Backyard Resort: Designing the Dream Pool and Backyard Getaway
June 9, 2025
We all love a great resort vacation. And the only thing better than spending time away relaxing and enjoying time with your loved ones? When you can do it from the comfort of your own home. If you create your dream backyard getaway, you’ll have relaxed, luxury living every day instead of just once or twice a year. And we can help you do it.
Start With the Pool
Every great resort has a pool. As the centerpiece of your backyard getaway, the pool becomes the visual focal point and the place you’ll likely spend the most time. Lay out your dream backyard so the pool is visible from inside–a sightline that will pull you and your loved ones outside into the sunshine.
Consider the following when thinking about your dream pool:
- Generally, a free-form shape is more striking and luxurious than a rectangle. It looks more natural and high-end.
- A zero-entry pool is great for kids and sunbathers alike. If you don’t want a zero-entry, consider a sun shelf as an alternative.
- An infinity edge pool, where water flows over the top edge and into a basin (to be pumped back into the pool), gives the illusion of the pool merging with the horizon. It can be very striking, minimalist, and beautiful.
- If you have space, there’s not much more relaxing than a lazy river pool design. You can make the entire pool into a lazy river, complete with gorgeous landscaping as you float along, or you can have one main pool with a lazy river branching off and looping back around.
- A water slide is a must if you have kids or adults who love to have fun!
- A hot tub provides a break from the cool water, a place to unwind or chat with friends, and another water-based destination in your backyard resort.
Take your pool from great to amazing by adding a water feature like a fountain or pool waterfall. This not only looks good but adds the sound of water, which is relaxing and blocks out other less-desirable noise
The Surrounding Area
The area around the pool is as important as the pool itself when it comes to relaxing in luxury. Choose poolside furniture with thick, weather-resistant cushions, and use multiple types: hanging egg chairs, lounge chairs, even daybeds. Hammocks are also inviting and give a relaxing vibe.
Shade
A perfect backyard getaway will have multiple shady destinations. Not only do these structures give you some space to cool down, but they also form the bones of the outdoor area, delineating what activities belong where: eating, cooking, relaxing, entertaining, etc.
Shade structures also give you the opportunity to install misters and heaters to help keep your guests comfortable.
Some great ideas for shade structures include:
- A pergola
- Shade sails (including ones that can be retracted)
- A covered deck or porch
- A pool house or other secondary structure
- A gazebo
Other Forms of Entertainment
While pool time is great, your backyard resort won’t be complete without some other fun activities and options.
Recreation Areas
Consider installing a basketball, racquetball, or pickleball court. Make sure it’s well-lit and has a nice pathway leading to it from the pool area. You could also set aside green space for bocce ball, horseshoes, or croquet. A small putting green is a nice idea as well.
A retractable movie screen and outdoor movie projector turn any night into a special occasion–and bonus points if you can see the movie from the pool! Make sure that no matter what recreation areas you choose, you install a good outdoor sound system. Music makes any pool time more fun.
Fire Features
Nothing draws people together like a crackling fire. A fire feature will be a focal point in your backyard getaway, creating a place for friends and family to gather, relax, share stories, and roast marshmallows. It gives your outdoor space a relaxing, vacation vibe. It also allows you to make use of the area even when it starts getting chilly outside.
Consider the following options:
- A fire pit (square or circular) allows people to gather around it on all sides.
- A firebowl gives the benefits of a firepit but can be moved.
- A fire pit with a reflection wall has a brick or stone wall on one side. It makes the area more of a focal point and also reflects heat.
- An outdoor fireplace (freestanding or as part of a porch) is a beautiful and high-end fire feature you will love all year.
Time to Eat (and Drink)!
It’s no secret that we love outdoor kitchens. They provide an easy way to cook and eat al fresco, which is one of the joys of summertime. A good outdoor kitchen has space to prep food (countertops), an area to cook (like a grill, griddle, pizza oven, or a combination of those), storage options (cabinets and drawers), and ways to keep food and drinks cold (a fridge, ice drawer, built-in cooler, etc).
Setting up eating areas in various places lets your guests decide where they feel comfortable. A long table with benches, a bar with stools near the outdoor kitchen, and a shady space with outdoor couches and a coffee table are all great ideas.
Consider adding a swim-up bar to your pool design. This fun feature allows your guests to eat and drink while staying in the water. A swim-up bar has two sides: a wet side with a ledge and submerged stools or seating, and a dry side for food and drinks to be prepped and served. This pool feature is great for adults and kids alike and really makes your pool stand out as a resort-like destination.
Ambiance
These finishing touches are the icing on top of your dream pool and backyard getaway. They make your space look finished and inviting.
Privacy
Make your space feel secluded and private–even if your neighbors’ homes are close–by adding privacy screens in strategic places. Look for sight lines from your neighbors’ windows (especially second-story windows), and add visual barriers in those places. You can use wooden screens, lattice, metal designs, hedges, and plants to create privacy and make your backyard feel like an oasis.
Landscaping
Speaking of plants, don’t underestimate the importance of great landscaping to bring your outdoor space together. Use planters of various shapes and sizes throughout the area (this is a great way to add pops of color to your backyard, either through the planters themselves or by using bright flowering plants). Use lush greenery around the pool for a tropical vibe.
Lighting
Make sure your backyard is equally welcoming after the sun sets by paying special attention to lighting. Remember that it’s always best to have layered lighting (inside the home and out!), meaning that the light comes from multiple sources. String lights give a magical feel and also help you define spaces. Use tiki torches and warm lanterns for a soft glow. And invest in good landscape lighting to highlight beautiful plants and trees, as well as provide lighting on stairs and walkways.
The Backyard of Your Dreams
Your Virginia, DC, or Maryland home can be more than just the place you live. With a little thought and planning, it can be the getaway you never have to leave. You can have relaxation, connection, fun, and great memories right in your backyard. Is this the time to make it happen? We’d love to help you make your space into everything you dreamed it could be and more. Contact us today and let’s get started.