Last year, the bulk of our attention and resources were spent on our pool build-out and backyard overhaul. We broke ground a little over a year ago and so far, it’s proven to be a positive investment — we enjoyed it so much last year and can’t wait for the start of the 2024 pool season. (You can see the full pool reveal HERE). Leading up to our pool install, we went through a range of mindsets from “even a small, simple hole in the backyard will do”, to “if we’re gonna do it, let’s go ahead and do it all.” Ultimately, we landed somewhere on the spectrum between the two, leaning slightly towards the latter than we had initially assumed. Today, in hindsight, I honestly haven’t put much focus or thought into what we wouldn’t do if we did it all over again, but there are plenty of swimming pool features that we would absolutely do all over again. Determining features and value is personal and tricky on such a big investment so today, I’m sharing our six favorite pool decisions. If you’re considering having a swimming pool installed in your backyard and the options and considerations of “is it worth it?” are weighing on you, I hope this is helpful!
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Sources: Chaise Lounges (set of 2) | Umbrella (black pole/canvas sand w/black trim) | Umbrella Stand & Weight | Outdoor Side Table | Stone Planter (XL) | Striped Pillow Covers (24 x 24, set of 2) | Pillow Inserts (26 x 26, set of 2) | Deck Box (different color) | Ledge Lounger In-Pool Chairs (set of 2) | In-Pool Side Table
Swimming Pool Specs & Details
While I have these listed throughout previous posts, if this is your first time on KN (and even to make it a little simpler for quick reference to anticipate questions you may have), here are some general specs and details for our pool…
- We live in North Georgia in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains (we experience four seasons, with hot, humid summers and fairly mild winters)
- Heated
- Salt Water
- Dimensions: 18’x38′ and a 7′ deep end
- Pool Finish: NPT StoneScapes mini pebble finish in French Gray with Abalone shell addition
- 6′ sun shelf (aka tanning ledge, Baja shelf, etc.) with two steps going across the width of the pool.
- Bench all the way across the deep end
- Five scupper water features
- Retaining Walls & Planter: Split Face Travertine
- Pool Decking & Coping: 12″x24″ soft gray porcelain tiles (not sure exact name)
- Waterline Tiles: 2″x6″ Moonscape Black Ripple Gloss glass subway tiles by Artistry in Mosaics
- Two bubblers and one umbrella hole on tanning ledge
- Two skimmers
- Overflow drain
- Eased edge pool coping
- Artificial Turf: NPT TurfGro Ultra Real 80
- Two retaining walls with one retaining wall serving as the wall of the far side of the pool — boxwood evergreen shrubs that will eventually grow into each other to form uniform hedges
- Paver lounge chair area (bump-out): 8’x18.5′
- Robotic Vacuum Model: Polaris Alpha IQ
- We used Crystal Water Pools in Alpharetta, GA and had a positive experience with them.
*Exact measurements around the pool area were made, on the fly, by me walking the area with a tape measure and the contractors. I took into account the size of our on-order lounger dimensions, along with how much space I wanted between the decking and our wooden deck, and other permanent yard features.
Sources: Chaise Lounges (set of 2) | Outdoor Side Table | Stone Planter (XL) | Ledge Lounger In-Pool Chairs (set of 2) | In-Pool Side Table
Now that we have all the general details laid out, let’s get to the six favorite swimming pool features!
1. Artificial Turf
This was a decision that was a wishlist item, then a back-and-forth maybe, before we ultimately decided to commit and I’m so glad we did. During the build, we had small trees and overgrowth removed from our back property and had it graded to form our now upper yard. We marked mature trees we wanted to keep and had Bermuda sod laid across the yard, as well as the side yard, leading up to the upper yard. But the area making up the lower yard — around the pool decking — is all artificial turf. Because I wanted green in the lower yard to break up the hardscaping, it was an important decision… and, our pool builder confirmed that live grass is far more difficult to maintain around pavers. Not only does it look cleaner (especially around the pavers, decking, planter, and pool pump privacy fence), but it also keeps debris down (from bare feet and grass clippings blowing into the pool).
Sources: Chaise Lounges (set of 2) | Umbrella (black pole/canvas sand w/black trim) | Umbrella Stand & Weight | Stone Planter (XL) | Striped Pillow Covers (24 x 24, set of 2) | Pillow Inserts (26 x 26, set of 2)
2. Bench Across the Deep End
Pool codes and stipulations are different from state to state (and even county to county) so along with our pool construct, in general, you have to follow your own area’s code guidelines. Our builder typically incorporates a short ledge somewhere in the deep end to meet code requirements, but I took it as an opportunity to add function and a cool design element. Having a bench that spans the entire width of the deep end is a fun architectural feature, it provides additional safety, it makes it easy to get out on the opposite end of the pool, and and is where we typically sit with friends if the kids are playing on the ledge, on the opposite end of the pool.
And, FYI — I instruct Eliza to jump from the side of the pool out of an abundance of safety precaution, but the ledge is shallow (narrow) enough that it would be difficult to jump/dive and land on it (no worries there). I dive from the end of the pool and it certainly doesn’t feel like trying to clear a hurdle.
3. Copper Scuppers
A cool swimming pool water feature was a must for me. Especially while I’m out at the pool by myself, even more than the cool visual, I want a soothing background noise to take my relaxation to the max. The spout-stye scuppers give a garden feel (as opposed to a wider style fountain), and the copper finish ages into this nice patina. Even though our pool and yard are pretty new, I’m hoping our latest plants can develop fairly quickly, and I think the rock, coupled with the aged finish of the scuppers makes our area look more mature.
Sources: Ledge Lounger In-Pool Chairs (set of 2) | In-Pool Side Table
4. 6′ Sun Shelf
Even if you don’t use in-pool furniture, having a 6’sun shelf gives little kids a shallow end to play and place to comfortably stand. Keep in mind though, that with a tanning ledge, your slope from the shallow end to the deep end will be greater/you will have to have a more shallow deep end. Our pool is 38′ with a 7′ deep end and I feel like it works perfectly with the 6′ shelf, without any slopes being too drastic.
Sources: Chaise Lounges (set of 2) | Umbrella (black pole/canvas sand w/black trim) | Umbrella Stand & Weight | Outdoor Side Table | Stone Planter (XL) | Striped Pillow Covers (24 x 24, set of 2) | Pillow Inserts (26 x 26, set of 2) | Deck Box (different color) | Ledge Lounger In-Pool Chairs (set of 2) | In-Pool Side Table
Of course, there are other ways to incorporate a sun shelf if you’re planning a pool that’s not rectangular shaped, but I was firm on wanting a simple, streamlined design. And similar to the bench at the opposite end of the pool, I didn’t want a short shelf — I feel like a full shelf going all the way across gives a more sleek appearance.
5. Automatic Landscape Lights
Having landscape lighting integrated into our double retaining walls has been the vibe at night. One of my favorite (and aesthetically, most impactful) decisions. We have landscape lighting on the front of our house and it was such a nice upgrade, that after our pool investment, I didn’t want to take shortcuts with the lighting. The pool itself has three lights that can change color (I think this is pretty standard for Jandy systems) but my favorite lighting is the lighting we had installed on the retaining walls, automated and incorporated into our system. We have them set to automatically turn on at dusk and off at dawn.
Sources: Ledge Lounger In-Pool Chairs (set of 2) | In-Pool Side Table
If you’re planning for a pool, one of my best recommendations is to make sure you budget for things like lighting. There are things that can be improved upon later (like landscaping) but if you’re making a substantial investment in your backyard, having things done correctly and professionally (like lighting) is absolutely worth it. If we had DIY’d our lighting, it absolutely would have cheapened the aesthetic.
6. Heated
Easiest decision? Having our pool heated. It adds months to our swim season. We ultimately opted to not have a spa (I think that was the final thing we cut), but having it heated was never even a conversation. If we were going to have a pool, we wanted to extend the use as much as possible. Also, I don’t love water below 90 and don’t find it “refreshing” haha. With gas as its fuel, it actually heats up quickly. And, after it started getting chilly this past fall, we had one weekend in late October where it hit 80 degrees — we cut the heater on and swam before we carved pumpkins, while looking through the window at our Christmas tree. Pretty wild, but I love it and given one or the other, I would choose a heated pool over spa (which we haven’t missed). Also, heated pools make date nights way better!
I am so excited to get everything set up this year — it will be an adventure of discovery, determining the best methods for cleaning everything (like grout between the porcelain pavers).
Also, during our wild storm last year, one of our umbrellas was bent — I’m hoping the pole isn’t bent and it’s fixable, but that will be first on my list. As for when we’ll commence pool season… well… I’m *hoping* for a day in April!
Sources: Chaise Lounges (set of 2) | Umbrella (black pole/canvas sand w/black trim) | Umbrella Stand & Weight | Outdoor Side Table | Stone Planter (XL) | Ledge Lounger In-Pool Chairs (set of 2) | In-Pool Side Table
Sources: Chaise Lounges (set of 2) | Umbrella (black pole/canvas sand w/black trim) | Umbrella Stand & Weight | Outdoor Side Table | Stone Planter (XL) | Striped Pillow Covers (24 x 24, set of 2) | Pillow Inserts (26 x 26, set of 2)
If you have a pool, what’s a feature you’re so glad you incorporated? If you’re building one, what’s on your list? I’d love for you to discuss in the comment section below!
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Your pool along with the entire area is absolutely beautiful!
Thank you for taking the time to visit and I really appreciate your kind comment!