Decorating a Pool Area with Style on a Budget
Transforming your pool area into a stylish oasis doesn't have to cost a fortune. With some clever decorating tricks and thrifty finds, you can create a gorgeous poolside retreat on a budget.
The key is setting a realistic budget upfront. Take an honest look at what you can afford to spend before falling in love with pricier items. Scope out clearance sales at the end of summer when outdoor products go on discount. Thrift stores and garage sales are also great spots to score deals.
Refresh Existing Furniture with DIY Makeovers
Instead of buying brand new pool furniture, give your existing pieces a makeover. This is an affordable way to update the look and save money.
Rescue old metal chairs or lounges by cleaning them up and giving them a fresh coat of spray paint in your color scheme. Add new life to worn cushions and pillows by sewing on colorful outdoor fabric covers. Build your own outdoor coffee table from a pallet and stain to match. The options are endless for customizing what you already own.
Upcycle Other Household Items
Think beyond outdoor furniture. There are plenty of household items that can be upcycled into pool decor. An old ladder becomes a towel rack. Vintage crates make charming side tables. Even a dried palm frond can be turned into a tropical-inspired mirror when spray painted gold.
Keep your eye out for items around the house that would look great with a quick DIY makeover out by the pool. Repurposing things you already own is both eco-friendly and budget-friendly.
Incorporate Color and Texture with Fabrics
Outdoor textiles like pillows, cushions, towels, and rugs are easy to find at a discount. Stick to solid colors and patterns that will withstand the elements. Nautical stripes, tropical florals, and Moroccan trellis prints all work well poolside.
Inexpensive floor cushions provide extra guest seating that can be stowed away when not in use. Waterproof outdoor rugs anchor seating areas and add visual interest underfoot. Hanging towels over the fence or pergola adds a splash of color.
Choose sunbrella fabrics that are resistant to fading and mildew. And don't forget the umbrella--a bright pattern shades lounge areas with personality.
Repurpose Fabrics
Check fabric stores for outdoor remnant bins where you can find quality materials at a steep discount. Keep an eye out for secondhand cushion covers, curtains, or tablecloths that could be retrofitted to work poolside.
A fun project is transforming beach sarongs or pareos into colorful throw pillow covers. Just add a zipper or ties to create removable covers.
Enhance Ambiance with Lighting
Proper lighting transforms the pool at night for evening swims and entertaining. During the day, strategically placed lighting elements enhance the oasis feel.
Outdoor string lights overhead or wrapped around trees create a magical effect day or night. Place solar-powered spot lights along the perimeter of planting beds and pathways to illuminate a safe route around the pool by night. Group votive candles and tea lights in glass containers for instant ambiance as the sun goes down.
Maximize Existing Features
Take advantage of lighting you already have. Uplighting in trees can be adjusted to point down towards the pool. Add a dimmer switch to exterior sconces or post lanterns to control brightness. Install a remote-controlled outlet for plug-in string lights to turn on from afar.
For safety, make sure adequate lighting exists in the pool itself and for navigating around the perimeter. Low-voltage LED lighting can often run on existing systems without rewiring.
Refresh Hardscapes with Simple Upgrades
The surfaces around your pool contribute to the overall design. But redoing patios and decks can bust your budget. Consider more affordable ways to update the hardscape.
Stenciling concrete walkways and patios adds ornate detail for a fraction of the cost of stamped concrete. Choose trellis or geometric patterns in a contrasting paint color. Another easy upgrade is arranging new stepping stones or pavers to create visual interest underfoot.
Add river rock or pea gravel along one side of the pool deck for textures and colors that complement the landscape. Incorporate large boulders or a simple rock waterfall feature to enhance the natural vibe.
Disguise Eyesores
Use plants, fencing or decorative screens to mask unsightly pool equipment and cluttered storage areas. Vines grown on a lattice panel create an attractive barricade around pumps or heaters. Corral toys, floats, and maintenance items in a wicker storage bin or attractive wood box.
If the pool itself needs some TLC, freshen it up with paint. Products like Pebble Tec and quartz finishes resurface tired pools on a budget. Adding a Baja shelf creates the look of an infinity edge without the cost.
Choose Budget-Friendly Plants
Flowers, trees, and greenery help create the ultimate backyard oasis. But landscaping can bust your budget if you opt for high maintenance plants and constant upkeep.
To save money, go for native, drought-resistant plants adapted for the local climate and pool environment. Succulents, agaves, palms, and ornamental grasses fit the bill in warm regions. Easy perennials like hibiscus, gardenias, and vinca also help stretch your plant dollars.
Purchase young plants and seedlings when possible to avoid the higher cost of mature specimens. The bones will fill in beautifully within a couple seasons. Take cuttings from existing plants to propagate more at no additional cost.
Add Privacy with Strategic Plantings
To hide eyesores like pool equipment and create seclusion, use plants strategically. Evergreen trees and screening shrubs like camellias, azaleas, and arborvitae establish an effective living fence or barrier with year-round privacy.
Plant fast-growing vines like creeping fig, trumpet vine, and coral honeysuckle on fences, pergolas, and lattices to quickly establish a lush green backdrop. Place planters and pots around the pool's edge to instantly establish boundaries.
Accessorize and Style on the Cheap
The little details make all the difference in pulling your poolscape together. Fortunately, fun accessories don't have to bust your budget.
Pick up inexpensive pool floats and inflatables to keep on hand for impromptu fun. Outdoor throw pillows and ceramic planters add style at a fraction of the cost of permanent finishes and furnishings. Remember to shop end-of-season sales.
Display collected natural objects like shells, sea glass, driftwood, and interesting rocks. Handmake wall hangings, signs, wind chimes, and decor from materials found outside.
Continue the Style Indoors
Carry your poolside style indoors to create continuity. Choose patio door curtains in patterns and colors that coordinate with your pool decor. Display coordinating throw pillows, ceramics, and accessories inside too.
Hang matching prints, wall decor, and art reflecting pool motifs like anchors, oars, and palms inside your home. Continue flooring materials like tiles, stone, or wood from the deck inside to seamlessly connect the spaces.
With a dash of creativity and commitment to thriftiness, you can craft a fabulous poolside oasis without breaking the bank. Prioritize where to spend by focusing on structural elements and permanent furnishings first. Then accessorize with color, lighting, plants, and stylish final touches sourced affordably.
By maximizing what you already own and scoping out deals, your poolscape can feel high-end without the shocking price tag. Get inspired by these budget decorating tips and dive into creating your dream pool area on a dime!