Above-ground pools are quite popular for their style and variety. There can be so much thought that goes into their design and layout, or they can be as simple and basic as any common pool in your backyard.
The pool can be the centerpiece of a yard, especially for those who live in the warmer parts of the world. For those who care for it, it is important to doll it up and make it stand out just that little bit more.
Transforming your yard and landscaping the area around your pool can give you that picturesque view that you’ve always wanted. Here are some tips and ideas for how you can obtain the summer yard that will be the envy of the neighborhood.
Where to Get Ideas?
There are plenty of resources out there that can give you some ideas of what kind of landscaping you want for your yard. Magazines and internet videos exist to showcase some of the best designs out there. Those can be very limited, though, as the designs in each issue and episode are often incredibly similar to each other.
There are websites and blogs aplenty that are dedicated to ideas and designs that people are continually sharing and improving upon. Needless to say, it can be daunting to sift through all of these. For this reason, we’d recommend the Ideas 4 Landscaping website.
As a database and resource, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better collection of ideas and tips for landscaping your entire plot.
Whether you use the Landscaping4You resource or get your ideas elsewhere, coming up with a plan is always the best place to start. Collect all the designs and ideas you like in one place and prepare to start asking around for someone who can help you with the landscaping itself.
You could also take on the task yourself if you are confident that you can do it and have the tools to get the job done.
The Power of the Deck
No matter your skill or experience, it is always good to start with the basics. Fancy lights, railings, intricate tile patterns, and vibrant flora are all well and good. However, sometimes, a sturdy, wooden deck is enough to breathe new life into your yard and pool.
Consider the shape of your pool and the size of your yard. Is the pool close to the house, or is there a sizable distance? Do you already have a lot going on in the yard with plants and decorations filling the white space, or is it relatively empty?
If both your answers were the first option, then maybe a deck is the way to go. A simple deck of sturdy wood that surrounds a portion of the pool can do wonders for aesthetics. It also opens up more options for further decorations, which is why we refer to it as part of the “basics.”
For example, you may decide upon a lovely design inspired by a Japanese bathhouse for your deck. From there, you could add a set of lanterns along the edge of the deck to light up the place, and some tatami mats for people to sit or lie comfortably and enjoy the sun. Add a simple outdoor table for keeping your drinks and snacks off the ground and voila, you have completely overhauled your pool experience.
Plus, you did so by using simple themes and by adding only a few items. This is just one example of how one simple idea evolved into something more, but there are plenty of these ideas on the internet and elsewhere.
Again, you’ll find no better compendium of ideas than with Ideas4Landscaping, which offers thousands of examples and ideas to get you started.
Some Other Basics to Keep in Mind
A deck might not be what you’re looking for, but there are other exceptional items that you can use to fill the space and add a touch of style to the area around your pool. When it comes to landscaping, remember that you are trying to transform what you already have into something new and pleasing to the eyes.
It doesn’t always take a lot to do so. Having an incredibly busy environment can be exhausting on the eyes as you try to take it all in at once. Sometimes, less really is more.
It’s easy to become overexcited and start coming up with these large plans for renovations, coming up with something with grandeur, but this is a mistake. Always start small, because it is always easier to add a little something to the environment than to take it away. Consider what space you have to work with and what resources are available to you.
Perhaps a ring of bushes and flowers is all you need to add. If you go crazy and add too much, it all ends up becoming off-putting. Maybe a beautiful pathway of stone and concrete, or a tile pattern leading from your home to the pool and around it is enough to spruce it up.
Trees are also a great addition, as they can add a very natural look to your garden and can fill up a lot of the negative space without necessarily adding too much. Just be wary of the roots, as having the trees too close to the pool can cause problems with your water system and may damage the underside of the pool.
No matter what you add, you have to keep in mind that less is more. This can mean that simple designs and additions are useful, but it can also mean that adding a little bit now means you can add a bit more later if you still aren’t satisfied. Going overboard initially and filling up any open space you have means you can quickly ruin the landscape, and it becomes more difficult to remove than to add.
Conclusion
Landscaping doesn’t have to be as daunting a task as it initially seems. As with pretty much all things in life, when you have a large job, break it down into the basics and start from the bottom up.
Think about simple designs that you can implement when landscaping, and then slowly grow your idea as you work on it. You never know when you’ll hit gold, so you just have to slowly and methodically approach the task until you do.