Your pool is a perfect place for you and your family to gather for fun family moments. If you’re planning to build a swimming pool that your whole family can enjoy, consider choosing pool water features that create opportunities for both fun play and relaxation. Your swimming pool has many different options and they all offer unique ways to enjoy family fun. Here are a few that we love, starting with the more traditional favorites and ending with some newer trends.
Water Slides
The water slide is one of the biggest attractions for younger kids and certainly a swimming pool classic. They love the feeling of the fall and the big splash into the pool. Adults enjoy slides too! Try spending a few minutes with your kids on the slide this summer and reconnect with your childhood! Your pool slides range from prefabricated products to custom-built slides that use the design elements of your pool to create a more subtle slide area that doesn’t detract from your pool’s style.
Diving Boards
Diving boards are also a well-loved family fun feature for your pool. The diving board is not for everyone, but for those that can swim well, it can be the best part of a pool. If you’re thinking of including a diving board in your backyard pool, it’s important to let your designer know early on in the process. Pools with diving boards need to be a bit bigger as they require a deep end. Including a deep end in your pool can make the pool less enjoyable for other swimmers. Since the deep end is largely unusable for pool games and other leisure activities, some homeowners choose to use an l-shape approach to their design, making the large portion of the pool more naturally sloped and dedicated the l extension to the deep end. This ensures a pool design that meets all of your needs.
Volleyball Net
When it comes to family fun in the pool, there is nothing that beats a volleyball net. Playing water volleyball is not only great exercise, but it is also a great way to spend more time with your family and friends. Your pool builder can install fittings into your pool deck that will allow for easy set-up and take-down of your volleyball net.
Spas
Another great feature of a family pool is the spa area. There is nothing quite like going from the warmth of the spa to the coolness of the pool. When elevated, the spa also creates a dramatic focal point for your pool design. Consider giving your spa a spill-over feature for a beautiful effect that the kids will also get added fun from. (Always make sure that kids are well attended in the spa- while it is more shallow it is not a baby pool and still poses drowning risks.)
Scuppers
Scuppers are a staple water feature for almost every geometric pool design. The appearance of this water feature can vary from incredibly simplistic to ornate and complicated. Many pool owners will choose to incorporate scuppers:
- Within planter boxes
- Along with a raised spa (the spa is usually attached)
- Along walls which border the pool
This water feature is typically incorporated in pairs or sets of three, though pool owners can choose to have as many as necessary for the desired audible and visual effect.
Sheer Descent Waterfalls
Arguably the most complementary water feature to the geometric pool given its matching crisp lines is the sheer descent waterfall. Unlike the typical bubbling rock waterfall which often accompanies freeform pools, the sheer descent provides a smooth cascade of water that continuously pours into the pool. Not only is it a visual delight, but many include this waterfall in their pool designs because of its therapeutic qualities.
Grottos
Grottos are constructed of a variety of stone and stone-like materials in any size and scale. They use a combination of stone structure and flowing water to create a cave-like area that kids and adults will all enjoy! They are a classic addition to any pool and spa style.
Bubblers
Bubblers are upward-facing water jets placed in shallow pool areas. The jet breaks the water surface in a fun, bubbling fashion that kids and babies love! You can backlight them with colored lights to add to the fascination and create an impressive night display.