7 Fun Pool Addition Projects In Time for the Summer

No summer is complete without a pool party, and for that, you need more than just a hole in the ground filled with water. To be fair, that is what a pool is on a basic level, but that is what makes modern DIY projects so special; you don’t have to settle with basic. As fun as they may be on their own, there are plenty of pool additions you can work on for the summer that will set your pool party apart.

By incorporating some neat pool ideas into your design, you can easily turn a seemingly standard pool into your own mini waterpark. Your imagination is the limit to what is possible with your pool and in what ways you can spruce it up. From DIY additions to budget-friendly weekend endeavors, here are some simple and popular ideas to work off of and find your own unique designs to turn your pool into an island of fun.

1. Pool Slide

Gravity can be a lot of fun, and slides are a testament to this. The pool slide is a common addition to many pools, residential or public. You will find them in many private pools, varying in designs, shapes, and heights. You can install anything from a closed vortex slide to an above-ground pool slide, depending on what kind of pool you have and how much attention you want your slide to take away from your pool design.

Pool Additions that Are Fun For Everyone In the Family

You can always skip the whole design and stylization part of pool slides and just go straight to the fun. There are standard pool slide additions that are similar to playground slides: they’re sturdy, safe, and, most importantly, fun. These slides are typically sold from $1,000 up to $3,000, depending on their size and material. However, if you are looking for something more stylish and unique, there is plenty of room for you to get more creative with slides.

Pool Slides Are A Perfect Add-On Because Fun Never Goes Out of Style

If you’re open to a little construction work in your backyard, a luxurious grotto pool slide design built into the hardscape of your pool is a neat example. It often combines a waterfall with the slide to create a hardscape that brings everything together, to make the pool’s additions look more organic. These grotto built-in pool slides cost more to build than a standard slide as they require the expertise of hardscapers or pool engineers. Nevertheless, they are a lovely addition to any landscape — and will definitely be a winner for the kids.

2. Pool and Spa

“Pool and spa” is a design that combines pools and jacuzzis to create a mini-resort in your backyard. While slides are a fun and exhilarating addition, the ideal pool setup can be the perfect way to have a staycation all summer long. To take your relaxation to the next level, a spa can make for a great addition. The combination of a pool and spa is not a new concept. You can find many designs, like the paradise pool and spa, which create a tropical resort atmosphere with its light blue hues and the round form of the pool.

It's Not Too Late to Turn Your Lonely Inground Pool Into a Pool and Spa Combo

There are also some practical reasons for having a pool and spa. By incorporating the spa into the pool as opposed to having an entirely detached jacuzzi, the two features can share systems like heating or filtration without having to install them separately. A quality pool and spa will have systems that work together, making maintenance less of a hassle.

3. Spillovers

If you wish to create an organic pool design by incorporating natural forms and materials, such as rocks, plants, and trees, one of the best ways to accentuate this aesthetic is with a spillover. Pool spool overs, which are essentially pool waterfalls of various sizes, create a more natural atmosphere thanks to the gentle sound of splashing water accompanied by their gorgeous design.

Quaint and Trendy Spillovers Are Among Many Easy Pool Additions

Their presentations can be varied in shape and material choice, with dark stone and marble spillovers especially popular additions of late. Swimming pool spillovers are perfect embellishments to modern pools. They may seem like a minor addition, but even these small water spillovers play a huge role in creating a serene atmosphere. That light trickling of water allows more of your senses to be enveloped in getting away. Combined with a soft summer breeze, you should have no trouble relaxing and enjoying your evening, even after long days of nonstop work.

You can also opt for sleeker but less organic spillover designs. For example, swimming pool fountains in the shape of traditional faucets have been popular for an outdoor spa feel. The polished metallic finish makes for a more minimalist design.

4. Sun Shelf

If you’re still in the design or building stage of your pool, consider one of the most popular pool features of the year — sun shelves. Taking a dip and relaxing on a pool lounge recliner doesn't have to be two separate activities. You can combine them with a sun shelf or tanning ledge. Both of these are names for a simple pool addition, which is nothing more than a platform in the pool itself which is shallow enough for you to sit in and relax without getting out of the pool. It’s not exactly a spa or jacuzzi, as it is still a part of the pool itself, but it is an addition that dedicates a part of the pool for relaxation.

The Best Pool Additions to Upgrade Your Summer Lounge Experience at Home

Sun shelves are typically built into the pool during initial construction to ensure its structural stability. However, adding a tanning ledge to existing pools is very much possible, though it is recommended that you hire a licensed contractor for the job. After the pool is evaluated by expert pool contractors, a steel frame will be installed by welders and metal workers. With the steel frame in place, a team of cement masons and concrete finishers will fill it with cement and create a solid ledge. After tilers and painters add the finishing touches, your sun shelf is ready to be used.

Sun Shelves Will Turn Your Average Pool Into An Exotic Getaway

It may sound like a bit of work, but with the help of construction and renovation specialists, a sun shelf makes for a great and timeless pool addition. 

5. Pool Plants

Another great way to de-stress is with tropical water pools. Biophilia, the inclination to surround ourselves and our designs with green based on the hypothesis that humans are innately attracted to nature, is a very popular tool for pool design. If you look at your surroundings you will find countless elements of biophilia in your interior. From potted plants to natural colors, wooden furniture, and stone paths. Landscape paintings are a great example of how even in art, humanity strives to keep nature by its side.

Bringing In Biophilia Is the Perfect Budget-Friendly Pool Addition Project

Pools are a great way to incorporate nature into your life and can be spruced up to create a luscious biophilic design. Even factory-designed pools add biophilia to your landscaping through the simple presence of water. To complement this, you can grow some plants around the pool, which can work very nicely with the pool itself. There is plenty of humidity in the air thanks to the pool, that will give the plants the moisture they need. Your little jungle can also keep the air clean and slightly cooler in the summer. It is needless to mention how beautifully the deep greens complement the blue water, adding variety to your landscape.

Hanging Plants and Other Small Additions that Will Bring Your Pool Landscape to Life

You don’t even need to go into complicated gardening techniques to bring nature closer to your pool. Having some bushes line the pool’s edges and making sure the pool’s grass surrounding is lively and healthy are simple ways to bring natural additions to your pool design. You can also hang a few potted plants around if digging up the landscape is not an option. With these small touches, you will have nothing short of a private aquatic sanctuary for yourself and your loved ones to escape to. 

6. Diving Board

Putting a little spring in your step is a great way to enjoy the pool during the summer. While diving boards may have gone out of style, diving is an exhilarating experience, regardless. Sure, you can always learn how to dive off the edge of the pool itself, but if you want that real rush of adrenaline and the whoosh of air in your ears, a diving board is exactly what you need

A Classic Pool Accessory that Will Help the Family Reach New Heights of Fun

As long as your pool meets the necessary safety criteria, you can install a diving board. In California, for example, the minimum required depth for a pool to qualify for a diving board is 8 feet, which is typically the deepest a residential pool can get. Additionally, the pool needs to be at least 34 feet long to install the diving board as well. So, if your pool can accommodate the required dimensions, consider installing a diving board for the stunt lovers in the family.

7. Sports Additions

What about a little water sports competition? There are plenty of water-based sports and games that you, your family, and your friends will have a lot of fun dabbling in. Most importantly, though, these are perhaps the most budget-friendly pool add-ons you can install yourself just over the weekend.

Pool basketball is one of the many sports you can play in the pool. With the installation of a basketball hoop, which costs around $50, you can add more variety to your next pool party’s entertainment. You can buy a small inflatable one for the kids, which will be flexible enough not to infringe on your pool’s design.

Swimming Pool Sports Among to Liven Up the Party

If spiking the ball is more your cup of tea, then a poolside volleyball net is what you need. Volleyball is a fantastic sport to play in the water and can also be a great form of exercise as you jump, dive, bob, and weave your way to the ball.