7 Modern Pool Features to Upgrade Your Backyard
Your backyard pool gets looked at every single day. That’s a lot of time to wish it were something more. Whether your current setup feels dated, underperforms for entertaining, or just lacks the personality you want from an outdoor space, the right upgrades can change everything. Modern pool features have evolved well beyond basic functionality. Today’s additions blend energy efficiency, smart technology, and striking design in ways that make a real difference in how a pool looks, feels, and performs.
Here are seven features worth considering when you’re ready to take your backyard to the next level.
1. Infinity Edge Pools
Few pool designs generate as much visual impact as an infinity edge. Also called vanishing-edge or negative-edge pools, they’re engineered so the water appears to spill over one side and blend with the horizon. The effect is especially dramatic on elevated lots or properties with a view. Residential installations of infinity-edge pools rose 28% in 2024, driven largely by homeowners wanting resort-caliber aesthetics without leaving home.
The tradeoff is complexity. Infinity edges require careful structural planning, a collection trough, and a secondary pumping system to recycle the overflow. The engineering costs are higher, but for the right property, the payoff in curb appeal and resale value is hard to match.
2. LED Pool Lighting
Lighting is one of the most cost-effective ways to transform a pool. LED pool lights use up to 75% less energy than older incandescent or halogen systems, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, and they last significantly longer before needing replacement. That’s a win on both the utility bill and the maintenance side.
Beyond efficiency, LEDs offer programmable color options that turn your pool into the centerpiece of any backyard gathering. Birthday parties, holiday weekends, late-night swims, each one benefits from the ability to set a mood with the tap of a button. Alan Smith Pools installs pool lighting that integrates cleanly with both new builds and existing pools, giving you more flexibility over how your backyard looks after dark.
3. Smart Pool Automation
Pool automation has moved from luxury to mainstream. Systems from brands like Pentair and Hayward now let homeowners control water temperature, filtration schedules, lighting, and chemical levels from a smartphone or smart home device. A 2024 home automation report found that 62% of new pool installations include some form of smart integration.
The appeal is straightforward: less guesswork, fewer chemical imbalances, and the ability to manage everything remotely. If you’re at work and want the pool at the right temperature before the family gets home, a couple of taps handles it. Alan Smith Pools offers pool automation solutions that cover everything from basic scheduling to full chemical monitoring systems, so your pool practically runs itself.
4. Tanning Ledges (Baja Benches)
Tanning ledges, also called Baja shelves or sun shelves, are shallow entry platforms built into the pool at around 9 to 12 inches of depth. They’ve become one of the most requested features in pool remodeling because they deliver a lot for relatively modest additional cost.
Adults use them to lounge half-submerged in the sun. Younger children and pets have a safe, shallow area to enjoy without venturing into deeper water. Some homeowners add in-water chaise lounges or a dedicated umbrella mount for a true resort feel. The shelf can be designed to complement virtually any pool shape, making it as practical as it is stylish.
5. Water Features
The right water feature changes how a pool sounds, not just how it looks. Cascading waterfalls, deck jets, scuppers, and bubblers all add movement and aeration that a still surface simply can’t match. The sound of running water has a genuine calming effect, and in warmer months, moving water helps cool the pool surface through evaporation.
For homeowners who want something more dramatic, custom rock waterfalls and grottos take the concept much further. Alan Smith Pools builds rock waterfalls, slides, and grottoes that can turn a standard backyard into something that feels genuinely custom. These features require more planning and investment, but the result is a pool environment that’s unlike anything a standard contractor delivers.
6. Saltwater Systems
Saltwater pools sanitize using a salt-chlorine generator instead of manually dosed chlorine tablets. The generator converts dissolved salt into chlorine continuously, maintaining a consistent level without the spikes that come from tablet dosing. The result is water that smells less harsh, is gentler on eyes and skin, and requires fewer trips to the supply store.
Saltwater pools now account for roughly 30% of residential pools in the U.S. The upfront cost of the generator system is higher than a standard chlorine setup, but ongoing chemical costs tend to drop meaningfully over time. For families who swim frequently, the comfort difference alone is worth the investment.
7. Glass Tile Finishes
Standard plaster does the job, but glass tile elevates a pool into a design statement. These highly reflective tiles catch sunlight and create a shimmering, jewel-like appearance at the waterline and beyond. According to the Tile Council of North America, glass tile use in residential pool renovations has grown 40% over the past five years.
Glass tile comes in an enormous range of colors, finishes, and sizes. Homeowners can create an ombre gradient from deep teal to pale aqua, go bold with cobalt blue, or opt for understated neutrals that let the water do the talking. Installation requires precision and experience because grout lines and adhesion matter more with glass than with standard ceramic tile. Done right, it’s one of the most lasting visual upgrades a pool can receive.
Matching Features to Your Goals
Not every upgrade makes sense for every pool or every budget. Infinity edges are stunning, but they require specific site conditions. Tanning ledges add value to families with young children, but they reduce the overall swimming area. Glass tile delivers a dramatic look but costs more per square foot than quartz or pebble finishes.
The most effective approach is to identify what you want your pool to do better, whether that’s entertaining, energy efficiency, aesthetics, or ease of maintenance, and then match features to those priorities. Alan Smith Pools has been helping Orange County homeowners navigate exactly these decisions since 1981, with more than 35,000 completed projects behind them.
If you’re ready to talk through what your backyard could become, reach out to the Alan Smith Pools team for a free estimate and start building the pool you actually want to look at every day.
