It’s summer. It’s the holidays. It’s long hot days with nothing to do. Well, almost nothing, with these great DIY ideas that’ll give your pool, and garden, a summer makeover. What’s more, some of these inspirations are great arts and crafts projects that you can do with the kids. So, that’s their summer boredom solved too! DIY around the pool. Besides sun tanning.

Pool pallet organiser

Keep your pool and garden shipshape with a wooden pallet organiser. This tidy must-have is perfect for storing pool noodles, towels, snorkels, cozzies, and much more. Paint it your favourite summer colour, add some hooks, and lean it against a wall or mount it on a fence.

The original coke float

Swimming in your pool is refreshing. Getting out of it for a drink, not so much. So, stay in the water with this floating pool bar. Fill an inflatable baby pool with ice and drinks of your choice. Et voila!

Outdoor shower

What’s more refreshing than a swim? A shower after a swim. Or before. Plus, a quick rinse before swimming keeps your pool’s water cleaner, and having one after swimming cleanses your body of pool chemicals. So, pull out your plumbing tools, run a pipe from a water source, and mount a shower head. You can also decorate it with colourful tiles or seashells.

Lights above the pool

Chances are you already have lights around the pool and inside it, but what about hanging lights above it? They make magical night-time reflections on the water. And when you look up at them, you’ve added stars to the sky.

Poolside plants

Let’s face it. Pool water just goes better surrounded by greenery. Creating green spaces around the pool adds to its natural effect, and gives swimmers the feeling they’re in a hidden oasis. Put on your gardening gloves, and use that green thumb to create rock gardens, flower beds, and potted landscaping.

Repeat

And repeat again. Sometimes, having different decor elements around the pool can look a bit cluttered. Fear not, add pattern to the madness, and problem solved. Use a repeating formula with a row of consecutive loungers, side tables, and pot plants.

Pool fences with a difference

You probably need a fence to keep little ones (and furry friends) safe and out of the water. You can choose the standard pool fencing, but you can also opt for borders with a difference, like barely-there glass, or waist-high stone walls decorated with starfish.

Bring the indoors outdoors

Put your inner interior designer to work on your house’s exterior. It’s tres chic. Add things you would normally find inside a house, and you’ll create a luxurious sitting area, with coffee tables, rugs, décor pieces, soft furnishings, and lighting. Just make sure whatever you place outside is weather-proof or bring it inside when you’re done. For DIY experts, you can take this principle even further by building things like a fully kitted kitchenette!

Pool privacy

It’s hot and you want to be in the pool. Chances are, so do your neighbours. Make your pool private and you’ll enjoy seclusion, solitude, and peace of mind. Plant a hedge around the pool. It doesn’t have to be super-high. Waist height is good too, and it also helps block off seating or social areas. You can also achieve this effect by erecting a pergola or pergoda over the pool. Just be sure to keep it simple and open so you don’t block the breeze. You can even make the pergoda more secluded by draping it with hanging plants for the ultimate curtain effect. Just make sure you choose a cascading succulent that doesn’t need deep soil or frequent watering. And don’t choose plants that shed a lot. You want your pool’s water free of leaves.

The ultimate braai setup

Few things go better with a pool than a braai. Build the braai area of your dreams and you’ll add delicious tastes and aromas to your day at the pool. Complement your braai with stylish metal bar tables and stools. Just be sure to opt for waterproof cushioning.

Your very own Tiki bar

Now you don’t have to go the tropics to enjoy Hawaiian flamboyance and classic island charm. Build a bamboo poolside bar, complete with bartending counter, bar stools, and a fridge. Pro tip: Turn up the tropical vibe with colourful barware and flaming torches. These are just some ideas to get your creative juices flowing. There are a million more, and, no doubt, you have plenty of your own. Just don’t choose DIY projects that will require tons of upkeep in the long run. You are, after all, not here for chores. You’re here for a swim