Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food and Recipes
  • Culture and Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • Home
  • Gardening Ideas
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      Here are the haircuts you'll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More
    • 50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. Read More
  • Food and Recipes

    Food and Recipes

    See All Food and Recipes
    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    It’s not all in the senses, but they sure can help.
    • Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Dinner
    • Kitchen Assistant
    • Casserole
    • Holiday and Occasion Food
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Healthy and Light
    • Side Dishes
    • Party Food and Drink
    • Appetizers
    • Meat
    • Breakfast
    • BBQ
    • Drinks
    • What's Cooking
  • Culture and Lifestyle

    Culture and Lifestyle

    See All Culture and Lifestyle
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with these unique nicknames.
    • Quotes and Sayings
    • Biscuits and Jam Podcast
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Healthy Living
    • Coastal Living
  • Style

    Style

    See All Style
    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look. While others are hitting the squats and going into the salon for a pixie cut, why not start slow and steady with a cozy winter manicure in a color that feels new to you? It takes only a little courage to step outside your usual OPI Lincoln Park After Dark or Essie Bordeaux, which is all you need to kick 2022 off on a fanciful foot.  From new wintry takes on classic dark nail colors to unique pops of color that'll have you feeling the opposite of boring, these are the best nail colors to try this January and tick off all the way into spring. 
    • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Fashion
    • Short Hairstyles
    • Nails
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Skincare
    • Long Hairstyles
  • Holidays & Occasions

    Holidays & Occasions

    See All Holidays & Occasions
    • Thanksgiving
    • Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Mother's Day
    • Hanukkah
    • New Year's
    • Easter
    • Mardi Gras
    • 4th of July
    • Weddings
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles. We're turning away from big-box stores and toward vintage items—first, out of necessity due to supply-chain issues, and now, for design reasons—to add charm and character to every room in the house, including the kitchen. Here, interior designers from around the South share their predictions for what's trending in kitchen design for 2022 and beyond.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Kitchen Design
    • Before & After Photos
    • Bathroom Design
    • Curb Appeal
    • Bedroom Design
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Color Palettes & Paint
    • House Plans & Builders
    • Inspired Communities
  • Gardening Ideas

    Gardening Ideas

    See All Gardening Ideas
    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    Plus a few strategies for keeping them out-of-doors
    • Container Gardening
    • Gardening Flowers
    • Fruit, Vegetable & Herb Gardens
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Guides A-Z
    • Indoor Plants
    • Fall Plants
    • Landscaping Ideas
    • The Grumpy Gardener
  • News

    News

    See All News
    • Celebrities
    • Local News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Gardening Ideas
  3. 17 Sparkling Pools

17 Sparkling Pools

Southern Living May 2021 Cover
By Southern Living Editors
Skip gallery slides
FB
Magnificent Miami Pool
Credit: Roger Foley
Integrate a pool into your landscape with tips and inspiration from this roundup of inspiring pools.
Start Slideshow

1 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Lowcountry Pool with Marsh Views

Lowcountry Pool with Marsh Views
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

The see-through steel cable fence enclosing the pool deck is just right for soaking in the marshy views of this Lowcountry locale.

1 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Modern Pool

Walk on Water
Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Concrete pavers set in the saline pool provide a path from the house to the porch and allow the water's edge to hug the building.

2 of 17

3 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Magnificent Miami Pool

Magnificent Miami Pool
Credit: Roger Foley

Attention to detail integrates this pool with the overall landscape. Soft, cool grass runs right up to the water's edge, creating a more natural environment than harsh concrete would. Tiles on the pool's floor color the water a deep blue. A trio of coral stone fountains topped with variegated false agaves adds color, texture, and the sound of splashing water.

  • See more of this Coral Gables Garden

3 of 17

Advertisement

4 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Urban Pool Retreat

Urban Pool Retreat

This lap pool is bordered with luscious greenery making it resemble a river.

4 of 17

5 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Poolside Perch

Poolside Perch
Credit: Photo: Roger Foley

This pool house boasts an open-air living room with all the comfort and attitude of its indoor counterparts.

  • See more of this Summer House Backyard Retreat

5 of 17

6 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Poolside Container Garden

Poolside Container Garden

Whether you're dining al fresco or dangling your feet in the water, this pool draws you into a lush canvas of textures, colors, and flowers.

6 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Year-Round Pool House

Year-Round Pool House

This homeowner wanted an outdoor fireplace. By putting it under the porch, the family can use the fireplace and the pool house year-round even when it’s too cold to use the pool.

7 of 17

8 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Blissful Pool

Blissful Pool
Credit: Photo: Charles Walton IV / Styling: Leigh Anne Montgomery

Large ‘Medjool’ palms flank this pool to offer some shade, while the trunks add a layer of contrasting tone and texture against the white walls. Underfoot is Dominican shellstone, a type of limestone found in the Caribbean. The stones are loosely packed and sand set. Spaces between them are seeded with green dichondra to soften them visually.

  • See more of this Coastal Courtyard

8 of 17

9 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Soothing Pool

Soothing Pool
Credit: Photo: Joseph De Sciose

You can mask the chatter of neighbors and drown out road noise with running water. The trickle of running water can also make a space seem cooler than it really is, and a simple fountain may be all you need to get the same effect.

9 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Secret Lap Pool

Secret Lap Pool
Credit: Photo: Charles Walton IV

This courtyard lap pool acts as a reflecting pool as much as a place for exercising. The sound of water adds serenity to outdoor areas.

10 of 17

11 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Lush Poolside Deck

Lush Poolside Deck
Credit: Photo: Joseph De Sciose

For extra drama, this homeowner added spiky and vertical plants, such as ornamental grasses and caladiums, to her pots. Group several containers together in prominent locations around the pool, and stagger heights, if possible, as done here on the steps.

  • See more of this Summertime Pool Oasis

11 of 17

12 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Glorious Pool Oasis

Glorious Pool Oasis
Credit: Photo: Allen Rokach

Jets of water arch gracefully from both sides of the pool, lending elegance. Italian cypresses form stately columns. When the pool jets are off, the water mirrors the trees and gazebo. The gazebo's wooden arch perfectly frames the view of the pool and house.

12 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Courtyard Pool

Courtyard Pool
Credit: Photo: Charles Walton IV

Besides several seating areas, this courtyard offers a fully functional outdoor kitchen. A shallow plunge pool offers a great place to cool off on hot summer days.

13 of 17

14 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Low Maintenance Pool

Low Maintenance Pool
Credit: Photo: Ralph Anderson Styling: Leigh Anne Montgomery

The maintenance list for this back yard is short enough to fit on a sticky note. Native plants and natural material make upkeep a breeze. No sweeping beds of azaleas or rows of fussy flowers here. Elevated 2 feet above grade, the pool offers a commanding view of the landscape.

14 of 17

15 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Natural Pool Oasis

Natural Pool Oasis
Credit: Photo: Van Chaplin

This space is a shining example of how water features and gardens can work well together. A long, narrow, rectangular lap pool is set into the middle of the yard. The shape provides plenty of room for swimming, while the location makes it the centerpiece of the design. Dark ribbons of dwarf mondo grass fill the cracks between flagstones. The mondo grass creates a cooler, less reflective surface and reinforces the natural-looking appearance of the space.

15 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Exotic Tropical Style Pool

Exotic Tropical Style Pool
Credit: Photo: Laura Moss, Styling: Natasha Louise King

Designer and homeowner Muffie Faith of Elizabeth Stuart Design was inspired by Thailand and nearby Pawleys Isaland, SC when creating this Tropical Style Pool. Windmill palms that stand like architectural columns delineat the pool house entrance.

  • See More of Muffie's Tropical Style Pool House

16 of 17

17 of 17

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Pristine Emerald Pool

Pristine Emerald Pool
Credit: Photo: Roger Foley

Giving an old pool new life meant salvaging shrubs, adding grass, and losing lots of concrete. New steps on either side of the spa make it easy to enter and exit the narrow pool. A tea olive hedge creates a fragrant backdrop for the simple wooden pergola at the far end of the pool.

17 of 17

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Southern Living Editors

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 17 Lowcountry Pool with Marsh Views
    2 of 17 Modern Pool
    3 of 17 Magnificent Miami Pool
    4 of 17 Urban Pool Retreat
    5 of 17 Poolside Perch
    6 of 17 Poolside Container Garden
    7 of 17 Year-Round Pool House
    8 of 17 Blissful Pool
    9 of 17 Soothing Pool
    10 of 17 Secret Lap Pool
    11 of 17 Lush Poolside Deck
    12 of 17 Glorious Pool Oasis
    13 of 17 Courtyard Pool
    14 of 17 Low Maintenance Pool
    15 of 17 Natural Pool Oasis
    16 of 17 Exotic Tropical Style Pool
    17 of 17 Pristine Emerald Pool

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Southern Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    17 Sparkling Pools
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.