Explore Pool Design Options

Pool Design

A custom pool design is one of the best ways to upscale your North Carolina home. Inground swimming pools add ambiance, increase your home's resale value, and give you the perfect opportunity to create lasting memories with family and friends.

However, all pools are not created equally! Don't settle for a boring pool design. The experts at Swim will help you choose the perfect pool to suit your unique style.

Freeform pool with a stone spa, curved paver deck and stepping stones across dormant lawn

01 Choose your style

Choosing your pool design style

When creating a custom pool design, the first step is to choose the overall style that will work best with your space. Some of the most popular options are freeform, geometric, fiberglass, and infinity (vanishing edge) pools. While some styles work better in certain spaces than others, most are very flexible. Once you choose the one that's most appealing to you, it's easy to make adjustments to ensure your custom pool design reflects your unique style.

01 Style

Freeform

The most versatile pool design style, freeform pools are extremely popular among North Carolina homeowners.

The relaxed style and many customization options make freeform pools perfect for entertaining and recreation. It's easy to add a built-in spa, swim-up bar, and other features that will give your pool a relaxing, cozy vibe.

Freeform pools are also an excellent option for homeowners who have small or strangely shaped back yards. Since they're not bound by any rules, you can make a freeform pool work in spaces where other pool design styles simply won't fit.

A freeform pool design is ideal for homeowners who want a lush, tropical feel. The casual, laid-back style of these pools makes them perfect for anyone who wants to spend their days lounging on a float or entertaining guests. Since freeform pools are expected to have an irregular shape, it's easy to incorporate them into spaces where other pool designs just won't work. This gives you plenty of flexibility to turn even the most awkwardly shaped backyard into a relaxing oasis.

See Freeform examples
Kidney-shaped pool with a blue mosaic spa, paver deck and orange loungers overlooking a pond
Freeform pool with a round raised stone spa, ornamental grasses and boulder landscaping

02 Style

Geometric

Characterized by clean lines and sharp angles, geometric pools create a formal, contemporary look that is perfect for luxury homes.

While some pool design styles attract a lot of attention, geometric pools offer a simple design that won't pull the focus away from ornate landscaping. The clean edges will also enhance a home's existing architectural beauty.

If you're an active person who enjoys swimming laps, the linear space offered by a geometric pool will likely appeal to you. An L-shaped pool creates additional versatility, giving you the option to swim laps in one area and relax and entertain in the other.

Geometric pools work best with homes that have a large, open backyard. Since they're easy to construct, installing a geometric pool is often more cost-effective than other options. Although they're very simple, geometric pools allow for plenty of customization by adding unique features like lights and fountains.

See Geometric examples
Long rectangular pool with gray tile and a shallow ledge with loungers, white house and red umbrella beyond
Rectangular pool and spa with stone wall, orange croton plants and a white building beyond

03 Style

Vanishing Edge

Vanishing edge pools (also known as Infinity pools) offer the ultimate in sophistication.

By giving the pool's edge the appearance of blending into the background, vanishing edge pools create the illusion of an endless body of water. For maximum visual impact, this pool design style works best in backyards that have a spectacular view or are surrounded by wooded areas.

It's important to note that installing a vanishing edge pool is much more complicated than most other pool installations. Swim stands as a seasoned custom pool builder, boasting extensive expertise in vanishing edge pool construction with a focus on unparalleled style. You can also expect to pay significantly more. However, the dramatic effect is well worth the extra cost. Learn about our easy swimming pool financing.

See Vanishing Edge examples
Pool stretching toward an open field, pale paver deck and a wooden chaise lounge in the foreground
Pool with a zero edge facing a pond and wooded shore, blue mosaic spa on the right

04 Style

Spas & Hot Tubs

One of the most popular upgrades for Raleigh homeowners, spas and hot tubs allow you to enjoy your backyard all year long.

Whether you choose a built-in spa that uses the same internal plumbing as your pool or a stand-alone hot tub, this simple feature will make your pool area much more enjoyable.

Spas and hot tubs come in a wide variety of style options, sizes, and shapes and allow you to choose the number of seats and jets that work best for you. As you incorporate them into your backyard decor, you'll also have your choice of colors, styles, and add-on features like LED lights and spillways that overflow into your pool.

See Spas & Hot Tubs examples
Close view of a round blue mosaic spa surrounded by paver coping and orange Adirondack chairs
Bubbling round stone spa on a paver deck with a stacked stone wall behind

05 Style

Water Features

Adding water features is another great way to enhance your pool's appeal.

Other popular water features include bubblers, sconces, fountains, fog and misting systems, water walls, and rain curtains. Once you start exploring your options, the possibilities are literally endless.

See Water Features examples
Sheer waterfall dropping from a stone wall into a clear pool, outdoor sofa and planters above
Long rectangular pool with sheer water descents over a stacked stone wall and travertine deck

06 Design

Raleigh's most trusted pool design experts

Whether you prefer a relaxing, laid-back vibe or something more elegant and sophisticated, the right design will help you create the impression you're looking for.

Before you can schedule your pool installation, you'll need to finalize your pool design. Whether you know exactly what you're looking for or you need some inspiration, you can trust our pool design experts. We'll help you explore the pool styles that will work best with your home and landscape. Then, we'll show you how to customize your pool design to reflect your unique style. This will result in a stunning look that's far beyond your expectations.

When choosing an installer for your custom pool, experience matters. The professionals at Swim have over 100 years of combined experience. We're licensed, insured, and have excellent working relationships with local code enforcement agents. Our design specialists and contractors have also won multiple awards.

We would love to show you why we're the most trusted pool design experts in the Raleigh, NC area. Our large portfolio showcases our creativity and the quality of our work. Upon request, we'll also provide references who will attest to our design expertise, quality-control, and professionalism.

If you're ready to enjoy the custom pool you've always dreamed of, now is the perfect time to get started! Contact us today to learn more about our pool design process and schedule your initial consultation.

07 Construction

Swimming pool construction in Raleigh

An inground pool can add value to your home, but only if it's built efficiently and safely. So when it comes to pool construction, you don't want to cut corners. Investigate all your pool installation options before committing to a contractor.

Learn about the quality you'll receive when you select Swim for your Raleigh pool construction needs.

Wide banner of an excavated pool shell with a raised spa on bare dirt

Rely on Safe and Efficient Pool Construction

Swim offers many design options, from classic curved pools to freeform pools to infinity pools to custom pools. We can do it all.

Don't worry if you haven't decided which pool size or shape is right for you. Our pool construction team provides hands-on guidance so you can make an informed choice. We'll work with you to find the perfect pool shape, placement, and finishes for your home.

Swim relies on its experienced pool installation staff to ensure quality. A new builder may not notice that a certain pool construction site won't get enough sun to keep the pool warm. Retrofitting these types of design flaws after completion can be costly and frustrating.

With decades of experience, our pool contractors get it right the first time and make the pool installation process look simple.

Benefit From the Swim-Safe® System

Most pools filter water through bottom drains. As debris settles in the pool, the drain uses suction to remove it and recirculate the water. Unfortunately, this suction creates a drowning risk. Young children and pets who can't swim or pull away from the drain can get stuck.

More than 20 years ago, Swim's founder helped create the Swim-Safe® safety system. This patented pool filtration system gets rid of the bottom drain. Instead, it uses multiple surface skimmers to clean the water. As filtered water flows to the surface, it distributes heat throughout the pool. And because dirt never gets a chance to settle to the bottom, your pool always looks clear, even without chlorine.

Not only does Swim-Safe® provide a safer swimming experience, but it also reduces the routine maintenance you'll need to do. In addition, it extends the life of your filtration equipment.

How Swim-Safe® works

Ensure Lower Operating Costs

It's important to think of the "carrying costs" of pool installation along with pool construction costs. If you don't have the time or money for maintenance, your dream pool may wind up as a pricey hole in your backyard.

Swim knows it's important to have a low maintenance pool. By using an energy efficient pump with the Swim-Safe® safety system, our pool costs 71 percent less to own. It also uses fewer chemicals in the process. A high-efficiency pump uses less energy to circulate the water and surface skimmers reduce the chemicals you'll need to keep your pool clean. Meanwhile, our custom piping systems extend your pump's life.

Because of this, our pools boast better circulation and heat distribution than the competition.

Take Advantage of the Self Leveling Water System

At Swim, all our pool installation includes a self leveling water system. This monitors the water level and automatically adjusts water levels as needed. This system boosts efficiency by preventing the pool water level from dropping too far, forcing your pump to work harder. During storms or flooding, the self leveling water system drains just enough surface water to prevent your pool from overflowing.

More than cookie cutter swimming pools

When you hire Swim, you hire a pool construction company that does more than just build cookie cutter swimming pools. No matter what you can imagine, we have the experience and vision to create it. From waterfalls and water slides to pool decks and fire pits, rely on us to build your custom backyard oasis. In addition to swimming pools, we offer inclusive design packages (including hot tubs and home spas) to provide an even more relaxing experience.

Learn more about our pool construction process or request a no-obligation quote. We provide construction, installation services, as well as easy financing throughout Raleigh and the surrounding cities.

Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our use of innovative, safe, and eco-friendly construction technologies. From groundbreaking design to meticulous execution, we create pools that not only meet but exceed expectations. Experience the ultimate blend of craftsmanship and sustainability. Let us turn your vision into a reality with our cost-effective and cutting-edge construction methods. Your dream pool is just a consultation away: build with confidence, build with Swim!

Let's design your backyard.

Schedule a free initial meeting to discuss your future swimming pool project.

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