Summer is here in India, and it’s only getting hotter from here. So, now is the time to take the plunge and invest in a swimming pool that is great for recreation and adds tremendous value to your property. You can do more things with a swimming pool than you can count on one hand! Now, a swimming pool can be the destination for hosting parties, dinners, or having mini picnics with your family, a spa day by the poolside, or healing spools with cool tile designs for the aesthetics. The choices are endless. Adding a swimming pool to your home is like adding a long-lasting vacation within the comforts of your home! Apart from parties and kids’ bonding, a swimming pool offers you a great chance for exercise. Swimming improves flexibility, muscular balance, and blood circulation. Thus, there are actually no real cons to swimming pools.
So, to help you create the best pool and maintain it, we have put together all the things you should know about pools, from different types and unique pool landscaping ideas to simple maintenance tips. Keep reading to find the perfect swimming pool design and aesthetic that suits your budget, space, and requirements.
Contents
Types of swimming pools
Indoor pool
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An indoor pool is situated under a roof and surrounded by at least three walls. Unlike outdoor pools, an indoor pool can be used throughout the year without the worry of rain, heat, or cold. These pools can easily be installed with a heating mechanism to make them functional even in the harshest winters.
| Also see: How to create a flawlessly landscaped home and garden? (41+ ideas) |
Infinity pool
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Infinity pools are the hottest trend right now, but what does it mean? An infinity pool is a swimming pool with water flowing over the edge to give the appearance of edgelessness. More often than not, these pools are customised to highlight a view, to create an illusion of the water disappearing into the horizons. However, these are expensive to build and maintain.
Kids pool
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If you are looking for a budget-friendly, temporary pool option, the inflatable tube kids swimming pool might be the right pick. These swimming pools for kids are easy to store, assemble, and take up limited space in your backyard or plot. Although these tube swimming pool for kids requires filling every time it is used, the used water can be utilised for watering your lawn to avoid wastage. Inflatable tube swimming pools are lovely for kids to use and if you get a large size even you can take a dip to beat the heat.
Natural pool
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Natural pools were the phenomenon of the 1980s and are now making a comeback. These are combination pools with water garden elements and self-cleaning pools for swimming. Natural pools can be designed in various ways, with the addition of pebble rocks, waterfalls, aquatic plants, and friendly bacteria that act as organic filters. These swimming pools bring your home closer to nature and offer a beautiful recreational zone as well.
| Also see: Landscaping 101: Increase quality of life & value of your house |
The raised pool
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Raised pools or above-ground swimming pools are budget-friendly and compact options. These pools are more often than not designed as portable pools that can be transported from one place to another. However, later, you can even add a raised deck to meet the pool level and create a whole new zone for fun and sun-basking.
Spool
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A spool is the most suitable type of swimming pool when you have a space crunch but want to add a water source for aesthetics and cooling. The word “spool” is a combination of “spa” and “pool.” Thus, it’s a pool made for spa activities. These are perfect for relaxing and are often installed with bubbling jets and heating to perform water massage.
Architectural pool
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As the name suggests, architectural pools are professionally designed pools with a definitive plan, structure, and materials. The design of these pools is extremely sophisticated and elite, often installed with automatic pool covers. Architectural swimming pools are mostly designed cohesively with the home exteriors to create harmony between both structures.
Competition pool
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Now, these pools are not that common for residential use. Competition pools are big pools used for commercial purposes like clubhouses, training camps, universities, and sports complexes. These are deeper and larger than other pools and are divided with lap lines to separate the swimmers from colliding with each other while swimming. Competition pools are standardised and maintained by professionals.
Asymmetrical pools
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Gone are the days when a rectangular pool was the only way to go. This year is all about bending the rules and curving them up! Asymmetrical pools are curvy pools made to suit your space. These have no defined shape, and each asymmetrical pool is different from the other. Since the design aspect of this pool is flexible, these are well suited for different budgets and plots.
Jacuzzis
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Jacuzzis are bathtubs for more than one person. These tubs fitted with various water jets, that massage your body and relaxes it. Having a jacuzzi in your backyard is now a status symbol. You can choose a portable jacuzzi or design a built-in jacuzzi pool similar to a small pool. Some luxury villas now sport a combination version of a swimming pool with a jacuzzi tub within. The possibilities with a jacuzzi are endless, and so is the pleasure.
Swimming pool design ideas
Add greenery
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What is a better combination than cooling water and breezy trees? To make your swimming pool a sight to behold, add a lot of green elements around it. If you have the space, you can accomplish the effect by placing faux grass mats around the pool.
Try unusual designs
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The current real estate industry is all about customization, so it is always amazing to come across unique pool designs. Pools with asymmetrical spaces or a surprise element, such as bursting fountains, can make your pool stand out and generate interest in the neighbourhood.
Make a path
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A little detailing goes a long way. Creating a path that leads to the swimming pool from your home interiors can make such a difference. You can make it rustic with stones and glass or with a wooden path for a more sophisticated look. The choices are infinite!
Play with coloured tiles & lights
Image Source: Cipriano Landscape
Now is the time to experiment with the colours in your pool. Changing your swimming pool tiles’ or light colours to something bright and exciting can turn out to be a game-changer. The dark colour shade looks luxurious for indoor pools, and the brightly coloured tiles fit perfectly for an outdoor swimming pool.
Add pool lounge chairs
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Pool lounge chairs, called “Baja shelves,” are the trend right now. These lounge chairs, half-submerged in water give you the effect of floating. These are a great addition to your pool as you can spend quality time on them reading or napping.
Create a resting island
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A resting island is a phenomenal addition to a swimming pool. A built-in island inside the pool not only looks super classy but is also very functional. You can use it to rest, keep your drinks, or even have a pool breakfast!
Create mini-waterfalls
Image Source: Crystalls Pools
Modern swimming pools with mini waterfalls are the trend all over the hospitality industry. This accent is also suitable for natural pool types. A small stream from the waterfall falling from rocks is just perfection!
Make it all about gazebos, canopies and curtains
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What possibly can go wrong with a little decoration? Decorate your swimming pool with big canopies, gazebos and beautiful white curtains hanging from frames. The addition of fabric creates a good contrast to the open scenery and makes the space look luxurious.
Deck it up!
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It would be a sin to miss out on so many interesting styles of swimming pool deck designs. You can choose from various beautiful materials, ranging from wooden panels, pebbles, concrete slabs, and faux grass mats.
Design channel pool
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The ultimate sign of luxury is the channel swimming pool, which is a continuous pool that extends from your home’s interiors to its exteriors. These are magical in their appeal and certainly very expensive to build. But if budget and space aren’t a constraint, go for the channel pool and create a bold statement.
7 important things you must do to maintain your swimming pool
Vacuum and rake
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Raking your pool weekly can make your pool look so clean and appealing. To rake your pool, all you need is a scoop, preferably lightweight and with a telescopic handle to help you reach all spots easily. Once a month, you can use a pool vacuum to clean the tiles of your swimming pool.
Maintaining the pH
Image Source: Willy Naessens Swimming Pools
It is crucial to keep track of the pH levels of swimming pool water. The ideal pH for the pool water is 7 to 7.6. Anything less or more than that can lead to skin irritation and staining of the swimming pool tiles. Thus, the pH of swimming pools needs checking, if not every day, then at least three times a week.
Chlorine rush
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To maintain a healthy and hygienic pool, it is important to shock the pool once in a while. You can do this by adding chlorine to the water to eliminate the algae, ammonia, and access nitrogen. You can do this once every fortnight or even weekly. However, make sure to keep the filters running for at least 8–10 hours after the process to get rid of excess chlorine and any residues.
Water levels
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Always try to maintain the water level above the skimmer tubes, to avoid damaging the pump. The water lost through evaporation and use should be replaced now and then to keep the pool functional.
Brushing
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Often, while cleaning the pool, we forget about the pool walls. However, the swimming pool walls, like floor tiles, catch a lot of stains and dirt, thus requiring cleaning every now and then. Experts advise brushing the pool walls before vacuuming the floor for best results.
Filter cleaning
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One of the worst mistakes people make is ignoring the swimming pool filters! This mistake can make your pool smelly, cloudy, and turn green in colour. All the slug and impurities are collected by the filter, and if it’s not cleaned for a long period, it can get jammed and also affect your pump’s function. Thus, always clean the pool filters weekly for crystal clear water.
Skimming
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Skimmers are underwater openings inside your pool that are responsible for rotating your water and also cleaning it. The skimmers keep the water in motion so the impurities and dust do not get settled and are sucked by the skimmers. Thus, to ensure the uninterrupted function of these, one should clean the skimmers every fortnight.
Conclusion
A swimming pool can be the heart of your property if done right. Since a pool is a heavy investment, it is advised to hire a professional to design and execute the construction of a swimming pool. Whatever type or design you pick, always opt for the best materials for the construction of your swimming pool. Quality materials will make the pool look tranquil and also reduce your maintenance costs. Swimming pools in the home can be a luxury escape, but if you have kids or pets, then extra attention has to be paid.
In the construction economy, installing a swimming pool is cheaper than ever. However, it does require constant maintenance and checking. Nonetheless, a house with a swimming pool, in the long run, will be a profitable deal as it will set your property apart from others without a pool. So, choose any of the above-mentioned swimming pool designs for your home and start your summer right with a beautiful swimming pool.
The featured image used in the article is from Wallpaperaccess.com.
