Think Beyond the Pool: You'll Also Want a Poolside Patio in Your Outdoor Space in Sun Prairie and Madison, WI

Summer is here and for many families, summer fun revolves around the pool. While a lot of great memories are made in the pool, just as many are made around the pool - on a patio that has the amenities and features that make summer awesome. The space surrounding your pool is important for your overall experience. If you’re thinking of a new pool or wondering how to enhance it, think beyond the pool: you’ll also want a poolside patio in your outdoor space in Sun Prairie and Madison, WI.

Related: Must-Have Amenities by the Pool: What Your New Patio Needs in Madison and McFarland, WI

1. Keeping Summer Safe

An accident can quickly ruin the fun so to minimize the danger of falls around the pool, a level non-slip surface is essential. Materials such as teak decks or poured concrete aren’t the best options when it comes to surefooted passage around the pool. While a patio doesn’t have to completely surround the pool (you could have landscaping on two or three sides of the pool), you’ll want an area that makes entering and exiting the pool as safe as possible.

Concrete pavers are a great non-slip option. Look for manufacturers whose pavers feature a non-slip surface (which can be nearly smooth or more dramatically textured).

2. Creature Comforts

Many people like to dry off in the sun after a swim, so you’ll need a lounge area at the poolside, which is also a great place for parents to watch their kids swim. But after a while, the sun can become too intense and you may want some shade. Instead of a patio umbrella which you’ll have to constantly reposition in order to stay out of the sun, consider a permanent shade structure such as a pergola or pavilion adjacent to the pool.

Consider adding an outdoor fireplace (gas, to eliminate the mess of firewood close to the pool) along one wall of the shelter structure. This may well be the single best investment you’ll make in your outdoor living space because it will make the pool area a destination even when the swim season is over.

Adding a bar and mini-fridge to your shade structure will minimize trips to the house, as snacks and beverages remain easily accessible.

3. Protecting Your Landscaping… And Your Pool

Vegetation doesn’t like chlorine, salt, or other pool chemicals. Surrounding your pool on all sides with a patio creates a buffer zone where vegetation won’t easily make its way into the pool (think grass clippings, leaves, and dead flowers); and pool water can’t splash onto the landscape. If you don’t plan on having lounge chairs all the way around, a 3-foot walkway around the pool will do. If you plan on having several places to lounge, you’ll need at least 8 feet all the way around.

4. A Year-Round Space

As we mentioned, the addition of a permanent shade structure and outdoor fireplace transform your patio into a year-round destination. Enhance it even further with a full outdoor kitchen, great landscape lighting, and zones that clearly delineate different activity levels and uses.

A poolside patio has the potential to become so much more than a place to dry off after a swim. With a few amenities and good design, you can enjoy the space year-round - which makes so much more sense than a space that gets used for just three months every year.

Related: 3 Reasons Why You Need a Poolside Patio This Summer in Sun Prairie, WI Area