Best Pool Features
for Florida Homes
A great Florida pool is more than a hole filled with water. The right features can turn it into the part of your home where everybody actually wants to spend their time.
Build the Pool Around How You’ll Actually Use It
When homeowners start planning a new swimming pool, the first conversation is usually about shape, size and price. Those matter. But the features surrounding that basic pool can determine whether your backyard becomes an occasional swimming area or the center of your Florida lifestyle.
Some upgrades are relatively simple to add later. Others are much easier, cleaner and less expensive to incorporate while the pool is being designed and constructed.
If you’re planning a new pool in Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Port Orange, Ormond Beach, Ponce Inlet or elsewhere in Volusia County, these are the features worth discussing before the design is finalized.
Florida Pool Features That Can Transform Your Backyard
Tanning Ledge / Baja Shelf
A wide shallow shelf gives you space for in-water loungers, small children, pets or simply sitting in the water without committing to an Olympic training session.
Integrated Spa
A raised or flush spa can turn a standard pool into a complete year-round backyard retreat. Spillover designs also create an attractive visual connection between the spa and pool.
Sun Shelf Bubblers
Bubblers add movement and sound to a tanning ledge while making the shallow area feel like an intentional design feature rather than simply a wide underwater step.
LED Pool Lighting
Florida backyards don’t shut down at sunset. Modern LED lighting can illuminate the water, steps and spa while changing the entire atmosphere of the backyard at night.
Salt Chlorination
Salt systems generate chlorine from salt rather than eliminating chlorine altogether. Many homeowners prefer the convenience and swimming experience of a properly designed saltwater system.
Variable-Speed Pump
Equipment isn’t glamorous, but it matters every day after the construction crew leaves. Modern variable-speed pumps allow pool circulation to operate at different speeds depending on demand.
Smart Pool Automation
Compatible automation systems can centralize control of pumps, lighting, spa functions, heating and other equipment from a controller or mobile device.
Pool Heater or Heat Pump
Florida gets warm. Florida does not stay warm every minute of the year, despite what vacation brochures have been telling people since approximately forever.
Travertine or Paver Pool Deck
Your deck can be as important visually as the pool itself. Travertine and quality pavers can create a finished outdoor-living environment instead of leaving the pool sitting inside a sea of ordinary concrete.
Screen Enclosure
Pool enclosures can reduce leaves and debris while creating a more defined outdoor-living space. Barrier and enclosure requirements should be considered during the design and permitting process.
Outdoor Kitchen & Entertainment
If the pool is part of a larger backyard renovation, planning space for a grill, outdoor kitchen, dining area, television or covered seating can create one cohesive outdoor room.
Water Features
Waterfalls, deck jets, sheer descents and fountains add sound, movement and visual interest. Plumbing for them is considerably easier to plan before several tons of concrete become involved.
You’re Not Really Buying a Pool. You’re Building a Place to Live.
The best pool designs start with a simple question: what do you want your backyard to feel like when the project is finished?
Quiet retreat? Family gathering place? Resort-style entertainment space? Pool and spa? Outdoor kitchen? Somewhere to disappear on a Tuesday afternoon while everyone else wonders why you’re not answering email?
Answer that first. Then design the pool around it.
Which Pool Features Should You Prioritize?
If the budget doesn’t allow every feature on the wish list, prioritize the things that become difficult or expensive to change after construction.
Plan These During Construction
- Pool size, shape and depth
- Tanning ledge or Baja shelf
- Integrated spa
- Steps and bench seating
- Plumbing for water features
- Equipment location
- Electrical capacity
- Automation infrastructure
- Deck footprint and drainage
- Outdoor kitchen or structure locations
Features With More Future Flexibility
- Outdoor furniture
- Umbrellas and freestanding shade
- Some landscape upgrades
- Decorative accessories
- Portable fire features
- Entertainment equipment
- Some lighting enhancements
Translation: spend your planning time on concrete, plumbing, electrical and infrastructure first. Changing patio furniture later is easy. Moving the deep end is somewhat less convenient.
A Florida Pool Has Different Priorities
Pool design shouldn’t happen in isolation from the property around it. Daytona Beach and Volusia County homeowners need to think about the entire site, not merely what looks attractive in a rendering.
Drainage, sun exposure, vegetation, equipment location, deck layout, safety barriers and the relationship between the pool and the house can all influence the finished project.
- Plan drainage around heavy Florida rainfall
- Consider afternoon sun and usable shade
- Choose equipment locations intentionally
- Plan landscaping without creating constant pool debris
- Account for decks, enclosures and outdoor living areas
- Address safety and permitting during design
Don’t Design the Pool Before Designing the Backyard
A beautiful pool surrounded by an awkward deck, poor drainage and nowhere comfortable to sit is still an awkward backyard.
Think of the pool, spa, deck, landscaping, shade and entertainment areas as one project even if everything isn’t constructed at the same time.
Which Features Affect the Pool Budget Most?
Every project is different, so generic internet pricing should be treated as a rough planning tool rather than a quote. Site conditions, pool dimensions, access, materials, engineering and selected features can all affect the final project cost.
Finishing Features
Certain lighting choices, bubblers and individual automation features may represent a smaller portion of the overall project compared with structural additions.
Equipment & Deck Upgrades
Heating systems, larger deck areas, upgraded deck materials and more substantial water features can meaningfully change the overall project scope.
Structural Features
Integrated spas, major size changes, complex custom shapes, extensive outdoor living construction and substantial site work can have a much larger effect on total investment.
Design, Safety & Permitting Go Together
New residential in-ground pools require proper permitting and safety planning. Depending on the property’s jurisdiction and project scope, plans can involve site information, contractor documentation, pool safety provisions and applicable building, electrical and other reviews.
That’s another reason to decide on major pool features early. Adding structures, enclosures or substantial design changes after plans are underway can affect more than the appearance of the pool.
Always verify current requirements for your specific property with the appropriate local building department before construction.
Planning a New Pool?
Start with the entire wish list, even if you ultimately remove features to meet the budget.
It is much easier to value-engineer a complete design than to discover halfway through construction that the feature you really wanted needed plumbing installed three weeks ago.
Planning a Pool in the Daytona Beach Area?
Explore our pool construction and design resources as you begin planning your backyard.
Questions About Florida Pool Features
What are the best features to add to a Florida pool?
Tanning ledges, integrated spas, LED lighting, automation, variable-speed pumps, heating, water features and quality pool decking are all worth considering. The right combination depends on how you expect to use your backyard.
Is a tanning ledge worth adding to a Florida pool?
For many homeowners, yes. A tanning ledge creates shallow usable space for loungers, children, pets and relaxing. If you want one, incorporating it into the original pool design is generally much easier than attempting a structural modification later.
Should I add a spa when building my pool?
If you believe you’ll want a spa eventually, discuss it during the original design process. An integrated spa affects the pool’s structure, plumbing, equipment and surrounding deck, making it a feature worth planning early.
What pool features should be planned before construction?
Prioritize structural and infrastructure decisions such as pool shape, depth, tanning ledges, spas, steps, benches, water-feature plumbing, electrical requirements, equipment placement and the overall deck footprint.
Do residential pools require permits in Volusia County?
Residential in-ground swimming pool construction is subject to local permitting and safety requirements. Exact requirements depend on the property and jurisdiction, so current requirements should always be confirmed with the applicable building department.
What Would Your Ideal Florida Backyard Look Like?
Tell us what you’re planning, where the property is located, your expected budget and when you’d like to get started. We’ll connect your project with a qualified local pool professional serving the Daytona Beach and Volusia County area.