Landscape Design
30 Stunning New Pools and Poolscapes
Swimming pools ranging from streamlined to splashy have us dreaming about taking the plunge
While much of the world is sweltering in record-high temperatures, we’re finding some respite in these swimming pool photos recently uploaded to the Houzz photo feed. Some are shoehorned into tiny side yards; others are surrounded by acres of hardscaping and festooned with fountains, integrated spas and multicolor lights. Keep scrolling to get inspiration for your own backyard oasis, whether you’re constructing one in real life or just fantasizing about a pool to keep you cool.
North Arrow Studio
2. Geometry Splash
On a steep site in Austin, Texas, this slightly raised sliver of a pool sits beside a simple gravel courtyard and fire pit.
Shop for patio and outdoor furniture
2. Geometry Splash
On a steep site in Austin, Texas, this slightly raised sliver of a pool sits beside a simple gravel courtyard and fire pit.
Shop for patio and outdoor furniture
Garden Studio
3. The Life Aquatic
This Mediterranean-style Costa Mesa, California, house makes the most of its temperate climate with indoor-outdoor entertaining spaces surrounding its small courtyard pool.
3. The Life Aquatic
This Mediterranean-style Costa Mesa, California, house makes the most of its temperate climate with indoor-outdoor entertaining spaces surrounding its small courtyard pool.
Harper & Co.
4. Undercover Fun
Rain or shine, this ample-size enclosed pool in Salt Lake City is ready for action.
50 Cool Pools to Help You Beat the Heat
4. Undercover Fun
Rain or shine, this ample-size enclosed pool in Salt Lake City is ready for action.
50 Cool Pools to Help You Beat the Heat
Texas Tiny Pools
5. Got It Covered
See the slightly raised deck at the top left of this photo of an Austin, Texas, backyard? It slides over the 11-by-18-foot pool to keep kids and pets safe. When the pool’s not in use, the deck increases the backyard entertaining space.
5. Got It Covered
See the slightly raised deck at the top left of this photo of an Austin, Texas, backyard? It slides over the 11-by-18-foot pool to keep kids and pets safe. When the pool’s not in use, the deck increases the backyard entertaining space.
Meridith Baer Home
6. Graceful Arabesque
Simple rectilinear pools are the most commonly uploaded styles on Houzz, making the graceful geometric shape of this West Palm Beach, Florida, pool a refreshing departure.
6. Graceful Arabesque
Simple rectilinear pools are the most commonly uploaded styles on Houzz, making the graceful geometric shape of this West Palm Beach, Florida, pool a refreshing departure.
Cheikhrouhou & Partners Architects
7. North African Oasis
Iridescent mosaic tiles glimmer from the depths of this Tunisian pool. The home’s cantilevered second story creates a slice of shade for the skinny wooden deck below.
7. North African Oasis
Iridescent mosaic tiles glimmer from the depths of this Tunisian pool. The home’s cantilevered second story creates a slice of shade for the skinny wooden deck below.
Deirdre Doherty Interiors
8. Desert Mirage
Beside a midcentury-modern-style home in parched Palm Desert, California, this pale aqua pool is a real thirst quencher.
25 Ways to Pump Up Your Pool for Summer Fun
8. Desert Mirage
Beside a midcentury-modern-style home in parched Palm Desert, California, this pale aqua pool is a real thirst quencher.
25 Ways to Pump Up Your Pool for Summer Fun
Carol Kurth Architecture + Interiors
9. Country Living
Stone retaining walls and a cupola-topped pool house lend a modern farmhouse feel to this luxurious Connecticut poolscape.
9. Country Living
Stone retaining walls and a cupola-topped pool house lend a modern farmhouse feel to this luxurious Connecticut poolscape.
Driftwood Studio
10. Lotta Terra Cotta
Colorful Spanish tiles accent the pool and terra-cotta tile pool deck at this hacienda-style estate in Florida.
10. Lotta Terra Cotta
Colorful Spanish tiles accent the pool and terra-cotta tile pool deck at this hacienda-style estate in Florida.
Daniel Marshall Architect
11. Cool Hang
On New Zealand’s Waiheke Island, a large second-story overhang shades much of the pool and wooden pool deck at a spectacular modern coastal home.
11. Cool Hang
On New Zealand’s Waiheke Island, a large second-story overhang shades much of the pool and wooden pool deck at a spectacular modern coastal home.
Bob Chatham Custom Home Design
12. East Meets South
Warm-toned flagstone pavers surround the pool, hot tub and fire pit at this East Coast-inspired home overlooking the bay in Montrose, Alabama.
12. East Meets South
Warm-toned flagstone pavers surround the pool, hot tub and fire pit at this East Coast-inspired home overlooking the bay in Montrose, Alabama.
Morrison Interiors
13. Water Landing
A contemporary Nevada home’s pool reflects its architecture with clean lines and interesting angles. Check out this image, which shows how the pool breaches the home’s perimeter to become part of the back entryway.
13. Water Landing
A contemporary Nevada home’s pool reflects its architecture with clean lines and interesting angles. Check out this image, which shows how the pool breaches the home’s perimeter to become part of the back entryway.
Rineer Designs
14. Lights and Action
Multicolor lights make this multilevel Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, pool complex — which also has multiple fire features, waterfalls and seating areas — even more over-the-top.
14. Lights and Action
Multicolor lights make this multilevel Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, pool complex — which also has multiple fire features, waterfalls and seating areas — even more over-the-top.
Total Concepts
15. Bocce, Baby
After playing a rousing game of bocce ball, you can cool off in the adjacent pool in this California entertainer’s paradise.
15. Bocce, Baby
After playing a rousing game of bocce ball, you can cool off in the adjacent pool in this California entertainer’s paradise.
James McNeal Architecture and Design
16. Mountain Majesty
The backyard of this luxurious hillside ranch in Montana features a simple rectangular pool with rustic surroundings, including what looks like a stained concrete deck. Be sure to check out the front entrance, which has a private trout pond for fly fishing.
16. Mountain Majesty
The backyard of this luxurious hillside ranch in Montana features a simple rectangular pool with rustic surroundings, including what looks like a stained concrete deck. Be sure to check out the front entrance, which has a private trout pond for fly fishing.
Joan Torres
17. Endless Sea
An infinity edge — also known as a zero, disappearing, negative or vanishing edge — creates the illusion that this Spanish pool spills right into the ocean beyond.
17. Endless Sea
An infinity edge — also known as a zero, disappearing, negative or vanishing edge — creates the illusion that this Spanish pool spills right into the ocean beyond.
JAC Interiors
18. Go With the Flow
The curves of this free-form pool and integrated spa in Calabasas, California, echo the Mediterranean-style home’s arched architectural details.
18. Go With the Flow
The curves of this free-form pool and integrated spa in Calabasas, California, echo the Mediterranean-style home’s arched architectural details.
Studio VMA
19. Warming Hut
Canada’s climate may not be conducive to year-round outdoor swimming, but this Toronto-area cabana structure was designed for four seasons so the owners can enjoy their yard even during the coldest winters.
19. Warming Hut
Canada’s climate may not be conducive to year-round outdoor swimming, but this Toronto-area cabana structure was designed for four seasons so the owners can enjoy their yard even during the coldest winters.
Webber + Studio, Architects
20. Dripping Wet
A turquoise pool and the framed blue sky above it add splashes of color to a modern house and covered pool in Dripping Springs, Texas.
20. Dripping Wet
A turquoise pool and the framed blue sky above it add splashes of color to a modern house and covered pool in Dripping Springs, Texas.
Pu’uwai Design & Construction
21. Island Time
Beside an overflowing spa, twin teak chairs create an aquatic lounge in this Hawaiian infinity-edge pool. And at the other end of the pool, a thatch-roofed “pai pai” structure covers a barbecue area.
21. Island Time
Beside an overflowing spa, twin teak chairs create an aquatic lounge in this Hawaiian infinity-edge pool. And at the other end of the pool, a thatch-roofed “pai pai” structure covers a barbecue area.
Kanga Construction
22. Skinny Dip
Lounge chairs sit on a Baja ledge (aka tanning ledge or sun shelf) in this narrow Key West, Florida, pool. Lush tropical vegetation adds to the resort feel.
22. Skinny Dip
Lounge chairs sit on a Baja ledge (aka tanning ledge or sun shelf) in this narrow Key West, Florida, pool. Lush tropical vegetation adds to the resort feel.
The Ranch Mine
23. A River Runs Through It
In a waterski community along the Gila River in central Arizona, an 88-by-8 foot pool stretches beside a narrow, Bauhaus-inspired house. The outdoor space also has a hot tub and four fireplaces.
23. A River Runs Through It
In a waterski community along the Gila River in central Arizona, an 88-by-8 foot pool stretches beside a narrow, Bauhaus-inspired house. The outdoor space also has a hot tub and four fireplaces.
Poolscapes QLD
24. Blue Lagoon
A rock water feature adds a naturalistic element to this free-form lagoon-style pool in Brisbane, Australia.
See more photos of Australian pools
24. Blue Lagoon
A rock water feature adds a naturalistic element to this free-form lagoon-style pool in Brisbane, Australia.
See more photos of Australian pools
Terrain
25. Best of Both Worlds
This Woodinville, Washington, backyard features a multifunctional swim spa — essentially a hot tub-plunge pool hybrid — surrounded by an ipe hardwood deck.
Enjoy a Refreshing Dip With a Plunge Pool
25. Best of Both Worlds
This Woodinville, Washington, backyard features a multifunctional swim spa — essentially a hot tub-plunge pool hybrid — surrounded by an ipe hardwood deck.
Enjoy a Refreshing Dip With a Plunge Pool
The Designory
26. The Watering Hole
This semi-inground swimming pool with board-formed concrete sides is set on a 40-acre working cattle farm outside Australia’s Byron Bay.
26. The Watering Hole
This semi-inground swimming pool with board-formed concrete sides is set on a 40-acre working cattle farm outside Australia’s Byron Bay.
Martin Dodson Homes
27. Get a Grip
Beside a large, barn-style home in Palmetto, Georgia, this swimming pool has a shaded Baja shelf and handrails for descending the steps — a helpful safety feature.
27. Get a Grip
Beside a large, barn-style home in Palmetto, Georgia, this swimming pool has a shaded Baja shelf and handrails for descending the steps — a helpful safety feature.
SMS Architects
28. Gimme Shelter
A pool pavilion with steel support poles gives off a midcentury modern vibe while creating a nice shaded seating area.
Shop for pool toys and floats
28. Gimme Shelter
A pool pavilion with steel support poles gives off a midcentury modern vibe while creating a nice shaded seating area.
Shop for pool toys and floats
Pratt Guys
29. Stay-Cay
Accordion doors open wide to create an indoor-outdoor pool- and spa-side lounge space in Jacksonville, Florida.
29. Stay-Cay
Accordion doors open wide to create an indoor-outdoor pool- and spa-side lounge space in Jacksonville, Florida.
Refresh*Design
30. Peekaboo Pool
A glass wall offers a peek into the depths of a small plunge pool in Brisbane, Australia. (Here‘s a view from the top.)
Your turn: Which pool is your favorite? Share in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read more stories about pools
Find a local landscape designer
See more pool photos
Shop for pool and spa products
30. Peekaboo Pool
A glass wall offers a peek into the depths of a small plunge pool in Brisbane, Australia. (Here‘s a view from the top.)
Your turn: Which pool is your favorite? Share in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read more stories about pools
Find a local landscape designer
See more pool photos
Shop for pool and spa products
1. Pretty Preppy
Cabana-striped inflatable swim rings are fun finishing touches on this classic rectangular pool and shingled pool house on Massachusetts’ Cape Cod.
For this and all of the pictured pools, click on the image to see more photos of the project.
Find a swimming pool builder near you