Swimming pool designs and trends

From interior colours to fully integrated entertainment, the current trends in swimming pools are worth catching on to. Here's what's hot in pool designs this summer.

Bill Banovic, of Domain Pools in North Ryde, has seen swimming pool designs come and go over the years and can spot the better ones a mile off. We spoke to him about some of the latest pool trends.

According to Bill, concrete is still more popular than fibreglass in New South Wales, due to greater flexibility in design. Fibreglass models come in set shapes and are common in states such as Queensland, though they may not always fit unusual backyards or the sloped ground typical of some Sydney suburbs.

"Concrete is suited to sloping sites, as it can be structurally designed to support itself," says Bill. "More people want a custom-designed pool, rather than an off-the-shelf design, so concrete seems to be coming out on top."

Square swimming pools

Despite the flexibility of concrete pool designs, Bill reveals that straight and symmetrical shapes are still in demand. "Geometric shapes, such as rectangular, are popular," he says. "These shapes maximise the pool surface area, especially in small yards where space is limited."

Pool interiors

The current trend in pool interiors is toward lighter colours that simulate sand and sky, to create an 'open' feel. "The most popular colours are blues, whites and neutrals," says Bill. "Lighter colours make the area look bigger, so many smaller plunge pools tend to be a light colour to increase the sense of space."

Sandstone, light-coloured concretes and stone look-alikes are not only aesthetically pleasing for the pool surrounds, but can be a practical choice on hot days. "Surrounds are generally done in light-coloured tiles, which are cooler to walk on when you are barefoot around a pool," says Bill.

Automated systems with swimming pools

But the biggest change in pool design trends Bill has witnessed is the shift towards automated systems. As technology advances, so does the ease of cleaning and heating the pool. Entertainment systems can be integrated with lighting to create wonderfully exciting pool areas.

"Pools are becoming fully automated with cleaning, heating, lighting and waterfalls all controlled remotely," says Bill. "You can jump on the internet and turn on your spa heater or you could even have mood lighting come on as you walk through the door, and your favourite song playing in the background."

To view some of the most popular swimming pool designs for this summer, visit a pool showroom in your area: