Making the most of the poolside

Press, 26 November 1980, Page 21

Making the most of the poolside

Most of a swimmer’s time is spent out of the water, so plenty of space far lounging is essential. For this reason, decking or paved areas around a pool are usually wide. They also provide a necessary drainage surface and keep plants well away from splashes of chlorinated water.

Decking may form a safe walkway around an above-ground pool or be built above a slope to increase the lounge area of a hillside situation. Around a dug-in pool, large expanses of paving can be made interesting by imaginative use of cobblestones, plain or textured concrete or pebblesurface'. slabs. Concrete coping can merge into flagstones which may join into wooden decking at various angles to define walkway and lounging areas and add interest to both. Or decking may extend right to- the edge of the pool. The variations are endless. Patio furniture “dresses up” the poolside and gives flexible seating options. Along with chairs and tables, a series of pipe inserts in deck or paving allows umbrellas to be arranged in many combinations for sun control and colour effects.

For a larger shaded area a canvas hood is a practical idea, or you may prefer more permanent shelter in the form of a roof of fibreglass sheets or metal louvres.

Poolside lighting and heating allows even greater versatility in the use of the pool surround. Apart from extending its use into the evening hours, underwater lights, floods from concealed sources and special lights around plants and other garden features can create dramatic effects.

Night-time use of the pool environment is more comfortable at either end of the season if there is a source of warmth. An outdoor fire pit or barbecue provides this, as well as

spectacular lighting, par- ' ticularly if the flames are reflected on the water. t Portable barbecues or braziers can be moved almost anywhere to give quick heat and they throw very little smoke if fuelled with charcoal. A barbecue designed to provide light, warmth and cooking facilities is the most versatile auxiliary to the pool as a focus of outdoor living. Screens and plantings can help keep diners well away from the pool edge to keep food debris out of the water and it is wise to place the serving table at least 5m from the coping. Most swimming pool areas have some fencing or screening around their outer boundaries too, even if only as a very unobtrusive child deterrent. Screening of any kind should provide some seethrough slits, as being able to see the pool is an important precaution against accidents. Having some of the screening or fencing removable provides more options when the pool is used as a centre for entertaining.