38 Pool Deck Ideas for In-Ground and Above-Ground Pools

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Add a Boulder Border

A backyard pool with a boulder border — Lady Landscape / Instagram

Sometimes a beautiful garden is more important than a bigger pool deck where you can access the pool from all sides. Melanie of Lady Landscape chose to add a garden on two sides of the pool to add privacy, for a cooling effect and to create a habitat for wildlife. The boulder border around the pool highlights the pool while providing a fun spot to jump in.

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Keep It Narrow

A small pool deck with an outdoor living room — JC Designs / Instagram

Even though this pool deck is narrow, the use of the space is efficient. Simply adding a couple pieces of furniture, a stylish tassel umbrella that provides shade and an outdoor rug, pulls the whole space together. The brick detail on the flooring is an eye-catching addition that brings color and texture to the outdoor space.

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Forge a Concrete Pathway

A simple white concrete pathway and large pavers help create different zones around this backyard pool. The artificial turf is a great place for yard games when you want a break from swimming, and a partially shaded cabana with comfortable outdoor seating is a great reprieve from the sun.

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Add Midcentury Modern Vibes

A backyard pool deck with hills in the background — Michelle Boudreau Designs

Not only does this partial white concrete breeze block fence enhance the midcentury modern vibe of this backyard patio, but it also serves a purpose when poolside. The breeze blocks help with ventilation on the patio as well as help balance the sunlight. It’s a design feature that’s equally beautiful as it is functional.

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Keep It Black and White

A backyard pool with black and white floor pavers — Lady Landscape / Instagram

This pool deck has everything you need, from the outdoor seating to the tranquil sounds from the three water features. The most eye-catching feature though is the dark tiles surrounding the spa and garden. The contrast between those and the rest of the pool patio mirrors the home’s exterior.

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Add Green Borders

An aerial view of a backyard pool and deck — Lady Landscape / Instagram

Maybe it’s the covered outdoor kitchen or the surrounding deciduous trees or lounge chairs, but this backyard pool area is a relaxing escape from reality. The pool deck leads right up to pool’s edge where you can safely enter the pool from the stairs.

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Try Concrete Pavers

A backyard pool with a spa and concrete stepping stone border — LeClair Decor

The perfectly cut lawn and concrete square pavers surrounding this pool and spa give this backyard a clean, polished look. Lounge chairs and a forest backdrop add a more laidback feel to the outdoor space.

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Mix Concrete + Grass

A backyard pool with concrete pool deck and grass detail — Design by Mindy Gayer / Photo by Vanessa Lentine

This pool deck is a great place for a backyard gathering. It features different areas for lounging and eating poolside and features a concrete deck with patches of grass for drying feet after a swim.

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Add Landscaping

A backyard pool with an elevated garden — Lady Landscape / Instagram

A pool is a fun backyard feature, but what makes a backyard inviting is the seating, shading options and a beautiful garden that make you appreciate the outdoors. This backyard features all the elements of what makes a backyard truly enjoyable, from the elevated garden to the covered seating area.

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Create a Watering Hole

A backyard pool with a hanging egg chair and eating area — The Home Consultant

Because the roof pitch is the focal point of this home and backyard, the pool deck was kept simple and clean. The outdoor eating area features simple neutral flooring, while the grass surrounding the pool adds a touch of color.

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Mix Materials

A backyard pool with a lounge area — Design by Mindy Gayer / Photo by Lane Dittoe

Even a small backyard can have all the features you want. The lounge chairs and are great for sunbathing, while the herringbone brick patterned part of the deck features a spot to sit under the shade. The small wild garden separates the two areas and makes the backyard feel larger than it is.

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Focus on the Lawn

A Mediterranean style backyard pool — Design by Calimia Home / Photo by Jeanne Canto

The standout features of this upscale Spanish villa’s backyard are the lush plants and arches that anchor the courtyard, but what really makes this pool patio special is its versatility. It’s a great place to host a formal party yet it’s intimate enough to go for a swim or sunbathe with the family on a relaxing Sunday.

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Stay Neutral

A backyard pool with a fire pit — Lady Landscape / Instagram

The infinity pool in this backyard allows you to enjoy the surrounding nature. But this pool deck isn’t only enjoyable during warm months. The seating area and modern firepit allow friends and family to enjoy the view during colder months, too.

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Keep It Minimal

A backyard pool with two lounge chairs — Design by Mindy Gayer / Photo by Vanessa Lentine

Even though this backyard pool area is small, the all-white design makes it feel larger and more open. Plus, the sofa pillows and small table give the seating area dual purpose as a place to sunbathe or sit for dining and conversation.

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Add Boho Design Vibes

A pool deck with outdoor rugs, lounge chairs and an outdoor umbrella — JC Designs / Instagram

The outdoor area rugs and lounge chairs, that might as well be beds, bring the indoors out in this backyard. You could easily spend hours sunbathing, napping, eating and relaxing by the pool in this boho design inspired outdoor living room.

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Use Warm Wood

A backyard pool with a wood deck and a swing set for kids — Maite Granda

While the adults swim, the kids can play with this backyard playset that blends perfectly with the wood pool deck. The only entry point to the pool is by stairs that start at the shallow end of the pool, making it a safe feature for families with kids.

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Add a Flagstone Border

A round backyard pool with a lounge area — Design by Chelius House of Design / Photo by Amy Bartlam

This narrow, curved pool deck is a cozy spot to place a couple lounge chairs right by the pool. The teak outdoor furniture and striped pool umbrella add a classic look, while the stone detail border around the pool breaks up the clean lines of the rest of the backyard design.

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Add Some Bamboo

A large backyard pool with two separate sitting areas — Erin Williamson Design

With an outdoor space like this, you’d probably want to spend more time outside than in. The best spot in this backyard is the bamboo deck with two round daybeds. The edge of the deck extends over the pool, providing the perfect spot to sit and dip your feet in during hot summer days.

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Line With a Cactus Border

A backyard pool with a cactus border — Michelle Boudreau Design

Even if there is no room to place lounge chairs all around the pool, you can still make the most of any size pool deck. The white privacy wall is livened up with color through succulents and other low-maintenance plants that make the most of the pool’s small deck.

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Set It in Stone

A backyard pool with a glass fence and outdoor kitchen — Maite Granda

This large outdoor kitchen has plenty of room to gather for a poolside meal. The gray stone floor tiles anchor the space, while a half glass wall separates the dining area from the rest of the pool deck and adds safety without sacrificing on style.

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Opt for Stone Pavers

A backyard pool with stone pavers and a sitting area — Mid City Interiors

You have everything you need in this backyard, whether you want to sunbathe, relax in the shade or grill up some lunch or dinner. One side of the pool deck features stone flooring in an eye-catching mosaic pattern while the other is all grass for a cooler spot to enjoy the backyard space.

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Use Large Concrete Slabs

A backyard pool with a tropical style sitting area — Michelle Boudreau Design

You’d think this tropical-style backyard is an expensive vacation retreat. The palm leaf outdoor sofa is the focal point of the pool deck while a row of golden barrel cacti brings interest and texture to the outdoor space.

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Try an All-Grass Pool Deck

A large backyard pool with a sitting area — Kate Marker Interiors

This large backyard pool is completely surrounded by grass, giving the pool an upscale look. Concrete pavers are set in a patterned design and lead up to the large outdoor dining area and home. The whole look is luxurious yet relaxed.

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Use Shades of White

A backyard pool with a vertical garden — Design by Mindy Gayer / Photo by Kyle Monk

Each side of this pool deck has a completely different look that together create a stunning backyard space. One side is streamlined with clean white lines and matching white lounge chairs, while the other side features a privacy wall with a wild and beautiful vertical garden.

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Mix Textures

A backyard pool with a white wall barrier — House of Harvee / Instagram

This pool deck features a variety of textures that each enhance the backyard’s visual appeal. The half glass wall and white stucco privacy fence add a clean, modern look, while the mosaic tile pool edge and wood deck bring texture.

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Use Stone Pavers

A surfer style pool deck with a bar top — Christina Kim Interior Design

This poolside cabana features stone pavers laid in a mosaic pattern that enhances the retro colors of the cabana without competing with it. Privacy curtains can be drawn to separate the cabana area from the rest of the pool deck.

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Try Wood Effect Tiles

wood effect porcelain tile pool deck — Fantastic Frank

This Mediterranean plunge pool from Fantastic Frank is surrounded wood-effect porcelain tile decking that adds contrast with the teal blue pool tiling and smooth stucco walls.

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Warm With Wood

Interior designer Maite Granda used wood decking around the pool and outdoor kitchen and seating area to add contrast and warmth with the concrete finishes of the living room-style outdoor seating.

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Try Terracotta Tile

terracotta tile pool deck — Jenn Pablo Studio

Jenn Pablo Studio used the same terracotta tile for the pool deck, steps, and patio that lend this Spanish Modern home in Palm Springs a cohesive look.

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Lay Some Concrete

concrete pool deck — Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo

Textured concrete or concrete-effect tiles create a minimalist feel on this small backyard pool deck from Cathie Hong Interiors.

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Think Pink

Kate Marker Interiors decorated this holiday house pool deck with shades of pink from the large-format floor tiles to the decorative square zellige tile on the walls for a soft and relaxing spa-like feel.

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Soften With Landscaping

minimalist pool deck — Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo

This minimal pool deck from Cathie Hong Interiors is edged with lawn and landscaping that softens the rough concrete pool deck and gives the swimming pool an organic watering hole feel.

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Keep It Simple

gray tile pool deck — Tina Ramchandani Creative

Tina Ramchandani Creative used simple concrete-effect large-scale gray tiles on this large summer house pool deck that seamlessly blends in with the rest of the outdoor lounge spaces and adds contrast with the shingled pool house.

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Keep It Sleek

above-ground pool deck — Fantastic Frank

This above-ground plunge pool from Fantastic Frank includes a textured concrete finish on the sides and integrated lounge deck that give it a sleek modern feel that adds contrast with the old stone wall of the Mediterranean courtyard.

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Use Timeless Brick

brick pool deck — Design by Joshua Smith Inc. / Photo by Lisa Romerin

A brick finish gives this West Hollywood, CA, pool deck from Joshua Smith Inc. a timeless and inviting feel.

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Mix Concrete and Gravel

This Palm Springs property from Michelle Boudreau Design has concrete slab pool decking that is custom designed around various poolside zones, edged not with grout but with gravel to give it a more custom modern look.

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Add a Mosaic Tile Border

mosaic tile pool deck — Tiffani Baumgart Interiors / Photo by Jenny Siegwart

This indoor-outdoor plunge pool from Tiffani Baumgart Interiors features an ornate mosaic tile border that echoes the pool’s interior, with contrasting neutral hexagon tiles on the decking that is carried onto the waterfront patio for a cohesive look.

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Choose Composite Wood

composite wood pool deck — @ann.living / Instagram

This hexagonal above-ground pool from @ann.living is covered in composite wood from the side of the pool itself to the surrounding decking and steps to give the structure a cohesive feel that adds contrast with the backyard.