Blogger Amy Horany turns her backyard space into a posh poolside paradise on a budget. See her pool makeover ideas to create your own Palm Springs-inspired outdoor retreat.
Summer is here, which means pool days are a must. If you’re familiar with my blog, The Blissful Bee, then you might have seen the recent transformation my backyard has undergone. My yard went from what seems like a small patch of grass to a complete backyard oasis, complete with a pool, spa, layout deck and good-sized yard to entertain.
Plan Your Poolside Design
My husband and I first began the design process on our pool last summer and by the time fall came around, our pool was complete. Before we knew it, winter quickly passed and spring started to pass by as well. We realized we needed to get our pool into “summer shape” so we could actually lay out and enjoy our first summer in our newly-renovated home.
I was super excited to team up with Hayneedle in this poolside makeover because I’m a girl who appreciates a high-end designer look, but hates designer prices. That’s one of the many reasons I love Hayneedle so much – instead of purchasing just a few overpriced items (and still have an unfinished space), I can completely makeover my backyard while getting that designer look.
Choose the Right Furnishings
For my poolside makeover, I wanted to feel like I was on vacation year-round. I wanted a good mix of resort living, but also something that gave off a laid-back feel as well. Southern California and Palm Springs was our inspiration for the pool design as well as the poolside décor. Here’s my design board for the makeover:
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Create A Focal Point
My favorite pieces have to be the hanging egg chairs. They are literally the MOST comfortable chairs we own. I could sit in those all day – and I totally plan to this summer. I also love the modern design. The crisp white chair paired with the (very cozy) black cushion aligned perfectly with my black and white color scheme.
I also ADORE our new fire pit table. We placed it between the two hanging chairs that we hung from our back porch, which overlooks the pool. This sitting area not only will be perfect for catching some shade during our hot summer months, but it will also be ideal during winter as well. We can light the fire, sit back and relax by the pool – even when it’s 40° out. And the best part about this fire table (other than its modern design) is the fact that the propane tank hides within the table. This might have been its biggest selling point for me.
Design A Shady Spot
We also wanted a shaded sitting area in the grassy area of the back yard. We paired two black rockers with an umbrella and umbrella table to achieve this look. The black and white stripe umbrella pulls the entire “Palm Springs-inspired” look together and gives us the perfect amount of shade to escape the sun when it’s just too much to bear.
For entertaining purposes, we thought it would be fun to incorporate an area for a yard game. I love playing corn hole (even though I’m not very good at it!) so this customizable corn hole game was the perfect fit for us. I was able to choose the exact colors I wanted, which was a white base with a black border to further emphasize my black and white color scheme.
Incorporate Luxury Elements
The lounge chairs were another favorite purchase as well. We needed a total of four and these particular chairs came in a set of two at a super affordable price. The quality is just what I was hoping for and they even came in the color black, which I’ve noticed is hard to find in layout chairs. They stack and are easy to store, which is perfect for the off season when we’ll be getting bad, icy weather.
