When I design backyards in Portland, I love proving that above ground pools can be both practical and stunning centerpieces. Let me share some of my favorite ways to turn a humble pool into the heart of your garden oasis.
Cover the Sides with Matching Wood for a Cohesive Look
I always recommend cladding exposed pool walls in the same wood as the deck—the effect is beautifully unified and inviting. It’s a small detail, but it turns the entire pool area into a single, harmonious space.
Explore these options:
- Weather-Resistant Wood Decking Boards: Upgrade your pool’s exterior with durable wood decking boards for a seamless and stylish surround.
- Outdoor Wood Stain and Sealer: Enhance and protect your wood cladding with a quality stain and sealer for lasting beauty.
- Decking Screws and Fasteners Kit: Secure your wood panels with corrosion-resistant screws made specifically for outdoor deck installation projects.
Build a Deck for Ultimate Poolside Living
Every time I wrap a wooden deck around an above ground pool, clients are floored by how seamlessly it connects the pool to their outdoor living space. The warmth of timber under bare feet and plenty of room for loungers always transforms the vibe from backyard basic to resort-ready.
Grab the essentials:
- Outdoor Chaise Lounge Chairs: Upgrade your poolside relaxation with comfortable, adjustable lounge chairs that are perfect for soaking up the sun.
- Deck Rail Planters: Add vibrant greenery and color to your deck with easy-to-mount rail planters for a lush, resort feel.
- Solar Deck Lighting: Illuminate your pool area at night with energy-efficient solar lights that enhance both safety and style.
Could a Gravel Border Be the Secret Ingredient?
I once made the mistake of skipping a proper border and ended up with muddy footprints everywhere, but adding a gravel border around the pool keeps things tidy and looks incredibly polished. The subtle crunch underfoot and pops of greenery in pots make it both practical and pretty.
Something that could work:
- Decorative Landscape Gravel: Enhance your pool area with decorative gravel for a clean, low-maintenance, and attractive border solution.
- Outdoor Planters for Patio: Add color and greenery with stylish outdoor planters, perfect for placing flowers around your gravel border.
- Garden Edging Border: Keep your gravel contained and your landscaping neat by installing easy-to-use garden edging around the pool.
Transform with Stone Facades and Natural Textures
Wrapping a pool with stone veneer or stacked rocks is my favorite hack for making above ground pools look custom and grounded in the landscape. There’s something about the cool, rugged texture that instantly elevates the whole yard.
Suitable options for this:
- Faux Stone Veneer Panels: Upgrade your pool exterior with easy-to-install faux stone panels for a custom, natural stone appearance.
- Outdoor Construction Adhesive for Stone: Secure stone siding or veneer with weather-resistant construction adhesive made for outdoor landscaping projects.
- Garden Pathway Stone Pavers: Create a cohesive look around your pool area with natural-looking stone pavers for beautiful walkways.
Light Up the Night: Add Ambiance with Poolside Lighting
One summer, I installed soft LED lighting under a deck and along the pool’s edge—at dusk, the whole garden glowed and guests lingered long after sunset. It’s such a simple touch, but it turns evening swims into pure magic.
Options that might work:
- Waterproof LED Strip Lights for Outdoor Use: Brighten your pool deck with waterproof LED strip lights—enjoy a cozy and inviting nighttime glow.
- Solar-Powered Deck Lights: Enhance safety and style on your pool stairs with easy-to-install, energy-saving solar deck lights.
- Above Ground Pool Edge Lighting Kits: Highlight your pool’s edge with custom-fit lighting kits—add instant ambiance for evening swims and gatherings.
Hide the Sides with Lush Shrubs and Grasses
I learned early on that planting native shrubs and ornamental grasses around a pool can hide those utilitarian walls and attract pollinators at the same time. The gentle sway of grasses and a few blooming perennials bring wild beauty right up to the water’s edge.
Items that might be helpful:
- Assorted Ornamental Grass Seed Mix: Create a natural privacy screen by planting easy-to-grow ornamental grasses around your above ground pool.
- Native Flowering Shrub Live Plants: Enhance poolside beauty and support pollinators by planting colorful native flowering shrubs along the edges.
- Mulch for Garden Beds: Help retain moisture and keep weeds at bay by adding mulch around your new poolside plantings.
Why Not Go All White for a Mediterranean Escape?
One of my clients insisted on an all-white scheme—white stone pavers, white fencing, even white deck boards—and suddenly their compact backyard felt like a breezy Mediterranean retreat. The monochrome look bounces light and makes even small spaces appear expansive.
Useful items to consider:
- White Stone Pavers: Brighten up your outdoor area and create a clean, spacious feel with easy-to-install white stone pavers.
- White Privacy Vinyl Fence Panels: Enhance privacy and complete your Mediterranean-inspired backyard with durable, low-maintenance white vinyl fencing.
- White Deck Boards or Patio Tiles: Easily update your poolside deck for a unified, sun-reflective look using white deck boards or patio tiles.
Create a Sunken Pool Look—No Excavator Needed
By taking advantage of a sloped yard, I once designed a semi-inground pool nestled into a hillside, where the higher ground meets the pool edge for easy walk-in access. It looked like an exclusive infinity pool, but without the massive dig or price tag.
Some relevant options:
- Stackable Retaining Wall Blocks: Easily build a stylish, durable barrier to nestle your pool into the slope—no heavy equipment needed.
- Outdoor Stone Pool Steps Kit: Add seamless and safe walk-in access to your semi-inground pool using modular stone step systems.
- Decorative Perennial Plant Kits: Accent your sunken pool with easy-care flowers and shrubs for a lush, resort-inspired look year-round.
Frame with Stone Pavers for a Resort-Style Pathway
I love laying stone pavers leading up to the pool, creating a clean path and keeping grass clippings out of the water. The pavers anchor the pool visually and make every dip feel like a mini getaway.
Products that may fit:
- Interlocking Stone Paver Kits: Create a charming and durable pathway to your pool with easy-to-install interlocking stone paver kits.
- Landscape Edging for Stone Pathways: Define and protect the edges of your stone pathway to keep it looking neat and tidy year-round.
- Solar Pathway Lights Outdoor Waterproof: Light up your stone path at night with weather-resistant solar pathway lights and enhance your backyard ambiance.
Add a Water Feature to Elevate the Experience
Installing a fountain or small waterfall next to an above ground pool always surprises people—suddenly, the gentle splash adds a spa-like dimension. The sound soothes and drowns out neighborhood noise, making the pool area feel extra private.
A few useful items:
- Outdoor tiered water fountain: Transform your above ground pool area with a tiered water fountain for relaxing, soothing sounds.
- Poolside decorative waterfall kit: Enhance your pool with an easy-to-install decorative waterfall kit and enjoy tranquil flowing water.
- Floating solar water fountain: Add motion and ambiance to your pool with a floating solar-powered fountain—no wiring required.
Ditch the Lawn: Minimalist Stone Courtyard Pool
One summer, I replaced the messy grass around a client’s pool with sleek stone pavers and pebbles, creating a clean, mud-free courtyard. The modern, minimalist look makes maintenance a breeze and keeps the space looking sharp year-round.
Items that may come in handy:
- Stone Paver Patio Kits: Transform your pool surround with easy-to-install stone paver kits for a clean and modern look.
- Decorative Landscaping Pebbles: Use decorative pebbles to create minimalist, low-maintenance borders around your pool for added elegance.
- Outdoor Poolside Planters: Add greenery and structure to your courtyard pool with stylish, weather-resistant outdoor planters.
Surround with Built-In Seating for Social Gatherings
During one backyard overhaul, I designed a raised bench that wrapped halfway around the pool—suddenly, the space became everyone’s favorite hangout. Whether it’s built-in or modular, seating encourages conversation and poolside lounging.
A few picks to consider:
- Weather-resistant Outdoor Bench Cushions: Upgrade your built-in pool seating with weather-resistant cushions for extra comfort and a pop of color.
- Outdoor Throw Pillows Set: Add outdoor throw pillows for extra back support and to create a cozy, inviting lounge vibe.
- Deck Box for Cushion Storage: Keep your poolside seating area tidy by storing cushions and accessories in a convenient deck box.
Could an Above Ground Infinity Edge Fool the Eye?
Last season, I experimented with a raised pool and a vanishing edge on the downhill side of a sloped yard—the illusion of water blending into the landscape was breathtaking. It’s an ambitious project, but the effect is pure drama.
These products might be useful:
- Infinity edge pool panel kit: Create a striking vanishing edge effect with pre-fabricated pool panels designed for an infinity illusion.
- Outdoor poolside sectional sofa: Enhance your pool area’s comfort with a modular outdoor sectional sofa for relaxation and stunning views.
- Landscape LED uplighting for pools: Accentuate your pool’s edges at night with adjustable LED uplights for an atmospheric evening glow.
Mix Materials for Organized Chaos
In my own backyard, I paired rough stone, warm wood, and wild plantings around the pool—it’s a look I call organized chaos and it always feels alive, never static. Using mixed materials blurs the line between structure and garden.
These may be of interest:
- Natural Stone Edging for Gardens and Pools: Add organic structure and texture to your pool perimeter with versatile natural stone edging elements.
- Wood Deck Tiles for Outdoor Spaces: Elevate your poolside with easy-to-install wood deck tiles, bringing warmth and visual interest outdoors.
- Assorted Wildflower Seed Mix: Create vibrant, ever-changing borders by sowing wildflower seed mixes for a lively, naturalistic effect.
Unexpected: Glass Panel Walls for a Show-Stopping Pool
On a recent high-end project, we installed glass panels on one side of the pool so swimmers could see straight into the garden beds—a total conversation piece. The transparent wall gives the illusion of an aquarium right in your backyard.
Consider these options:
- Tempered Glass Pool Panels: Install durable tempered glass panels for a modern, transparent pool wall that enhances backyard views.
- Stainless Steel Glass Mounting Hardware: Ensure secure installation of glass walls with specialized stainless steel mounting kits for poolside use.
- Glass Cleaner for Outdoor Use: Keep your glass pool panels spotless and clear with an effective outdoor glass cleaning solution.
