20 Trending Pool Design Ideas to Watch in 2025

When it comes to transforming your outdoor space, few additions make as dramatic an impact as a beautifully designed swimming pool. As your trusted partners in outdoor living, The Patio Company has been at the forefront of pool design and installation throughout Massachusetts for over three decades.

If a new pool is on your 2025 backyard wishlist, here’s a read you’ll want to scroll through and start thinking about. We’ve watched trends evolve, and 2025 is shaping up to be a year of innovation, sustainability, and personalised luxury in pool design. Whether you’re planning a new installation or considering a refresh of your existing pool area, these trending design ideas will inspire your next outdoor project. So soak in the pool inspiration before choosing how you’ll be splashing around under the sun.

Modern Pool Ideas Taking Center Stage in 2025:

1. Minimalist Rectangular Pools with Dark Interior Finishes

Clean lines and dark interior finishes are taking center stage this year. These sophisticated pools create a mirror-like surface that reflects the surrounding landscape while adding a touch of modern elegance to any backyard.

2. Sun Shelves (Baja Shelves)

IMAGE: TPC Nashua Project

These shallow platforms are perfect for loungers or chairs, allowing you to cool off without fully immersing yourself. Sun shelves have become a must-have feature for families and those who enjoy relaxing in just a few inches of water.

3. Integrated Fire Features

The dramatic contrast of fire and water creates an unforgettable focal point. From sleek fire bowls to elaborate fire walls running along one edge of the pool, these features extend your swimming season and create a magical nighttime ambiance.

4. Natural Stone Coping and Decking

IMAGE: TPC Essex Project

Massachusetts homeowners are embracing local materials like bluestone and granite for pool surrounds. Stone coping—the material that caps the edge where the pool shell meets the surrounding deck—creates a polished transition while directing water runoff away from the pool. 

These natural elements weather beautifully in our Essex, Massachusetts, climate while providing safe, non-slip surfaces. One of our recent projects in Essex featured a stunning multi-level pool patio with natural stone that perfectly complemented the surrounding landscape.

Luxury Pool Designs to Impress Your Guests:

5. Smart Pool Technology

From smartphone-controlled heating and lighting to automated chemical monitoring systems, technology is making pool ownership easier than ever. Today’s pools can practically maintain themselves, giving you more time to enjoy the water.

6. Infinity Edges for Any Setting

IMAGE: TPC Manchester Project

Once reserved for hillside properties with dramatic views, infinity-edge designs have evolved. Even in flat yards, these “vanishing edge” features create stunning visual effects and the soothing sound of flowing water. 

Just look at our Manchester, Massachusetts project above, where we created a multi-level design with water flowing between sections, stone retaining walls, and integrated spa features. The result is a breathtaking waterscape that appears to extend into the landscape, demonstrating how modern pool design can create visual drama in virtually any setting.

7. Cocktail Pools

Perfect for smaller lots in Boston suburbs, these compact pools (sometimes called “spools”) maximize limited space without sacrificing style or function. They’re ideal for cooling off and entertaining without overtaking your entire yard.

8. Integrated Spas with Spillover Features

The thoughtful combination of pool and spa creates a cohesive water feature where heated water can cascade from the spa into the main pool. This design adds visual interest and the soothing sound of moving water. Our team recently completed a stunning project in Manchester featuring a stone-trimmed spa with a spillover feature that became the centerpiece of a relaxed backyard retreat.

9. Sustainable Pool Systems

Energy-efficient pumps, solar heating, and saltwater sanitizing systems are increasingly popular among environmentally conscious homeowners. These features reduce both the environmental impact and the long-term operating costs of your pool.

10. Pool Cabanas and Outdoor Living Rooms

IMAGE: TPC Manchester Project

The pool house has evolved into a multi-functional space that might include changing areas, outdoor kitchens, and comfortable seating. These structures extend your living space and provide shade and shelter near the water. Our “Manchester by the Sea Oasis” project perfectly demonstrates how a well-designed pool cabana can transform your entire outdoor experience, creating a true backyard retreat.

11. Natural Swimming Pools

These chemical-free pools use plants and natural filtration systems to keep water clean. While requiring more space than traditional pools, they create a stunning, pond-like aesthetic that blends beautifully with gardens.

Want to find out more about natural filtration systems? For those conscious about chlorine or families that have children with sensitive skin, this may be a perfect solution for you. Enquire about our swimming pool service today.

12. Tiled Feature Walls and Water Fountains

IMAGE: TPC Nashua Project

A dramatic water feature can transform your pool area into a sensory oasis. In our well-known Nashua project, we incorporated a stacked natural stone waterfall with multiple cascading tiers that creates both visual impact and soothing ambient sound. 

Stone-faced water features like this one blend effortlessly with the surrounding natural elements and create a focal point for lounge areas positioned nearby. These custom features can be designed to match your landscape style—whether you prefer the rustic charm of natural boulders or the sleek elegance of modern tilework—while adding the therapeutic effects of flowing water to your outdoor sanctuary.

13. Multiple Pool Levels

Steps, terraces, and varying depths create visual interest and functional zones within a single pool. This design trend allows for different activities—from swimming laps to lounging in shallow conversation areas.

Swimming Pool Trends You May Not Have Seen Yet:

14. Negative Edge Details

Different from infinity edges, negative edges create the illusion that the water disappears into the deck or surrounding landscape. This subtle detail adds sophistication without the complexity of a full vanishing edge.

15. LED Lighting Systems

Programmable LED lighting transforms your pool after dark. From soft white illumination to changing color displays synchronized with music, today’s lighting options add drama and extend your swimming hours.

16. Perimeter Overflow Pools

In these striking designs, water flows over all four edges into a narrow catch basin, creating a perfect mirror surface. While technically challenging, the result is a breathtaking water feature that serves as the centerpiece of your landscape.

17. Integrated Pool Covers

Automatic covers that disappear into the deck when not in use improve safety, reduce maintenance, and help maintain water temperature. The latest designs integrate seamlessly with the overall pool aesthetic.

18. Beach Entries

Gradually sloping entries that mimic the experience of walking into the ocean are perfect for families with small children or those seeking a natural feel. These entries eliminate the need for steps and create a smooth transition from deck to deep water.

19. Freeform Naturalistic Pools

IMAGE: TPC Nashua Project

Organic shapes that mimic ponds or natural bodies of water continue to be popular, especially for properties with natural landscaping. Just think: an inground pool design that blends harmoniously with surrounding gardens, incorporating natural stone features for a very seamless, nature-inspired look.

20. Outdoor Entertainment Systems

Weatherproof televisions, sound systems, and even projectors for “dive-in movies” are transforming pool areas into complete entertainment zones. These additions make your pool the center of summer gatherings.

Bringing Your Pool Dreams to Life

There you have it: some of the most stunning ideas for pools that we’ve seen in 2025. Loved the inspiration and looking for a team that can help you execute one of these great pool designs?

At The Patio Company, we believe the best pool design will always reflect your lifestyle while complementing your home’s architecture and existing landscape.

Unlike other pool companies, our design encompasses all aspects of both the pool installation and the accompanying landscape design. Integrating your inground swimming pool and landscape seamlessly is important to us.

From initial concept to final construction, we handle every detail of your pool project with the craftsmanship and attention that have made us Massachusetts’ premier outdoor living specialists for over 30 years. Our team’s expertise extends beyond just pool installation—we specialize in creating complete outdoor living environments. 

As one client happily shared, 

“We had our plain backyard redone with a pool and patio. Everyone at The Patio Company was very professional and responsive. Couldn’t be happier with our pool and can’t wait to use it for many years!” – Chris

Ready to explore how these trending pool designs might work in your outdoor space? Contact us today to schedule a consultation or visit our pool installation page to learn more about our process. Together, we’ll come up with the best pool ideas for your space and create the pool of your dreams—a personal oasis that enhances your property and your lifestyle for years to come.

Contact The Patio Company today to start planning your landscaping project and transform your backyard into a private haven.