Casual & natural backyard pools

As with most things, backyard pools also benefit from a generous dose of natural materials, shapes, and textures. Such a look is also easier to maintain and therefore more relaxing to be in and around.

If you're interested in poolside landscaping you would probably enjoy my previous posts here, here, and here as well.

Sources: image 1 (Helena Christensen’s home near Woodstock, NY,) image 2,  image 3 & 4,  image 5

Low litter succulents and cacti by pools

I love succulents and cacti. Besides using low water, low maintenance, and looking beautiful, they also create very little or no litter which make them excellent choices by pools and ponds. And, as the pictures below show, you can create very lush landscapes using various cactus plants and succulents.

Image sources: image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4

Easy-going & natural

Look at how beautiful but how low maintenance that pool and its surroundings is. That's the idea. The bottom image of the colorful window shutters makes a good argument against putting a fresh coat of paint on everything.

Top image from Paul McClure's flickr stream, bottom image from lesapea.tumblr.com

Lush & natural landscapes

I repeat myself; natural looking landscapes with a variety of plants are the best! And the natural look principle works well with hardscapes as well!

Images from wisteriaandcowparsley.com

Casual barrel pool & painted bathroom walls

Casual + natural + colorful = beautiful, practical, easy-going.
I am not sure how long painted bathroom walls would last with so much exposure to water, but the idea of easily applying a new coat definitely has its appeal, and the example here looks amazing with a touch of stoic, humble, & authentic.

Top image from issuu.com/leafmag, bottom image from elle.es

Sophisticated casual

Casual decor does not have to be like a dorm room. When done right, casual is sophisticated and mirrors the elegance of modesty and natural beauty.

Images from johanfrancoise.blogspot.com

Live outdoors!

Combine the coziness and comfort of a living room type set-up with the charm of a pleasant landscape, and you get a very appealing outdoor space.

Image 1 (I had this image for sometime but don't recall where I got it from, if you know please let me know - I'd like to link to the source) - Image 2 from californiahomedesign.com, image 3 from flowerwildevents.blogspot.com, image 4 from gardendesign.com

Amazing natural landscaping by the pool

When you take design clues from nature the results tend to be more gorgeous!  Natural forms, shapes, textures, and variety generally do wonders.  Amazing pool, amazing landscaping! Like a slice of heaven!

Image from ultimatewatercreations.net

Easy-going home

The place seems easy-going and low-maintenance without unnecessary bs - and beautiful! That must be the formula to live happily!

Images from dwell.com

Natural stone paths and flagstone patios

These are some amazing looking examples of stonework, and the casual spirit in which they were used in goes so well with the non-uniform and unpolished nature of the stones. Like in that pool image, don't you just love the foliage growing through those stones?

Images from houzz.com

White summer pool & stairs

Rough and un(der)processed materials always make an environment more relaxing and easy-going -concepts that go especially well with vacations & summer!

Images from TinyWhiteDaisies.tumblr.com - check it out!

Amazing natural looking pool

With casual stone perimeters, planter borders, the waterfall, and the mix of colorful plants, this backyard pool set-up looks amazing!

Image from 3oneseven.com

Container gardening - poolside

Container gradening has some pros and cons... for example it's harder to set-up automated watering schedules, and might have to occasionally replant, and move to bigger containers as the root-ball grows bigger, but its also easier to move around depending on temperature or light needs, you don't have to worry about the plant spreading too far, or regretting placement as the plant matures... But never mind all that, the shot below is fantastic!

Image from SouthernLiving.com

Awesome and natural pools

Isn't this an awesome pool?I love the color of the water and the rough and gritty structure. It's always refreshing to see places (and people) with little or no surface decoration.

Image from randoms.dk

And aren't these natural pools so much better than the conventional options in both the principle and the looks department? Who wants to swim in a chemical bath, when there's this available?

Image from VillageEcoSystems.com