Summer is here! Temperatures are rising all across the nation. It’s that time of year when people are just waiting to hear those four little words: “Our pool is open!”

A swimming pool should be treated with care, with the same attention you give your house or condominium.

Just as you sweep the kitchen floor, dust the living room furniture or polish the bathroom fixtures, your swimming pool also needs to be cleaned and maintained. So why can’t it be decorated, too?

You could spend hours painting interior walls, choosing drapery patterns and picking out a custom hardwood floor. So why not take a little time to make the outdoor area of your property just as aesthetically pleasing and comfortable as each room inside your house?

You could turn a mundane backyard into a private resort-like oasis! Here are a few ways to give your swimming pool some personality.

Decorative Accents: Colorful murals at the bottom of your pool add a bit of flair. The addition of stately statues or Roman columns gives the pool an elegant European bath type of look. Placing plants around the perimeter makes the pool come to life! They can also create a seamless connection between the pool and the lush landscaping of the rest of the backyard.

Fencing & Decking: Fences serve two functions. Depending on the design, a fence can help maintain the privacy you would like your property to have. For example, wood and vinyl fences keep pools well-secluded and hidden from outside view. Lattice fences uphold privacy, but still allow for generous air-flow. Installing fences is also a safety precaution. Fences keep access to the pool controlled and they prevent accidents. Decks are also a great way to accent a swimming pool. It could be an efficient solution to connect your home to your pool so that you may easily entertain guests.

Lighting: Looking to create a warm ambiance in your swimming pool? Fiber optic lighting will do just that! It’s easy to install and maintain, and your pool could be virtually any color of the rainbow at the drop of a hat! They are also low in energy costs. If your pool is outdoors, you will need lights to do any outdoor swimming. Centrella tiki torches brighten the area around the pool and ward off pesky bugs. Solar lights use no electricity! As the sun goes down, your pool lights up! If your pool is inside a lanai that boasts electricity, you don’t even need to add lights. However, if you would prefer a little mood-lighting, floating pool lights work well, too.

Swim Spa: A swim spa uses a propeller system, made of jets or paddles, to create a current in your swimming pool. It is an effective way to “swim laps” if your property is not big enough for you to build a large swimming pool. Referred to as “treadmill swimming” by many, this is a space-effective and economical way to do water aerobics in your very own backyard. Each swim spa can be adjusted to varying speeds to accommodate both trained and beginning swimmers. Some swim spas even come equipped with underwater stereo systems! Another perk is that you can install a swim spa in both an inground and an aboveground pool!

Extra Water Features: A fountain draws your attention to the pool right away. It can spray water high into the air or flow into a small basin. Looking for something different? The soothing sound of a waterfall is just as pleasing as the sight of the flowing water trickling down rock formations. Building vanishing edges (also known as an infinity edge or negative edges) makes it seems as though the water is disappearing into thin air. This is especially pleasing to the eye if your pool over looks the ocean or a lake!