Choosing the Right Pool for Your Home
There are many reasons why you might want to have a swimming pool at your home. You might want to get fit, have the means to cool down on hot summer days, or have your home be a social center by hosting kids parties or gatherings of friends and family. Or even all of the above!
Whatever your reason, deciding that you want a pool for your home is only the start of your journey. The next step is deciding what sort of pool you should get to best meet your priorities.
In this article, we’re going to look at some of the most popular types of inground pools and see what kind of activities and uses they are best suited for.
How do I choose the right pool?
We’ve already mentioned that what you want to use your pool for is going to be a major factor in deciding what the right pool for you and your home is going to be. But it’s not the only thing you need to think about, because you also need to take into account the space you have in your backyard and the budget you have available.
Choosing an Infinity pool
An infinity pool is probably the most indulgent of all the choices available, using the latest technology to give the impression of the water flowing over the edge of the pool.
That makes it the perfect choice if you like to laze around in the water, especially if you have a spectacular view to go with it. On the other hand, it also makes infinity pools an expensive option and, although they are generally safe to use, we probably wouldn’t recommend one if you have young children.
Read our ultimate guide to infinity pools to discover more about their many benefits.
Choosing a Freeform pool
When you choose a freeform pool, you have the opportunity to let your imagination run wild, because it can be just about any shape you want it to be. That in turn means that you can use it for pretty much anything you want.
Having said that, the irregular shape of a freeform pool means that, while you’ll still get some of the health and fitness benefits of being in the water, it’s not the best choice for repeated laps and lengths. On the other hand, there probably isn’t a better choice if parties and big gatherings are your number one motivation for having a pool in your own backyard.
The unique design means you’re likely to be paying more than you would for a more regularly-shaped pool, and you’ll also need to have plenty of space available if you really want to make the most of its benefits.
For more information regarding freeform pools, you can visit our article on Celebrity Homes with Stunning Freeform Pools.
Choosing a Geometric pool
Geometric pools, may not always be the most exciting pools from a design point of view – although they can be made a lot more interesting by adding extras such as water features and pool lighting – but they are nevertheless ideal for those wanting their pool to fulfill a number of functions at the same time.
The regular shape means that you won’t incur high design charges and they can be as big as you have the space for. Meanwhile, the shape also makes it ideal for exercise and you should have more than enough room to make for a good social gathering.
Choosing a Cocktail pool
A cocktail pool won’t allow you to host big parties – you won’t be able to fit more than a handful of friends in at any one time – or get super fit, because they are the type of pool you’re likely to choose if you only have limited space in your backyard.
In fact, they are generally no bigger than 400 square feet, and often considerably smaller. That means that, like an infinity pool, they’re more suited to lazy days than anything else.
Read more about cocktail pools in our earlier article.
Choosing an Exercise lap pool
The clue is in the name here! Although it can still be enjoyed in many ways, the main aim of an exercise lap pool is to take advantage of the many health benefits of having a pool but for those who don’t have the space for a large pool in their backyard.
Also known as endless pools, they often incorporate a flow of water for you to swim against so that you can get maximum benefit from your time in the water.
That sort of technology can bump up the price a bit, but the long-term boost to your heart, lungs and general fitness could make that investment more than worthwhile.
Which side of the house is best for a pool?
Along with deciding what type of pool you want, you might also wonder where it should go – here are a few factors you should consider before making a decision:
- Privacy – you don’t really want to place your pool where all your neighbors can see you. You’ll usually get the most privacy at the back of your house
- Sunlight – when it comes to a backyard swimming pool, it’s usually a case of the more hours of sunlight it catches the better!
- Vegetation – ideally you don’t want to place your pool too close to the surrounding vegetation, otherwise you’ll be spending half your time fetching leaves and other material out of the water.
Whatever type of pool you choose for your backyard, the experienced designers and builders at Burleson Pools can help turn your dreams into reality. And if you’re still not sure which pool would best suit your home or where the best location in your backyard for it to go would be, we can take the time to assess the space and discuss your options.
Want to know more? Then get in touch with the friendly team at Burleson Pools. We’re award-winning pool builders for homes and families throughout Huntsville in Alabama, to Chattanooga in Tennessee and beyond.
