16 Dream Indoor Pools Swimming in Grandeur
Opulent indoor pools to keep swimmers splashing through the winter and provide a visual dip for the rest of us
With outdoor pools drained, covered and ready to weather the winter, let's turn our attention to the pleasures of swimming under a roof. For most of us, that means a trip to the gym or the local YMCA. But for a lucky few, it just means stepping into a different part of the house.
These indoor pools, all spectacularly over the top, transform the simple act of swimming into a mini vacation. Suspend practical considerations and submerge yourself in fantasy as you browse. And let us know what you think about these stunners in the Comments!
These indoor pools, all spectacularly over the top, transform the simple act of swimming into a mini vacation. Suspend practical considerations and submerge yourself in fantasy as you browse. And let us know what you think about these stunners in the Comments!
This pool simply mesmerizes me. A backlit glass trough along the bottom leads the eye to the chandelier at the end. So serene, yet so powerful.
This buffet of eye candy, with a trompe l'oeil ceiling and a faux seashell arching over the pool end, could be a love-it-or-hate-it affair. But you've got to give the designer points for style and imagination.
I don't know where to look first in this Mediterranean-Italian hybrid. The fiber-optic ceiling treatment that simulates a twilight sky? The striped awnings and lush window boxes? The Romeo and Juliet balcony that presides over the scene? I'm not sure I would choose this style, but I wouldn't mind sinking into those sublime layers of excess just once.
Jets. Water slide. Diving board. Full kitchen. TV. Is there any reason to leave?
Stacks of windows, an elevated whirlpool and a dreamy blue ceiling treatment — and, of course, the deer head mounted on the far wall — create a luxurious bathing retreat.
This mod, minimalist pool with its own built-in slide reminds me of those iconic whitewashed houses that you see in photos of Santorini, Greece.
This lagoon-style extravaganza includes a waterfall, slide and saltwater aquarium. And is that a tiki bar I see off to the side? Piña colada, please.
Here's another view of the space. It's just like snorkeling, without those pesky flippers.
If you're a quieter, more restrained sort, the pale colors, sheaths of light and gentle curves of this area will suit you perfectly.
The unexpected formality of this pool is a visual treat. My favorite touch: the row of chandeliers along its length.
Can't choose between a nice long swim and a game of hoops? Have both at once.
A fireplace at one end of the space is the crowning touch on this atrium-style swimming hall.
Beautiful ceiling trusses and beams crown this simple pool. They must look lovely when they're reflected on the surface of the water.
This eye popper redefines the term "man cave." A grotto shot with jewel-tone lighting, elaborate stone-look surfaces and tropical plants, it's a total break with reality from the rest of the house.
I leave you with perhaps the most visually stunning indoor swimming pool on the planet: Olympia Schwimmhalle in Munich, Germany, built for the 1972 Olympics and now open to the public. I somehow missed the chance to take a dip here during a vacation to Munich this past summer, and I'm still kicking myself. If I ever go back, this will be my first stop.
More ways with pools
More ways with pools