When you’re chatting with our team at Miller Outdoors, the conversation goes like this: you want your pool area to feel festive, welcoming, and ready for guests—especially around the holidays—while also fitting your space and lifestyle. Here are five standout pool design ideas to make that happen. Whether you’re working with a compact backyard or planning a full renovation, these ideas help guide the decision-making. And yes, we’re ready to handle it from start to finish.
1. Festive Lighting for the Pool and Surround
Turning your pool area into a holiday-ready outdoor venue begins with lighting. Good lighting can shift a plain pool zone into something special, and that includes smaller pool footprints or small inground pool designs.
Why this works:
- String lights or LED strips around the pool edge and deck create ambiance and invite people in.
- Underwater or recessed lighting adds depth and charm, enhancing the pool after dark.
- For small pools for small yards, lighting helps open up space visually.
- A well-lit area is safer for guests and more comfortable for evening gatherings.
How we approach it:
- We map out your pool’s perimeter and deck layout. Then we propose light placements that draw focus to key features—steps, water surfaces, seating zones.
- We select fixtures made for outdoor pool use (corrosion-resistant, appropriate voltage).
- We include controls like timers or dimmers so you don’t have to fiddle with switches every time you host.
- If your yard is on the smaller side, we keep the lighting subtle and scaled so it doesn’t overpower the space.
With this kind of lighting upgrade, you’re not just decorating—you’re enhancing your pool design in a meaningful way.
2. Holiday-Style Water Features and Decorations
Adding a water feature or seasonal decor brings a fresh take on your pool design ideas and gives your backyard a sense of occasion. Even with modest dimensions, you can build something memorable.
How to do it:
- One option: install a simple spillover or fountain wall that’s illuminated. The sound of moving water is relaxing and festive.
- Another idea: floating LEDs or decorative orbs that get placed in the water when you’re entertaining. They don’t interfere with use and add a holiday sparkle.
- Use greenery, planters, or garlands around the pool edge—especially helpful for small spaces where you want to extend the terrace visually.
Why it helps:
- Water features add both visual and acoustic interest, which lifts your pool design from “just a pool” to a destination.
- Seasonal decorations signal that you’re hosting, relaxing, and enjoying your space.
- For smaller yards, decorations help define zones—pool area, seating area, maybe a fire pit or lounge corner.
When you engage Miller Outdoors for this, we’ll take your yard size into account, pick features that fit your shape and budget, and integrate everything into the overall plan so it feels cohesive.
3. Compact & Smart Seating Zones for Small Yards
When you have limited space, “pool design ideas” mean making every square foot count. For a small inground pool or small pools for small yards, consider seating and lounging zones that use smart design to avoid crowding.
Design tips:
- Built-in benches or low walls around the pool help define a lounge area while keeping circulation clear.
- Multifunctional furniture: ottomans that serve as seats and side tables, benches that hide storage for cushions and decorations.
- Shade and shelter: A pergola, shade sail, or umbrella helps the zone feel like an outdoor room—not just a pool edge.
- Materials and finishes that match the pool deck unify the space and avoid visual clutter.
Why this matters:
- When space is tight, poorly placed chairs or loungers can block access or make the pool area feel cramped. Good design makes it flow.
- A defined seating zone means you’re more likely to use it—not just “we have a pool” but “we use the pool and hang out here.”
- With Miller Outdoors handling the layout, you avoid guessing how big chairs should be, how far from the water they go, and how to blend seating with the pool.
This is one of the pool design ideas that turns your pool zone into a gathering space rather than just water in the yard.
4. Engineered Privacy & Holiday Ambience
Privacy becomes particularly important when the holiday season brings more guests, more gatherings, and maybe more outdoor time in the evening. Incorporating privacy features is a strong element in the list of pool design ideas.
What to consider:
- Vertical plantings or screened panels along the backyard boundary—especially if you have neighboring properties close by.
- Accent walls, decorative fencing, or trellises with climbing plants can give the zone a backdrop that feels cozy and polished.
- Compile seasonal décor elements: for example, string lights interwoven in a hedge or on a pergola, glowing lanterns, or holiday-themed planters.
- Sound control: A water feature or shrub barrier helps dampen noise if you’re hosting, so the space feels more relaxed.
Why this improves your space:
- With added privacy and ambiance, you’ll feel more comfortable inviting friends over and using the pool at different times.
- A backyard that feels “pulled together” encourages more use, which means your pool investment pays off in enjoyment.
- Miller Outdoors can handle everything from planting to wall construction, so you don’t have to coordinate multiple contractors.
The holiday season is the right time to make these upgrades and align them with your pool zone for year-round benefit.
5. Seasonal Flexibility for Your Pool & Landscape
Finally, one of the best pool design ideas is to design for flexibility—especially when you have a small inground pool or are looking at small pools for small yards. You’ll want a space that adapts to holiday décor, larger gatherings, and casual everyday use.
How to build flexibility in:
- Modular furniture pieces can be rearranged for a holiday party, a quiet evening swim, or family pool time.
- A pool cover system or automation helps you switch between “functional pool” and “decorative water feature” when needed.
- Lighting and sound systems that work off presets—holiday mode, entertaining mode, quiet mode.
- Landscaping around the pool that accommodates seasonal plantings or décor changes without big disruption.
Why this makes sense:
- If you commit to a pool area that only works one way, you’ll limit your usage. A flexible design means you get more value.
- For smaller yards, every piece of furniture, every planting matters. Flexibility ensures you’re not boxed in by décor that only works one month out of the year.
- As your family or usage changes, the space can evolve. Miller Outdoors makes sure the base design is solid, then we help you add seasonal touches easily.
Contact Miller Outdoors for Pool Design Services in New Orleans!
Holiday time is the perfect moment to rethink your outdoor pool space and invest in a design that brings joy, relaxation, and quality use—not just for the season, but all year long. The five pool design ideas outlined above cover lighting, water features, seating for small yards, privacy staging, and modular flexibility—each one chosen to work whether you’ve got a spacious yard or are working with small pools for small yards. You can also check our
At Miller Outdoors, our goal is to take your vision and make it real. We handle everything: from initial layout and design, through construction, to finishing touches like lighting and decor. Before you know it, your backyard will feel like a retreat.
Ready to take the next step? Call us at (504) 452-3131 or visit our contact page to Schedule Your Discovery Call. We’ll walk you through how our Landscape Design & Installation and Outdoor Living Spaces Design & Construction services tie together seamlessly with your pool project. Let’s bring your backyard holiday vision to life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What size should a small inground pool be if I have a compact backyard?
A: It really depends on your yard layout, local setback requirements, and how much space you want for lounging around the pool. The key is to balance water area with deck/lounge area so the zone doesn’t feel cramped.
Q: Can all of these design ideas apply to small pools for small yards?
A: Absolutely. Each of the five ideas works in small-space applications. The trick lies in selecting the right scale and materials—and that’s where we come in.
Q: How do I budget for this kind of pool design upgrade in the holiday period?
A: Start with the biggest impact items (lighting, seating) and roll in others over time. We provide a full quote and help gauge what to do now versus later. You can use our Landscape Design Cost Calculator to get a rough idea.
Q: Does adding features like lighting or privacy walls delay pool construction?
A: Not necessarily. If we plan it together it becomes part of the construction schedule—not a bolt-on later. With our Pool Design & Construction service we integrate these elements cleanly.
Q: Are there safety regulations I should know when installing a pool?
A: Yes. For example, home pools should include barriers or fencing and meet water quality standards. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, proper water chemistry (pH 7.0-7.8 and chlorine at least 1 ppm for residential pools) helps prevent illnesses. You’ll also want to follow local building codes and safety fencing around your pool.
