Having a pool in your own backyard is great, but you can exponentially enhance how much you enjoy the pool by adding some extra features to it. Whether you’re just in the middle of designing your pool with Austin swimming pool builders or already have a pool that you just want to upgrade, there are a number of options available to you that will add an extra level of comfort and convenience.

  1. Tanning Ledge/Sun Shelf

A few short years ago, it wasn’t ever common to see sun shelves or tanning ledges in residential pools. Usually, you would see them at high-end luxury hotels and resorts. But these days, this feature is becoming more and more common in homes.

A sun shelf is an area that spans along the pool’s perimeter and is somewhat like a wide, shallow step that’s typically about 4 to 8 feet long and 3 to 1.5 feet deep. A popular tactic is to build an extended first step to the pool entry that also serves as a tanning ledge. These sun shelves come in all sorts of shapes, including rectangles, circles, or even customized, free-form shapes.

The ledge surface can be covered in the same interior finish as the pool to make it look like a seamless extension. These ledges are ideal for tanning or lounging while keeping cool in the water. Just add an umbrella, a small table, and a beverage, and you’ve got yourself a wonderful way to chill out by the pool!

  1. In-Pool Dining Area

Not only can you tan and relax by the pool, you can also enjoy a meal with your family or friends! Adding an in-pool dining table with chairs or bench-style seats along with beverages and food is a great way to have your dinner. You can also use this furniture to enjoy a board game or a game of cards.

The best way to ensure this arrangement works is to plan ahead and integrate the table and seating preferences into the pool design right from the start with Austin swimming pool builders. Be sure to discuss the number of people that you want the table and seating to accommodate.

  1. Sports/Activities

A sports pool or play pool typically resembles just about any other type of pool, as the sports or play element is hidden beneath the water’s surface and is rarely visible to anyone. The design is very practical, and the depth configuration offers more usable area for those who love to frolick in the water or for families with young kids. A sports pool features two shallow ends with a deeper area in the middle, rather than the average pool that starts shallow at one end and gradually gets deeper.

If you’re just getting started with a new pool design with Austin swimming pool builders or are thinking of enhancing the one you already have, consider any one of these pool features!