People ask us about different pool design ideas: What size of pool will be the best for their backyard, what we think of various pool placement alternatives, how to landscape around the pool and much more. Read on to find answers to these and other questions to get more pool design ideas for your very own pool project.
How do I decide what size fibreglass pool?
What size fibreglass pool should I have is a very popular question at Compass Pools Melbourne. Though sometimes the yard can dictate size & sometimes even pool design (i.e. some areas can only fit in certain shapes and sizes). When space or yard design is not restricted then the question on how big a pool does one need?
We like to suggest that a pool should fit proportionally in with the landscape. It should not be too big or too small.
The best answer is ‘how big do you think you want your swimming pool’ as this is ‘your’ pool so what do you want? No expert can know more about what you want than yourself – so always make sure you listen to yourself!
We will always suggest but here at Compass Pools Melbourne we like to say ‘you are actually the expert …tell us what you are thinking’.
Pool designs and backyard size: What size pool will fit in?
Lines are very important when looking at pool design. A window in the house or a view from the kitchen can sometimes be the starting point for ascertaining the ‘look’ that needs consideration. Straight sided pools have been very popular for over a decade now with the reintroduction in the early 2000 of the simple straight rectangle pool. This is a timeless shape that does not seem to ‘date’ can always be landscaped to look very formal or quite casual. For example many of our clients pave our X-Ttrainer (Cross trainer) fibreglass swimming pool (a rectangle waterline footprint) with heavy drop edge bullnose. This simple but strong finish will get a sophisticated formal looking architectural finished backyard however the same pool (rectangle water footprint) can be paved with a softer bullnose (rounded edge) in a sandstone colour with a seat box and bright cushions and you have a resort style backyard.
Where should I put my pool?
We always strongly suggest placing the pool where you can see it the most (i.e. from the kitchen or Alfresco or lounge living area). At Compass Pools Melbourne we always say ‘front and centre’ near where you live. Though this advice does not relate to every yard, sometimes people like to ‘make use’ of some space they have in their yard and will say to us ‘but I have this unused space around the side’ ……We would explain that unless you have owned a swimming pool before many people think you only use a swimming pool when the weather is hot and you are swimming. A body of water becomes part of your living. You look at it every day, your pool lights come on at 6pm at night and you see your beautiful pool from your kitchen or lounge room, you take a cup of tea and sit next to it on a sunny Melbourne Winter morning. This is the other ‘surprise’ that customers tell us several years down the track. They say things like ‘we didn’t know how much we would love our pool all year around not just summer’. Each yard and each family is different as there maybe a practical place for the pool that are right however in many cases this unused space not in a practical location to how the family or people live in their house. We say ‘put the Man Cave there and put the pool at the house area’.
How much does a fibreglass pool cost in the best or cheapest location?
Sometimes some people say ‘is the front yard the cheapest place to put the pool’? That answer can sometimes be yes however remember this pool is not about building it the cheapest but making sure it suits what you are wanting for the next 10 plus years. So even if a installing a fibre glass swimming pool might save you $2,000 placing in one spot over another but this cheaper spot does not meet your ‘needs’ then we would suggest that is not the best location for your fibreglass swimming pool.
How do I get ideas for landscaping around my swimming pool?
Many pool owners do not have a set landscaping plan in place before they start having a pool built. A swimming pool and backyard in many cases can grow organically. That means that many clients don’t choose pavers until the pool is finished so they can see the pool and water colour and then decide on the paving. The paving is cosmetic and the pool (including the pool water colour can vary so greatly with different weather) that having different samples of pavers sitting next to the pool for a week really assists many people with their choice.
Other clients like to have the paving, pool water features & cabanas all designed and planned prior to any dirt being turned. You can engage architects to create lines and looks however as pool builders we talk to many pool owners and get their feedback on what they like about their pool and what they don’t. Each pool design has been refined over decades to suit families, swimming, safety and fun. At Compass we know how families use water space and design these features on reality.
Decide on which pool first and then engage the design team
Our biggest advice in relation to pool design is make the decision on the pool first. Which pool and what package and then if you are going to invest money in plans then you can provide the pool details. They can always suggest making the pool bigger or smaller and move it this way or that way but make sure you understand what pool do you want. i.e. who do you want to build it, what is part of the package, are you going to make it self cleaning. You will then know the true footprint of the pool equipment (given each pool package is different and dictates this decision on citing equipment location).
We get asked – how much do landscaping plans cost?
They can vary from a ‘concept landscape verbal appraisal’ for $400 to $5,000 for a fully landscaped concept total block design including fauna. Noting that most customers end up in the middle of this range. We also find that once we produce the ‘build plan’ to the customer (after contract signing and we fine tune the heights and location). Some customer at this point (noting this is usually 6 weeks prior to any physical work begins on site) can then engage a landscape architect or designer to look at it and consider paving / fencing / future works and water features.
What if a different fibreglass pool shape or size is better?
When a customer feels they need a ‘hold point’ in the process, here at Compass Pools Melbourne we can offer to not arrange for the manufacture to actually build the pool until they sign off on these build plans. Talking to a client, Amy Thomson who works in the construction planning said about some recent clients ‘they knew they wanted the 6m fibreglass plunge pool but they didn’t know if they wanted it level with an existing step and deck up to the paving or have the pool placed down two steps and have the area paved. So this client put the pool on hold for 4 weeks and invested in some landscape plans as they also wanted to have a protection screen hiding the pool equipment and some planter boxes near their fence that they couldn’t work out how they would look. The plans they invested in cost them $1,900 but they were much more confident with their final decision’
