The key to a luxury swimming pool is to design something that seamlessly fits with the aesthetic of the overall home, building, and outdoor environment. Common mistakes include misjudging the size of the pool; too small and it will underwhelm the space or adding too many features; making it feel overcrowded. However, an important variable is the pool finish itself, more specifically how that finish will influence the water color hue..
This last variable is often overlooked in part because trying to tie the pool’s water color into a design element, architecture or theme can be a daunting task. A luxury swimming pool design will not only create a visual experience with the color hue, but some will also evoke an emotional experience with the water color hue. Here is some more information about the water color hue that your pool finish will cast! We hope you find this information helpful as you design your own luxury swimming pool: Remember there are lots of variables that inform the water color hue, so this guide is only directional as it pertains to the influence that the finish of the pool has. Also remember that the water color of a pool is always changing and is a living breathing work of art.
There are four main hues that swimming pool colors will cast. These are:
- Blue Hue
- A refreshing and crisp hue that is the most popular and considered interesting.
- Aquamarine Hue
- A blue base hue with a small amount of aqua. a. This color is often chosen for natural look- where the blue blends into the background and does not look artificial
- Aqua Green Hue
- A mimic of the natural water color of nature; the hue of a lake or river.
- Black Bottom Hue
- A dark blue or teal hue. Their intense color is highly influenced by the pool’s surroundings and the sunlight. This hue is often chosen for its reflective capabilities as the sun goes down in the afternoon, showing off all the beautiful pool surroundings like the flowers and plants, etc.
What finish do I pick?
To narrow down your finish options and find the right hue for your luxury swimming pool, there are two questions you have to ask yourself:
- You have to decide what is more important to you – a water color at a distance or a pool finish close up?
For example – some of the most beautiful water hues use a gray pigment to get that crisp blue hue, however some people don’t want to look down and see a gray pool bottom.. Conversely, some of the prettiest pebble and glass beaded bottoms are stunning to look at up close but cast a multi hue across the pool depending on the time of day/weather and surroundings.
- Do you want the pool to pop or be subdued and blend with the surroundings?
For example – vibrant watercolors surrounded by white and beige heart scapes make the pool the focal point.
What are the other variables?
- Size and depth of the pool – The deeper the pool, the more reflection and the richer the water color will be. Therefore, a rich deep water color may not be possible in a shallow small pool.
- Surrounding materials – The heart scape and foliage around the pool affect the water color. A red and gold tone hardscape material and green shrubbery, can change a blue hue to more of an aqua marine hue.
- Sunlight – The amount of sunlight casting on a pool has a corresponding effect to the color of the pool. A bright sunny day will reflect on the pool hue more. It looks clearer and more vibrant.
Last but not least the single most important thing to understand with regard to variables which affect your pool water color is not to hold onto preconceived ideas. Seeing a pool in person or in a magazine and holding onto the image of the water color you fell in love with just may not be possible based on your pool size, shape, or surroundings. It’s best to speak with your pool designer to understand what your options and limitations are before picking out the pool finish. To consult with our design team at Tortorella please contact us here.