Looking for a cozy and refreshing place for you and your family with a small inground pool? (Is it hot out there? 🏊🌞 Here too!)
What one you want to try? Check out these 11+ small inground pool ideas.
And then we’re going to discuss small inground pool cost, plans, and layouts – plus some landscaping ideas you can incorporate to fit any budget and backyard size. Let’s get started!
1. Small Inground Pool with Mosaic Tiles
Mosaic tiles give your pool a personal touch; they can make your simple pool design into an artistic monument. They add color and texture to your simple pool design breaking up the monotony.
Great tilework provides the illusion of elegance, turning your pool into a private resort. Whether your taste runs to the brash or the subdued, mosaics can make your pool anything but ordinary.
2. Affordable Small Inground Pool Ideas
If dreaming of a swimming pool conflicts with your household budget, use simple designs and inexpensive materials so that the expense will be kept at a minimum.
With precast concrete or fibreglass shells, installation costs drop. Even simple landscaping can make your swimming pool look expensive.
3. Minimalist Small Inground Pool Design
Minimalist architecture makes a powerful impression: even followers of the modernist architectural movement believe that less is more. Go for clean lines, a simple rectangle.
Minimalism. Will emphasize the simplicity of the pool to show off its lines and shape. Ideal for those who like simple sophistication and avoid clutter.
4. Small Inground Pool with Tanning Ledge
Fancy building a tanning ledge to your small inground pool? You will soon love to sun yourself there!
It maximises utility, affording a shallow sun bathing/socialising area while still being deep enough to swim.
5. Compact Plunge Pool
Plunge pool are a trendy and excellent option for a small yard. It’s perfect not only for those who have less outdoor space but also for people who want to benefit from the refreshing effects of a bigger swimming pool.
Once you have a plunge pool, you don’t need a large expanse of yard just to get wet and cool down. Having more of the area enclosed, with a bench or seating area, allows you to make more comfortable use of the space.
6. Small Pool for Sloped Yards
A sloped yard? No problem: your pool can take many forms with retaining wall.
Step design or terracing will give your yard a dramatic look, and make use of its natural contours. You can also take advantage of these topographic attributes for interesting landscape features.
7. Small Inground Pool with Waterfall
A gorgeous waterfall will give it an illusion of romance and tranquility, like the pristine locations one sees on the Travel channel. The gentle sounds of a housefall can invoke a state of meditative relaxation.
Can be built to flow down into your pool adding ambience, while using different kinds of natural stone can add rustic charm (You can also choose sleek, modern lines).
8. Natural Small Inground Pool
A natural pool design tries to emulate the look of a pond or lake, with a softer, gentler look that doesn’t interrupt the environment surrounding the pool, creating a more eco-friendly and aesthetically pleasing solution.
Natural stones, plants and gravel can be used to design a soothing and welcoming pool area. This approach typically incorporates a biofilter system, leading to a reduction in chemicals and a safer ecological environment.
9. Small Inground Pool Deck Decorating Ideas
Your pool deck is the environment surrounding your pool, and it can really affect your overall charm. There are diverse ways you can upgrade; you can make it more comfortable by adding furniture or making it more vibrant with greenery.
Using teak wood for deck flooring, accentuating spaces with potted plants and providing comfortable lounge chairs help make it a homely place.
Details are everything; I love sitting in the pool.
10. Landscaping Ideas for Small Inground Pools
The landscaping you can help to make the area around the swimming pool beautiful and restful. For example: plants, stones and lights.
Add some evergreen plants, some decorative grasses, and perhaps a few carefully chosen rocks, and it can make a huge difference. Throw in some outdoor lighting, and you can use your pool area long after dark. 🌙✨
11. Small Inground Pool with Hot Tub Combo
What happens if you combine both experiences, huh? An inground pool with a connected hot tub can give you everything without having to move around.
With this dual-purpose design, you can try out cold waters in summer and enjoy warmth jets in winter.
Small Inground Pool Costs and Pricing $-$
A small inground pool, for instance, will require a certain budget in order to be installed properly and meet the needs of those who want to use it. This is the cost breakdown:
Initial Installation Cost
The initial expenses involved in instalation of an inground pool differ greatly according to numerous factors:
Materials
Vinyl:
Generally, the least expensive option, ranging in price from $20,000 to $35,000. But vinyl liners often need replacing every seven to 10 years, leading to skyrocketing long-term expenses.
Fiberglass:
Usually around $25,000 and $45,000. Fibreglass pools are sturdy and easy to maintain, but offer less customisation options than concrete.
Concrete (Gunite):
The most expensive option is the concrete pool, which can cost between $30,000 and $60,000 (or even more).
Concrete pools are highly customisable and quite durable but require a constant maintenance and require way longer installation time.
Size and Depth:
The larger and deeper the pool, the higher the cost. A modest pool (say, 10×20 feet) at shallow depths can be fairly affordable.
Complexity of Design:
Custom shapes, elevation changes, or tiered waterfalls, combined with integrated hot tubs, also increase installation costs.
TIP: You might want to plan for a ‘standard’ pool initially, but you can integrate more components in the future, saving money. (But remember to the project prepared to receive these items)
Site Preparation and Access:
For example, if the site is hard to get to or a lot of digging is required, this will increase the cost. It might also involve removing existing planting or dealing with awkward soil conditions – eg. having rocky ground – all of which can raise the cost.
Permits and Inspections:
Remember that local building permits and inspection fees can vary drastically, so be sure to factor them into your initial budget planning.📄
Additional Features:
Heating systems, extensive water circulation and purification systems, lighting, and automation could easily rack up tens of thousands of dollars in initial costs. 💧💧💧
Maintenance Costs
Maintaining a small inground pool involves regular and periodic costs:
Regular Upkeep
Chemicals:
Annual costs of pool chemicals, including chlorine, pH balancears and algaecides, can reach as high as $300 to $800 ($25/mo ~ $66/mo).
Cleaning and Equipment Maintenance:
Costs for brushes, vacuums and cleaning services Professional cleaning. Robotic cleaners represent a sunk cost upfront but an efficiency once deployed.
Heating:
Add up to $100 to $300 per month in energy costs if you choose to heat your pool (depending: electric, gas or solar).
Water and Electricity:
Of course, topping up by evaporation and just filling the pool once will increase your water bill, and you’ll also add to the electricity bill with pumps and filtration.
Repairs and Replacements:
Periodic repairs to pool surfaces, plumbing, and electrical systems should be anticipated. For vinyl vinyl-lined pools, factor in liner replacements every decade.
Plan for Contingencies:
Set aside 10% – 15% of your budget for your initial installation or early use (maybe something will inevitably go awry): requiring more materials, or corrections to the structure.
Small Inground Pool Ideas for Different Yard Types
When it comes to small inground pool ideas, it’s essential to consider the specific type of yard you have. Here are some tailored suggestions for various yard types: backyards, sloped yards, and small yards.
Backyards: How to Maximize Space in Suburban and Urban Backyards
Limited space can be a common problem in urban and suburban backyards, but a bit of forethought and some clever design strategies may help you optimise the space available to you.
You’ll make the most of your footprint by including multi-purpose features in your pool design – for example, built-in seating or a pergola. If you do this, you won’t need to squeeze so much into your swimming hole.
2°; choose a straight-sided pool shape, like rectangular (the most traditional shape) or L-shaped. These types of pools fit tighter against your property lines, freeing up space for plantings and outdoor living areas.
Vertical elements, such as trellises or vines, offer another way to open up a space, and it’s a good idea to integrate an outdoor dining or lounging area right next to a pool.
Sloped Yards: Using Terracing or Retaining Walls to Manage Elevation
Even yards with slopes are no problem. With thematic and creative design, you can develop those yards into eye-catching poolscapes.
Terracing, using retaining walls to create multiple flat spaces at different elevations, flatters slopes into something usable at multiple levels – perfect for graduating patios, often with garden beds as steps in between, and for the incorporation of static or cascading water features that can add nice effect.
Implement large steps in between levels to allow for ease of movement and to make the walkway more visually appealing.
Natural stone or timber retaining walls can lend a rustic, organic feel to the landscape, seamlessly integrating it with the surrounding environment.
Small Yards: Compact Designs that Make the Most Out of Limited Space
So, with small yards, you need to come up with a mindful design so that you can make the most of the area.
Maybe a compact pool design, such as a plunge pool or a narrow lap pool, which doesn’t sacrifice functionality but fits within a smaller footprint. Built-in seating or corner steps can maximize swimming space.
Try connecting your pool with elements such as a small deck, garden space or a fire pit In order to make a small area seem bigger, use reflective features like glass tiles or a fountain.
Deck Decorating Ideas for Small Inground Pools
Build a deck around your small inground pool and voila! You have yourself a backyard oasis. Here are easy ideas to help you maximise your space:
Seating Arrangements
Benches: Use built-in benches under the deck’s overhang. You’ll get plenty of seating while keeping your deck free of obstructive furniture – plus they can double as storage.
Loungers: Go for thin, compact loungers that can be moved or stored easily if not in use and opt for weather-resistant materials such as teak and aluminium.
Multi-Functional Pieces: Look for furniture that has multiple purposes, such as a bench that converts into a picnic table, or seats that also have hidden storage.
Outdoor Living Spaces
Dining Zones:
Compact Dining Sets: Smaller tables and chairs are a great choice for poolside dining if you only have a small group of 2-4 people. Folding or stackable chairs can be easily put away when not in use.
Outdoor Kitchen: A small barbecue or grill station can create an alfresco dining area, especially if one is poolside and casually invited for a cookout or relaxing evening.
Lounging Areas:
Providing shelter: Umbrellas, pergolas and retractable awnings can help create shaded spots, making it comfortable to lounge even in the middle of the day. ☀️
Soft Seating: Use outdoor sofas or a sectional configuration with waterproof cushions and throw pillows for customisation.
Fire Pit: A tiny fire pit or tabletop fireside can give warmth and atmosphere, extending the use of the area into the evening.
Creative Deck Materials
Wood:
Natural look: Wood decking has a timeless, natural look. Cedar, redwood, and treated pine are all popular choices, as they are durable and have either a natural or treated rot-resistance. 🪵
Maintenance: Frequent resealing or restaining to preserve the wood against the weather.
Composite:
Low-maintenance: Made of a composite of wood fibres and plastic, it repels rot, warping, and bugs. All you have to do to maintain the look is cleaning it off every once in a while.
Versatility: Available in a broad range of colours and finishes, it can look like real wood without the maintenance headaches.
Interlocking Pavers:
Versatility: Colours, shapes, sizes and materials (including concrete and stone) are endlessly adaptable. Interlocking pavers are easy to install, or remove for repairs, and can be arranged into a wide variety of patterns. 🪨
Durability: They’re very durable and weather-resistant. If individual pavers become damaged, they can be easily replaced without needing to remove the entire deck. 👍
Other Materials:
Travertine: A luxury choice that is kept cool to the touch, even when in direct sunlight, it is more durable and slip-resistant, but also more expensive.
Rubber Tiles: Good for comfort and safety eg. for families with young children. It is rubber and soft floor underfoot, with good traction.
Conclusion
With a few small inground pool deck design ideas, your small backyard oasis can look amazing as a convenient summer home for the whole family. Start to think of your backyard as a versatile outdoor living space with efficient seating arrangements, distinct conversations areas, and durable, attractive deck materials.
Shade structures and a few comfy fire pits further enhance it. These tips are simple and effective – your petite pool deck will serve hopping swimming needs.
I really hope that your entire summer, as well as your family’s, is refreshing, relaxing, and filled with wonderful memories of fantastic experiences. 🌞
💛From the creation of your pool to moments where you can spend hours with the people who matter most to you.
