If your goals for the new year include a new pool or spa (or a pool renovation) then you’ve come to the right place. The seven pool and spa designs below feature some of the most popular and innovative design trends for 2014. Take a look to find inspiration and ideas for your own pool or spa project.
1. Backyard Resort
This natural, lagoon-style poolscape boasts a curvaceous custom waterslide, cascading waterfalls, rock grotto, and custom spa, offering endless hours of enjoyment for the whole family.
At-home resorts like this have been growing in popularity over the past few years and will continue to be a requested pool design in 2014 as more and more homeowners seek to recreate the look and experience of their favorite vacation spot right their own backyard.
Photo courtesy of Dolphin Waterslides; Creative Ponds
2. Overflowing with Options
For families big or small, a pool that offers multiple levels of enjoyment is always a necessity. The elegant pool pictured above has plenty to offer. A wading pool at the entry allows bathers to enjoy a quick dip between tanning and also provides a shallow area for younger kids to splash and play. Water bubblers and sheer descents add beautiful sight and sound to the stairs that lead up to the pool and spa, and transform them into a decorative fountain for all to enjoy.
When you’re ready to go for a swim, the large freeform pool offers plenty of space to swim laps, or delight in the soothing cascade of the rock waterfall. At night, relax and revive your muscles from all those laps with a warm soak in the custom spillover spa.
View more pool designs from Anthony & Sylvan Pools >>
3. Cutting-Edge Combo
Every year, pool builders and designers are discovering creative ways to overcome unexpected site or construction challenges, giving more and more homeowners the opportunity to have the pool of their dreams. Such was the case for this infinity-edge spa designed and built by Tranquility Pools in New Jersey. Faced with restrictive zoning requirements, the designer came up with the idea for this 11-foot by 17-foot infinity-edge pool/spa hybrid built into the existing patio. The pool/spa is large enough to accommodate eight to 10 people and can function as a small pool where people can take a dip to cool off; with a few taps on his iPhone, the homeowner can activate the heater, jets, and bubblers and use it as a spa.
What’s more, with the pool/spa built into the patio it becomes a prime part of the outdoor entertaining space, which also includes a recreation area, fireplace lounge with outdoor TV, and dining space.
Editor’s Note: This pool and spa design received a Gold Award in NESPA’s 2013 Design Awards competition.
Photo courtesy of Tranquility Pools; Architect: Juan Ospina; Owner: Mitchell Knapp. Photography by Heather Knapp
4. It’s Geometric
Just like fashion, pool trends come and go and come again. This year, geometric pool shapes are making a comeback. While some may consider geometric pool designs to be simple or utilitarian, the newest designs incorporate elaborate materials and design features, giving them an artistic edge.
Though basic in shape, the geometric pool and spa pictured above features a variety of sophisticated features, including sheer decent waterfalls, shimmering glass tiles, a sun shelf, and in-pool barstools. Colorful LED lighting gives the pool an exciting new look at night while maintaining its chic elegance.
Click to see more photos of this project, plus other pool designs >>
Photo courtesy of Anthony & Sylvan Pools
5. Disappearing Spa
Now you see it, now you don’t. At the touch of a button, the circular spa and stone bridge magically appear from under the water. The flagstone bridge provides access to the spa from the deck, while an underwater tunnel lets swimmers enter the spa area directly from the pool. With the press of another button, the spa and bridge “disappear” by lowering below the water level.
As pool builders and designers continue to unlock the potential of new technology and construction options, we can only imagine what other exciting and sophisticated pool and spa designs will emerge in the next year.
Photo courtesy of Caviness Landscape Design; Photography by KO Rinearson
6. Focused on Fitness
Swim spas—or swim-in-place pools—have been receiving a lot of attention lately thanks to the recent rise in health consciousness and the pursuit of fitness over the past year. Good for swimming, water workouts, and aquatic therapy, swim spas offer a great solution for small spaces, outdoors or inside.
Installed indoors, a swim spa becomes a piece of aquatic fitness equipment that can be used year-round. By moving your workouts to the water, you get a great cardiovascular and strength workout with little to no impact on your joints.
Browse more swim spas from Endless Pools >>
7. All-in-One Oasis
Once designed as separate areas, the pool and outdoor kitchen are now being integrated into one central entertainment hub, as this backyard oasis demonstrates. By placing the outdoor kitchen next to the pool and adding a swim-up bar, one can dine, swim, and socialize all in one place.
The flow from the pool to the raised spillover spa to the attached outdoor kitchen and seating areas makes for one efficient outdoor entertainment space. A design like this is ideal if you have a small backyard because it allows you to maximum the use of the area.
Photography courtesy of Elite Pools by Scott
