As you start your research on building a custom pool, you’ve probably seen concrete (or gunite), fiberglass, and vinyl liner pool options. While each one has a place, you’ll find that concrete pools stand out in almost every instance.
In fact, we’re so confident in our concrete pools, we know you’ll love them, too.When you choose a custom concrete pool, you’re investing in more than just water in your backyard. You’re creating a personalized retreat that reflects your lifestyle and enhances your home’s value.
Because concrete pools are built on-site from reinforced concrete, they offer nearly limitless design flexibility. That means you can tailor your pool with features that elevate your comfort, enhance aesthetics, and increase functionality.
Here’s a professional, homeowner-friendly guide to the best features to consider when planning for and designing your custom concrete pool.
A tanning ledge — also called a sun shelf or Baja ledge — is a shallow, gently sloping platform typically just inches underwater. It’s perfect for lounging with a chair or umbrella, cooling off without swimming, or giving young children a safe play area.
These ledges are among the most requested custom features because they blend function with resort-style comfort. In climates like Oklahoma’s, they help you make the most of sunny days without full immersion.
Adding an integrated spa or hot tub to your concrete pool creates a year-round relaxation zone. Whether connected to the pool with a spillover or positioned beside it, a spa offers soothing hydrotherapy jets that help you with muscle recovery and stress relief.
A spa isn’t just a luxury. It increases the utility of your outdoor living space, especially during cooler months when swimming might not be as comfortable. And for many homeowners, this dual pool-and-spa design becomes the centerpiece of backyard entertaining.
Water features such as waterfalls, sheer descents, and fountains are not just visually stunning. They contribute to the atmosphere and movement within your pool.
Cascading water brings a soothing sound that enhances relaxation and masks noise from surrounding areas.
These features can also help circulate water more effectively in certain areas of the pool, while keeping your pool cooler in the height of summer.
High-quality LED lighting elevates the look and usability of your pool after sunset.
Modern systems allow you to choose from thousands of colors and lighting sequences. This all combines for the perfect mood setting, safety, and evening entertainment.
Strategically placed LED lights can highlight stairs, tanning ledges, water features, and landscape elements and turn your backyard into a visually stunning space at night.
Because LED lights are energy-efficient and long-lasting, they’re a smart upgrade for almost any pool design.
If you envision your pool as a social hub, consider features that enhance gathering and relaxation. Swim-up bars, underwater seating areas, and built-in tables turn your pool into a destination for entertainment.
These features are especially popular for families and homeowners who frequently host guests. They create a resort-style feel without leaving your property.
They also increase usefulness as much as aesthetic appeal.
While less glamorous than waterfalls or LED lights, automatic pool covers are one of the most practical upgrades you can make. They increase safety, reduce heat loss, and help keep debris out of the water.
In communities with children or pets, covers provide peace of mind, and they can significantly lower you maintenance costs by keeping your pool cleaner year-round.
For homeowners focused on style and dramatic design, spillovers and infinity edges add architectural interest and luxury appeal. A spa spillover creates a dynamic cascade into the pool, while an infinity edge makes the water appear to vanish into the horizon.
These are especially effective on sloped lots or properties with scenic views.
Both features elevate the style and visual appeal of your pool. The reward is an aesthetically pleasing pool that rivals resort installations.
Smaller water add-ons like bubblers, deck jets, and laminars (clear arcs of moving water from either your pool deck or surrounding landscape) introduce motion and visual interest to calm water surfaces. These features are particularly striking when combined with LED lighting.
While not dramatically expensive, they offer a big return in ambiance. Just imagine… dancing arcs of water, playful fountain effects, and glowing paths at night.
Today’s smart pool systems allow you to control nearly every element of your pool from temperature to lighting, jets, and cleaning, and all from your smartphone. According to industry reporting, more than 60% of new pool installations now include some level of smart integration, making automated controls a trend you’ll see again and again in custom pool designs.
Smart systems elevate convenience and offer energy savings by optimizing equipment use.
The beauty of a concrete pool lies in its customizability. Unlike pre-molded options, concrete allows you to sculpt every detail from shape and depth to features that reflect your lifestyle, priorities, and sense of style.
Whether it’s relaxing on a tanning ledge, entertaining at a swim-up bar, or enjoying peaceful evenings with LED-lit waterfalls, the right features turn a great pool into your dream backyard retreat.
A custom gunite pool should feel intentional, not overwhelming. Connect with Spartan Pool & Patio to begin designing a backyard retreat built around your priorities, not a one-size-fits-all template.