Key Takeaways
Adding furniture to be in the water itself can add a whole new dynamic to you pool and give it a point of difference to any set up your friends or neighbors may have. A key requisite usually needed is a pool ledge and this allows a flat shallow area where the furniture can be put.
The most common in-pool furniture options are:
- Loungers
- Chairs
- Stools
- Tables
- Pillows
- Umbrellas
In-pool furniture sits in your pool just like standard furniture does in your home. And it can provide you with that same level of comfort while you’re enjoying those hot summer days in your pool. The furniture is generally compatible with any pool design. Though your options will be dramatically increased if you have a tanning ledge in your pool. The additional shallow area provided by a ledge is a perfect match for furniture. But by considering a few options and criteria you can perfectly match your needs with the available options.
In Pool Furniture Benefits
One of the more important things to keep in mind when choosing pool furniture is that there’s really no ‘one size fits all’ solution. There are a lot of options out there. And each one provides a different set of benefits and detriments. Finding your perfect pool furniture means considering each of the following elements and deciding which is a good match for your own needs. But they all share one great benefit. In-pool furniture will let you relax in your pool in ways you’ve never dreamed of.
Materials
Think about how much of an impact material has on standard furniture. That same rule holds true as the context changes from the living room to the pool. You not only have to think about how comfortable a material might be. You also need to consider how the material will stand up to the sun, chlorine, wind, and other natural elements.
Metal
Metal wins points for sturdiness. But it has one big issue when used in the pool – rust. Most standard metal frames wouldn’t hold up very well if they were left in your pool. But thankfully there are a number of aluminum and stainless steel options which can hold their own against water, chlorine, and even salt.
Concrete
Concrete is a natural choice for pool furniture. After all, there’s a good chance that your pool is made out of it. That alone says a lot about how well-suited concrete is for long-term use in pool water. However, it does have the downside of being harder to move or adjust. And on top of that, it’s often less comfortable than some of the other options.
Plastic
Plastic is a popular choice for a number of reasons. One of the biggest is the simple fact that plastic holds up extremely well in pool water. But on top of that, it’s also comfortable to rest on. And the lighter weight of plastic makes it easy to move in-pool furniture around. The only real downside is that not all plastic holds up equally well in pool water. You might be disappointed in the results if you simply grab a plastic chair meant for indoor use and put it in your pool. Standard plastic is strong, but you’ll want to use plastic furniture specifically designed for pool use if you want to get the best experience.
Wood
Wood can hold up remarkably well under extreme conditions. But you’ve also undoubtedly seen wood rotting in areas where it’s exposed to moisture. What makes or breaks wooden furniture is the specific type you choose. Options like teak or cedar are naturally water-resistant.
Furniture Options
After considering materials, it’s time to move on to specific furniture options. You might be surprised by just how many choices there are for pool furniture. You can essentially mix and match options to create a pool environment that’s more than a match for the comfiest living room.
Loungers
Ledge loungers work quite well in a pool due to the fact that they’re so intrinsically linked to spreading out and relaxing. You’ll find a variety of lounger options that range from upright to reclined and even some adjustable models.
Chairs
Chairs are among the most popular options for in-pool furniture. And this popularity ensures that you have a wealth of choices available to you. You’ll find budget-priced smaller chairs that can fit onto even the narrowest tanning ledges. But if you want luxury then you can go for amazingly comfortable chairs designed to perfectly match your body’s contours.
Stools
Pool stools also come in a range of styles and sizes. This can include smaller stools that will fit perfectly under an umbrella. But you’ll also find dynamic stools with features like LEDs that can brighten up any pool party.
Tables
Tables are a fantastic way to let you and your guests store your gear before doing a lap or two. Not to mention that sitting around a table can be the perfect way to socialize. The popularity of in-pool tables has also led to a wide variety of design options. You can find everything from fairly small tables all the way to huge ones.
Pillows
No furniture set would be complete without some pillows. And you can find special waterproof pillows made especially for pools. These accessories are often tied directly onto pool furniture though they can also float freely.
Umbrellas
An in-pool umbrella will often come with a table and be appropriately sized for it. But you can also find a wide variety of umbrellas in different shapes and sizes. Some are even made to freely float around your pool so you can position them as needed.
Considerations
In addition to the furniture itself, you should also take a moment to consider how your specific pool environment would work with furniture. Every pool provides a unique combination of variables that you need to take into account. Thankfully, this can be narrowed down to a few main points to consider.
Type of pool – concrete, fiberglass, vinyl
Your type of pool is just as important as the type of material you’re choosing to go with for your furniture. The tough surfaces of concrete and fiberglass pools are generally fully compatible with pool furniture. While vinyl pools require a little extra care due to the fact that vinyl liners can be easily torn by sharp edges.
Type of water – chlorine, salt
The choice between saltwater or chlorine can create a vastly different experience for pool owners. Thankfully you don’t need to worry about it too much in the context of in-pool furniture. Saltwater can be slightly more corrosive to metal and wood than chlorinated water. But in-pool furniture is generally constructed to stand up to both.
Color
If you’ve put a lot of work into your backyard’s theme through landscaping choices then you might worry about pool furniture clashing with it. Don’t worry though, you have a wide variety of options for your furniture’s colors. But remember that color can fade over time. As such, you might want to go for a slightly darker shade than your ideal in order to ensure its overall longevity as the color fades.
Space
You should always consider your available pool space when shopping for in-pool furniture. This is especially important with small pools. You could easily lose some of your pool’s functionality by blocking off too much space with furniture. But even with larger pools, you’ll still need to consider the fact that furniture needs to stay low enough in your pool to avoid interfering with your pool cover.
Putting It All Together To Pick the Right Furniture
Now that you know about all of the factors that go into pool furniture there’s only one step remaining. It’s time to put it all together and decide which combination of type, material, and color is perfect for you.
