Create a more harmonious and beautiful outdoor living space with some of these landscaping ideas for pools...

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELAXING while having fun and not is in the environment. And no where is this more important than the families summer hub - the swimming pool. Here are 15 ideas to help make your family time more fun (and also picturesque)

Image courtesy of Decoist

#1 Create Your Own Version of Palm Beach

When you want somewhere tropical to relax at the end of the day, why not create your own tropical paradise. Here you see a picturesque pool surround made from tiles and plenty of shade provided by palm trees and a range of other tropical plants.

#2 Back to Nature

Mother nature has always been the best at creating relaxing places for us all to relax in. With this in mind, why not take a hint from her works and create your very own relaxing oasis. The trees and shrubs offer shade for those long hot summer days and help to block those chilly breezes. A natural stone patio only adds to the beauty.

Image courtesy of The Spruce

#3 A Dash of Color and Simplicity

No one ever said the area around your pool has to be loaded with complex details. Start with a simple bench you can build in your shop in less than a day, add a few comfortable throw pillows you can make or buy and you have just created a cool and relaxing paradise.

Image courtesy of PlantNJ.Com

#4 Nothing Beats the Sound of Running Water

There is something very special about the sound of water cascading over a waterfall into the pool below. Here you can see a waterfall created using natural rocks and a pump that pulls the water out of the pool and over the falls. A few carefully selected shrubs, trees, and flowers can add to the feeling of having your very own woodland oasis.

Image Courtesy of Decoist

#5 A Hot Tub, A Waterfall, A Pool, and Palm Trees

What more could you possibly need to create your own exotic jungle themed swimming hole? Depending on where you live, palm trees are the perfect poolside companion. They don’t constantly drop needles or leaves in your pool, the remain in leaf year-round, require zero maintenance, and can provide quite a bit of shade.

Image courtesy of Homedit

#6 A Wooden Wonderland

Who says you can't create a relaxing setting in your back yard that everyone can enjoy. Building a wood deck around your pool not only adds a ton of natural beauty to your pool and backyard, it is very practical as wood does not get as hot underfoot like a cement or rock surround. It is less expensive and very easy to take care of.

Image courtesy of PlantNJ.Com

#7 Create Your Own Natural Landscape

Your pool and backyard should be a relaxing place where you can get away from it all. Using rocks and plenty of local foliage you can create your own spot of nature, even in the busiest of cities. This looks amazing!

Image courtesy of Simple Pool Tips

#8 Going Out on a Ledge

Or in this particular case, an edge, as this infinity style pool complete with plenty of overhanging foliage could quickly fool you into thinking you might go over the edge. Not only do the overhanging plants add plenty of beauty, they create shaded areas in the pool throughout the day. To infinity and beyond!

Image courtesy of PlantNJ.Com

#9 Welcome to the Cascades

The unique shape of this pool along with the walk-in/walk-out hot tub is only one part of what makes this pool so special. The waterfall sits high enough that it creates a cool a refreshing shower. So simple to build, yet this design has so much to offer!

Image courtesy of Idolza

#10 Why Settle for One Waterfall?

Why on earth would you settle for one waterfall when you can have several. Along the elevated wall of this pool are several waterfalls to be enjoyed. The elevated area creates the perfect place for relaxing in the sun.

Image courtesy of Moon Valley Nurseries

#11 No, It's Not a Mirage

We have all heard about the mirage of an oasis in the desert. This pool could easily fool anyone into thinking it's not real. That is until they hit the cool clear water in the pool. The trees, shrubs, and rocks do more than create landscaping, they provide small areas of shade throughout the day.

Image courtesy of Pinterest

#12 Create an Outdoor Dining Room

When the weather is hot no one wants to be stuck inside for dinner. Adding a large paved area on one side of the pool lets you create a place with room for a table and chairs or even an outdoor kitchen. Great for entertaining!

Image courtesy of Cipriano Landscape Design

#13 A Little Rock and Roll

Rock has long been a popular choice for landscaping around the yard. Why not use it to create a more natural look for the area surrounding the pool. This pool design also makes use of plenty of shrubbery and flowers to add to the illusion

Image courtesy of The Spruce

#14 The Perfect Place for an Ambush

There is nothing quite like having a pool that is deep enough to have a diving board. But notice the diving board seems to be carefully hidden in the shrubbery which helps to provide plenty of privacy. And of course, the perfect place to launch a sneak attack on unwary swimmers!

Image courtesy of Home Interiors

#15 The Best of Both Worlds

Not only did the builder of this pool use bricks to create a hot tub on the side of the pool, but they used tons of natural rock to create a multi-tiered waterfall for bathers to swim under. As you can see, you can never have too many plants around the pool.

Create an attractive and functional above the ground pool design...

DOES YOUR ABOVE GROUND POOL dominate your back yard? The right backyard landscaping will help soften it's harsh exterior, and make it look like it belongs in your yard. To help, here are 14 of the best landscaping ideas for above ground pools we could find. Enjoy.

Image courtesy of INYOPools.Com

#1 A Touch of the Tropics

Here the owner has created the illusion of being in the tropics by using short tropical shrubs and palm trees to surround his pool. Not only do they add a touch of the tropics, but these plants are incredibly easy to take care of. In time, the palms may grow tall enough to provide a little shade as well.

Image courtesy of Pinterest

#2 Keeping the Water Clean

No one wants grass and dirt in the pool. If you look closely, you can see that whoever owns this pool built it on a cement pad that extends beyond the diameter of the pool. Putting it next to a shade tree gives you somewhere to relax out of the sun and cool off on a hot summer day.

#3 Straight Off the Deck

This owner made it so you never have worry about getting in or out of the pool. The deck sits at the perfect height just above the lip of the pool. This makes it easy to get in and out, but also helps to keep the pool water from getting sloshed on the wood deck and soaking it. (Perfect for a quick dip while firing up the grill)

Image courtesy of Pinterest

#4 Not Completely Above Ground

If you look closely, you can see that the majority of this "above ground" pool is actually below ground level. The owner has had a deck built down one side that makes the perfect place to lay out in the sun and then slide into the pool. The outer wall of the pool is protected by a row of hedges that may in time grow to provide privacy and a windbreak.

Image courtesy of Pool Care Lab

#5 Room for a Crowd

This looks more like a pool at the local club. The wide all-wood deck offers plenty of room for several chaise lounges so you can invite all of your friends. More importantly, the wood side cover and protect the sides of the pool from the elements and of course hordes of small children bent on knocking the pool wall over.

Image courtesy of Bobvila.Com

#6 It's Gotta Be Rock 'n' Roll

Here the owner uses rocks for the final entry and exit area of the pool, this will help keep the chlorinated water away from his lawn and plants. Note the pool cover on a roll designed to keep the heat in and the debris out. The wood deck in the background offers plenty of room for sunbathing.

Image courtesy of Huntsville Pool Store

#7 The Cabana Look

This pool has a beautiful wood fence that goes all the way around it, allowing the owner to secure the pool from the local kids. Note the gazebo in the background that provides everyone a place to get out of the sun for a while. Also, the trellis under the walk-around deck helps keep kids and animals out.

Image courtesy of Pinterest

#8 Keeping the Grass Greener on the Other Side

Inside the pool are several thousand gallons of super-chlorinated water, the last thing you want on your lovely green lawn. Here the homeowner has created the perfect barrier using larger rocks that let the water filter into the ground without bleaching his lawn.

Image courtesy of DIY Design & Decor

#9 Modern Security and Room to Sit

Most areas now have laws in place requiring you to secure your pool inside a locked fence. Rather than building a fence out in the yard around the pool, this fence is built right into the pool and features a small platform for mom and dad to sit on while the kids play, it also has a locking gate at the foot of the stairs.

Image courtesy of Pinterest

#10 What Could Be Simpler?

A swimming pool needs two things to be successful, plenty of water and a level piece of ground. In this case, the homeowner decided to keep it simple with a poured concreted pad and a set of wood steps leading up to the pool. It's not fancy, but then who needs fancy when you have a nice big pool to play in?

Image courtesy of Homestratosphere.Com

#11 Creating a Unique Pool Space

As easy as it might have been to simply install this pool, the homeowner took it to the limit. Not only did creating a deck that blends into the surrounding trees add more room for everyone to spend time in the sun, it also helped to blend his pool into his yard rather than tearing up the yard to fit his pool into it.

Image courtesy of Decoist

#12 Anyone for Chess?

It seems as though this homeowner couldn't quite make up his mind what he wanted. In the end, he settled for a unique combination of concrete pavers and grass to create his own outdoor chess board. All you need now are some pretty big chess pieces and someone to play against.

Image courtesy of Pinterest

#13 Trying to Blend In

With its wood siding sunk below ground level and the gravel surround, you might think this pool is trying to blend into its surroundings. Adding a few plants to go with it helps with the illusion. Note how the owner built a pump housing that matches the pool siding for the finishing touch.

Image courtesy of The Pool Factory

#14 Bring the Desert to Your Oasis

When you think of having a swimming pool in your backyard, do you also think of it as being your oasis from the world? This homeowner decided to bring a touch of the desert to his backyard complete with palm trees and a small wood chip "beach" around his pool. The nice thing about palm trees is that they don't drop leaves in the pool water, but when they grow up, they provide plenty of shade.