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The best pools start with how your family lives
Picture a warm Saturday in July. The children are jumping in and out of the water, someone is reading on a lounger, and there’s something tasty on the barbecue. That’s the dream for most people who get in touch with us.
A garden pool can make that picture real. But the pools people love most aren’t just the biggest or the most expensive. They’re the ones designed around the way the family actually lives, and the way the garden actually works.
In this guide we’ll share the ideas and questions that help our customers design a pool they’ll enjoy for years. We’ll cover where to put it, which shape to choose, how to plan the space around it and the finishing touches that make it feel special.
Start with a wish list
Before thinking about shapes and paving, sit down together and jot down what everyone wants. Lengths before work? Somewhere for the children to play? Evening drinks by the water? A wish list keeps the design focused on what matters to you.
Choosing the right spot makes all the difference
Where the pool sits will shape how often you use it. It’s worth taking time over this decision.
Follow the sun
Watch how the sun moves across your garden through the day. A spot that catches afternoon and evening sun is usually ideal, as that’s when most families swim. Sunlight also helps warm the water naturally.
Find some shelter
Wind cools the water and makes sitting out less pleasant. Walls, hedges and garden buildings can all help. Avoid positions right under large trees, as falling leaves mean more cleaning.
Think about the view from the house
Many people love being able to see the pool from the kitchen or living room. It looks beautiful, and it helps you keep an eye on children in the water. It also means you’ll enjoy the pool even on days when you’re not swimming.
Keep practical things in mind
A few less glamorous points matter too:
- Access. Machinery needs to reach the dig site, and a one-piece shell needs to be lifted into place.
- Services. Drains, cables and pipes under the lawn can affect where the pool goes.
- Plant room. The pump, filter and heating need a home nearby, ideally tucked out of sight.
- Ground conditions. Slopes, clay and high water tables can all be handled, but they need planning.
Your garden pool shape should suit the space and the swimmer
Shape affects how the pool looks and how you use it. There’s no single right answer, just the right answer for your garden.
Rectangular for clean lines
A rectangle suits modern homes and formal gardens. It’s also the most practical shape for swimming lengths. Straight edges make automatic covers simpler to fit, too.
Softer shapes for relaxed gardens
Curved or freeform shapes can feel more natural in a cottage garden or a space with lots of planting. They’re lovely for playing and relaxing.
Size and depth
Think about who’ll swim and how. Keen swimmers want length. Families with young children often want a generous shallow area and wide steps. If you’d like to relax more than swim, a compact pool with a bench might suit you perfectly.
Colour changes everything
The colour of the pool’s interior has a big effect on how the water looks. Pale finishes give that bright, tropical blue. Greys and darker tones create a deeper, more natural look that can blend beautifully with planting and stone. It’s worth looking at photos of finished pools in different light before you decide, because the same colour can look quite different on a cloudy day.
Steps and seating
Steps are more than a way in. Wide steps give children somewhere safe to play and give adults a place to sit and chat with their shoulders in the water. A bench along one side can be a lovely spot to relax. Think about where the steps sit in relation to the terrace, so the way in feels natural.
Choosing a one-piece pool
Our pools arrive as a single moulded shell, available in a range of shapes and sizes. That makes installation quicker and tidier than building a pool on site. You can explore our full range of pools to see which designs might suit your garden.
Great surroundings turn a pool into an outdoor room
The space around the water matters as much as the pool itself. This is where your garden pool really comes to life.
Paving and decking
The surface around the pool needs to be comfortable underfoot, slip resistant and able to cope with water. Natural stone, porcelain and composite decking are all popular. Lighter colours stay cooler in the sun, which bare feet appreciate. Our guide to pool landscaping and surroundings has lots more ideas.
Zones for different activities
Think about the garden as a set of connected spaces. You might want:
- A sunny terrace for loungers.
- A shaded dining area close to the house.
- A grassy space for games.
- A quiet corner for reading.
Linking them with paths and planting helps the whole garden feel planned.
Garden rooms and pool houses
A garden room beside the pool is incredibly useful. It can be a changing room, a place to store towels and toys, a home gym or a spot to sit when the weather turns. Some families add an outdoor shower too, which keeps the pool water cleaner.
Room to entertain
If you love having friends over, plan for it. A dining table in the shade, a spot for the barbecue or an outdoor kitchen, and plenty of seating all help the pool become the centre of summer gatherings. Keep cooking areas a sensible distance from the water, and think about where people will walk with wet feet.
Space to breathe
It’s tempting to fill every corner. But leaving generous space around the pool makes it feel calm and uncluttered. It also makes cleaning and maintenance much easier.
Planting softens the edges and adds privacy
Planting is what makes a pool feel settled into the garden rather than dropped into it.
Choose poolside friendly plants
The right planting can make a garden pool feel like a quiet retreat. Plants near water should be tidy, tough and happy in sun. Ornamental grasses, lavender, rosemary, agapanthus and phormiums all work well in many UK gardens. Evergreen shrubs give year-round structure.
Plants to keep further away
Trees and shrubs that shed lots of leaves, berries or blossom can create extra work. So can anything with invasive roots. Keep these well back from the pool edge and the pipework.
Screening for privacy
Hedges, pleached trees, trellis and climbers can all screen the pool from neighbours. They also help shelter the water from the wind, so the pool stays warmer.
Pots and containers
Large planters are a flexible way to add greenery right beside the water. You can move them around as the seasons change and swap plants whenever you fancy a new look.
Finishing touches make a garden pool feel special
Once the essentials are in place, a few extras can lift the whole space.
Lighting
Underwater lights make the pool glow after dark. Add some low garden lighting, lit steps and a few uplighters in the planting, and the space becomes magical on summer evenings. Our guide to LED pool lights explains the options.
Heating
In the UK, heating is what turns a pool you use for a few weeks into one you use for months. We can include heating as part of your pool project and help you choose the right approach.
Covers
A good cover keeps heat in, keeps debris out and can add a layer of safety. It’s one of the most useful things you can add to any pool.
Water features
Gentle jets, a small cascade or a water blade add movement and sound. They’re lovely for masking traffic noise and creating a relaxing atmosphere. Talk to us about what might work with your pool.
Safety and practicalities deserve early thought
A beautiful pool also needs to be a safe one. Planning safety early means it fits the design naturally rather than feeling tacked on.
Protecting children
Young children should always be supervised around water. Many families choose a lockable safety cover, fencing or both. Placing the pool where you can see it from the house helps too. Our guide to swimming pool safety has lots of practical tips.
Planning permission
Many private pools fall within permitted development, but this isn’t guaranteed. It depends on your property, the size and position of the pool, and if you live in a conservation area or a listed building. Always check with your local council before you commit.
Water care
Every pool needs good filtration and balanced water. If you look after the water yourself, follow the label on any chemical, wear gloves and eye protection, never mix chemicals, always add chemical to water rather than water to chemical, keep swimmers out until the water is balanced, and store chemicals away from children and pets. We also offer servicing and aftercare if you’d rather leave it to us.
Thinking ahead
A pool is a long-term addition to your home, so it’s worth imagining how your family might change. Toddlers become teenagers who want to dive and race. Grandparents may visit more often and appreciate easy steps and a handrail. A garden pool that works for everyone now, and still suits you in ten years, is money well spent. A little thought at the design stage saves a lot of changes later. You can read more in our guide to swimming pool design.
Budget
We don’t include prices in our guides, because every garden and every design is different. We’ll give you a tailored quote once we’ve visited and understood what you’d like. That way the figure reflects your garden, your ground conditions and the features you actually want. If you’re weighing up your options, our guide to natural swimming pools is worth a look.
Keeping it simple with one team
Designing a pool can involve lots of decisions and lots of trades. It helps to have one team you can talk to about the pool itself, the heating, the cover, the lighting and the equipment. We handle all of those as part of your pool project, and we stay on hand afterwards for servicing and repairs. For paving, planting and garden buildings, we’re happy to talk to your landscaper or designer so everything fits together neatly. Clear communication early on makes the whole project calmer for everyone. For more ideas, take a look at our article on combining a pool and hot tub.
Garden pool questions we get asked a lot
How much space do I need?
Less than you might think. Compact pools can fit into modest gardens, as long as there’s room for access during installation and a little space around the edge.
How long does installation take?
A one-piece shell is much quicker to install than a pool built on site. We’ll give you a realistic timeline after our survey.
Can I use my pool all year?
With good heating and a cover, many owners swim from spring well into autumn. Some carry on through winter too.
Will a pool take over my garden?
Not if it’s designed well. Careful positioning, planting and zoning help the pool sit comfortably alongside lawn and play space.
Do I need to maintain it myself?
You can, but you don’t have to. We offer aftercare and servicing to keep your pool in great shape.
Can I add features later?
Some things, like lighting and covers, are easiest to include from the start. It’s worth thinking about them early, even if you add them later.
Designing a garden pool your family will love for years
The best pools feel like they’ve always been part of the garden. They’re in the right spot, the right shape and surrounded by spaces that make you want to linger.
If you’re starting to dream about a pool, we’d love to help turn your ideas into a design that works for your family.
Call us on 01483 323 676 or email hello@hilifepools.co.uk for a friendly, no-pressure chat, or get in touch online and we’ll come back to you.
