How to Enhance Swimming Pool Design, 15 Modern Ideas, Contemporary Pool Features

A swimming pool is a fantastic addition to any site. Large and small water features add beauty to yard landscaping and offer more fun. Water pool designs are a necessity in desert climates; however, incorporating water features adds a luxurious touch to every home. Water features are good Feng Shui elements that harmonize small courtyards, small terraces, and spacious backyards.

Today’s swimming pools are gorgeous elements of yard landscaping that enhance the appeal with many contemporary features. A swimming pool provides a place to cool off during hot days and amplifies the fun of a night party. Modern swimming pools that integrate contemporary features have become lifestyle statements, wellness retreats, and entertainment spots. Here is the Lushome list of the most popular, spectacular, and innovative pool features that take modern pool design to the next level.

Small pool designs, space-saving and inexpensive ideas

Beach-style pool designs for family-friendly backyards

Contemporary swimming pools stretch the water surface to infinity

Modern pool design ideas

baja shelf free shape swimming pool — Free-form swimming pool design featuring a Baja shelf and an umbrella

Creative shapes and artistic decorating ideas turn swimming pools into unique yard decorations. Straight, round, oval, or free-form pools add style to terrace and backyard designs. Pools with an unusual appearance add character to the space and make a striking artistic statement. Contemporary features increase the effect, giving personality to unique pool designs.

Modern color schemes and decorating themes for pool areas

Beautiful swimming pool seating areas and patio ideas

Unusual swimming pool designs

In addition to traditional yard landscaping, beautiful green lawns, flower beds, and potted plants, contemporary design offers many modern pool features that blend charm with functionality. Contemporary illumination around and above the pool improves the appeal and safety.

infinity pool design — Contemporary infinity pool

Swimming pool features

1. Tanning ledges or Baja shelves are perfect for lounging in the water. Usually, these shallow platforms have securely mounted umbrellas for sun protection.

tanning area umbrella — Contemporary pool features, a tanning area with an umbrella

2. Water features, such as bubble fountains, sheer waterfalls with cascading water flows, and spillway hot tubs, are excellent ways to enhance swimming pool designs and add dramatic personality.

pool waterfalls — Waterfall jets, modern pool features

3. Exciting architectural designs, like infinity edges and rimflow spas, create a fantastic illusion of a seamless horizon and celebrate contemporary ideas. Beach-entry pools with shallow ends and a sloping bottom define a fabulous, comfortable, original, and family-friendly design style.

infinity spa — Beautiful infinity design

4. Waterslides, hidden grottos behind waterfalls, swim-up bars with above-water or underwater seats, paired with shaded pool cabanas, are playful pool features that customize the designs, blending the water features with the rest of the outdoor living spaces and yard landscaping.

swim up bar furniture — Swim-up bar design connected to a kitchen

5. LED lighting systems with color-changing effects set nighttime ambience and stretch fun time while improving the visual comfort and safety.

outdoor lights pool design — Outdoor lights integrated into pool deck design

6. Extended steps and benches providing a resting area in the water.

pool waterfall long step — Extended step and waterfalls

7. Green wall designs and vertical gardens enhance privacy and soften the space design, while strengthening a natural connection.

green wall design plants — Green wall design idea

8. Patio designs with a summer kitchen, a sunken area, and beautiful views, fireplaces, and fire pits with a seating area, seamlessly merge home interiors and pool areas.

sunken outdoor seating area infinity pool — Sunken seating area, infinity pool design

9. Modern pool houses, cabanas, shades, and pergolas make it possible to use the water features in a comfortable style.

pool sunshade — Pool sun shade with string lights

10. Unique pool edge designs are a beautiful and creative idea to customize a lacking interest water feature. Glass pools are impressive water features, bringing futuristic design to backyards.

Unusual and creative pool edge design to personalize the water feature

unique pool seats — Creative pool seats and walkway steps

11. Smart space-saving ideas, such as pool covers that turn into a deck, are excellent features for small backyards.

deck pool cover — Space-saving deck design above the pool and a sliding pool cover

12. Integrating landscape into pool design is a contemporary idea that balances and harmonizes the outdoors.

pool seating area — Integrating a lawn into a pool design, green seating area

13. Greenhouse roofs over pools and patios, and space-saving retractable roofs over pools transform outdoor swimming areas into bright and contemporary spaces with water features that are ready for fun in warm water in all seasons.

transparent roof wall designs — Contemporary transparent structures are turning outdoor pools into sunny sunroom water features

14. Fire-water elements of modern pool designs impress with the contrast, bring warmth, and add visual interest and drama.

fire element swimming pool design — Fire elements in contemporary pool design

15. Floating furniture and serving trays are small but helpful and pleasant additions to the swimming experience. Traditional floating toys and contemporary floating board games add a playful touch to enjoying the water.