Lush escapes: A selection of Australia's premier pool landscaping ideas

Whatever your preference is, it never hurts to look at what other homeowners have done with their own pool surrounds and landscaping designs. To help you with this, we've curated sixteen of the best pool landscaping ideas from architecturally designed homes from across Australia to give you some ideas for your own pool project.

If you're looking for the plants and trees surrounding your pool to stay lush all year round, then evergreens are what you're after. For trees, consider species like conifers, which will add space, height and drama to your pool surroundings. For plants, consider agave plants that feature thick, fleshy leaves that add a sense of freshness to the area. You can see this variety of trees and plants surrounding this pool in Toorak, Melbourne below, agave plants are placed closer to the pool, while conifers can be seen organised along the fence.

For a clean and modern pool landscape, ornamental grasses are a smart choice. They're easy to care for and bring a natural, calming element to the poolside. Their tall stalks and fluffy seed heads, offers privacy and a touch of softness against the hardscape. Ornamental grasses can be durable and survives well in various climates. Plant them in groups for a visual impact or alone for a more minimalist appearance. In the stylish pool you can see bunches of grass placed strategically around the pools edge.

You can draw the eye to your pool while also showing off any surrounding flower beds that have been carefully designed and arranged. The poolside area below, located in Chatswood, Sydney, features a tiered garden with dark foliage plants that give visual depth and immaculate natural stone walls that provide the flowerbeds with structure.

If you want to create a pool area that maximises privacy and seclusion, pay close attention to how various plants can form a natural barrier to your pool. The pool area below, located in Caringbah, Sydney, encapsulates this idea perfectly. The tall trees create a screen between the garden and the pool, while the stone retaining walls house various shrubs and flowering plants. The varied heights and colours of the plants create a layered look, intensifying the secluded feeling.

This pool, located in Gladesville, Sydney, blurs the lines between the home's interior and the garden's natural charm. The transition is virtually seamless, thanks to the continuity of materials and design elements that echo those found inside the house. The pool area is a natural extension of the living space, with decking that matches the indoor flooring and outdoor furniture that mirrors the interior's style.

To recreate this in your own space, select outdoor materials that compliment your interior finishes. Use similar textures and colours for a cohesive look. Incorporate outdoor seating that aligns with your indoor furniture in comfort and design to unify the spaces.

You can mix and match different landscaping features when designing your pool's surrounds. For example, this pool in Ivanhoe East, Melbourne, features a wooden deck that provides a warm, inviting platform by the water, complimented by a selection of trees and shrubs with a well-kept lawn on the other side. The result is a practical, low-maintenance landscape that keeps the pool looking vibrant throughout the year.

One interesting idea is to focus your pool's landscaping around a standout feature, outdoor area or piece of furniture. This pool, located in Burnside, Adelaide, is centred around the eye-catching pavilion that gives the whole area a focal point. Surrounding the pavilion is a selection of green plants that add a nice touch contrasting with the hardscape, while the pool is bordered by smooth paving that compliments the pavilion's building materials. 

Transform your poolside into an evening oasis with thoughtful lighting highlighting key features and creating a welcoming atmosphere. The featured pool below located in Kingston Park, South Australia glows with underwater lighting, while accent lights in the surrounding deck and foliage offer a soft contrast, ensuring the space is functional and atmospheric after dusk. Comfortable loungers beckon for relaxation, and the choice of warm, inviting lights promises leisurely evenings.

Sometimes, keeping things simple is best. The surroundings of this pool, located in Camden, New South Wales, features a well-kept lawn, with a few plants scattered along the deck and the surrounding wall. The result is a clean space that gives the pool centre stage. If you're looking for minimalist pool surround you can mimic this idea by focussing on keeping your lawn meticulous and carefully choosing plants to surround your pool, without overwhelming the area.

A paver pathway is an excellent addition to any pool landscape, serving as both a practical route and a design element. It provides a durable, non-slip surface for wet feet and helps to keep the pool area clean from grass and debris. Aesthetically, pavers can be chosen to match or contrast with the pool decking, contributing to the overall style of the outdoor space. You can lay them in a straight line for a formal look or in a winding pattern for a more natural feel. The pool below located in Hahndorf, South Australia features pavers that are interlaced with overlapping greenery - a nice simple entryway to the pool surrounds.

Ornamental or decorative trees are a practical choice for poolside landscaping, offering both beauty and function. They can create private, shaded areas for relaxation and add vertical interest to the garden. When illuminated at night, these trees can transform the pool area into a resort-like setting, perfect for evening leisure. The surrounds of this pool in Ashgrove, Queensland, feature decorative trees carefully positioned along the outer fence, featuring soft lighting that adds a warm glow to the surroundings.

For a pool area that evokes the tranquillity of a Balinese retreat, consider incorporating tropical plants, natural stone, and a wooden gazebo. The warm lighting and lush greenery create a peaceful, secluded atmosphere, inviting relaxation at any time of day. Choose durable, weather-resistant materials to ensure your serene space remains low-maintenance and beautiful year-round. In this Balinese-style pool located in Ashgrove, Queensland, the wooden gazebo creates a perfect shaded lounging spot, while the lush plants and trees bring a tropical vibe to the setting.

If you're looking to embrace minimalism in your pool landscaping design, consider focusing on creating a sense of openness and symmetry. This could include choosing a rectangular pool as the centrepiece, clean, uniform stone tiles as the surroundings, and an immaculately kept lawn to either side. The pool below, located in Derrinallum, Victoria, captures these design principles. The result is an elegant swimming pool area that's expansive and inviting.

Limestone is a striking building material that's been used for thousands of years. The material brings a natural, warm presence to any area its used in, and can make a space feel very inviting. If you're looking to bring this feeling to a pool area consider using limestone for your key poolside and water features.

This featured pool located in Kurrajong Heights, New South Wales, does just this. The stairs connecting the patio area with the relaxing poolside area showcase a variety of limestone tones that match the feature wall seen at the back of the pool. The consistency in material creates a seamless transition from the functional patio to the leisurely pool zone, blending the robust, earthy qualities of limestone with the landscape's organic forms and textures.

Add a splash of the Mediterranean to your pool's landscaping with mosaic tiles around the edges. This pool, located in Woori Yallock, Victoria, showcases a clean, crisp mosaic border in hues that echo the sea's tranquil blues while complimenting the pool's vibrant colours. Mosaic tiles are available in a wide range of colours, sizes and tones so there's plenty of design potential to consider.

Choosing palm trees for your poolside landscaping can prove to be practical as well as visually appealing. Palms are sturdy and can thrive with minimal attention, making them perfect for homeowners who want greenery without the hassle. They require less trimming compared to deciduous trees and are less likely to drop leaves into your pool, reducing cleaning time. You can also strategically position them around your pool according to your preferences, you can see an example of this in the surroundings of the pool below located in Ashgrove, Queensland.

As you can see, there are many different stylish ways to design your pool surrounds and incorporate plenty of varying landscaping options. Hopefully, these ideas have given you plenty of inspiration, and you're brimming with excitement to get started on designing or renovating your own pool area.

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