According to a survey by HomeLight, a swimming pool is one of the top features most buyers want in their homes. There’s a good reason why pools are so popular; they can turn your backyard into an oasis, giving you the perfect relaxation and entertainment area, among other benefits. Unfortunately, designing (or maintaining) your pool landscape can be daunting, so hiring a professional might be worth it. If you want to spruce up your pool area, below is a look at various ways a pool landscape designer can help you create your dream backyard.

The Challenges of Landscaping Around a Pool

Landscaping around your pool can offer many benefits, from lowering your backyard maintenance costs to enhancing the curb appeal to improving the pool area privacy and more. However, it also presents several challenges that can make creating the perfect landscape for your home a nightmare. Therefore, before you call in a pool landscape designer, you’ll need to figure out how to overcome these hurdles.

One of the biggest challenges of landscaping around swimming pools is deciding between sun exposure and shading. On the one hand, sun exposure can make your pool the perfect place to sunbathe, but it can also make it uncomfortable in scorching weather. On the other hand, shading your pool area with trees can create a tranquil atmosphere but make the pool deck too cold and cause littering problems. Therefore, you must decide between the two design elements or find a way to incorporate both in your pool area.

Another major challenge when creating a pool landscape design is the budget. According to HomeGuide, backyard pool landscaping can cost between $3,000 and $5,000, or even more for extensive designs. Therefore, you must choose a landscaping idea that fits your budget, lest you overspend.

Building a Custom Pool

Your swimming pool is one of the most important elements of your pool landscape design. And if you want your backyard to stand out, a custom pool design is the best option. This is one of the top areas where a pool landscape designer can help you transform your pool area into a paradise.

The best thing about hiring pool builders for a custom swimming pool is that there are limitless design options. According to the National Association of Realtors, geometric and plunge pools are two of the most popular designs. Other good ideas include curved, infinity, narrow, freeform, wrap-around, and farmhouse pools.

A natural pool is another excellent idea when building a custom swimming pool. Natural pools are becoming increasingly popular due to their eco-friendliness, clean & chemical-free water, and easier maintenance. And again, you can choose from several design options, from a simple earthen pond to a stone pool. And if you have the space and budget, you can even create a lake pool.

Installing an Above-Ground Pool

When hiring a pool landscape designer, an above-ground pool is another excellent option for your home. In fact, according to Architectural Digest, this design is one of the latest trends in the pool-building industry. The increase in popularity can be attributed to benefits like simple and fast installation, affordability, and easier maintenance.

One of the most common options, where above-ground pools are concerned, is a pre-made swimming pool. These are simple and inexpensive pools that you can easily assemble in any part of your backyard. And while they don’t come with a sophisticated design, they can still transform your backyard and provide your family with a perfect place to have fun.

However, you can hire a pool company to build a custom above-ground pool. The best part about going the custom way is that you can choose from different sizes and shapes of your pool, depending on the available space, your budget, and your preference. In addition, you can use a wide variety of materials, from wood, concrete, steel, aluminum, and resin. Another creative idea is to recycle or reuse items like shipping containers, garbage bins, and steel basins for your above-ground pool.

Making Repairs to Your In-Ground Pool

An old, worn-out, or damaged in-ground pool can be an ugly eyesore that makes you ashamed of your backyard. Fortunately, a pool landscape designer can help you fix the pool, restoring its appeal and improving your home’s curb appeal. And as a bonus, repairing your existing pool will give your family the perfect outdoor area to enjoy the warm weather.

Leaks and cracks in the pool surface are two reasons to hire pool repair services for your in-ground pool. These issues can cause water to seep into your backyard, destroying its entire landscape. They can also compromise the structural integrity of your pool, causing catastrophic failure. Therefore, you should hire professionals to fix them as soon as you notice them.

Fixing or replacing damaged parts is another excellent way to restore your pool and spruce up your backyard. For example, repairing your pool’s lighting can help bring your home’s exterior to life at night, greatly enhancing its landscape. Additionally, fixing the pump and filter can help to keep your pool clean and in perfect condition, thus preventing it from ruining the aesthetic appeal of the rest of the landscape.

Repairing Your Above-Ground Pool

Above-ground pools also require regular repair and maintenance. Failure to do so can lead to several issues, like water damage to your backyard, poor curb appeal, and pool failure. So, if you’re having problems with your above-ground pool, you should immediately hire a pool landscape designer to fix them.

Like with their in-ground counterparts, leaks are a top area where you should hire pool repairs for your above-ground pool. The leaking water can cause serious damage to your lawn, garden, and other backyard landscaping features. In addition, if not repaired, the leak can worsen over time, causing extensive damage to the rest of the pool. And with an above-ground pool installation costing as much as $20,000 — according to Angi –this is an issue you want to avoid.

Besides leaks, above-ground pools are vulnerable to problems like rusting walls, rotting wood, mold, mildew, and cracks on concrete or stone walls. On top of compromising the structural integrity of your pool, these issues are also unsightly and can damage the appeal of the entire landscape. Therefore, they are another top area to focus on for your pool repairs.

Resurfacing Your Current Pool

If your pool is structurally sound but looks worn out and unappealing, you can hire a pool landscape designer to resurface it. Resurfacing is one of the top remodels that can improve the aesthetic appeal of your pool and, consequently, give your backyard a resort-like look. In addition, it can extend the lifespan of your swimming pool, saving you from costly replacements. According to Angi, a resurface costs around $6,500, while a replacement will cost between $39,000 and $70,000.

One of the top ways resurfacing can transform your pool is by fixing structural and cosmetic damage. This includes stubborn stains on the pool’s surface, mold & mildew growth, cracks, and uneven texture. Fortunately, you can repair these issues with a new surface, bringing your swimming pool back to life.

You can also hire local pool resurfacing services to refresh your pool with new and more appealing material. For example, you can experiment with trendy pool surfaces like tile, stone, concrete, glass, slate, flagstone, granite, and quartz. You can also plaster your pool’s surface and apply a coat of colorful paint for the finish. All of these ideas can significantly improve the aesthetic appeal of your swimming pool, leading to a more attractive backyard landscape design.

Replacing Your Pool Liner

If your pool uses a liner, replacing it can be another excellent way a pool landscape designer can help transform your backyard. Like resurfacing, a new liner will instantly improve the aesthetic appeal of your pool. In addition, it can preserve the structural integrity of your swimming pool, thus increasing its lifespan.

But how do you know when’s the time to replace your liner? You’ll need a new liner if the existing one is damaged or your pool leaks. You can also consider a replacement if your liner has stubborn stains, has faded, or has developed wrinkles.

The best part about pool liner replacement is that it’s pretty inexpensive. According to Forbes, you can expect to spend between $500 and $1,800 on an above-ground pool liner and $1,500 and $3,000 on in-ground pool liner replacement. As for design options, most pool liner manufacturers offer vinyl liners with varying shades of blue, like deep, aqua, light, and vivid blue, which can all do wonders for your backyard’s aesthetics.

Adding or Improving Your Pool Deck

The pool deck is a vital design feature of your backyard landscape. First, it helps to enhance your pool’s visual appeal. Secondly, it creates a smooth transition between your pool and other spaces like the lawn and garden. Therefore, hiring a pool landscape designer to work on your decking is one of the best ways to transform your backyard.

If you don’t have a pool deck, a landscape designer can help cover bare dirt around your swimming pool, creating beautiful, usable space. When building the deck, you can choose from various paving materials like brick, clay, granite, limestone, wood, plastic composite, concrete, travertine, slate, marble, coral, quartz, and others. You can also select from various colors, shapes, styles, and design options.

A pool landscaping professional can also help you to repair and restore your existing pool deck, giving your pool and backyard a major facelift. For example, they can apply a resin coating like spray decks for pools, which can help to restore your dull and worn-out surface. They can also transform your backyard by re-painting, re-staining, or pressure washing your pool deck surface.

Hardscaping the Pool Area

A swimming pool should not exist on its own. Instead, you should install various design features, which can help make it more attractive and appealing while improving your backyard landscape design. And one of the best ways to achieve this is by hiring a pool landscape designer to do some hardscaping work around the pool area.

When investing in pool hardscaping, a waterfall is one of the top features you can install in your backyard. First, a waterfall will help with the movement and filtration of the water in the pool. The sound of falling water can also help to create a soothing and therapeutic atmosphere. In addition, you can choose from several waterfall design ideas that can significantly enhance the look and feel of your backyard.

Besides a waterfall, you can invest in several other hardscape installations for your pool area. For example, you can install other water features like cascades, rain curtains, fountains, and laminar jets. Other cool ideas include a fire pit, a pool pergola, an outdoor kitchen, a swim-up bar, and a retaining wall.

Installing a Safety Fence

According to the Pool Safety Foundation, a safety fence is one of the most effective ways of preventing accidental drownings, especially for children. However, a pool fence can also be an excellent design feature that can improve the design of your pool area. Therefore, if you’re looking for more ways to transform your backyard, consider hiring a pool landscape designer to install a fence.

You can choose from many cool ideas during your pool’s safety fence installation. For example, instead of a simple fence around the pool, you can fence off a large yard section, including the pool deck, lawn, garden, etc. This will ensure that the fence is part of the entire backyard. In addition, it will provide you with more outdoor living space around the pool for spending time with your family or hosting guests.

You can also transform your backyard into a paradise by running wild with the pool fence materials and design. For example, you can fence off your pool area using retaining walls. Other fantastic ideas include a glass fence and a living fence (trees, shrubs, and a hedge). Alternatively, you could go with classics like metal, wood, picket, bamboo, aluminum, and chain link fences, which can still be an excellent addition to your backyard.

A swimming pool can be a great addition that provides your home with a beautiful outdoor entertainment area. However, you can get more out of it by hiring a pool landscape designer to spruce up the pool area. This will help to enhance the look and atmosphere of your swimming pool and, at the same time, create a fantastic backyard landscape.