The Style and Shape of the Pool You Choose Influences Your Backyard’s Character
Choosing Your Pool Shape
When designing your backyard it is important to consider the shape of the pool. The shape of the pool will set the entire design of the area. Here are the basic shapes but don’t be afraid to mix designs together to come up with a unique shape. It may seem like there are an almost infinite variety of pool styles and shapes but it’s not really that complex. All pools are a combination of straight lines and curves. How those shapes are organized is another matter. Let’s see what our options are.
Straight Line
This is the most basic style of pool and it’s composed of (you guessed it) straight lines. This is almost always a rectangle but, as we’ll see below, can be combined with more complex lines for interest.
Rectangle Pools
As you might imagine, this is a really common pool shape. Nothing flashy here but they are easy to maintain and work in a huge variety of spaces. They are utilitarian as well and can be used for lap swimming or even highly style small areas if you choose a narrow rectangle. Don’t dismiss the rectangle shape as boring. When used with creative landscaping and water features, they can be alternately sleek, charming or stylish.
Geometric Pools
Is a rectangle too pedestrian for you? Then how about either building an entire pool or an extension as an elegant geometric shape? For someone wanting a non-traditional touch to their outdoor living area, geometric pools offer more flash and visual appeal. Geometric shapes can compliment the shape of the façade of the home or mimic architectural styles from the past or from exotic places.
Circular Pools
Circular pools can be considered a specific subset of geometric pools. For homeowners with large areas, circular pools are an interesting option. When dropped into square areas, you’re left with corners that can house gardens, fire pits and more. Utilizing complimentary covers for circular pools makes for a striking 3D landscaping feature.
Free Form
Free form swimming pools use curves and flowing lines to mimic nature. This shape looks amazing with the addition of natural rock boulders, grottos and waterfall features. If you are looking for a tropical paradise then this is the shape for you.
L-Shaped Pools
L-shaped swimming pools fall under the umbrella of geometric designs. However, they’re so popular among homeowners and full of attributes that they deserve a special mention! Shaped (as the name suggests) like the letter ‘L’, you’d enjoy one elongated side that leads down to a shorter one, which cuts away at a right-angle. Aside from creating a unique aesthetic to complement your backyard, the design offers a versatile space as well. After all, you basically end up with two separate areas to utilize at once! You could be swimming on the longer side of the ‘L’ while your kids play and splash around in the other.
Pool features
Negative Edge
An infinity edge pool, also called negative edge, zero edge, infinity pool, disappearing edge, or vanishing edge pool, is a swimming or reflecting pool that produces a visual effect of water extending to the horizon, vanishing, or extending to “infinity.”
Wet Edge
A wet edge swimming pool incorporates the negative-edge look but differs in that the design allows water to spill over all four sides. Like the negative edge design, the water that flows over the sides of a perimeter-overflow pool is collected in a hidden catch basin and recirculated. This look gives the illusion that the water is level with the deck.
