Picture the first real heat wave of summer. The kids are cannonballing into crystal-clear water, burgers are sizzling on the grill, and you're kicked back on a sun-warmed patio with a cold drink in hand. No pool membership. No packed beach. No three-hour drive. Just your own backyard.
Most homeowners spend months choosing the perfect pool shape, size, and color. And that matters. But the features you plan around the pool are what turn a hole full of water into a backyard destination your family can't wait to get home to.
Here's the thing: the best time to plan those features is before excavation ever begins. When everything is mapped out from day one, utility lines, drainage, and footings go in the right place the first time, and nobody has to tear up a finished patio to add something later. At Luxscapes Unlimited, we handle inground pool installation and hardscaping under one roof, so we see first-hand which decisions homeowners are glad they made. Here are our top 5 features to plan into your inground swimming pool.
It's not the most glamorous feature on the list, but it's the one you can't skip. Here in Pennsylvania, the Uniform Construction Code adopts the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, which requires outdoor pools to be surrounded by a barrier at least 48 inches tall (see the code requirements here). Gates need to be self-closing and self-latching, and your local township may have a few extra rules of its own.
But a good pool fence doesn't have to feel like a cage. Aluminum, vinyl, and glass-panel options can all meet code while complementing the look of your home. The key is planning the fence line alongside your swimming pool construction design, so gates line up with how people actually walk from the house to the water, and posts don't land in the middle of your future patio.
Take a look at our fence projects to see how safety and style work together.
The pool might be the star of the show, but the patio is where most of the living actually happens. It's where you set up lounge chairs, dry off in the sun, serve dinner, and keep an eye on the kids.
That's why we recommend treating patio hardscaping as part of the pool project, not an afterthought. Interlocking pavers are a great fit for pool decks. They flex with Pennsylvania's freeze-thaw cycles instead of cracking like poured concrete, they come in textured, slip-resistant finishes, and if one ever gets damaged, it can be lifted out and replaced.
This is also the place to carve out a dedicated lounging area. Think a wide sun deck for chaise lounges on one side of the pool and a shaded dining zone under a pergola on the other. Built-in stone seating walls give you permanent, weatherproof seating that never needs to be hauled into the garage come fall. When your backyard deck and patio design is planned around the pool from the start, every square foot has a purpose.
Weighing your options? Read our breakdown of wooden pool decks vs. stone pool patios.
Without lighting, your pool pretty much closes when the sun goes down. With it, some of the best swims of the summer happen after dark.
In-pool LED lighting, including color-changing options, turns the water into a glowing focal point and helps swimmers clearly see steps, benches, and edges. Outside the pool, low-voltage lights built into seating walls, steps, and walkways add warm ambiance while making the whole space safer to navigate at night.
Wiring is the big reason to plan lighting early. Conduit and transformers are much easier (and cheaper) to run beneath the base before pavers go down than to retrofit through a finished patio.
If you have young kids or grandkids, this one deserves a serious look.
A kid's spa or shallow play area gives little ones their own space to splash, sit, and play in water shallow enough to stand comfortably. Many custom fiberglass swimming pools offer options like wide tanning ledges or attached spas that double as a kid zone during the day and a warm soak for the adults at night. Parents get peace of mind. Kids get a spot that's all their own.
As an installer of Latham Fiberglass Pools, we can walk you through models and add-ons that fit your family. And remember, it's far easier to choose the right shell up front than to add a separate feature later.
Hardscaping gives your pool area structure. Landscaping gives it life.
Thoughtful plantings soften the lines of your patio and fence, add privacy from neighbors, and help your backyard feel like a true retreat. Evergreens and ornamental grasses create living privacy screens, while planter beds built into retaining walls add color without eating up patio space. On sloped lots, a waterfall retaining wall can manage the grade change and become a showstopping focal point at the same time.
The trick is choosing plants that play nice with a pool. Low-litter varieties keep leaves and petals out of your skimmer, and native Pennsylvania perennials cut down on watering and upkeep. Learn more about our complete landscaping services.
The features above aren't just upgrades. They're decisions that shape how your family uses your backyard for years to come, and they're easiest (and most affordable) to get right before excavation begins.
That's the advantage of working with swimming pool installers who also handle hardscaping and landscaping. At Luxscapes Unlimited, we manage everything from permitting and excavation to the final paver, so your pool, patio, fence, lighting, and landscaping come together as one seamless design. Plus, a well-planned pool can add real value to your property.
If you've been searching for "hardscaping near me" or a trusted hardscape company in Lancaster, we'd love to help. We proudly serve homeowners across Lancaster, Chester, York, and surrounding counties.
Reach out to Luxscapes Unlimited today for a FREE quote with zero obligation. We'd love to start dreaming up your backyard oasis with you!
Luxscapes Unlimited is a premium backyard designer specializing in custom fiberglass inground pool installation and hardscaping projects in South-Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland. Our team is equipped to walk you all the way from initial design to living it up in your backyard oasis—with your entire project backed by a 5-Year Installation Warranty. Don’t wait on the backyard of your dreams. Reach out for your free quote and initial consultation today!
