As you build out your backyard oasis in Mt. Sinai, NY, you’ll want to focus on integration between the different parts of your outdoor living space. Focusing on integrating your swimming pool will give you some fantastic opportunities to create a hub for summer fun and making memories with loved ones. Consider these designs and features as you think about the possibilities for your backyard transformation.
Related: LANDSCAPING TIPS FOR ACHIEVING A COHESIVE DESIGN FOR THE AREAS AROUND YOUR BABYLON, NY SWIMMING POOL
A Safe and Elegant Pool Deck
When transforming your backyard into a place for fun and relaxation, you’ll want to start from the ground up. Outdoor living spaces are usually centered by a solid patio that accomplishes several things: It looks good, it supports many of the activities the family wants to enjoy at the poolside, and it lasts a long time with minimal upkeep.
Patio pavers come in many shapes and sizes that can become excellent design additions to your backyard. They are available in a variety of styles that follow design schemes such as contemporary or rustic, modern or traditional. Pavers also come in a variety of colors, so they can blend in with the landscape or make a bold contrasting statement.
One great option is to choose permeable pavers for your pool deck so that the excess water that is splashed out of the pool goes directly into the ground instead of becoming a slipping hazard. Permeable pavers simply feature larger spaces between their joints, along with a special substrate that lets surface water seep into the ground; the pavers themselves are impervious to water, extremely durable, and come in a variety of styles.
A Clearly Defined Space
The best backyards tend to have clearly defined outdoor living spaces with some type of boundary in between each section. This could be as rigid as a masonry retaining wall; it could be as soft and flowing as some well-placed plantings; or it can be purely visual, such as a subtle change in the angle of the patio and walkway pavers or even a more dramatic change such as different materials. For a pool deck, it’s often best to surround the pool with a physical barrier for safety reasons so that no one accidentally walks into it at night in a poorly lit environment. Add some plants or physical structures that help define the pool space and make it feel exclusive, grand, and safe.
Plantings and Features
The plants and decor you choose may depend on your design theme but also on the level of maintenance you want to contend with. Some people love gardening while others would prefer a low-maintenance landscape. As for features, you can go as bombastic as you like, by building a waterfall complete with plants, a stone walkway, and a grotto. Or you can choose the more subtle way, such as adding simple modernist fountains that produce a glassy flow of water.
For a sleek modern space, consider the minimal decor and a monochromatic softscape design to keep the pool area feeling sophisticated yet serene.
For a busy, vibrant family pool, add low-maintenance native plants that shed minimally (because kids rarely “color in the lines” and often track grass clippings and leave into the pool).
A gas-fueled fire pit could be an instant hit with everyone, as it’s a great place to warm up after a chilly swim especially in the late summer when the air temperature is often cooler than the water temperature.
Related: 7 SPECIAL WATER FEATURES TO ADD TO A SWIMMING POOL IN SETAUKET AND MANHASSET, NY AREAS
