Having a Pool is amazing. You can swim whenever you want, you kids can have so much fun and it provides a relaxing atmosphere in your garden. Whether it is a solar heated pool (insert link harvest power), a lap pool or something larger, it is important to enhance the space by organising the area  around it. Follow our four tips to make the best space out of your poolside area!

A relaxing corner

Big chairs, floor cushions, low tables, lanterns and fairy lights are the must-haves for this summer. Remove your old plastic deckchairs, it’s now time to design a relaxing, well designed space where you’ll be able to enjoy the long nights of summer to come.

First, think practically. Only buy furniture that can resist water from the pool and surrounding atmosphere. You don’t want to need to shield everything at night. Second, organise the space as you would design a cosy living room. To do so, places different seating types, such as large floor cushions, poufs, chairs and benches. Then, create a nice and warm atmosphere with lanterns, fairy lights and colourful accessories. I recommend including a low table in your space where you can rest your book, drink, snacks or even laptop. Finally, add some waterproof boxes for your pool towels and you are ready to enjoy your new spot!

An Outdoor dining room

What’s better than enjoying a nice meal next to the pool with family and friends after a good swim? Not much! To enjoy this experience, you will want to create a proper outdoor dining area. It can be tempting to rush things and purchase the first table you see out of excitement, however it is much better to plan your whole area. Having a complete area will ensure maximum enjoyment and usability of this space. Just think, in the warmer months, you can have a complete alfresco dining space where you can enjoy a meal with family and friends.

To create your new outdoor dining area, define which space you will dedicate for this. From here, you’ll be able to choose a table that will fit your needs and your available space. I highly recommend that you pick a large table so that when you’ll want to invite friends or family, you’ll never be restrained by the capacity of your table.

An alfresco kitchen

Almost every city in Australia has an average of more than 200 sunny days per year. During this massive part of the year, you will want to take advantage of each occasion to spend time near your pool and enjoy the wonderful haven you built in your garden. To do so, there is nothing better than having an alfresco kitchen. Why? Because you won’t dirty your indoor kitchen each time you want to cook a meal, and being able to stay outdoors to watch the kids play in the pool is best. During the long nights of summer, it’s also nice to be able to cook next to your guests and mingle!

Building a new area such as this can be expensive and technically difficult, especially if you don’t have readily available plumbing outside. However, by using a product by Saniflo, your alfresco kitchen is more easily achievable. Saniflo pumps allow wet areas (like kitchens and bathrooms) to be installed anywhere in the home, even underground or far away from the sewerage/water mains. For an alfresco kitchen, I would use the Sanivite pump to connect your new sink to the water mains. This product also means that there’s no need to dig up your entire yard as the pipes are so small!

An outdoor bathroom

Having a pool is great but keeping the chlorine on your skin after a swim is not enjoyable. You don’t feel clean, and worse, the chemicals can even cause skin irritation. The best and easiest solution to that is to install an outdoor shower. I recommend using the Sanifloor, which is a compact domestic pump you can install under your timber deck and next to your new outdoor shower. For an extra touch, choose a rain shower head; but be careful, you’ll never want to take a shower inside after trying it!

Elena is curious by nature and loves seeking out new ways to improve her home and her DIY skills. Elena's desire for home improvement sparked her passion of renovation and decoration, and she one day hopes that she will be able to build a piece of furniture on her own.