8 Above ground Pool Upgrades That Look Way Better Than a Basic Deck

You don’t need an in ground pool (or a massive budget) to have a ridiculously gorgeous backyard. These eight above-ground pool upgrades transform the whole vibe think boutique hotel meets backyard escape. I’m talking full on moods, intentional materials, and styling that makes a basic deck feel… well, basic.

Grab your sunnies. We’re going poolside.

1. Mediterranean Plunge Courtyard

Wide shot, Mediterranean Plunge Courtyard: An above-ground pool wrapped in smooth whitewashed stucco half-walls with rounded coping, a soft blue tile band just beneath the waterline, and a herringbone layout of terracotta-look porcelain pavers underfoot. A white pergola with gauzy curtains casts warm string lights, arch-shaped wall niches hold brass lanterns with glowing sconces, and oversized clay pots with olive trees frame two low teak loungers with linen cushions atop a chunky round jute rug. Palette of chalky white, terracotta, pale blue, and sun-faded wood; evening golden-hour ambiance, no people.

This one brings Santorini energy to your backyard. Wrap the pool in smooth stucco half-walls with a whitewashed finish and a soft, rounded coping. The walls hide the pool frame and give it that luxe, built-in look.

Underfoot, lay terracotta-look porcelain pavers in a herringbone pattern warm, sun-baked, and slip-resistant. Add a pair of low, teak loungers with linen cushions and a chunky round jute rug for texture.

To finish, tuck in olive trees in oversized clay pots, a white pergola with gauzy curtains, and a row of arch-shaped niches in the wall for lanterns. Use a soft blue tile band just beneath the waterline for that Mediterranean pop.

Palette: Chalky white, terracotta, pale blue, sun-faded wood
Key decor: Striped towels, linen cabana pillows, brass lanterns
Lighting: Warm string lights under the pergola + wall sconces in the niches

2. Tropical Tiki Lounge With Swim-Up Bar

Medium shot, Tropical Tiki Lounge With Swim-Up Bar: A raised bamboo-clad bar hugging the pool edge beneath a palapa-style thatch roof, with hidden LED strips under the bar rail glowing warm. Inside the turquoise-lit water, two submerged bar stools with smooth concrete forms. Surrounding deck in rich espresso ipe/composite contrasts lush banana palms, bird-of-paradise, and glossy philodendron in black fiberstone planters. Tiki torches flicker, a rattan egg chair hangs nearby, and bright patterned outdoor pillows and a grass-mat bar front complete the resort vibe; twilight scene, no people.

Turn the pool into a mini resort. Build a raised bamboo-clad bar that hugs one edge of the pool with a palapa-style thatch roof overhead. Inside the pool, add two or three submerged bar stools using smooth concrete forms or sturdy resin bases.

Surround everything with ipe or composite decking stained a rich espresso to contrast leafy greens. Pile on banana palms, bird-of-paradise, and glossy philodendron in black fiberstone planters for that lush, layered look.

Accessorize with tiki torches, a rattan egg chair, and bright patterned outdoor pillows. For the water, swap in turquoise LED lighting and a small water feature that gives you that spa-babble sound.

Palette: Espresso wood, jungle greens, turquoise water, tropical brights
Key decor: Grass mat bar front, vintage surfboard art, colorful melamine drinkware
Lighting: Warm torch light + hidden LED strips beneath the bar rail

3. Modern Minimalist Deck With Sun Shelf

If you love clean lines, go sleek. Box in the pool with charcoal composite cladding and a flush, wide-plank deck at water height. Add a shallow sun shelf platform inside the pool for lounging think two in-pool chaise loungers in matte white.

Keep furniture minimal: a low-profile modular outdoor sofa in cool gray, a graphite aluminum coffee table, and two sculptural cube side tables. Swap frills for form everything should feel deliberate and streamlined.

For plants, use architectural grasses and black planters with boxwood spheres. Add linear step lights in the cladding and a slatted privacy screen for a gallery-like backdrop.

Palette: Charcoal, matte black, cool gray, crisp white
Key decor: Minimalist lanterns, monochrome towels, concrete-look planters
Lighting: Linear LEDs along steps + cool-toned underwater lights

4. Coastal Cottage Boardwalk Oasis

Wide shot, Coastal Cottage Boardwalk Oasis: Driftwood-toned decking encircling the pool with a white cross-brace railing and rope accents between posts, plus weathered wooden pilings as sculptural details. Soft gray Adirondack chairs face a striped navy-and-white umbrella over a slat-top coffee table; seersucker cushions and seagrass baskets for towels. Perimeter grounded with crushed shell/pale pea gravel, hydrangeas and lavender planting, and outdoor lanterns with flickering candles. Palette of weathered gray, clean white, navy, sea-glass blue; soft, warm evening light, no people.

Channel a breezy beach day. Wrap the pool with driftwood-toned decking and a white cross-brace railing like a seaside boardwalk. Use rope accents along the posts and a few weathered wooden pilings as sculptural elements.

Furnish with Adirondack chairs in soft gray, a striped navy-and-white umbrella, and a slat-top coffee table. Toss in seersucker cushions, woven seagrass baskets for towels, and a vintage-look life ring on the rail for charm.

Ground the space with crushed shell or pale pea gravel around the deck perimeter. Add hydrangeas, lavender, and a couple of outdoor lanterns with flickering candles for evening glow.

Palette: Weathered gray, clean white, navy, sea-glass blue
Key decor: Striped textiles, rope details, galvanized metal accents
Lighting: Lanterns + soft, warm deck post caps

5. Desert Spa Retreat With Stucco Steps

Medium shot, Desert Spa Retreat With Stucco Steps: A sand-colored smooth stucco surround with sculpted curved steps descending to the water, integrating a low built-in bench lined with outdoor cushions for lounging. Ground plane in concrete-look pavers edged by decorative gravel; cacti, agave, and barrel planters atop crushed stone. A warm taupe freestanding shade sail casts dappled shade; sculptural sling loungers in camel, a round cement side table, and a teak daybed with sun-bleached linen sit nearby. Subtle tile water feature trickles; palette of sand, clay, sage, oxidized bronze; late-afternoon sun with amber underwater glow, no people.

Think boutique hotel in Palm Springs. Encapsulate the pool with a smooth, sand-colored stucco surround and sculpted curved steps leading to the water. Integrate a low, built-in bench with outdoor cushions along one side instant lounge zone.

Use concrete-look pavers bordered by decorative gravel for that dry, modern landscape. Bring in cacti, agave, and barrel planters with crushed stone. A freestanding shade sail in warm taupe keeps things cool without blocking the vibe.

Keep furniture sculptural: a pair of sling loungers in camel, a round cement side table, and a teak daybed with sun-bleached linen. Add a tile water feature in a desert palette for a quiet trickle.

Palette: Sand, clay, sage, oxidized bronze
Key decor: Terracotta pots, woven leather straps, geometric outdoor rug
Lighting: Uplights on cacti + amber underwater glow

6. Jungle Cabana With Hidden Pool Skirt

Detail closeup, Jungle Cabana With Hidden Pool Skirt: Focus on the dark-stained cedar vertical slat “skirt” around the pool base partially veiled by dense layers of ferns, palms, and elephant ears—moist leaf textures and wood grain crisp in humid light. In the softly blurred background, a canvas cabana in deep green stripes with sheer side panels, a woven coffee table, low teak loungers, and clusters of patterned Moroccan lanterns glinting brass. Dappled pathway lighting peeks through foliage; palette of deep greens, dark wood, ivory, hints of brass; no people.

Disguise the pool entirely using a lush, layered look. Build a vertical slat “skirt” around the pool base in dark-stained cedar, then tuck dense plantings of ferns, palms, and elephant ears around it to blur edges. The idea: the water feels cradled by greenery.

Top the deck with a canvas cabana in deep green or sand stripes and sheer side panels that flutter in the breeze. Add low teak loungers, a woven coffee table, and piles of indoor-outdoor floor cushions for laid-back lounging.

Style with patterned Moroccan lanterns, carved wood stools, and stone garden statues peeking from foliage. The whole space feels like a private hideaway no pool frame in sight.

Palette: Deep greens, dark wood, ivory, hints of brass
Key decor: Sheer drapery, tropical prints, textured baskets
Lighting: Dappled pathway lights + lantern clusters in the cabana

7. Rustic Barn-Inspired Pool Porch

Corner-angle medium shot, Rustic Barn-Inspired Pool Porch: A wraparound porch platform around the pool with reclaimed wood posts, a metal roof awning, and board-and-batten skirting. Black metal lantern sconces glow warmly, Edison string lights zigzag under the awning, and a sliding barn-style privacy screen adds farmhouse charm. Seating includes outdoor rocking chairs, a striped hammock, and a chunky farmhouse bench with plaid cushions. A brick paver hearth holds a compact smokeless fire pit; enamelware planters, vintage signs, and stacked firewood style the scene. Palette of weathered oak, black metal, brick red, creamy white; cozy evening light, no people.

Go cozy and character-rich. Create a wraparound porch feel by adding a raised platform with reclaimed wood posts, a metal roof awning, and board-and-batten skirting around the pool. It’s part farmhouse, part lake cabin.

Layer in black metal lantern sconces, a sliding barn-style privacy screen, and a brick paver hearth with a compact, smokeless fire pit. Seating is comfy and classic: outdoor rocking chairs, a striped hammock, and a chunky farmhouse bench with plaid cushions.

Decorate with enamelware planters, vintage signs, and stacked firewood as a styling moment. It’s the perfect spot for post-swim s’mores.

Palette: Weathered oak, black metal, brick red, creamy white
Key decor: Plaid throws, galvanized tubs, iron hooks for towels
Lighting: Warm Edison strings zigzagging under the awning

8. Resort-Style Infinity Edge Illusion

Wide, straight-on shot, Resort-Style Infinity Edge Illusion: A tiered platform aligning the pool lip with a lower catch deck clad in dark stone-look porcelain; a sleek spillover trough creates a gentle sheet of water into the lower level. Smoky glass railings keep sightlines open; black-framed loungers and a double daybed with sheer canopy curtains line the upper terrace. Linear gas fire features reflect on the cool white LED-lit water, with low boxwood borders and minimalist planters completing the ultra-luxe, tightly edited palette of graphite, soft stone, smoky glass, and warm flame tones; night scene, no people.

Yes, you can fake an infinity-edge feel with an above-ground pool. Build a tiered platform so the pool lip aligns with a lower catch deck clad in dark stone or porcelain. Add a spillover trough on one side to create a gentle sheet of water into the lower level silent pump, sleek profile.

Keep the look ultra-luxe with porcelain pavers in a stone finish, black-framed loungers, and a double daybed with sheer canopy curtains. Use smoky glass railings to keep sightlines open and amplify the “edge over water” trick.

Finish with linear gas fire features, low boxwood borders, and a tightly edited palette. At night, the glowing water and dancing flame reflections are unreal.

Palette: Graphite, soft stone, smoky glass, warm flame tones
Key decor: Minimalist planters, rolled white towels, sculptural umbrellas
Lighting: Blade-style wall washers + cool white underwater LEDs

All eight of these concepts turn an ordinary above-ground pool into a complete destination. Pick the vibe that matches your home’s style and your playlist and then go all in on those materials and details. That’s the secret to making your backyard feel like a mini vacation every single weekend.