5 Patio Ideas to Match a Pool Design in Cottage Grove and Monona, WI

Creating a cohesive design between your patio and pool area will make your backyard feel finished. Even if you are using different materials around the pool and on the patio, there are ways you can integrate the two. Here are 5 patio ideas to match pool design in Cottage Grove and Monona, WI.

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

1. Shapes

Integrating these two distinct spaces can be achieved by using shape mirroring. 

If your pool is square or rectangular, then a simple rectangular patio will mirror the shape and give the backyard a clean and sophisticated look. Accentuate this spa-like feel with monochromatic plantings, minimalist outdoor furniture, and neutral colors. The use and careful placement of linear shapes such as a rectangular fire pit and an L-shaped outdoor kitchen will contribute to the “designed” look where everything has a place, and everything is in its place.

If your pool is kidney-shaped or free-form, your patio space can likewise “meander” through the landscape, with lava lamp shapes that ease into the surroundings rather than creating a defined border between the patio and the natural environment. Accentuate this look with lush plantings that help create a series of interconnected outdoor “rooms.” Ornamental grasses, shrubs, trees, and decorative boulders are ideal for this. The overall look is more natural, like a tropical lagoon or a hidden lake.

2. Changes in Elevation

Stepping a patio either above the level of the pool can tie the two spaces together while maintaining distinction. 

A patio that is one or several steps above the pool will give anyone on the patio a clear view of the pool and the surroundings. It’s a very dramatic design that is ideal for sloped properties. This way, you can enjoy the look of the pool whether you’re enjoying it from the pool deck or from the patio. Using the same concrete pavers (or natural paving stones) in the two spaces is the best way to maintain visual continuity. 

3. Twin Features

A spacious pergola on the patio - for example, one that covers the outdoor kitchen/bar as well as a seating area - could be echoed on a smaller scale by the pool. This approach gives pool-goers a chance to get relief from the hot sun and visually ties the two spaces together.

4. Shared Spaces

There’s no rule that says your patio has to “end” here and the pool area “begins” there. An L-shaped patio with a pergola situated in the middle, right at the water’s edge, can divide the patio into distinct wet and dry zones: one for poolside fun, and the other for relaxing and entertaining. The centrally located pergola can act as the hub of all activity: people can swim up and enjoy a cool beverage, and anyone in the pergola has a great view of the pool fun.

Likewise, the entry part of the pool could extend into the main patio space. 

5. Materials

The simplest way to create a unified space is to use the same materials on the patio and pool deck. However, contrasting materials can also work brilliantly. 

There’s no rule that says you must use the same materials on the patio and poolside. If your patio is already in place and you want to keep it, you could consider an altogether different material at poolside, for example, teak decking, rather than trying to match or complement your patio pavers.

Related: Merging a Patio With Surrounding Nature in Sun Prairie and Fitchburg WI Areas