Pools, like friends and families, come in all shapes and sizes. If you can imagine your home’s dream pool, chances are that you (or a contractor) can build it. Well, maybe not a pool floating in the sky, but for all other types of pools, be they above-ground, or below-ground, or a mixture of the two, this is the definitive guide for you.

Let’s take a look at your options.

• Above-ground pools

Above-ground pools are positioned on the surface of your garden or courtyard, and sometimes have a deck surrounding them. These pools are your most economical choice, and are generally built using aluminium, resin, or steel sidings with vinyl liners. You can also choose patterned walls, and complete it with relative ease as a DIY project.

As usual with any investment, there are pluses and minuses to above-ground pools. In the plus column, they are your most affordable option. You can, in most cases, take them with you if you move, and they are especially suited for smaller gardens. They also include kiddies’ pools, which are easy to find, affordable, and dispensable.

In the minus column, you are limited to manufactuers’ notions of the perfect pool. They can be difficult to disguise in a landscape, although you can build decks to help blend them in. You’re also not looking at longevity, as vinyl liners generally only last five years.

• In-ground pools

In-ground pools are built into the garden and are permanent structures. You can choose various building materials, including the most popular: concrete, fiberglass, vinyl, or alternative finishes. You’ll need a contractor to help you with the build and he can also help you identify the strongest and most flexible materials. Concrete pools are normally the most expensive, but they, unlike the other two, give you complete latitude to decide the size and shape you want. Alternative finishes for pools include tiles, stones, manufactured textures, and even pebbles. They are increasingly popular. Of course, you can also choose architectural pools, which as the name suggests have structure, defined lines, and are often built to complement the feel and form of the house.

• Natural pools, or ponds as the Europeans like to call them, are self-cleaning pools that combine the fun of a swimming pools with the beauty of a water garden. They can be either in-ground, above-ground, or a combination of the two. And because of their natural feel, they can include boulders and waterfalls, and can be peaceful and rustic or modern and architectural.

• Plunge pools are exactly as the name suggests. Dating back thousands of years to ancient Rome, and also popular with Chinese medicine, they are small, cold-water pools. Which means they’re prefect to have a quick refreshing dip!

• Indoor pools. These are self-explanatory. They’re under your home’s roof, insulated by at least three walls, and usually designed using simple, geometric shapes. They’re great for swimming or training throughout the year, especially in winter.

• Infinity pools. These are probably one of the most attractive (and costly) types of pools. They are custom-made to highlight a view, and have one or more walls with a vanishing-edge design. This stylish design allows water to flow over the edge, and creates the illusion that the water has no bounds.
• Lap pools. If you’re a fitness freak, this pool’s for you. You can exercise to your heart’s content, and because they are long, narrow, and typically rectangular, they can fit in to areas that match those dimensions. They offer 40 feet or more of straight, unobstructed swimming space, and for a single swimmer, the width can be as little as 8 feet.

• Swim spas are also suited for fitness use. They are both a pool and a spa, and have water jets that allow you to swim against the current. They’re perfect for small yards, as some swim spas span as little as 12 feet. Since the swimmer isn’t actually moving through the water, its dimensions can be much smaller. They can also be heated so they can serve as both a spa and a pool.

And that’s most of them. An extra type you may want to consider is a saltwater pool, which means less work and chlorination. But aside from that, grab your costumes, pick up a towel, slip on those goggles, or make yourself a poolside drink, and in you splash into your brand-new pool!