DIY Outdoor Pool Ideas

Ready to get started on building your first planter box? Will you be planting vegetables, plants, or flowers? We are here to get you on the right path with tips, tricks, and ideas to consider as you plan your very own DIY planter. Take advantage of our compilation of top, best, and new projects, as well as our DIY video tutorials.

Make a Splash in Your Garden by Adding an Exciting Outdoor Pond

Liven Up Your Watering Hole

Use chairs as pool stools: Legless chairs make the perfect poolside seating. Simply remove the legs from plastic garden chairs, paint, and screw into the ground.
Prevent unsightly cracks: Cover cracks around your pool with pavers. On sand and concrete, put down the pavers and drop-down face to give your pool’s edge a fresh look.
Design a natural oasis: Create an oasis with hanging baskets and trees. By planting foliage, you get an exotic look and make your pool a natural part of the garden.
Turn any vessel into a pond: Take an old boat or container, line the inside with a waterproof membrane, and fill. Decorate with plants and a trellis for a neat look.
Keep your pond sparkling in winter: To keep your pond clear in the winter, cut back any surrounding plants. Additionally, add cold-water bacteria to prevent algae from forming.

More Outdoor Ideas

Top Projects for Pools & Ponds

Check out our top pool and pond projects sure to inspire you.

20 Outdoor Pools That Have Become New Backyard Features

View Project Book

Garden Mosaics Made From Broken Tiles

332/5000Upgrade your garden by creating mosaics of old broken tiles!Our pool area needed to be fixed and connected to the patio at the house, so I used old, ugly pavers, a couple of cement blocks and some old broken tiles, and with that I created a new staircase and a pair of flower boxes.

Ann-Christin Lövstedt

How to Build a Backyard Waterfall up a Slope

Greatest Mother's Day present ever -- was building a waterfall in our backyard together with my son. Thanks also go to another older son who contributed a few heavier rocks as well, and my hubby who was in charge of hooking up the plumbing aspects and critiquing as we went along.We now have something beautiful that we all did together to enjoy for many years to come. Here's how the project developed with most of the back-breaking labor handled over a long weekend.

Adele Kurtz

Before and After Small Garden

I bought my home end of October and spent 4 months looking at this awful garden through winter. I just couldn't handle looking at it any longer, so I decided I would have to do something about it. I really couldn't afford to get anyone to help me (very tight budget), so I decided I would do it on my own. I am 5'3" tall and a 45 year old woman, so I'm VERY proud of myself for this. I wanted a woodland feel.

Cinzanno

Upcycling an Old Spa Into a Fishpond/Fountain

I wanted a Fishpond in the garden but decent size ones are really expensive -- so time for a bit more upcycling!!! I didn't take too many pics (doh!) Edited with added night pic

Stephen Taylor

Pebble Mosaics Pond

I wanted a little pond in my garden so I collected pebbles from a beach and made one. Unfortunately I didn't pick enough pebbles so I had to use stones that I found in may garden as well. Luckily the soil is full of them so it was not a problem!We want to help you DIY, so some of the materials in this post are linked to sellers. Just so you know, Hometalk may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.

Ann-Christin Lövstedt

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John

A Little Piece of Heaven at Home

Photos showing us adding some landscaping and pond to our new home started in late September. When we moved in new construction meant the yard was just dirt and weeds . It took us three steps, spaced about 2-3 years apart to complete everything, and the pond was the last to be added. After 12 years of work the yard finally has become what we wanted and is our sanctuary from the world.

Sue Scimeca

Beautiful Back Deck Fountainscape- Bedford Hills, NY

The deck on the back of the house was not much different than any you might find in a typical American backyard. A big space used for outside dining, relaxing and entertaining. Only being a foot off the ground the railing surrounding the deck wasn’t necessary. The spindles and the landscaping surrounding the deck made the area feel cramped instead of cozy. Tom had an idea. Do away with the railing in exchange for something much more open , taking advantage of the wide open backyard space. Then, give them something to look at. A fountain and streamscape that seems to flow right out from under the deck.

Aquascapes East

Can't Commit to an Inground Pool so We Improvised

We moved into our new house and the backyard was a shambles. We live in Arizona and have always had a built in pool but we just did not want to commit to another one.

Misty Gaines-Johnson

20 Outdoor Pools That Have Become New Backyard Features

View Project Book

Garden Mosaics Made From Broken Tiles

Ann-Christin Lövstedt

How to Build a Backyard Waterfall up a Slope

Adele Kurtz

Before and After Small Garden

Cinzanno

Upcycling an Old Spa Into a Fishpond/Fountain

I wanted a Fishpond in the garden but decent size ones are really expensive -- so time for a bit more upcycling!!! I didn't take too many pics (doh!) Edited with added night pic

Stephen Taylor

Pebble Mosaics Pond

Ann-Christin Lövstedt

Delete

please delete

John

A Little Piece of Heaven at Home

Sue Scimeca

Beautiful Back Deck Fountainscape- Bedford Hills, NY

Aquascapes East

Can't Commit to an Inground Pool so We Improvised

We moved into our new house and the backyard was a shambles. We live in Arizona and have always had a built in pool but we just did not want to commit to another one.

Misty Gaines-Johnson

DIY Pools & Pond Videos

Enjoy our collection of DIY video tutorials on pool and ponds ideas.

The Sights and Sounds of Paradise: My Tropical Tiki Fountain

Elegant wine bottle fountains are very popular right now, and very expensive. I am more of a tropical, frozen drink with an umbrella kind of a girl, so I decided to DIY a fountain with a Tropical Tiki twist!

Megan

Check Out Our XL and DIY Pallet Sofa to Relax Outside....

As you can see this couch is perfect for outside, and the fact that I have it since 5 year can really unsure you that it’s a long term DIY. Here I will show you the evolution in this project and what I have been able to do each year. Believe me this is the type of project you will enjoy doing in your garden (specially when it bring so much joy in your family) the color really brings another atmosphere at homeCheck out our video for more and feel free to share this article to support our other idea of housing!!!! http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=ATCtvMy

Mr ATC

Project Koi Pond

Recently moved and have an existing pond that I need to relocate. I have some Koi that I’ve raised from babies and not ready to part with, I also enjoy watching and listening to the water flow in the evening after a hard days work.

Michael Scott

Making a Solar Powered Waterfall for Our Fairy Herb Garden

This is how we made a solar powered waterfall for our new fairy herb garden. It cost us less than $10 to make, and is such a fun feature to have.

Craft Invaders

Hometalkers' Favorite DIY Pool & Pond Projects

The best projects for DIY pools and ponds. Find ideas for your own.

Patio Water Feature is My Retreat

Team Challenge! One year for my summer birthday gift, my hubby purchased a plug in fountain for the patio. That winter it was left outside and cracked in the cold temperatures. So the following year, he built me my very own Water feature! I have fallen in love with these and this year I decided to try and do it on my own. With a bit of trial and error I figured it out and love the results!

Nicki Redekop

Create a Splash of Color With This Wooden Pallet Pool Organizer

Where do you hang your wet towels? Your pool noodles? Your life jackets and pool toys? Right here on this Wooden Pallet Pool Organizer. Easy project for any skill level.

Nicole Frances

Easy DIY Solar Pool Heater

How to make this easy DIY solar Pool Heater

Dan Berg

Backyard Pond Part 1

When we first moved in..all that was here was a deck in bad shape, since it was winter we pretty much put things down and waited till we can do something...This past summer we removed the deck and completely redid the entire back yard accept for the pond area..that is this year's project..enclosing the area and making the pond bigger...also adding 3 ducks ...currently the pond houses a variety of fish, toads and 6 turtles....

Susan Davia

Underground EZ Access Hose Storage for Less Than $10

The size of your garden is limited by the length of your hose. Mine was destined to grow from 50' in this area to 125' this summer. Just because that's the length of hose my hubby brought home to replace my older one. But now what to do with something that long?Often the best spot for your hose and reel is NOT at the faucet. I've learned to bury my hose to the spot I want access, then try to curl & hide it as best I can when I'm done using it. Today I thought of an even better idea. Why not make my own simple underground hose storage? Online examples were ridiculously overdone, attractive hose pots were ridiculously expensive. Let's get basic and improvise something that blends into my landscape.

Adele Kurtz

Small Garden Pond Paradise

I desided the garden needed something special this year. So I added a 55gal pond liner! Some pond plants! Oh! And of coarse a few fishies!

Patio Water Feature is My Retreat

Nicki Redekop

Create a Splash of Color With This Wooden Pallet Pool Organizer

Where do you hang your wet towels? Your pool noodles? Your life jackets and pool toys? Right here on this Wooden Pallet Pool Organizer. Easy project for any skill level.

Nicole Frances

Easy DIY Solar Pool Heater

How to make this easy DIY solar Pool Heater

Dan Berg

Backyard Pond Part 1

Susan Davia

Underground EZ Access Hose Storage for Less Than $10

Adele Kurtz

Small Garden Pond Paradise

I desided the garden needed something special this year. So I added a 55gal pond liner! Some pond plants! Oh! And of coarse a few fishies!

Popular Pool & Pond Discussions

See what's trending on our pools and ponds discussion boards. Learn something new.

How to recycle a plastic kiddie pool

/> Mary

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I have a round electrical wooden spool I want to stain it, how do I do

/> Andrea Kamnik

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Can I paint an inexpensive plastic wading pool?

/> Anne

I keep the wading pools in the yard for my geese to splash in but I'd like to change the color of the pool to match the seasonal decor. Orange in the fall, red at Christmas, green in the Spring...

View discussion

Pool Deck resurfacing

/> Dave

We are considering a house which has a pool deck and pool,which is a total mess. (water ponding, cracked areas, piecework, improper concrete/surface grading (water flowing towards the living space)) I've seen topics which say pavers might work, and others have said a resurfacing is in order. Which is less, which might suit our needs better? Do you know of anyone in the greater San Diego area that could do either a complete resurface or other? Thanks for any leads and/or suggestions!

View discussion

New Pool & Pond Projects

New pool and ponds ideas for your outdoor space. Check out what's trending.

Transformation of the backyard for bird lovers

We had the pleasure of working with a wonderful couple in transforming their backyard. The lady found us here on Hometalk. As you will see in the before photos, the existing yard gave us the opportunity to start with a clean slate and remove all grass from the backyard. Since they both love their birds, several goals of the project were to further incorporate the wildlife activity in their garden. The focal point remained the main set of feeders, and we worked to enhance the setting around it. We also knew that when they go to sell the house, it needed to stand alone without the feeders. We enhanced the area by creating elevations in the yard with informal dry stack fieldstone walls. We also created a sitting area with a small pondless water feature, mainly to serve as a water source for the birds. We designed and installed the stream to create slower moving sections of water that birds will be able to bathe and drink from. By being a pondless feature, the overall maintenance is reduced for the homeowners. We used a larger slab of natural stone to bridge the stream to turn the sitting area into a destination area, even though it is only a few steps from the main path. The stream and bridge allow it to be feel set apart from the rest of the garden area. The homeowners are thrilled, and as the husband said to describe their new garden, "For you bird lovers, eat your heart out."

Southern Trillium LLC

Pondless Waterfall Build

A few pics of a recent Pondless Waterfall build. Pondless Waterfalls are a great way to enjoy the sight and sound of a water feature without the maintenance and up keep of ecosystem pond. They can be built to any size, shape, or length, and even be incorporated in rain water harvesting systems.

Cepontzsons

Water Gardens, Pondless Waterfalls & Disappearing Fountains are gaining popularity in Jackson, Tn. & Madison Cou

If you would like more information on having a Water Feature at your home, call me at 731-424-2206. I will help in any way I can.

Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio

Amazing Backyard Waterfall Fish Pond with Paver Patio transformation Greece NY by Acorn Landscaping, Rochester NY

Landscape Design Greece NY, Landscaping, Waterfall Garden Pond and stream, Aquascape Waterfall Ecosystem Fish Pond, Low Maintenance Garden, LED Lighting, Natural Rock Stepping Stones, Steps, Landscape Lighting, Rock Gardening, Garden, Backyard Landscaping, in Greece NY by Acorn Landscaping, Certified Aquascape Contractor of Rochester NY 585-442-6373. Acorn Landscaping: http://acornlandscaping.net. Be sure to check us out on Facebook and "Like" our page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Acorn-Landscaping-Landscape-DesignLightingBackyard-Water-Gardens/103109283059536

Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls

No this is not a moat. This is a large reflection pond for our client on the exclusive North Shore of Long Island.

Large pond with stone bridge and turret with awesome reflection. This pond is 240' long and 60' wide. It uses a natural ecosystem to keep sparkling clear. There is a large bog filter at the waterfall on on end and a 3000 gallon pondless reservoir with 2 10,000 GPH pumps feeding the waterfall. This pond won an International award from the Association of Pool and Spa professionals (APSP) Gold medal for residential water feature from the "International Awards of Excellence" This and other smaller ponds are built on Long Island by Deck and Patio Company www.deckandpatio.com

Deck and Patio Company "Outdoor Living Experts"

Creating a backyard retreat with a new patio, water feature, and an expanded deck with pergola in Nebraska City, NE

The client was looking to add another level to their outdoor living space. The sounds of splashing water soothe as they relax in the hot tub under the new pergola. A warm fire on the cobblestone patio provides a perfect place to read under the shade of oak trees. Copper path and deck light allow this landscape to be enjoyed at all hours of the day. Landscape Designer Jason Heller of Neptune's Water Gardens brought this client's dreams of a backyard retreat to reality. For more information and inspiration, visit our website at http://www.omahaponds.com or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/neptuneswatergardens