Building a custom swimming pool in your backyard comes with a handful of decisions to make, from choosing between saltwater and freshwater to selecting the perfect pool design for your home. With so many swimming pool shapes to choose from, this tends to be one of the more challenging decisions that future pool owners have to tackle.
The pool shape you choose plays a huge role in the overall experience of your new addition, so it’s essential to think carefully and do your research before choosing one. You could opt for a classic like a rectangular or circular pool, or go with a more unique aesthetic like an L-shaped or radius pool. The options are endless, so how to decide?
When figuring out how to choose the right pool shape for your yard, there are several factors to consider. In today’s blog post, we’re revealing the key factors that will help you decide which pool design is best for you as you explore your many options.
Considerations For Choosing a Pool Shape
Before you begin the process of choosing the perfect pool shape, there are a few important questions you need to ask yourself. The questions below will help you weigh your options to figure out which pool design best suits your needs, vision, and budget.
1. What Does Your Backyard Look Like?
In other words, how much space are you working with? Before you can decide on a pool design, you’ll need to determine the size and shape of your backyard. Having a smaller yard certainly doesn’t mean you can’t build a pool, but it will impact the types of pools you can choose between.
If your property boasts an incredible view, you might want to consider an infinity pool to make the most of it. However, if your backyard is oddly shaped, a freeform pool would be a more sensible choice for you. By determining the size and shape of your yard before moving forward, you’ll get a better idea of your options right off the bat.
2. Who Do You Live With?
First, think about the members of your household. Do you live in a house with children or other adults, or are you building out the bachelor pad of your dreams? If you share a home with others, it’s important to consider any mobility challenges your family members may have.
Perhaps your youngest child can’t swim yet or your father is in a wheelchair. Maybe your partner wants to be able to swim laps, but you want to kick back and relax. Even if you have an idea of what you want, you need to think about the people you share a home with and what their needs are.
3. What Will You Use Your Pool For?
Some Chicago homeowners choose to build a custom swimming pool in their backyard for exercise purposes, whether it be lap swimming and water aerobics or water volleyball and epic games of Marco Polo. Others want a pool so they can throw amazing pool parties with their neighbors and friends all summer long.
Figure out whether you plan to use your swimming pool for sports, relaxation, playing with the kids, or hosting parties. This will help you determine the pool shapes that best suit your needs. The last thing you want is to choose your pool design based on the aesthetic appeal without considering how it works with the way you plan to use it.
4. Do You Have a Budget in Mind?
All pool shapes are not created equal, which means the price can vary quite a bit depending on the design you choose. The exterior edge of a swimming pool requires more labor and materials, so designs with a greater perimeter square footage will be more expensive.
For this reason, circular and curved pools are generally better for homeowners working with a tighter budget. While geometric and straight-edge pools are popular choices for homeowners around the country, these options are notoriously pricey.
5. What is Your Home’s Design Style?
The pool design you choose should complement the rest of your home’s design style. If you have a lot of grand architecture and ornate features throughout your property, you may want to opt for a simple pool design that doesn’t clash with what you already have.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a pool that will elevate a simple home design style and understated landscaping, you could choose between bolder pool designs like a Roman or Greek pool. If your house features a modern design style, a rectangular or L-shaped pool would be a great fit. Prefer a classical style? Consider a lagoon pool.
6. Do You Want Customizable Features?
One of the perks of building a custom swimming pool on your property is getting the opportunity to add customizable features like waterslides, handrails, waterfalls, and bench seating. Depending on the specific types of features you’re interested in, there may be different pool shapes that work better for your vision.
Before you settle on a pool design, keep in mind the customizable features you might want to add to the final product. Curved pools often work well with waterslides, while L-shaped and rectangular pools are popular choices for those adding bench seating.
Explore Custom Pool Design Options Today
Now that you have gained some insight into how to choose the right pool shape for your yard, it’s time to take the next step and chat with the professionals. At Chip and Dip Pool and Spas, building swimming pools for Chicago homeowners is what we do.
If you’re thinking of enhancing your home with a backyard pool, it’s essential to choose a pool design that brings your vision to life. We would love to help you decide which pool shape is right for your home and are here to answer any questions you might have.
Contact us today to discuss your custom swimming pool project with our team.
