15 Popular Pool Design Trends of 2026

April 23, 2026

Having a swimming pool in your backyard can be a great addition to your custom home design. And, it’s one that you’ll probably be happy you included as the temperatures heat up! As you think about the details of your dream custom home, here are some popular pool design trends of 2026 to provide some inspiration for this backyard feature:

Saltwater pools
Built-in features
Integrated slides
Swim jets
Compact pools focused on functionality
Wildlife-friendly ramps
Smart technology
Darker interior finishes
Glass tile
More plants
Water curtains
Integrated spas
Combining fire and water
Nearby outdoor showers
Acrylic features

1. Saltwater Pools

Traditionally, swimming pools were disinfected with chlorine and other chemicals. The smell of chlorinated pools and summer fun went hand-in-hand for many years. Now, we have other options – one of which is saltwater pools.

Chlorinated pools can accumulate a buildup of chloramines, often resulting in irritated eyes, irritated skin, and even asthma-like responses in some people. There are pros and cons of saltwater pools, too. But one of the big pros is that saltwater pools avoid this buildup of chloramines by using electrolysis to dissolve the salt and provide a continuous supply of sanitation to the pool.

Generally, this results in a similar level of disinfection without a lot of the annoying side effects that can come with traditional chlorine-based systems. When it comes to swimming pool pros and cons, one of the biggest drawbacks is maintenance. Saltwater pools can alleviate this concern slightly for some homeowners, as these pools also tend to be easier to maintain.

2. Built-In Features

When you get the chance to design and build your own custom home, you also get the chance to pick out the details of every element – including your swimming pool. One of the most popular pool design trends of 2026 continues to be built-in features. The luxurious side of this trend shows popular resort features making their way into residential pools to enhance and create incredible outdoor living spaces.

Swimming pools aren’t just for swimming. They’re often used for lounging and relaxation. Plus, they often become the focus of any summer gatherings you host. Why stick with a standard pool design where you’re limited to sitting on the edge or using a pool float when you don’t have to? Instead of limited options, a custom-designed pool allows you limitless possibilities! In fact, not opting for some customization is one of the pool design mistakes to avoid.

Think about how you might want to use your pool. You can still have plenty of space available to swim laps, but you can also incorporate built-in features to enhance your experience. Consider comfortable features like:

Built-in stairs
A built-in ledge or submerged sun deck
A sun shelf
A tanning lounge or Baja shelf
Built-in loungers
Built-in umbrellas
A bubbler fountain

You could even opt for a built-in bar with seating for the ultimate in summer social seating! You can even create a “dry” seating area in the middle of your pool with a fire pit for a totally new pool experience!

Shelves for shallow-water relaxation or seating areas can also be a way to create multi-level spaces or asymmetrical layouts in your pool design. Relaxing outdoor living spaces are features to consider in custom home construction, and a pool with all the right built-in features could be part of that for your home.

3. Integrated Slides

When it comes to custom design and build, the possibilities are practically endless, and that’s true for pool design and built-in features as well. Usually, your only limit is budget and space. In addition to more functional built-in features, like stairs or ledges, slides are another feature that continues to gain popularity in 2026.

Although you can add a slide later, integrated rock slides are coming out on top with new pool designs. Generally, these are showing up as a rock waterfall or grotto with a slide built into and integrated into the structure. In some cases, it’s a slide that is integrated into the rock structure. In other cases, it’s a custom slide flume, or landscape slide, that is built of similar materials and is made to look like the same rock as the rest of the structure.

4. Swim Jets

The size and shape of your pool will depend on what you want, your lot, your budget, and more. If you enjoy swimming laps regularly, having a pool large enough for that is useful. If you don’t want to give up that much of your yard and prefer a smaller pool, you can still get your laps by installing swim jets.

Swim-in -place systems and resistance jets are two options for incorporating swim jets into your pool design. Simply turn the swim jets on to create a current and get the resistance you need to be able to swim “laps” without needing a full-size lane.

Controls allow you to easily adjust the speed and the strength of the current to the pace you need. Then, just turn the swim jets off when you’re done, and your pool is back to normal and ready for relaxed recreation. Depending on how you have them set up and the shape of your pool, you may even be able to create a “lazy river” for the epitome of relaxation.

With swim jets, you can get an “endless pool” and essentially turn your pool into the swimming version of a treadmill. If you prefer to walk or run against the resistance of water and want an actual treadmill for your pool, there are underwater treadmills available. Whether your pool design is large or small, there are fitness features available to turn your pool into something that helps support your fitness and health goals.

5. Compact Pools Focused on Functionality

Swim jets are a popular pool design trend for pools large and small, but they are just a feature of the pool. One of the pool design trends of 2026 is about pool size. Compact pools focused on functionality are becoming more popular for some homeowners over large, expansive swimming pools.

These more compact & functional pools can include:

Cocktail pools
Narrow lap pools
High-impact plunge pools
And more

Depending on how you want to use your pool, this trend is about designing a pool for a smaller yard or to take up less space in your yard, while maximizing the main functionality you want, whether that is lounging or swimming laps.

6. Wildlife-Friendly Ramps

In addition to other built-in features, one of the popular pool design trends that continues in 2026 is to add on or build in animal-friendly ramps. Pools are notorious for attracting animals looking to cool off or sometimes having them accidentally fall in.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult for some animals, especially smaller ones like raccoons, frogs, and more, to get out of the pool on their own. By having a ramp available, you make it easier for animals and people to get out of the pool. This is also one of the pet-friendly custom home design ideas that’s helpful if your pet ends up in the pool and is particularly useful if you have pets that love to swim.

7. Smart Technology

Smart technology has been popular for several years. As it continues to evolve, smart home devices just get more popular as more integrations become available. When it comes to your pool, here are a few areas to consider for smart technology integrations:

Smart pool lighting
Smart automation

Smart Pool Lighting

When it comes to your pool, lighting is important. But you’re no longer limited to floodlights or standard recessed lights. With smart lighting, you can continue to incorporate lighting into your hardscaping, but you can also program it and customize it to your mood.

You can put it on a timer or add motion activation. You can also control the color and brightness of the lights. Depending on the technology and integrations you choose, you may even be able to add customized effects!

Smart Automation

Another way smart technology can be used to enhance your pool is to reduce the energy it uses, increase safety, and reduce how much maintenance you have to do for it.

You can also add features like:

Automated cleaning and filtration systems
Variable-speed pumps for energy efficiency
App-based monitoring and control of energy systems and electric components
Automatic pH monitoring systems
Water-level monitoring
Automated pool covers
Automatic safety covers
Voice control systems
Motion-detection alarms
Upgraded pool security fences and gates
And more

These are all features that can help you manage your pool maintenance more efficiently. For example, automated cleaning and filtration systems can make your pool more energy-efficient while also reducing the amount of manual maintenance you have to do. If you’re opting for a heated pool, you can also get granular with temperature monitoring to improve efficiency and comfort. Incorporating convenient and functional technology in these ways is a home design trend.

8. Darker Interior Finishes

Pools have traditionally maintained lighter interior finishes, but it’s not the only option. As pools become more about relaxation and lounging and less about just swimming laps, they’ve also become more focused on aesthetics in addition to function.

This has led to modern swimming pools taking on a more lagoon-type feel and darker interior finishes. Popular colors for darker interior finishes include, but are not limited to:

Graphite gray
Deep blue
Emerald
Black

Not only does a darker interior pool finish give your pool a completely different look, but it also provides some benefits as well. If you have a heated pool, you’ll use less energy to heat the pool with a darker interior finish, as it will attract and retain heat better than a lighter finish. It also gives a better appearance overall because it tends to reduce surface flare and doesn’t show dirt and debris as much as lighter finishes.

9. Glass Tile

Although darker interior finishes are gaining popularity, lighter interior finishes are also still popular, especially iridescent tile and shimmery, reflective finishes. Glass tiles often check off all of these boxes. In 2026, glass tile continues to gain popularity for a durable pool interior that looks interesting and luxurious. There are also a lot of pool tile ideas and a lot of flexibility when it comes to color and decorative design with an all-glass tile pool.

You can go with something more monochromatic or play around with bold colors. You can even get creative and opt for a mosaic to incorporate multiple colors, give the bottom of your pool a unique design, or accent a different area. This is a classic way to incorporate tile accents into your custom home design.

When it comes to mosaics of specific shapes, sea-life mosaics are one of the most popular options. Sea turtles, fish, dolphins, starfish, and more are all some of the sea-life mosaics that are popping up in pool designs, and as bathroom accent wall ideas in interior design. There are even glow-in-the-dark tiles available to bring your sea creatures to life at night!

10. More Plants

Water slides, rock features, and more have become more popular in pool design. Along with these features, adding more plants around your pool to create a sanctuary look and feel has become a more popular pool design trend and is one of the pool landscaping ideas.

Not only does adding plants add a touch of biophilic design to your pool and backyard design, but adding plants and shrubs around your pool and incorporating them into your other features can also give your backyard an interesting look. This is also one of the ideas for outdoor living spaces that can enhance your backyard overall and also add to the serenity and tranquility around your pool.

A good balance of natural features around your pool can add some privacy while also making you feel like you’ve escaped to an island getaway in your own backyard. They can also be great features to help enhance or support a pool fence for security.

11. Water Curtains

Water curtains, also called rain descents or rain curtains, are add-ons that are becoming more popular. These add-ons create a solid sheet of water that cascades into the pool like a waterfall. In addition to a unique look, water curtains also add the sound of falling water, which can help create an even more relaxing atmosphere.

12. Integrated Spas

Built-in spas are still popular. Similar to the benefits of in-home saunas, in addition to being luxurious and comfortable features, integrated spas are also popular as practical wellness features used for:

Muscle recovery
Hydrotherapy
Joint comfort
Stress relief
And more

There are several hot tub considerations, and even more when there are more water features. When there is a hot tub and a pool, it’s common for them to be close to each other or attached in some way. This is still one of the popular pool design trends.

Continuing in 2026, the spas continue to be integrated into the pool design to give the appearance of one cohesive body of water. Instead of an obvious and clear separation between the pool and the hot tub, there is just a dam wall between them to help create a seamless look while still preventing the pool water and heated water from mixing.

13. Combining Fire and Water

One of the popular pool design trends that continues to be popular in 2026 is to combine fire and water by integrating your fire pit into your pool. There are many fire pit options available if you want to include one in your backyard, but you’ll need something special if you want to build it into your pool design.

For these fire and water bowls, you’ll need a fire bowl. This can be in a column or built into a retaining wall around the pool from which water cascades down into the pool. Another option is to build a fire pit with benches directly into the structure of the pool.

14. Nearby Outdoor Showers

Creating a spa, including an outdoor shower in your backyard, is one of the landscaping ideas to turn your backyard into an elegant retreat. If you have a pool, an outdoor shower can be even more useful.

Rinsing off before entering the pool keeps your pool pristine and balanced. Being able to rinse off chlorine or saltwater outside after swimming can be convenient, especially if you’ll be continuing to relax outside once you’re done in the pool. Plus, there are plenty of outdoor shower ideas to customize this feature to what you want.

These are just a few reasons why having an outdoor shower nearby is one of the pool design trends of 2026. You can also get creative with the look of the outdoor shower. Stone, corrugated metal, wood, and even plants are popular options for adding some privacy to an outdoor shower that also adds an interesting look. If you’re planning to include a pool house, an outdoor shower can be a great feature to have for a cleaner, easier transition between environments.

15. Acrylic Features

Pools with acrylic features often have a seamless look that can give swimmers a feeling of floating on air. Usually, acrylic features show up as see-through walls and features for a modern style and for a pool that looks like it doesn’t have walls. They also make the underwater space of your pool look bigger and more open.

This is a popular pool design trend for luxury pools, pools in cities to feature cityscapes, and pools that have a great view. In your backyard, see-through acrylic features can help you highlight differing depths, highlight specific features, brighten your pool, and keep things visible from inside and out.

Bring Your Dream Custom Home to Life

Looking at trends can sometimes help you figure out what you do and don’t want in your own custom home, and can help you prioritize needs & wants in custom home design. These popular swimming pool design trends of 2026 can help you with some details in your backyard, but what about the rest of your custom home?

That’s where an experienced custom home builder with an in-house design/build process can help. They’ll take your tastes, styles, and goals into account, help you narrow down options, and ensure you end up with a custom home design you love. If you’re ready to get started on your dream custom home, contact Custom Home Group at 717-284-4090 to make it a reality!