Ideas for Masonry That Would Look Amazing Alongside an Inground Pool in Newport, RI

A backyard pool area has the potential to be so much more than just a pool and a space for lounging. It can become an outdoor living room with all of the creature comforts you would expect indoors with the added bonus of water. In this article, you will find ideas for masonry that would look amazing alongside an inground pool in Newport, RI. 

Whether you choose just one feature or all of them, get ready for a transformation that will make your pool area “the” place to hang out all summer.

Related: Front Yard Ideas: 4 Masonry Features You'll Want in Bristol and Tiverton RI Areas

1. Fire

Having a chance to warm up by a cozy fire after a swim is a real delight. This makes a fire pit or an outdoor fireplace one of the best additions to any pool area. To keep your pool area free of splinters and ash, opt for a natural gas or propane-fueled fire feature. A fire feature can be built using the same materials as you use on the exterior of an outdoor kitchen or retaining wall. This is the most common approach when building a fire pit. With an outdoor fireplace, you can use the same materials as well. Or, it can be a statement piece with its own distinct look.

A fire feature also makes your poolside area usable any time of the year, not just when the pool season is in full swing. Whether a fire feature is part of the main outdoor living space or its own destination on the far side of the pool, it will give you a reason to enjoy your backyard after the pool is closed up for the season. You really do get a lot for your money with a fire feature.

2. Water

Adding a water feature such as a waterfall or fountain adds drama and interest to the pool area. Even when nobody is splashing in the pool, you can enjoy the visual treat as well as the inherently soothing sounds of moving water. You could install a low wall along one side of the pool, with spouts or sheer descent waterfalls that recirculate pool water in a dramatic way. Kids of all ages love swimming under falling water, so a water feature does double duty: fun and drama.

Tip: position a water feature so that you can enjoy it from inside the home as well as the patio. A water feature can be in use long after it’s too cold to swim but the freeze hasn’t hit.

3. Shelter

Having a place to escape the blazing sun makes the pool area that much of a destination. A pergola is a wooden shelter structure, but it can be set on masonry pillars that tie the structure in with the rest of the outdoor living space.

A pergola (or a solid-roofed pavilion) that features a masonry fireplace along one side is the ultimate in coziness. A pergola can become a four-season outdoor living room with the addition of a clear polycarbonate roof.

4. Food

A masonry-sided grill station or full outdoor kitchen transforms your backyard into the hub of warm-weather entertaining. If you have the space, a smaller masonry-enclosed beverage refrigerator or even a swim-up bar will add a fun touch to your pool.

5. Beauty

Masonry planters along the pool edge are a great way to contain vegetation while adding color and interest to the pool area.

Related: How a Mason Can Turn Your Inground Pool Into a Mini-Resort in Barrington RI