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Pools provide a great place to entertain family and friends, it allows you to relax in the comfort of your own home and provides an excellent alternative for daily exercise. All benefits you’re probably already enjoying. But do you sometimes feel like something is missing? Chances are you might be missing a pool house. That ‘something’ that adds a special entertainment space where you can spend time with friends and family or simply relax. Considering building a pool house?

Just thinking about the cost, the work involved, and the space required might make you think twice about committing to this project. However, there are various pool house options available. You can build one that can fit your space, as they come in different sizes, shapes, and styles to suit your budget.

Read on to learn more about the alternatives available.

Things to Consider Before You Build a Pool House

Before you dive in, there are a few things you should consider. This will ensure that once you start building you get exactly what you want with as little hassle as possible.

Building Requirements

Research the requirements needed before you start to build. It will vary depending on the city you live in. You will most likely need a building permit before any construction can begin.

Ordinances and zoning laws may affect where you can locate your pool house as well as its size.

If you’re part of a Homeowners’ Association (HOA), you will also need to abide by their regulations and bylaws before getting approval.

• Design

Your pool house design should blend naturally with the design of your home as well as your home’s surroundings. Keep these in mind so that your final design complements the architecture and the outdoor areas of your home.

• Privacy

This will depend on what you will be using your pool house for. Whether it will serve as a guest house or a place where your guests can change or freshen up after using the pool, you should ensure that it will provide enough privacy. You can incorporate frosted windows, blinds, or privacy screens into your design.

• Storage

Even if the main purpose of having a pool house isn’t for storage, it provides a great opportunity to incorporate a space to accommodate pool toys, equipment, and chemicals.

Chlorine or chlorine alternatives, need to be stored in a well-ventilated, dry, cool place and be protected from moisture and the sun. Design your storage so that these chemicals can be kept upright to prevent any leakage.

• Entertaining

If you’re using the space to entertain, you should consider a kitchen, dining room, and ample area for seating and tables.

The things you need to consider will be dependent on how you plan to use your pool house. There are various pool house ideas, so you will need to decide if yours will be:

• A storage area for pool equipment, toys, etc.
• A guest house for when you have family or friends over
• A space to entertain if you’re having a pool party or a late evening event by the pool
• A place to relax for a chance to lounge all day in a different environment without having to leave your home
• A way to keep your home dry, where family or guests can change
• Used as an outdoor office, man cave, or she-shed

 

Choose Your Design

There are many pool house designs to choose from. But before you start going through architecture and design magazines, decide on the type of pool house you want.

• Prefab Pool House

This is a pool house that is pre-built and ready to be placed exactly where you choose in your yard. You’ll have limited input regarding design, but it’s also less hassle as it doesn’t require major construction.

• Pool House Shed

A pool house shed is ideal if your space will mainly be for storage. It can serve as the space for yard and pool equipment, pool toys, including, balls, rafts, noodles, and nets, and pool cleaning supplies and chemicals.

• Custom-built Pool House

This is a detached structure that will allow you to choose a specific design and have it constructed in the space in your yard you’ve designated for your pool house. It will be a permanent part of your home. It will allow you to customize from the ground up, inside and outside.

You will have a pool house that looks and functions exactly the way you want. It will be similar to when you construct a home where you will require water lines, electricity, and insulation.

Cost of Building a Pool House

Pool house types usually determine the base cost of pool houses. Additional costs will vary based on size, features, materials, location, and the contractor you choose.

• Prefab Pool House: $5,000 – $25,000 and up
• Pool House Shed: $1,000 – $1,500 and up
• Custom-built Detached Pool House: $160 – $600 and up per square foot

You can choose the type of pool house with a design that fits your budget.

Pool House Design Options

A pool can increase the value of your home, so can a pool house. Just how much your home’s value will increase depends on the design of the pool house you choose, how it blends with your home, and any add-ons.

Here are a few of the more common designs used for pool houses:

• Classic design – reminiscent of a fairytale cottage
• Farmhouse or barn-style pool house
• The modern – sleek, open structure that incorporates a lot of straight lines and glass features
• Built for entertainment – open pavilion and outdoor kitchen
• Green-themed – incorporates timber-framed construction and is environmentally friendly

Any of these designs will allow you to create a haven that you can enjoy with family and friends.

A New Space to Fit Your Lifestyle

A pool house can add a new space to your home that you can enjoy with friends and family. It’s an investment that does not need to be a hassle. Good planning will help make the process go a lot smoother, as well as faster.

Before committing to the idea, decide what you’ll use the pool house for, consider your space and the design you want. Visit our design sections for ideas on what can work best for your unique space.