5 Excellent Design Ideas for Your Concrete Pool Deck

A pool is the perfect outdoor amenity for those hot summer months. Here's how you can get creative with your pool deck.

Not only can a backyard swimming pool serve as the center of summer activities for your family, neighbors, and friends, but it’s also a lovely focal point for your yard.

The other elements of your backyard should complement your swimming pool. Having a decorative, functional concrete deck adjacent to your pool is the perfect way to add value to your property and make your space even more beautiful and fun. Here are a few of our favorite ideas for your concrete pool deck project:

1. Opt for a Sand Finish

If you want to add texture and visual interest without going overboard with a trendy design, you can’t go wrong with a sand finish. With its versatile design and color options, this type of finish can add elegance and comfort to your pool deck.

A sand finish also creates a natural feel, resembling a beach. Plus, it’s a great option for anywhere you’ll be walking with bare feet, since it’s smooth enough to walk on comfortably without being slippery, which is especially important for making sure little ones are safe around the pool.

Concrete pool deck

2. Incorporate Other Dedicated Spaces

Although your pool is likely to be the focal point of your backyard patio and deck area, additional concrete elements (like a fire pit or benches covered with cushions) can make your space that much more inviting.

These extra areas not only add dimension and variety to your concrete design — they also give you a place to spend time and relax with a great view of your pool!

Backyard built in concrete seat wall firepit

3. Add LED Lighting for Design and Safety

Safety is one of the most important considerations when you’re designing your concrete pool deck, especially if you have children running around.

Whatever layout and materials you choose, you’ll want to make sure you have sufficient lighting to ensure the safety of you and your family and friends during those evening hours spent out by the pool. One of the best ways to do this is with LED lighting.

Small LED lights can be embedded in your concrete deck, not only right near the edge of your pool, but also under concrete stairs or benches to illuminate your entire outdoor space and make it usable for more hours of the day.

Concrete curbing led lighting

4. Choose a Unique Border

An accent border around your swimming pool comes with both functional and design benefits. Not only does it help visually break up large slabs of plain concrete, but it also clearly defines the edges of your pool, making them safer since they’re easier to see.

This also gives you a chance to play with color combinations, textures, and shapes. For example, if you like the look of stone or brick, but you don’t want to cover your entire deck with that much texture, incorporating it into your design with a decorative concrete border may just strike the perfect balance.

5. Make Your Pool Deck Look Like Stone, Brick, or Wood

When you think of concrete, you may think of a smooth, gray slab — but concrete design can do incredible things! Using stamped concrete for your pool deck allows for nearly limitless color and pattern options.

Stamped concrete surfaces are crafted by pressing a design into freshly poured concrete. You get the durability and strength of traditional concrete with the aesthetic of just about any material you can think of.

Stamped concrete can be crafted to look like stone, brick, and even wooden planks. The sky’s the limit! This type of concrete truly allows your creativity and unique design preferences to shine.

Stamped concrete pool patio

Are you thinking about adding a concrete pool deck?

Do you have questions about your design options? The perfect choices for your pool deck depend on the layout of your backyard and home, your personal style, and safety considerations. Our dedicated team at GWC Decorative Concrete has more than 75 years of combined experience and can help you understand and weigh your options.

Ready to get started on your project? Call GWC Decorative Concrete at (503) 849-0901 or contact us online.