Creating Pool Privacy: Backyard Landscaping Solutions

Your outdoor pool is meant to be an ideal place to relax and cool off, right at home. But if your backyard lacks privacy, a peaceful escape can feel far from reality. Every backyard is different, but there are many ways to increase pool privacy to finally achieve that dream backyard.

Whether you’re currently planning a new backyard pool or just want to increase privacy between neighbours, this blog walks you through landscaping solutions that will make your backyard more private, so you can truly relax in your own space.

Why Pool Privacy Matters

Maximize Your Space

Privacy changes how you use your backyard. Increasing privacy around your pool and yard can help you utilize smaller spaces more effectively. When your landscape overall feels more private, you’re more likely to spend time outside, making the most of your investment.

Enhance Comfort and Relaxation

Even if you already love spending time in your backyard, adding privacy features can help take your backyard to a new level of comfort.

When you’re not worried about neighbours or people walking by seeing into your yard, you’re free to truly relax and enjoy your amenities.

Reduce Noise

Privacy features can also serve as noise barriers. This is a two-way benefit, for you and your neighbours.

Without noise barriers, sounds from your pool can easily travel outside your yard. The surface of the water may even cause sounds to be redirected or amplified. As a result, an exciting pool day can mean the end of a quiet day for your neighbours. With privacy solutions like fences, screens, and strategic plantings, you can reduce the noise that travels off your property.

Also, installing privacy solutions can help prevent noise from travelling into your yard. This keeps your pool escape feeling private and peaceful.

Strategic Landscaping Ideas for Pool Privacy

Fencing is a common backyard privacy solution, but there are also other creative options. Strategic landscaping methods, such as hardscaping and softscaping, can be integrated naturally into your poolscape, providing flexibility to better match your space.

Hardscaping Features

Hardscaping is the technical term for man-made features in your landscape. It includes elements made of stone, concrete, wood, or metal.

These materials can be used to create divisions in your landscape or around the perimeter of your space. There are a few key hardscaping solutions to create a private pool escape.

Stone Features

Natural stone, concrete, and brick can be used to create a privacy solution that suits your needs. Low stone walls or decorative columns can be strategically placed to reduce visibility from different angles.

Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are ideal for sloped landscapes. They create a natural transition between different levels in your yard, bringing visual appeal and structure. Using the existing grade of your property, retaining walls can block unwanted views, increasing privacy around your pool.

Privacy Panels

If you don’t want to commit to a full fence design, consider privacy panels or screens. Available in a variety of materials, patterns and configurations, this is a great option for cost-effective privacy.

Singular wood or metal panels are a common solution to limit sightlines without using a permanent fence.

Outdoor Structures

Pergolas and covered structures are a great way to add privacy while expanding your living space. They offer shade and can block views in one or more directions to prevent neighbours from looking in.

Fencing

Of course, fencing is always a privacy option. There are several options to consider, but a fence style with limited spacing between boards or panels is ideal to maximize privacy.

Softscaping Features

Softscaping includes everything that’s alive in your backyard, such as plants, flowers and trees.

The beauty of softscaping is that it is adaptable over time, allowing you to swap out plants to create new designs.

Trees

Trees are nature’s privacy screens. Whether tall and narrow or dense and bushy, trees can provide visual and sound barriers with the added benefit of shade. The many varieties available mean there’s likely a tree that will look great in your space.

Flowering Plants and Shrubs

Dense plants, bushes and shrubs can be beautiful privacy solutions. Your desired maintenance and privacy goals will impact what varieties you may choose.

Trellises

Combining a panel structure with greenery adds a natural touch to your yard. Choose from climbing plant varieties to achieve natural coverage with visual appeal.

Integrating Hardscape and Softscape Elements

The key to a successful pool privacy design is blending natural and man-made elements for an attractive, functional appearance.

For example, landscaping stone can be used to create a custom garden bed for tall privacy trees, as seen in this poolscape designed by Descon.

If you’re not sure how to accomplish an integrated landscape on your own, working with a professional landscape team can help design and build the peaceful pool escape you desire.

Privacy Installation Considerations

Before starting your pool privacy project, keep these factors in mind.

By-laws and Regulations

Check local municipal standards about fence requirements or outdoor structure regulations.

Neighbour Considerations

Be mindful of how your privacy features may impact your neighbours’ sunlight or view. Open communication about your plans goes a long way in maintaining good relationships.

Sunlight and Shade

Think about how new structures or plants will affect the light in your yard. You may want to increase shade in certain areas or keep some spaces in full sun.

Wind and Airflow

Solid privacy solutions may require venting to prevent wind damage. As an alternative, trees, bushes, and shrubs can mitigate wind and add privacy without stopping airflow entirely.

Maintenance Requirements

Some privacy options are more high-maintenance than others. If you’re looking for low-maintenance landscaping, choose hardscaping or low-care plants like evergreens or ornamental grasses.

Appearance

The most important consideration is whether you’re happy with the look of your space and its privacy levels. Blending privacy features with the rest of your yard will add to the overall experience instead of distracting.

The Benefits of Professional Landscape Design for Privacy

If figuring out how to make your backyard pool area more private feels overwhelming, a professional team can make all the difference.

Based on your goals, a landscape team can create a custom plan for your backyard, made for privacy from the ground up. Or, they can work with you to create privacy solutions within your existing space.

The benefits of working with a professional landscape team are their unique expertise, access to materials and equipment, and the confidence you can have in the finished result.

Conclusion

Creating privacy around your pool doesn’t have to mean just a fence. With detailed landscaping and unique features, you can build a private pool escape that is customized to your family.

With over a decade of experience, the team at Descon Pools is ready to discuss how privacy affects your poolscape and find an effective solution that meets your needs.