The Best Inground Pool Shapes for Every Backyard Style

For over three decades, our team at The Patio Company has designed and installed hundreds of custom swimming pools across Massachusetts. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that there’s no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” pool. The shape of your inground swimming pool should complement not only your landscape but also your lifestyle and how you plan to use your outdoor space.

As we move into 2025, Massachusetts families are seeking refuge from their increasingly busy lives by creating personal sanctuaries right in their backyards. With more people working from home and valuing time with family, a thoughtfully designed pool has become the centerpiece of the modern outdoor living space—not just a place to swim, but a retreat for relaxation, entertainment, and making lasting memories with loved ones.

From classic rectangles to free-flowing organic designs, today’s inground pool shapes offer endless possibilities for creativity and functionality.

Let’s explore the most popular swimming pool sizes and shapes we’re installing this year, and which might be the perfect fit for your property.

Pool Shapes and Sizes We Adore in 2025

1. Rectangle Pools: Timeless Elegance and Versatility

The rectangular pool remains the most versatile of all inground pool shapes. This classic design works beautifully in both traditional and contemporary landscapes, making it our most requested design year after year.

Best For:

• Traditional home architecture
• Formal garden settings
• Lap swimming and water fitness
• Properties with limited space
• Clean, modern aesthetic
• Multi-functional use (swimming, playing, entertaining)

A rectangular pool maximizes your swimming area, providing the most usable space per square foot. For homeowners who enjoy swimming laps, this shape is unmatched when comparing to other swimming pool shapes and sizes (although, for those who want to use the pool for multi-functional purposes, be sure to keep reading as the L-Shape pool may be an even better fit for your needs!).

In regards to the rectangular pool though, a very practical consideration is that the straight edges also make automatic pool covers easier to install and operate. Whilst pool covers have in the past been considered more of a luxury, today it is becoming an increasingly popular feature for Massachusetts homeowners looking to extend their swimming season and reduce maintenance in-between swims.

In our Gloucester pool installation, we enhanced the rectangular pool with sleek stone coping and complementary patio materials to create a cohesive look that transitions beautifully from the home’s architecture to the surrounding landscape. And don’t get us started on the gorgeous, custom timber gate – a real statement entry to the beautiful pool area.

2. Freeform Pools: Organic Beauty for Natural Landscapes

IMAGE: TPC Nashua project

Amongst the wide range of inground swimming pool shapes available, free form swimming pools designs have surged in popularity over the past five years, and we’re seeing this trend accelerate into 2025. These naturalistic pools feature flowing curves and irregular shapes that mimic ponds and natural bodies of water.

Best For:

• Properties with natural, informal landscaping
• Wooded or waterfront settings
• Homeowners seeking a resort-like feel
• Creating distinct zones for different activities
• Adding visual interest and focal points

Our Nashua project above showcases the beauty of freeform pool shapes. The gently curved edges allowed us to create multiple distinct spaces around the pool—a shallow tanning ledge, a deeper swimming area, and a seamless connection to the surrounding landscape. Freeform designs excel at creating the illusion that your pool has always been part of the natural environment.

When designing freeform pools, we pay careful attention to sight lines, ensuring beautiful views from both inside the pool and from key viewpoints throughout the property. These flowing designs also provide excellent opportunities for incorporating waterfalls, beach entries, and naturalistic stone work that further enhance the organic feel.

3. Geometric Pools: Contemporary Appeal with Clean Lines

IMAGE: TPC Haven Project

Looking for different shaped pools that will complement a more contemporary aesthetic? For modern homes and up-to-date landscapes, geometric pool shapes offer sophisticated design options beyond the basic rectangle. These pools feature clean lines and precise angles—think hexagons, octagons, or combinations of squares and rectangles—that create visual interest while maintaining an ordered aesthetic.

Best For:

• Modern architectural styles
• Urban or suburban settings
• Design-focused homeowners
• Creating a statement piece
• Optimizing challenging lot configurations

Our Haven project above demonstrates how geometric shapes can transform even a modest backyard into a stunning outdoor retreat. By combining straight lines with precise angles, we created a distinctive pool that complements the home’s architecture while maximizing the available space.

Geometric pools allow for creative versatility with materials as well. The defined edges showcase decorative tile work, while the gorgeous diving board adds a unique functionality to the pool that complements its architectural elements.

4. The Kidney-Shaped Pool: A Mid Century Classic

While not as common in our recent installations, kidney-shaped pools offer a nostalgic nod to mid-century design that some homeowners still appreciate. This curved form, resembling its namesake, creates a natural division between shallow and deep ends.

Best For:

• Mid-century modern homes
• Smaller yards where a full freeform design might overwhelm
• Creating a built-in seating area in the concave section
• Families with small children (the curved shape provides natural separation of depths)

The kidney shape’s gentle inward curve on one side creates an ideal location for steps, a built-in seating area, or even a raised spa. This distinctive indentation also naturally divides the pool into separate zones without requiring additional barriers or markers.

For homeowners drawn to a more retro style, we can enhance kidney pools with classic elements like decorative tile bands and vintage-inspired decking to complete the mid-century look.

5. L-Shaped Pools: Functional Zoning for Family Activities

L-shaped pools are essentially two rectangles joined to form an “L” configuration. This practical design creates two distinct swimming areas, typically with different depths.

Best For:

• Families with varied swimming abilities
• Properties with unusual lot configurations
• Balancing lap swimming with play areas
• Creating a dedicated shallow zone for children
• Incorporating an attached spa in the shorter leg

The beauty of L-shaped pools lies in their ability to separate different activities while allowing all members of the family to enjoy the pool together. The longer section can serve as a lap pool, while the shorter leg might be a shallow play area for children or a conversation pit with built-in seating. This separation allows multiple activities to occur simultaneously without interference.

In recent installations, we’ve enhanced L-shaped designs with distinct decking materials or elevations to further differentiate the zones, creating a more dynamic outdoor living environment that all can enjoy.

6. Infinity Pools: Dramatic Views for Elevated Settings

IMAGE: TPC Manchester Project

Perhaps no pool design makes as dramatic a statement as the infinity edge (also called vanishing edge or negative edge). These sophisticated pools create the breathtaking illusion that water extends to the horizon, seeming to merge with the sky or surrounding landscape.

Best For:

• Properties with panoramic views
• Sloped lots
• Luxury homes
• Creating a focal point
• Maximizing visual impact

Our Manchester project showcases the stunning impact of an infinity edge design. By allowing water to spill over one or more edges into a catch basin below, we created the illusion that the pool merges with the landscape beyond. The reflective surface doubles the visual impact, mirroring the sky and surrounding environment.

While traditionally associated with hillside properties, we’re increasingly adapting infinity edge concepts for flatter lots, creating the effect with strategically placed water features and multi-level designs. This approach brings the drama of an infinity edge to a wider range of properties.

Choosing the Best Swimming Pool Shapes for Your Needs

So you have the inspiration, but how do you settle on a shape that’s right for you? After 30+ years designing pools across Massachusetts, we’re often asked about the best swimming pool shape for specific situations. Here are our expert recommendations:

What’s the best swimming pool shape for a small backyard?

For limited spaces, consider rectangular or kidney shapes. Rectangles maximize usable swimming area, while kidney shapes create a natural deck area with their inward curve. Our Essex project demonstrates how even modest yards can accommodate beautiful, functional pools when properly designed.

Which pool shape is best for families with young children?

Freeform or L-shaped pools work wonderfully for families. Freeform designs allow for natural shallow areas ideal for younger swimmers, while L-shapes separate play areas from deeper swimming zones. Look for designs with extended shallow areas and wide entry steps.

What about pools for teenagers and active adults?

Athletic families typically benefit from rectangular lap pools for fitness or geometric designs with flat walls and appropriate depths for water sports. 

Which pool shape best showcases scenic views?

Infinity edge designs are unmatched for properties with panoramic vistas. They create the illusion that your pool extends into the horizon, turning the pool into a foreground element that enhances rather than competes with the view. Our Manchester project demonstrates this spectacular effect.

What pool shape ideas are most budget-friendly?

Simple rectangular designs generally offer the best value, with lower construction and finishing costs. Kidney or gentle freeform shapes using vinyl liners can also help manage costs. 

Still not what you were hoping? Sometimes, a smaller pool with one quality feature delivers more satisfaction than a compromised complex design.

Which shapes work best for entertaining and socializing?

For hosts who love to entertain, consider designs with extended shallow areas for conversation, L-shapes with built-in seating, or freeform designs with multiple entry points. Including an integrated spa also allows you to use the pool beyond the warmer seasons.

So there you have it, all the different shapes of pools that you can begin exploring as you consider what’s right for your backyard.

At The Patio Company, we believe there’s a perfect pool shape for every property, budget, and lifestyle. Need a bit more support when it comes to exploring pools shapes and sizes? Contact The Patio Company today to find out more about our pool installation and pool remodelling services.