Bruno Pugh
Your pool can be more than just a spot to beat the heat—it can become a luxurious retreat, offering the same indulgence and relaxation as a five-star resort. Thoughtful upgrades can turn your pool area into a peaceful escape with luxurious features and well-planned design elements. These 15 ideas will help create the ultimate retreat, perfect for unwinding or hosting guests.
Surround Your Pool With Lush Greenery
Crafting a vibrant green border encircling your pool can give it that resort feel. Tropical plants such as palms or ferns add a touch of paradise, while larger potted plants promise shade and the desired seclusion. Choose poolside-friendly plants that thrive in your local climate for low-maintenance beauty all year round.
Italian Cypress for Height and Elegance
If you need vertical elegance, Italian cypress trees deliver. Their tall, narrow shape adds a dramatic element to the pool area, making them ideal for creating a stately privacy wall. They thrive in sunny conditions and bring a Mediterranean charm to formal or modern pool designs.
Holly Hedges for Year-Round Seclusion
These hedges offer both consistent greenery and adequate concealment throughout the year. Their rich green foliage and resplendent red berries make them a stunningly attractive and practical choice for outdoor spaces. Holly’s dense growth provides an effective screening, and its trouble-free nature makes it easy to care for all year.
Incorporate Waterfalls or Fountains
Introducing a water feature directly into your pool design, like a waterfall or fountain, brings soothing sounds and a dynamic look. Waterfalls cascading into the pool provide an optical focal point, and the sound of flowing water creates a relaxing atmosphere. These additions also help keep the water fresh and circulating.
Drought-Resistant Yucca for a Contemporary Vibe
Yucca plants offer a striking, modern design element to poolside spaces. Eye-catching for their sharp, spiky leaves and sculptural form, they thrive in dry conditions, which makes them low-maintenance. Their bold shape contrasts beautifully with the soft curves of a pool, adding architectural interest and style.
Boxwood Hedges for a Classic Appearance
Boxwood hedges are a go-to choice for a formal, polished appeal around the pool. These dense, evergreen hedges can be pruned into sharp geometric shapes or kept slightly softer for a more relaxed feel. They add privacy, enhance the scenery, and provide a clean, upscale aesthetic year-round.
Stone Pavers Around the Pool
Natural stone pavers for the pool deck add an earthy, high-end touch. Stone materials like travertine or flagstone are durable and stylish, staying cool underfoot even in hot weather. Using stone also helps the pool area blend with the natural surroundings and create an elegant space.
Frame the Pool With Ornamental Grasses
Planting ornamental grasses along the pool’s edges softens the look while maintaining a hassle-free landscape. Grasses such as blue fescue or switchgrass sway gently in the breeze, adding movement and an organic, beachy vibe. Taller varieties can also provide privacy and form a wind barrier.
Bird of Paradise for Bold Texture
The bold textures of Bird of Paradise add a dramatic flair to your pool surroundings. This tropical plant is distinguished by its striking orange flowers and spiky leaves, which bring height and visual interest. Plant it alongside your pool for a resort-like feel that’s hard to miss.
Plant Lavender for a Mediterranean Vibe
Its soothing fragrance and purple blooms enhance your pool area’s calm, peaceful ambiance. Drought-tolerant and thriving in sunny areas, lavender adds Mediterranean charm to your backyard while establishing a relaxing environment. Its scent enhances the overall tranquility of your poolside retreat.
Ground Covers to Soften Hardscapes
Dwarf mondo grass or creeping thyme work wonders as ground covers to transition between your pool deck and the surrounding greenery seamlessly. These low-growing plants create a soft boundary between hardscapes and shrubbery, infusing texture and visual continuity while reducing the harshness of stone or concrete surfaces.
Japanese Yew for a Sleek Aesthetic
Adding Japanese Yew to your poolside landscaping will give it a sleek, modern look. Its dark green, evergreen foliage grows well in both sun and shade. The yew can be trimmed into clean, formal shapes and is ideal for minimalist designs where a neat, polished look is desired.
Addition of Sculptural Elements
Carved stone and smooth granite boulders can enhance the overall design of your poolscape. These elements add function and beauty, creating visual interest and a sense of harmony. Pair them with soft lighting to highlight their natural textures and give your poolside a spa-like ambiance, especially at night.
Pergola for Poolside Shade
A pergola installed by the pool adds shade and an architectural feature to your backyard. It can frame a lounging or dining area, offering a fantastic escape from the sun. Decorate it with climbing plants or sheer curtains for a breezy, elegant, resort-inspired feel around the pool.
Flowering Shrubs for Color
When you add flowering shrubs such as hibiscus or oleander, it instantly brings vibrant color to your pool surroundings. Their bright blooms, in reds, pinks, and oranges, create a tropical, welcoming atmosphere. Keep them planted far enough from the water to avoid fallen petals in the water while attracting butterflies for a lively atmosphere.