• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Interiors Addict

Heart Your Home

@interiorsaddict on Instagram   @interiorsaddict on Facebook   @interiorsaddict on Pinterest  
Subscribe
  • Job Board
  • About
  • Before & Afters
  • RENO ADDICT
  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Kids Rooms
  • Bedrooms
  • Living Room
  • Shopping
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipes
  • Parenting
  • Travel
Interiors Addict
  • Job Board
  • About
    • Our Story

      Australiaโ€™s largest interior design, styling and renovation blog for the everyday Aussie. By former journalist and magazine editor Jen Bishop, the original interiors addict!
      READ MORE

      Weโ€™re big on Instagram!
      @interiorsaddict

      • About
      • Contact Interiors Addict
      • Work with Interiors Addict
      • Advertise / Find a job in Interiors
      • Press
      • Get Your Free Ebook

        This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • By Room
    • Browse by Room

      Where you can search for all our posts about a specific room. Only interested in kitchens and bathrooms? We got you!

      • Kitchens
      • Bathrooms
      • Kids Rooms
      • Bedrooms
      • Living Room
      • Home Office
      • Dining
      • Laundry
      • Outdoor & Exteriors
      • Renting
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • Before & Afters
    • Before & Afters

      Who doesnโ€™t LOVE a good before & after? If you want to be inspired by the whole reno process, and not just the shiny photos at the end, this is the place for you!

      View Articles

      • Before & Afters
      • Jen’s reno
      • Real Renos
      • RENO ADDICT
    • DINING-6-AFTER-0P9A4023Before & After: This week’s Selling Houses recap (Clermont QLD)
    • AFTERLush, resort-style backyard reno provides holiday at home
  • Reno Addict
    • RENO ADDICT

      Looking for reno inspo? Find it all here, from other peopleโ€™s projects to the latest trends, tools and products, whether youโ€™re DIY-ing or employing trades.

      View articles

      • Reno Products
      • The Block
      • DIY
      • Reno Trends
      • Before & Afters
      • Real Renos
    • Screen Shot 2023-03-26 at 6.58.44 pmAmazing $2k balcony transformation using Kmart stone tiles
    • AFTERLush, resort-style backyard reno provides holiday at home
  • Shopping
    • Shopping

      Want to know where to buy the latest furniture, homewares, rugs, art and more? Weโ€™re always sharing our latest finds and telling you where you can buy them.

      View Articles

      • Furniture
      • Homewares
      • Art
      • Smart Home
      • Appliances
      • Reno Products
    • MargueriteNew Sage x Clare range + creative director’s top picks!
    • Screen Shot 2023-03-08 at 9.49.47 amKmart partners with Wiradjuri artist Judith Young on home range
  • Inspiration
    • Inspiration

      While Jenโ€™s a legitimate interiors addict, sheโ€™s no design professional, so she calls on an army of the countryโ€™s best to share their expertise with you. Be inspired by their stories too!

      View Articles

      • Decorating 101
      • Interviews
      • Expert Tips
      • Before & Afters
      • House Tours
      • Designers
      • Styling
      • Renovating
      • Real Renos
      • Covet my coffee table
    • Britt White StudioA jungle themed oasis for two little boys in Brisbane
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle

      Weโ€™re mostly about the home but Jen also likes to share other things she thinks youโ€™ll love, like food and travel.

      • Recipes
      • Travel
      • Parenting
    • Sashi X Cobram Shoot – 15th November_GRIFFIN SIMM_Finals 36Foodie Friday: Sashi Cheliah’s chickpea curry in a hurry
    • 211025_Rosedale_12Stylist Steve Cordony’s stunning Rosedale Farm is on Airbnb!
  • Jobs
    • Advertise on our job board
    • Job Board FAQs for advertisers

Plunge pools: everything you need to know about small pools

By Amy Collins-Walker โ€ข Leave a Comment

FacebookPinEmailTweet

Thereโ€™s no denying that COVID has had a very significant impact on the way we live and what we expect from our homes. Weโ€™ve reported a lot on the increasing importance of the backyard post-lockdown, and a pool is the icing on cake for many Australians. But with reduced block sizes our backyards are shrinking, which explains the increased popularity of the plunge pool.

Blue Haven Pool
This plunge pool is nestled inside a small backyard in Sydney’s Woolooware
Blue Haven pool

โ€œThereโ€™s no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic was tough for everyone, and because Australians love the great outdoors, it was not surprising that many families wanted to transform their homes to feel like a holiday all year long,โ€ says Blue Haven Pools and Spas CEO Remonda Martinez who has seen a massive increase in enquiries since the pandemic โ€“ particularly for plunge pools.

Plunge pool vs traditional
Just because a plunge pool is smaller than its full-size counterpart doesnโ€™t mean it isnโ€™t as versatile or luxurious. โ€œYou can use a plunge pool to dip in and relax after a long day or add swim jets if you want to do laps but donโ€™t have room in your yard,โ€ says Remonda.

A plunge pool can also serve as a focal point or fabulous backyard feature with the money you save on size (they are cheaper than larger, traditional pools) freeing up funds to allocate to decorative touches. โ€œSmaller pools are more affordable to dress up with finer finishes like fully tiled interiors, heating and in-floor cleaning systems,โ€ says Remonda. 

Plunge pool
This courtyard 6m x 3m plunge pool, in Sydney’s Bondi Junction, is fully tiled with with gas heating, travertine surrounds and blue mode lighting.

Is a small pool worth it?
While plunge pools are more affordable than traditional pools they are still very much a luxury item which makes many people, understandably, question whether a small pool is worth the investment. โ€œThey are definitely worth it! Since a small pool costs less to landscape with less fencing, paving and surrounding costs, you can spend more on the pool and make it an incredible feature piece,โ€ says Remonda.

Popular for sloping blocks, the glass window panel is a fabulous example of how a small pool can be elevated, through smart design, to become a true garden feature. And when you consider the way a pool looks when the sun sets (think dazzling pool lights, and moving water), a plunge pool really does have the power to create an incredible night vibe.

Blue Haven pool
This 6m x 4m plunge pool, in Sydney’s Cronulla, includes a tiled spa

Is a smaller pool easier to maintain?
Smaller pools are generally easier to maintain when compared to larger pools. However, it’s important to note that the ease of maintenance also depends on factors such as the type of pool, its materials, and the location. โ€œItโ€™s also worth noting that smaller pools are also cheaper and faster to heat. Thereโ€™s nothing better than a cool pool all summer and a hot spa for winter and, with a plunge pool, it’s totally possible!โ€

This 3.4m x 3.7m plunge pool makes for a cosy backyard retreat

What size backyard do you need?
With plunge pools starting at just 4 metres wide, it goes without saying that they will work in even the smallest backyard. To give you an idea as to whether a plunge pool will work in your backyard you need to allow for at least a metre from the yardโ€™s boundaries to the edge of the pool’s water. You also need to allow for around a 1.5 metre distance from any dwelling or structures. 

โ€œAn underground easement or sewer line may also restrict the pool size but the beauty of a custom-designed concrete pool is that it can cater for all types of restrictions effortlessly,โ€ says Remonda.

Plunge pool
This 4m x 3m fully tiled plunge pool, in Sydney’s Caringbah, features a handrail and was designed for an older couple and their physiotherapy needs.

How much does a plunge pool cost?
Adding a swimming pool to the backyard is a construction process so pricing is site specific but Remonda explains that a designer concrete plunge pool starts from around $35,000 on a standard block. If your backyard has restricted access, sandy or loose soil conditions, a sloping block, retaining walls or you are building over or adjacent to a sewer line, the pool will cost more.

โ€œMy suggestion is always to assess the site costs first and then see how much is left in the budget to spend on the finishes such as fully tiled luxe interiors, mineral water, spa seats, mini jets, heating and lighting.โ€

For more on Blue Haven Pools & Spas

Neale Whitaker on the King Living Zaza outdoor sofa
Outdoor rooms: Neale Whitaker explains how to create a backyard oasis
โ€œItโ€™s not a new phenomenon, but Australians really did pioneer the outdoor room,โ€ says The Block judge and Love It…
2023 outdoor trends: Mediterranean is the new Hamptons
The classic white-washedย Hamptonsย style has long been Aussies’ go-to when building a dream house. This year, however, creative director and founder…

FacebookPinEmailTweet

February 28, 2023

Primary Sidebar

Popular This Week

  • Before & After: This week’s Selling Houses recap (Clermont QLD)
  • Breathtaking new Hamptons style home in Melbourne’s south east
  • Australian kitchen dimensions: standard sizes for every last detail
  • Amazing $2k balcony transformation using Kmart stone tiles
  • Before & after: Classic, contemporary Adelaide bathroom reno

Follow us on Instagram

Comment your fave: 1, 2 or 3? Just 3 of the kitch Comment your fave: 1, 2 or 3?

Just 3 of the kitchens in the @duluxaus Colour Awards 2023 shortlist which will give you some serious inspiration!

Loads more gorgeous residential rooms to see on the blog this morning via link in bio.

Projects by @studio__bright @kaiko_design and Georgie Shepherd Interior Design. Pix by @arorygardiner @fiona_susanto and @christophermorrisphoto 

#duluxcolour #duluxpaint #duluxaus #duluxcolourawards #duluxcolourawards2023 #moodykitchen #allwhitekitchen #designerkitchen #sagekitchen #boldkitchen #colourfulkitchen #colouredkitchen #theinteriorsaddict #interiorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #interiorsblog #interiorsaccount
We're a bit obsessed with Cara Standen's balcony m We're a bit obsessed with Cara Standen's balcony makeover using @kmartaus stone tiles!

Nineties townhouse in Lennox Head or villa in Greece? You decide! All up it cost $2000 including all materials and she did the work herself.

Read all about it via link in bio now.

Love your work @twin_palms_lennox

#kmartaustralia #kmartdiy #kmarthack #kmarthome #modernmediterranean #balconymakeover #balconyideas #diybalcony #budgetdiy #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Wallpaper in every single room! What do you recko Wallpaper in every single room!

What do you reckon? You'd think it would be overkill but it isn't because so many of the designs are subtle yet still impactful.

Head over to the blog to see how @grafico_walls transformed this blank canvas Melbourne townhouse with their products, which you've probably seen on The Block over the years. And read how Damian Corney has grown this Melbourne business with wife Adele and a growing team. There's also a look inside the very cool Motley Hotel which has used a whopping 4km of their wallpaper throughout!

You can also watch a video tour with Bec Douros as the house featured on Open Homes Australia over the weekend.

Via link in bio now.

#wallpapergoals #wallpaperdesign #australianwallart #australianwallpaper #wallmurals #wallpapermural #wallpapermurals #wallpapereddoor #digitalwallpaper #digitallyprintedwallpaper #customwallpaper #wallpaperaesthetic #wallpapertrends #wallpaperaustralia #grafico #graficowallcoverings #melbournebusiness #melbournesmallbusiness #openhomesaustralia #theblock #becdouros
Kids and fluffy chickens. Does it get any cuter?! Kids and fluffy chickens. Does it get any cuter?! 

Braved the rain second morning in a row to feed the animals at @edenfarmescape because life's too short to worry about a bit of mud and drizzle!

Feeling relaxed ๐Ÿฅฐ
Did you see this cracking little transformation on Did you see this cracking little transformation on @sellinghousesaus last night?

We have all the finer details on the blog today via link in bio. Particularly love the kitchen refresh using the existing blue cupboards which really weren't doing anything for me before ๐Ÿ˜‚

#sellinghouses #sellinghousesaustralia #beforeandafterkitchen #beforeandafterrenovation #beforeandafterlivingroom #renoshow #realreno #interiorsblog #interiorsaccount #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #bluekitchen #budgetkitchenmakeover #budgetdiy #budgetmakeover
How's this for a compact back yard TRANSFORMATION? How's this for a compact back yard TRANSFORMATION?!

Our friends at @mintdesignau have done it again!

Homeowner Briony Marsh says: Itโ€™s totally changed our home lifestyle now we can sit outside on the lounge in the sun or shade, be in the pool, spa, sauna or cooking pizzas and hanging out with friends. It sounds cliched but it really feels like we are on holiday at home!โ€

Head over to the blog to see the finer details, including a sauna and a seriously good looking copper pizza oven. There's a lot packed into this space!

#backyards #smallpools #smallpool #homesauna #pizzaovens #outdoorpizzaoven #landscapedesigner #mintdesign #holidayathome #resortstylehomes #landscapeartist #backyard #exteriorinspiration #exteriormakeover #exteriordesigns #pergoladesign #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Swipe for before & afters of today's real reno. L Swipe for before & afters of today's real reno.

Located inside a 1912 sandstone villa in Adelaideโ€™s Kensington, this bathroom makeover combines classic and contemporary elements that complement the homeโ€™s original, period features. 

Designed by the homeโ€™s owner @designby_Tahirih, who is a property stylist too, the renovation came sooner than expected after water ingress made the makeover of their only bathroom an urgent necessity!

The whole project cost an impressive $20k, project managed herself.

Read all about it via link in bio now.

#realrenovations #realhomes #realreno #heartyourhome #renoaddict #freestandingbath #classicbathroom #classiccontemporary #classiccontemporaryinteriors #theinteriorsaddict  #interiorsaddict #jenbishop #homestaging #laundrymakeover #bathroomrenovations #bathroomremodels
Maybe it's an antidote to the grey weather but we Maybe it's an antidote to the grey weather but we find some of the most colourful interiors from my motherland, the UK!

This beautiful lilac kitchen is found in a renovated apartment by @llidesign in a grand mansion block in London's Bloomsbury. You can tour the rest of it on the blog now, via link in bio.

#londonapartment #bloomsbury
#bloomsburylondon #luxuryapartment #westendlondon #lilackitchen #colourfulkitchen #londonhome #londonhomes #londoninteriordesigner #londoninteriors #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsdaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #kitchenshelf #kitchenshelves #kitchenshelfie #openshelves #openshelvingkitchen
I remember the chair being such a key purchase whe I remember the chair being such a key purchase when I put together my first ever baby room for Seb. I spent many an evening relaxing on mine while pregnant as I tried to get my head around impending motherhood! Not only are glider recliners like the Chelsea fromย @iltuttoย the most comfortable chairs EVER for those many hours spent feeding and settling, why shouldn't they look this good too, am I right?!

Did you love your nursery chair? Did it look this good?!

See more on the Il Tutto Chelsea Glider Recliner Chair via link in bio now.

#feedingchair #nurserychair #nursingchair #reclinerchair #nurseryroomdecor #nursery #nurserygoals #nurserydesign #babyroomdecoration #babyrooms #babyroominspo #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #iltutto #newmumlife
Follow on Instagram
Visit Jen's profile on Pinterest.

Get Your Free Ebook

Ebook cover

Never miss the latest renovating and interiors products, news and inspo again! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll send you the best bits from the blog, direct to your inbox. Plus you'll get our latest eBook: What Made The Biggest Impact in Jen's Own Reno.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Amy Collins-Walker

About Amy Collins-Walker

Amy is our regular feature writer, an experienced journalist and interior stylist living in Perth, Western Australia. Find out more about her styling work at http://www.amycollinswalker.com/

More from Outdoor & Exteriors

AFTER

Lush, resort-style backyard reno provides holiday at home

2023 outdoor trends: Mediterranean is the new Hamptons

How to choose your outdoor paving pattern: 5 options

Mint Design

Outdoor kitchens: The latest home improvement craze

Outer team up with Queer Eye’s Bobby Berk on outdoor dining sets

Jason Hodges’ expert guide to a Hamptons style outdoor area

How to turn your cramped backyard into a hidden gem

Be cool around the pool with Italian style this summer

The Block 2022 amazing landscaping reveals!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Footer

Interiors Addict

Interiors Addict

  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Jen
  • Press
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy

Browse

  • RENO ADDICT
  • Jen’s Reno
  • House Tours
  • Real Renos
  • Interviews
  • Styling
  • Designers
  • Bedrooms
  • Covet My Coffee Table
  • Expert Tips
  • The Block
  • Art
  • Furniture
  • Recipes

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RENO ADDICT

Copyright © 2011–2023 Addicted Media Pty Ltd
Website care by ClickWP ยท Log in

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!