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Pool and Pool Deck Location on Your Property

SELECTING POOL DECK
SIZE & SHAPE

Tips from award-winning designer, Scott Cohen, on selecting the right size and shape for your pool deck. Visit several projects to see concrete pool deck styles, shapes and designs. — Length: 02:38

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Often a pool is just one part of a bigger backyard picture that may include an outdoor kitchen, furnished seating areas, water features, a hot tub and a fireplace, providing year-round enjoyment in many areas of the country. Therefore, you should think of the entire pool area as a total swimming environment, with the deck serving as the primary framework.

Since the pool deck is where people will spend most of their time—whether to mingle, eat, lounge or sunbathe—it's important to provide ample deck space for people to congregate and to consider group dynamics and the overall aesthetics of the design when locating various activity zones.

Here are three of the most common layout considerations for placing a pool in your backyard. There are certain benefits and key design details to think about when you're placing a pool on a small property, on a large property, or if you're trying to decide whether or not to place it close to the back of the house. Below, you'll find smart design tips so you can make the best decision for your backyard space.

Pool on Small Property: On a smaller property, the pool often must be located close to or adjoining the house itself. This makes it an extension of the home's architecture, and thus may require the use of more formal lines (i.e., a rectangular or oval shape) that fit in with the typical home silhouette. As an entity close to the home, the pool deck should match or complement the colors and materials found on the home's exterior, as opposed to those of the surrounding landscape. Also look at the types of materials you have used for garden edging and nearby paths or sidewalks, and choose a deck color and design scheme that blends or harmonizes with these materials.
Pool on Large Property: On a large property, the pool and deck can be constructed well away from the house as a separate identity. If the pool is set out in the yard, away from the house, a larger deck will help to set off that identity. Consider using a freeform design with a surface treatment that complements the natural landscaping.
Pool Close to House: A pool close to the house is convenient and easy to watch over, but it may be very noisy for occupants of the house when there is a group of children playing and splashing in it. A pool set out in the garden needs to be visible from the house even if it is fenced to give some control of usage, but can make the pool environment better for entertaining guests and to open up the yard.