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After building your above-ground pool yourself, I bet you’re proud of your work. However, if you want your outdoor pool area to be stunning, your work isn’t done yet. You can design and decorate your pool to improve your swimming experience, make it aesthetically pleasing, and make guests never want to leave your pool area. There are so many backyard pool ideas on a budget you can try to upgrade your swimming experience.
If you’re looking for inspiration to make your pool more visually appealing, I have some ideas to help make it happen.
In this article, I’ll discuss 11 backyard pool ideas on a budget you’ll love most.
1. Build a Bar Next to your Pool
This is one of the major pros of having an above-ground pool. A pool with a bar can improve your house parties, and guests will want to hang out at your place. You can also have drinks with friends and family while enjoying a refreshing dip in the pool.
Most above-ground pools are the right height for bar stools and can be fun to build if you’re handy with tools.
2. Landscaping around your Pool
Decorating your above-ground pool with shrubs and perennials is the perfect way to use that space in your backyard. Just ensure the plant roots won’t disturb the pool liner by installing landscape edging to keep the plants from getting too close to the pool. This is one of the best backyard pool ideas on a budget, I love it because flowers and plants are highly accessible and somewhat easy to maintain.
You can merge perennials with potted plants, large decorative rocks, and other garden decorations to draw attention to your outdoor pool area.
3. Surround your Above-ground Pool with Decking
One of the most creative backyard pool ideas on a budget is building a deck. It is also an easy way to make the ground feel more level if your yard is on a slope or hill. A deck also creates more space for seats, hot tubs, and an outdoor kitchen.
4. Create a Multi-level Look
If you want to turn your outdoor pool area into a luxury swim spot, consider constructing a multi-level tiered deck around it. You can have various functions for the different deck levels, each with its activities like sunbathing, relaxing, and dining.
5. Paint a Colorful Backdrop
You can paint the fence or garden wall behind your above-ground pool area to transform it into a tropical paradise, seaside mural, or desert scenery. If you’re not good with a paintbrush, try a stencil or paint the fence or wall in bold colors.
Backyard pool ideas on a budget are not so hard to do. Painting. to be specific only requires a little creativity and pots of paint. You can include some potted plants to go with the painting’s theme to make this design come together. For example, the cacti plants and the sun loungers in the image above go with the desert wall painting.
6. Furniture on your Above-ground Pool Deck
If you decide to build the pool deck I mentioned previously, consider decorating it with outdoor furniture.
Swimming for a prolonged time can be tiring, so sitting and relaxing on chaise lounge chairs is a good idea. You can also sunbathe on them to work on a tan.
Although chaise lounge chairs are popular, you must measure your pool deck to determine the size of patio furniture that will fit in.
7. Add Lighting to your Above-ground Pool
Installing lighting around your pool is not only for safety reasons but also to bring elegance and charm to your outdoor pool area.
Installing LED lights is one of the easiest backyard pool ideas on a budget because they’re easy to maintain, last longer, and are energy-efficient. But if you prefer floating lights, you can use them to create a dreamy atmosphere. However, it’s less energy efficient and requires more maintenance.
8. Stylish Deck Railings
If you add a deck around your outdoor pool, you might want to install a decking railing for safety. However, this railing doesn’t have to be ugly to serve its function. Various kinds of stylish designs will make your outdoor pool area more beautiful.
In the image above, the glass-paneled design allows people swimming to enjoy the view. But the tall fence around the back end of the deck adds a contemporary touch, with privacy and shade.
9. Add a Fire Pit to Make it More Cozy
Including an above-ground fire pit will make the atmosphere more inviting and cozy. Imagine you have a gathering at night with friends and family, with delicious food and great conversation around a pool fire pit. You can probably feel the fire’s warmth as you picture it, right?
An experience like that can remain vivid for a long time. This deck fire pit will also keep everyone comfortable when temperatures drop at night.
10. Integrating an Existing Deck
Combining an existing outdoor deck with your above-ground pool will create a natural extension of your outdoor living space, making your pool area look more polished and attractive.
Using an existing deck maximizes the space available, reducing the need to build a new pool deck. This also reduces material and labor costs.
This cost-saving approach simplifies the design and allows pool owners to match materials and colors for a uniform look.
Lastly, Incorporating an existing deck into an outdoor pool increases its accessibility, boosting a user-friendly experience.
11. Add a Gravel Ring around the Above-ground Pool
Use gravels and rocks to keep grasses away from your outdoor pool. Why? Because you’ll eventually want to trim it with a weed wacker, which could damage your pool’s walls.
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Furthermore, you can be creative with the type of rocks and gravel you use to surround the pool to find the kind that looks great in your pool area.
Hanging out at your backyard pool is a terrific way for you and your family to have fun, especially in an era where everybody is always on their phone.
But that doesn’t mean your outdoor pool area should be hideous, with your pool serving a strictly functional purpose. Decorate it to make your experience more enjoyable during the swim season. Use the tips above to beautify your above-ground pool successfully.
