Building a custom pool is one of the best investments you can make in your home.
But… most settle for some boring rectangle with concrete walls and a ladder.
Throwing a few quality-of-life features into your pool design can elevate your backyard from bland to seriously swimming pool resort worthy. And you don’t need to spend crazy money to do it.
The benefits of going beyond a basic pool include:
- A backyard oasis that you’ll enjoy year-round
- Increased home value and curb appeal
- A pool built around your lifestyle
This guide dives into the most popular and valuable features you can add with custom pool construction. From waterfalls and smart technology to landscaping and lighting, there’s something in here for every pool.
Custom Pool Feature Guide
- Why Upgrade your Pool with Custom Features?
- Water Features
- Pool Automation/Smart Technology
- Tanning Ledges/Sun Shelves
- Pool Lighting
- Pool Heating and Cooling Systems
- Pool Decking and Surroundings
Why Upgrade your Pool with Custom Features?
Sure, a plain old pool is fun. But what about a pool that incorporates features designed around how you want to use it?
This is what custom pool construction is all about.
When you work with knowledgeable San Jose swimming pool builders from the start, you can plan out every feature ahead of time. The result is a beautiful, cohesive pool and spa instead of a confusing mess of mismatched ideas.
Your bank account will love it too. The National Association of REALTORS® found that homeowners who install in-ground swimming pools can expect a 56% return on investment. Add in popular, desirable features? That ROI skyrockets.
Water Features
Water features are one of the most impactful upgrades to add with custom pool construction. Not only do they look incredible, but they also add movement, sound, and visual interest a plain jane pool just doesn’t have.
There are quite a few options when it comes to water features. The most popular ones include:
- Waterfalls – Waterfalls can be incorporated into rock formations or even simple raised walls. Regardless of style, they add relaxing ambience to any pool.
- Spillover spas – Another gorgeous feature that doubles as extra swim space. This is basically a raised hot tub that spills water into the pool.
- Deck jets / bubblers – Often used alongside sun shelves or tanning ledges. Kids absolutely love them.
- Sheer descent waterfall – A thin sheet of water that flows like glass. Modern and sleek.
With so many styles to choose from, the only limitation is how they fit into the pool design.
Do you have a modern geometric pool? Keep it clean with a sheer waterfall. Don’t wanna ruin the natural vibe of your pond? Add a waterfall into your rock garden.
Pool Automation/Smart Technology
Smart pools are happening right now.
Pool automation systems allow homeowners to control most features of their pool right from their smartphone. Here’s what that can include:
- Water temperature
- Lighting colors and brightness
- Filter cycles
- Turning water features on/off
- Opening/closing pool covers
Now that’s what convenient pool maintenance looks like.
Pool automation is extremely popular with new custom pools these days. In fact, according to Verified Market Reports, the global smart pool systems market is projected to grow to nearly $50 million by 2031 — up from about $15 million in 2024.
If homeowners weren’t asking for this stuff, there wouldn’t be growth like that.
Prices typically range from $1,500 to $3,500 for installation.
Tanning Ledges/Sun Shelves
This was unheard of ten years ago but has now become one of the most requested features in custom pool construction.
Essentially a dry-but-wet lounge area built inside the pool, tanning ledges (also known as sun shelves or Baja shelves) are about 6–12″ deep. They’re the perfect place to sit in the water with your feet up, get some sun, and lounge with your family. Oh yea, and you can place chairs right in the water.
Homeowners love them for:
- Small children and toddlers
- Lounging without full submersion
- Allowing in-pool lounge chairs and umbrellas
- Perfect for pets who don’t like swimming but need to cool off
They also look adorable when equipped with bubblers or deck jets.
Pool Lighting
There’s one upgrade that most drastically transforms a pool — and it’s lighting.
Sure, a white LED pool light works. But what if the color could change to match the mood?
Thanks to new lighting technology, homeowners can now install app-controlled LED lights that change color right from their phone. Need some blue ambiance for calm nights? Turn the pool into a party shuffle zone? Or simulate candlelight for a fancy dinner setting?
Here are the benefits of LED pool lighting:
- Energy efficient – uses far less electricity than traditional bulbs
- Long-lasting – up to 30,000 hours
- App-controlled – usually syncs with other smart pool features
- Versatile – choose from in-pool, underwater, and deck installation options
Don’t forget about lighting opportunities outside the water either. Pathway lighting, uplighting on bushes, and accent lights for water features are great ways to create a truly lit backyard.
Pool Heating and Cooling Systems
One of the most common things homeowners want is to use their pool year-round.
Unfortunately, Northern California weather doesn’t always make that easy.
That’s where pool heating systems come in.
Options typically include gas heaters, heat pumps, and solar heating. Gas heats the quickest but is meant for occasional use. Heat pumps are best for those swimming every day throughout the year. Solar heating is great for those wanting to go green, but again depends on sun exposure.
Pool cooling systems are also starting to become popular in warmer climates — basically a heat pump that works in reverse.
Pool Decking and Surroundings
Believe it or not, the pool deck is just as important as everything beneath the water.
Here are some of the most popular decking materials used with custom pool construction:
- Travertine – Natural stone that doesn’t heat up in the sun
- Stamped concrete – Inexpensive and able to mimic other materials
- Pavers – Sturdy, attractive, and easy to replace individually
- Composite Decking – Maintenance-free material that resembles real wood
Beyond decking materials, don’t be afraid to add accents around the pool. Things like pergolas, outdoor kitchens, and fire pits extend the entertaining space and make the pool area the heart of the home.
The Final Splash
Building a custom pool should be about so much more than spending money on excavation and water.
When done right, custom pool features turn a backyard into an experience. Something that not only gets enjoyed for years, but used daily and adds value to the home.
Smart home automation, LED lighting, landscaping, waterfalls, and oversized sun shelves are just a few ideas that can take a pool from boring to blockbuster.
But here’s the key. Don’t wait until after construction is finished to decide on the must-haves. Plan these features out ahead of time so they can be integrated into the pool’s design from day one.
Choose features that fit the lifestyle. Commit to them early, and the backyard will thank you for years to come.
With a Master in Architectural Studies from University of Pennysylvania, Marwa Haydar has pioneered living spaces since 2005. Her expertise, initially honed in a prestigious architectural firm, is evident in her approach to creating environments. Marwa became part of our team in 2019 and has since been a driving force in our home improvement section, known for her practical yet stylish solutions. She’s been spearheading our design workshops since then, infusing her passion for teaching into her work. In her leisure time, Marwa enjoys exploring historic architecture and is an enthusiastic pottery hobbyist, further enriching her understanding of form and texture.
