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—Design decisions

Choosing the shape of a pool

The shape decides how a pool looks from the house, how it is used and how it is built. It is worth choosing deliberately.

Rectangular pools suit contemporary villas, make swimming lengths straightforward and work well with covers and straight coping. Freeform pools follow curves and suit gardens with planting and natural landscaping, though they can make covers and some finishes harder. L-shaped pools separate a shallow play or lounging area from a longer swimming section.

Design guides set out the choices that are hard to change once the shell is built.

Shape also affects construction. Curves are easier with sprayed concrete; straight walls suit formwork. Complex shapes need more cutting of tiles and coping. Thinking about how the pool will be used most of the time — lengths, play, relaxing, or appearance from indoors — usually points to the right shape.

01Summary

What matters most here

  • Match the architecture

    Straight lines for modern villas, curves for softer gardens.

  • Match the use

    Lengths, play or relaxing.

  • Consider covers and finishes

    Simpler shapes are easier to cover and tile.

02Detail

Common shapes

  • Rectangular

    Clean lines, easy to swim lengths in, and simple to cover with an automatic cover.

  • Freeform

    Organic curves that blend with planting; covers and coping need more work.

  • L-shaped

    A separate shallow area alongside a swimming section, useful for families.

  • Lap

    Long and narrow, built for swimming rather than lounging.

  • Geometric variations

    Roman ends, offsets and steps that soften a rectangle.

03Before you start

Before choosing

  • Mark options on the ground

    And view them from inside the house.

  • Decide on a cover

    Automatic covers suit simpler shapes.

  • Think about the deck

    How people will move around the pool.

—In practice

How to use this

Look at the garden from the rooms you use most and decide what the pool should look like from there. Then match shape to use: rectangles for lengths and covers, freeform outlines for planted gardens, L-shapes to separate play from swimming. Check that the chosen shape works with the cover, coping and deck you prefer before committing.

Mistakes worth avoiding

Ignoring covers
Freeform shapes make some covers difficult or impossible. Decide on the cover type before settling the outline.
A shape at odds with the house
A shape that clashes with the villa’s architecture looks out of place from every window. Let the house guide it.

04FAQ

Common questions about this

Which shape gives the most swimming space?
A rectangle, because the full length is usable for lengths.
Are freeform pools harder to build?
They suit sprayed concrete well, but tiling, coping and covers take more work.
Can an automatic cover fit a freeform pool?
It is much harder; most automatic covers suit rectangular pools.
Does shape affect cost?
Complex shapes add work in structure, finishes and coping.

05Read next

More pool guides on this

Filed under new pool construction. Every pool guide is listed on the pool guides page.

—NEXT

Deciding on a shape?

Send garden photos and how you will use the pool. We will suggest shapes that fit.

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