate beautifully designed pools that make excellent use of the available space.

Courtyard pools often become the focal point of the home, providing year-round visual interest as well as a place to relax. Clever lighting, carefully chosen materials and integrated planting can make even relatively compact spaces feel luxurious. With thoughtful design, a smaller pool can deliver just as much enjoyment as one several times larger.

Indoor Pool Design

Indoor pools present a completely different design opportunity. Rather than becoming part of the garden, they become an extension of the home's interior architecture. Natural light, ceiling height, glazing, finishes and lighting all play a significant role in creating the right atmosphere.

Large glazed doors can blur the boundary between inside and outside, while carefully selected materials help create a calm, luxurious environment throughout the year. Practical considerations are equally important. Ventilation, humidity control and acoustic treatment all contribute to comfort, ensuring the space feels welcoming rather than clinical.

When these elements are considered together from the outset, an indoor pool becomes far more than somewhere to swim; it becomes one of the most impressive spaces within the home.

Good Design is Always Personal

Although it's useful to explore different styles, the reality is that most exceptional pools don't fit neatly into a single category.

A contemporary home may incorporate natural landscaping. A traditional property might include modern lighting and technology. Indoor pools can embrace classical detailing just as easily as minimalist architecture. The best designs are those that reflect the personality of the owners while respecting the character of the property itself.

Rather than asking, "Which style should I choose?", perhaps the better question is: "What design will look as though it has always belonged here?"

When that question is answered well, the result is a swimming pool that will continue to enhance both the home and everyday life for many years to come.

In Part Four of our Swimming Pool Design Series, we will cover features that transform a swimming pool, from integrated spas and swim jets to lighting, water features and automation. We will explore the finishing touches that can elevate a swimming pool from beautiful to exceptional.

At London Swimming Pool Company, we specialise in the design, construction, refurbishment and servicing of luxury swimming pools across London and the Home Counties. Whatever your needs, we're here to help – call us on 020 8605 1255.