Pool lovers everywhere embrace the beauty and convenience their backyard oasis offers. Every costume party, birthday celebration, graduation or congratulations extravaganza can be staged just outside your own back door.
There’s a lot to be said for booking a catering hall, but even more to be said when you can welcome those you love to your home to celebrate life’s treasured moments.
Still, just because you have a pool doesn’t mean you need to have guests over all the time. This gracious space also provides sanctuary on the weekends and a place to accommodate those one-of-a-kind staycations where you have it all to yourself. (Check out our tips for planning the BEST staycation.)
And as they say in any infomercial worth its weight in broadcast dollars, “But wait… there’s more!”
Stepping Up Your Outdoor Entertainment Center
While pools are generally the focal point of your al fresco venue, the amenities and landscaping that frame the sparkling structure are what brings it all together. Like the interior of your home, it is typically a work in progress. Inside, there’s always a new furniture arrangement to be created, or a paint job to add a splash of color, or the option to add architectural interest with wainscoting, beautifully beveled moldings, and other high-end millwork. These elements transform a space.
Today, the outside is given the same consideration as the inside. You can fashion the ambiance to represent the mood you want to set – whether sleek contemporary or assimilated organic. In more great news, the useable square footage of your home gets expanded to include an entirely separate but integrated area.
Like interior design, the swimming pool industry thrives on innovation. We clearly live in an app-driven world where we remotely adjust our air conditioning and light the living room lamps. We can also get the spa going and turn up the pool temperature on our way home from work. (Or check the pH levels and get maintenance notifications.)
Besides the technology we can no longer live without, there is the opportunity to add special flourishes that rival luxury resorts.
What’s great about these particular additions to your backyard pool is that you can spend a lot of money or not. The number one consideration is always safety. Any structures or wiring you add should be installed by a licensed and bonded professional. All applicable permits should be filed.
Here are a couple of our favorite ideas for stepping up your backyard space!
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Outdoor Showers
This refreshing solution is perfect for both before and after you use the pool. Picture coming home from a stressful day and slipping into your suit. Stand for a few minutes in a relaxing mist and then take the plunge into that rejuvenating water. Encouraging other pool users to shower before entering the pool will also help keep it cleaner as the spray will wash away body creams and lotions, so those never make their way into the filtration system.
So, what look is right for you? We always recommend staying within your current design aesthetic for the most cohesive overall look. While diverse aesthetics can blend, you want to keep an eye on creating a seamless experience, so everything looks like it was always there, even as you continue to add more features.
Check out these outdoor shower ideas from House Beautiful. Just a heads up… once you feast your eyes on these splendors, you’ll be asking Siri to call your contractor!
One simple suggestion they make is to incorporate greenery. “Showering outdoors surrounded by palm leaves and foliage for days will make you feel like you’re on a tropical vacation — no matter where you actually are.”
Some designs even flaunt a bathtub for a truly decadent way to chill outdoors. Whether encircled by rustic stonework or embracing a minimalist vibe with a plank floor and a modern, pole-like shower head, this could well be your next, best spend on your beloved outdoor space.
Little touches go a long way for this type of improvement: hooks to hold towels, built-in shelves for shampoo and conditioner, a bench seat or stool, a mirror, and a decorative box to house hair ties and jewelry.
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Towel Warmers
This amenity is another that will add just the right touch of extravagance without going over the top of your budget. Like your indoor spa tub, your outdoor relaxation center would do well to wrap you in a haven of lush and toasty terrycloth.
These conveniences can certainly be on the high-end side where they make a style statement while serving up some indulgence.
However, for under $100, the logistical experts at Amazon will deliver a towel and robe warmer. This one holds six towels and two robes. The microwave warmers stay heated for two hours. Not a bad deal if you want to see what you’re missing before investing more.
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Aromatherapy
Typically, when you step into a well-appointed day spa, you are indulged in soothing scents. The calming power of those intentionally selected fragrances sets the tone for your treatment and subtly lifts your spirits.
This is the ideal (and very affordable way) to elevate your outdoor spa experience. How does hot tub aromatherapy work? According to PDC Spas:
Aromatherapy has been used for decades to cure many ailments. From the common cold and bruises, to mood and general malaise, botanical extracts have been shown in countless studies to contain active compounds which enhance psychological and physical well-being. With the benefits of aromatherapy being proven to help the body and mind, it is now a mainstay at spas and health clubs; the hot tub industry is not far behind.
For the following potpourri of things that ail you, they suggest these bouquets:
- Anxiety: Lavender, Jasmine
- Brain stimulation: Rosemary, Juniper, Sage
- Bruises: Lavender, Chamomile
- Colds: Eucalyptus, Pine Fir
- Depression: Rose, Basil, Geranium
- Insomnia: Tangerine, Basil, Geranium
- Migraine: Peppermint, Basil
- Muscle Pain: Rosemary, Lavender, Nutmeg
- Skin Ailments: Tea Tree Oil, Eucalyptus, Chamomile
- Stress: Fir, Spruce, Pine, Rose, Jasmine, Lavender
With an aura of contentment in the air, you can literally and figuratively take the time to smell the roses from the comfort of your bubbling tub. Immerse yourself.
In life and in backyard pool design, it is often the little things that make the biggest difference.
Providing pool and home improvement financing solutions since 1979, Lyon Financial loves how the dynamics of outdoor pool installations allow you to continue to add amenities as your needs change. We also love the difference we can make for your family by providing something that puts years of memories within reach. Call 877-754-5966 for more information about installing your corner of paradise!
