Pool and Spa Decorating: Creating Functional Decor

If you have an above ground pool, you know how quickly the area around your pool can become cluttered with pool accessories, towels, and other stray items. Depending on how you use your pool and how many people are sharing the pool, keeping the area clean and debris free can be a challenge.

This article includes photos for inspiration and instructions on how to turn a brightly colored hammock into a functional décor item that collects the small items such as swim goggles and diving toys.

The corner of the pool are that you see above and to your left is an area that gets lots of use. It also tends to become clogged with clutter and can even be a trip, stumble, and fall hazard for swimmers.

This brightly colored hammock was not being used by the homeowner for relaxing, because they had nowhere to hang it.

Because its Mediterranean blue tones contrasted well with the pool-side furniture, we decided to see if we could put it to good use in the pool décor.

We took a page from the common organizing method for kids' rooms in which a colorful piece of netting or cloth is used for collecting and displaying kids toys and stuffed animals and applied that principal here.

After removing all of the items in this cluttered corner, the hammock was hung and used to store many of the small pool accessories and swim toys.

The hammock was hung by attaching it to the fence pickets With clothes line rope. The next series of photos will illustrate how to create the attachments and knots.

What you will need:

1 package of nylon clothes line rope.

A pair of scizzors

An area to lay out the hammock and rope so that you have room to work

1 hammock that is around six feet in length. A larger hammock can be used if you have the space, but a small hammock works great.

Step 1:

Cut around two feet of clothesline rope. The length of this will also depend on the size of the object you will attach the other end to. In this case, we attached the other end to the pickets on the fence, and as you can see, the pickets are about an inch thick by about 5 inches wide. If you are attaching your hammock to larger posts or objects you may need as much as three or 4 feet of clothesline rope for each end.

Step 2:

After cutting the length of line you need, double the line over by grasping each end of the line and holding them together so that the ends of the rope are even. Slide one hand up the doubled line until the line to the end of the doubled line. This will ensure that the folded line is centered at the half-way point in the length of line.

Next, slip the folded end of the line through the loop on the end of the hammock as shown in the photo at your right.

Step 3:

Tie each end of the hammock to the post or other object you will hang it from. Using a slip knot to attach the hammock makes it quick and easy to take down when you close your pool for the winter months. A slip knot will stay tightly secured as weight is added to the hammock, but all you will have to do is tug on the ends of the rope to release the knot.

To make this slip knot, all you need to do is twist the line to form a small loop, and then bring the ends back through that loop and pull it tight.

Flowers by the Pool

On first thought, this seems like a great idea. However, flowers planted close to the pool may create problems for swimmers and for keeping the pool clean. Flowers attract bees and the bees tend to like the smell of tanning lotions as well.

Bees that come to these smells create a hazard for swimmers and also land in the water and drown. In the long run, it creates more work for the pool owner.

To remedy this, but also have attractive landscaping, plant the flowers a few feet away from the pool. Three to five feet away is usually sufficient to reduce the number of bees that get caught in the pool as well as the risk of getting stung.

Silk Flowers

Using silk flowers purchased from a local second hand store, create bundles of color to sprinkle around your pool area. Make use of baskets and buckets for these arrangements.

Over the Door Hooks

Purchase Hooks and hangers that fit over a door. You can usually find these in the bath section at your local home improvement store, or other outlet. They are inexpensive and you can hang them over your fence to create an area to hang wet towels and bathing suits. Visiting pool users can hang their beach bags on the hooks as well.

Color Coordinate Your Flotation Noodles and Other Flotation Toys

As you can see in the photo above, brightly colored pool toys can add color and texture to your décor.

In Conclusion

There are many ways to add functional décor to your pool area. By doing this, you create a space where family and friends can gather and enjoy the summer months, get exercise and fresh air, and recharge.

Scouring second hand stores and flea markets is a good way to add inexpensive décor. Because the sun and other elements can cause damage to décor items, purchasing second hand décor items that can be recycled at the end of their useful life is a great way to go.

Creating functional pool side décor with the hammock, as shown above, or by coming up with other ideas can also become a family project. Involving the children helps them to learn the value of creating something with their own hands. In doing so, they also come to understand that having nice things means taking care of those things as well.

As they participate in this fun activity they may find hidden talents and become more confident kids.