In Ground Pool Styles & Dimensions

Symmetrical Designs

Many swimming pool designs have symmetrical shapes. For example, the standard lap pool may have a regular shape, well-suited to its evenly sized lanes for lap swimming. For a slightly more decorative variation on the lap pool, you might select a design inspired by Roman baths, with rounded extensions on each of the pool's shorter ends. If your space accommodates it, a square pool gives a striking and unusual focus to any yard. A kidney-shaped pool skirts the line between the formal aesthetic of symmetry and a more curvaceous shape.

Instead of going with a symmetrical design, you can select a pool shape that evokes the gently curved contours of a natural pool. The possibilities for naturalistic designs are endless. Some are curving variations on a basic rectangle, while others are variations on a kidney-shaped pool. You can also opt for a pool shape that combines straight and curved lines. You might select one with a right-angle corner to extend to the far end of a property line and with more naturalistic curves elsewhere, to complement surrounding landscaping.

Just as residential in-ground swimming pools come in an endless array of shapes, their dimensions can also vary considerably. Standard dimensions do apply for larger swimming pools typically installed for public use. If you should install a large lap pool for yourself, you might select a long course pool, which measures 36.5 feet long. For a slightly smaller pool, opt for a short-course meter pool, which is 27.3 yards long. Lastly, you can select a short-course yard pool, which measures 25 yards. If you use the pool to train for International Swimming Federation events, you'll want a lap pool that's either 27.34 or 54.68 yards long, or 25 to 50 meters.

To give your pool a touch of style, add features such as lights, fountains or waterfalls. The water and landscaping features you design around the pool's edges can be as powerful to the pool's overall effect as its shape and size. For example, for a pool in a formal garden, you might pair a symmetrical shape with grand fountains. For a more tropical vibe, opt for a naturalistic shape and add a waterfall over real or faux rocks.