Now that summer is in full swing, there is no better place to be than in a pool—especially since we’re in a heat wave. And while not everyone can afford to jet off to Europe and enjoy a cliffside dip along the Mediterranean, there are ways to bring those vacation vibes to your own backyard. Below, I’m breaking down three easy, designer-approved upgrades you can use to pretty up your pool in just one weekend.
Create a Cohesive Color Palette
You should treat your backyard pool like any other room in your house. Start with a mood board and build your palette from there. Want to feel like you’re on the Amalfi Coast? Aim for bold reds, like these homeowners did in their Italian-inspired backyard getaway, or sunny yellows. Channeling more of a Mediterranean feel? Go for classic blue and white. Ground all your choices in real places and moments to make them feel authentic, even if your pool is thousands of miles from the ocean.
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Pick Outdoor Upholstery with Personality
On a similar note, when picking your color palette, don’t shy away from bold fabrics. The great outdoors can handle whatever color and pattern you throw at it, so feel free to let your pattern-loving heart run wild. Decorator and Country Design 100 honoree Heather Chadduck Hillegas chose a fun, retro-inspired print for her pool. Performance fabrics used to have a reputation for being boring or one-note, but thanks to the explosion of direct-to-consumer brands like Spoonflower, personality-forward performance fabrics have never been more accessible—or affordable.
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Add Whimsy with a Fringed Umbrella
Put the “fun” in “fun in the sun” with a fringed patio umbrella. Good design is all about elevating the everyday—and that extends to your umbrella. These have become especially popular over the last few years, but in simple colors they are guaranteed to feel timeless. Stick to blue and white for a classic look, or go for a gingham for a dash of whimsy.
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Bonus: Skip Concrete, Go for Grass
You’ve likely noticed that many of the pools I’ve shown here have a grass surround, not stone or concrete decking. I know, I know. I can hear you now: Anna, grass will get in the pool! It may end up clogging the filter! Agh!
Hear me out: A meadow pool—which is the proper name for a pool with a grass surround—is the most classically country version of an in-ground pool you can have. Grass is more family-friendly than concrete and helps keep the area much cooler than any other material. I won’t deny that meadow pools may require more upkeep than a traditional pool with decking, but I think they’re worth it. I have spent every summer for nearly 30 years at a pool with a large grassy area, and it’s never caused a major issue. Plus, if you love the look but hate the idea of upkeep, there is always turf. Naturalistic landscaping has only gotten more popular in the last few years, and it’s time we consider whether grass really is the superior pool surround.
Anna Logan is the Deputy Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When she’s not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.
