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When I first set up my round above ground pool, I thought it would always look like a pool someone just set up in the yard. I was wrong. With the right design moves, it can look as polished as a resort.
Round pools are affordable and easy to install, and their soft shape works beautifully with decks, planting, and lighting.
These round above ground pool design ideas cover decks, landscaping, lounging, lighting, and resort details. I have added three weekend projects and the safety basics, like keeping decks off the pool wall and electrical gear away from water.
1. Build a Wraparound Wood Deck
A wraparound deck hides the pool walls and gives usable space all around. Treated pine, cedar, and composite all work.
Keep the deck level with the rim, build it as its own frame, and run boards at a slight diagonal for a custom feel.
Quick checklist: For more layouts, see these above ground pool deck ideas.
- Keep the deck level with the pool rim so there’s no awkward step
- Add built in benches along one side to save space and add seating
- Use matching stain on the deck and any nearby fence for a clean, cohesive look
- Run the deck boards at a slight diagonal for a more custom, high end feel
- Hides the walls
- Usable space
- Own frame
2. Surround the Pool With Tropical Landscaping
The right plants make the pool feel like a vacation. Think tall, lush, and layered.
Use tall plants at the back for privacy, grasses in the middle, and low ground cover in front. A flat row looks like landscaping, but layers look like a resort.
Quick checklist: My above ground pool landscaping ideas show more ways to hide the frame.
- Use tall plants like arborvitae or bamboo as a privacy screen in the back
- Place medium plants like ornamental grasses and agapanthus at mid level
- Fill in the front with low ground covers or colorful annuals
- Add potted tropical plants on the deck itself for flexibility
- Vacation feel
- Layered planting
- Natural privacy
Project Card · 1 day · Easy
Materials Needed
- Tall screening plants or clumping bamboo in pots
- Ornamental grasses
- Low ground cover or annuals
- Mulch
- Garden spade
How to Make It
- Mark a curved bed a few feet out from the pool wall.
- Plant tall screening plants at the back of the bed.
- Add a row of grasses in front of them.
- Fill the front edge with low ground cover.
- Mulch, water well, and keep mulch from blowing into the pool.
3. Add a Modern Poolside Lounge Area
Where people sit matters as much as the water. A few matching loungers, a low side table, and a rug make the space feel intentional.
Leave a little breathing room between furniture and the pool.
Quick checklist:
- Weather resistant sectional or two to four matching loungers
- A low coffee table or side tables for drinks
- An outdoor rug to define the space and add warmth
- Throw pillows in a coordinated color palette (neutral base, one accent color)
- Intentional look
- Matching pieces
- Room to walk
4. Install Elegant Pool Lighting
Good lighting is the most underrated upgrade. String lights overhead, solar lights on the deck, and submersible lights in the water work together.
Warm white feels luxurious. Battery powered pool lights are easiest and safest for above ground pools.
Quick checklist: For more lighting looks, see these above ground pool lighting ideas.
- String lights hung from a pergola or poles above the pool area
- Solar powered LED stake lights along the deck perimeter
- Submersible LED lights inside the pool itself for a glowing water effect
- Uplighting aimed at nearby trees or tall plants to create depth
- Night use
- Warm white
- Battery pool lights
Project Card · 30 minutes · Easy
Materials Needed
- Submersible LED pool lights
- Solar deck lights
- String lights on a timer
How to Make It
- Charge the pool lights and stick them to the wall facing the center.
- Place solar lights along the deck edge and steps.
- Hang string lights high on posts or a pergola.
- Plug string lights into a covered GFCI outlet on a timer.
- Choose warm amber or soft blue for a resort look.
5. Create a Stone Patio Around the Pool
If a deck is not the right fit, a stone patio grounds the pool and gives a stable surface.
Large format pavers look modern. Stone gets hot, so keep a mat near the entry.
Quick checklist:
- Choose large format pavers (18×18 or bigger) for a more modern look
- Use a consistent grout color that complements the stone
- Leave a small gap between the patio and pool for drainage
- Add a border in a contrasting stone for a finished edge
- Grounded look
- Stable surface
- Modern pavers
6. Incorporate a Poolside Pergola
A pergola adds shade, defines the space, and gives you somewhere to hang lights and curtains.
Curtains on two sides create a cabana feel. Any ceiling fan should be rated for outdoor use and wired by an electrician.
Quick checklist:
- Hang outdoor curtains on two sides for a cabana feel
- Install a ceiling fan for airflow on hot days
- Train climbing vines over time for a natural, lush canopy
- Add string lights or a chandelier for evening ambiance
- Shade
- Cabana feel
- Outdoor rated fan
7. Design a Multi Level Deck
On a sloped yard, multi level decks add interest and make the pool feel built into the landscape.
Use the upper level for dining and the lower for lounging, with a railing between levels.
Quick checklist:
- Use the upper level for a table and chairs, the lower for lounging
- Add low railing between levels for safety and visual separation
- Light each level differently to create zones at night
- Consider a built in planter box at the edge of each level
- Visual interest
- Clear zones
- Railings
8. Add a Water Feature
Moving water changes the sound and feel of the whole backyard.
A solar spray fountain floats in the pool or clips on the edge with no wiring at all.
Quick checklist:
- A spillway fountain that attaches directly to the pool wall
- A raised rock or stone feature alongside the pool that cascades water in
- A standalone water wall feature positioned nearby
- A simple deck scupper that pours water into the pool
- Soothing sound
- No wiring
- Resort feel
9. Blend Indoor and Outdoor Living
If the pool is near the house, carry the same colors and materials outside so both spaces feel connected.
Match furniture colors to your interior and use similar tile at the doorway.
Quick checklist:
- Match outdoor furniture colors to your interior color palette
- Use the same or similar tile on an indoor to outdoor transition
- Install large sliding or folding glass doors if you’re renovating
- Hang exterior curtains that match interior window treatments in color
- Feels bigger
- Cohesive
- Matching colors
10. Build a Poolside Bar Area
A bar counter at the deck edge lets people sit in or out of the pool with drinks within reach.
Keep the counter surface slip resistant, use unbreakable cups, and choose stable stools.
Quick checklist: These above ground pool bar ideas have more layouts to try.
- Build a bar counter at the edge of the deck at pool rim height
- Use waterproof bar stools that can handle splashing
- Add a small outdoor refrigerator or cooler underneath the bar
- Install a simple outdoor sink for rinsing and convenience
- Resort fun
- No glass
- Stable stools
11. Create a Private Cabana Retreat
A cabana gives you shade near the water. A daybed with good cushions and curtains you can close is pure luxury.
A pergola, sail, or simple frame with curtains all create the feel. A outdoor canopy gazebo creates a cabana feel for far less than a built structure.
Quick checklist:
- A shaded structure, whether a pergola, sail shade, or full roof build
- Comfortable outdoor seating like a daybed or oversized lounge chairs
- Curtains on two or three sides for privacy and shade control
- A small side table and outdoor rug
- Shade retreat
- Daybed
- Curtains
12. Choose a Sleek Neutral Color Palette
A cohesive palette makes a backyard look designed. Stick to two or three colors everywhere.
Try warm wood with white and sage, or charcoal with teak and cream. Use accents in pillows and towels.
Quick checklist:
- Warm wood tones plus white plus soft sage green
- Charcoal gray plus natural teak plus cream
- Sandy beige plus black accents plus warm white
- Natural stone gray plus dark navy plus clean white
- Designed look
- Two or three colors
- Accent sparingly
13. Add Built In Planters Around the Deck
Built in planters look permanent and intentional, and tall grasses inside them give natural privacy.
Line the planters so moisture does not rot the wood.
Quick checklist:
- Ornamental grasses for movement and texture
- Lavender for fragrance near seating areas
- Dwarf shrubs for year round structure
- Trailing plants like sweet potato vine for a lush, spilling effect
- Looks permanent
- Natural privacy
- Lined boxes
Project Card · 1 afternoon · Moderate
Materials Needed
- Cedar boards
- Exterior screws
- Heavy plastic liner with drainage holes
- Potting mix
- Ornamental grasses
How to Make It
- Measure the deck corners for each planter.
- Build simple cedar boxes and screw them to the deck frame, not the pool.
- Line each box and poke drainage holes.
- Fill with potting mix and plant the grasses.
- Water gently so runoff stays off the deck.
14. Install an Outdoor Shower
An outdoor rinse keeps the pool cleaner and feels like a resort. A wall mounted shower, a post, or a portable rechargeable shower all work.
Place it between the pool and back door, and add a teak mat and towel hooks.
Quick checklist:
- Position it between the pool and the back door for the most use
- Use a warm wood or brushed nickel finish for a higher end look
- Add a small privacy screen if it faces the neighbors
- Choose a shower head with good pressure, not a flimsy garden hose setup
- Cleaner pool
- Resort feel
- Teak mat
15. Incorporate Fire Features Nearby
Fire and water balance each other and extend evenings outside.
A propane fire table is easy to use and has no embers. Keep any fire a safe distance from the pool and follow local rules.
Quick checklist:
- A gas fire table positioned in the lounge area
- A wood burning fire pit at a safe distance from the pool (check local codes)
- Tiki torches lining the pathway to the pool
- A built in fire pit integrated into a nearby seating wall
- Longer evenings
- No embers
- Safe distance
16. Create a Floating Deck Effect
A deck that seems to hover looks clean and modern. Hidden fasteners and a darker color create the effect.
Lights under the edge make the gap glow at night.
Quick checklist:
- Use hidden fasteners on deck boards for a smooth surface with no visible screws
- Choose a darker deck color that creates contrast against the ground below
- Add lighting underneath the deck edge so the gap glows at night
- Keep the space below the deck clear and clean
- Modern look
- Hidden fasteners
- Glowing edge
17. Design a Full Outdoor Living Room
Furnish the area like a room without walls. A large outdoor rug anchors a sofa, chairs, and coffee table.
Add side tables, pillows, and layered lights. The rug is the key piece.
Quick checklist:
- An outdoor rug large enough to anchor all the furniture
- A sofa plus two to four accent chairs arranged intentionally
- A coffee table and side tables at proper heights
- Layered lighting at multiple levels
- Decorative elements like lanterns, sculptures, or a tray with outdoor candles
- Room feel
- Anchored by a rug
- Layered lights
18. Add Luxury Resort Accessories
Thick towels on a rack, a drink station, lanterns, and matching floats signal a space that was designed, not assembled.
A weatherproof wireless speaker tucked into the planting adds the final resort touch. Rolled pool towels in a basket instantly feel like a resort.
Quick checklist:
- Thick, oversized pool towels in a matching color stack displayed on a rack
- A small outdoor beverage station with a tray, glasses, and a pitcher
- Poolside lanterns or hurricane candle holders
- Matching pool floats in two coordinating colors
- A small outdoor bar cart stocked and styled near the lounge area
- Finished feel
- Small details
- Resort vibe
How to Make an Above Ground Pool Look More Expensive
A few principles make any round pool look polished:
- Keep the area clean and clutter free
- Invest in the surround before accessories
- Buy fewer, better pieces of furniture
- Hide equipment while keeping access
- Commit to one color palette
- Use plants generously
Round Pool Sizes and How Much Space You Need
Round pools fit nicely into square yards and corners, but they need more space than the pool itself. Plan for walkways, equipment, and a deck before you buy.
Use these as rough guides:
- 12 foot pool: fits a small yard, about 20 by 20 feet of space with a walkway
- 15 to 18 foot pool: the most popular family size, about 26 by 26 feet
- 21 to 24 foot pool: room for real swimming, about 32 by 32 feet
- Leave about 3 feet behind the pool for the pump, filter, and service
- Keep the pool away from overhead power lines and septic systems
Small Upgrades With the Biggest Impact
If the budget is tight, start with the upgrades people notice first. A tidy border around the base, warm lighting, and a pair of good loungers make a round pool look far more expensive.
Next, add planters in matching colors and hide the pump behind a slatted screen with room for airflow. These small changes add up to a backyard that feels planned rather than pieced together.
Budget Friendly Ways to Create a Luxury Pool Look
You don’t have to spend a fortune to make a round above ground pool look like a resort. A lot of what makes high end pool areas look the way they do is about choices, not cost.
Start with what matters most. Prioritize the deck or surround first. A clean, finished surround does more for the look of the pool than any accessory.
DIY where it makes sense. Decks, simple planting projects, and DIY pergola kits are all achievable for someone with basic skills and a weekend. Labor is where costs climb fastest. Do it yourself where you can, and hire help for what you can’t.
Shop end of season sales. Outdoor furniture and pool accessories go on clearance at the end of summer. Buying for next year at 40 to 60 percent off makes a significant difference in budget.
Use plants generously. Plants are inexpensive, especially when you buy small and let them grow. A few bags of mulch, some affordable grasses and perennials, and a couple of afternoons of planting can transform the look of a pool area dramatically.
Focus on lighting. String lights are inexpensive and dramatically improve the evening atmosphere. Solar powered path lights require no wiring and cost very little. Good lighting is probably the highest return on investment upgrade you can make.
Use large format outdoor rugs. A single large outdoor rug under a seating area instantly makes the space look more put together. You can find durable, attractive options for reasonable prices, and they do an outsized amount of visual work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make a round above ground pool look luxurious?
Add a deck or stone surround, layered planting, soft lighting, and a few quality loungers in one color palette.
Can I build a deck that attaches to the pool?
Build the deck as its own frame. The pool wall should not carry the deck’s weight.
What lighting is safest for an above ground pool?
Battery powered submersible lights and solar lights avoid cords near water. Plug in lights belong on GFCI outlets well away from the pool.
What plants work well around a round pool?
Ornamental grasses, clumping bamboo in pots, hibiscus, and low ground covers that do not drop much litter.
How can I add shade to a round pool area?
Use a pergola, a cabana with curtains, a shade sail, or a large umbrella near the lounge area.
What size round pool is best for a family?
An 18 foot round pool is a popular family size. It fits most yards and leaves room for a deck and seating.
How do I make a round pool look built in?
Surround it with a deck or stone patio at rim height, add planting around the base, and hide the pump behind a vented screen.
Final Thoughts on Round Above Ground Pool Design Ideas
A round above ground pool does not have to look temporary. With thoughtful decking, lighting, landscaping, and accessories, it can become the best part of your backyard.
You do not need all 18 ideas. Pick three or four that fit your space, budget, and style, and build from there. For sleek modern shapes, see these modern backyard above ground pools.
