Creating the ultimate outdoor entertaining area around your pool
Your pool is the centrepiece of your backyard, but a truly spectacular outdoor entertaining space is so much more than water and tiles. With the right design, your pool area becomes an extension of your home: a place where summer afternoons stretch into golden evenings, and guests never want to leave.
At ACT Pools, we've been helping Canberra homeowners design and build stunning pool environments for years. In this guide, we share everything you need to know to plan, design, and execute the ultimate outdoor entertaining area around your pool, tailored specifically to the ACT's unique climate and lifestyle.
Why thoughtful design makes all the difference
A pool on its own creates a focal point. But without intentional design around it, that focal point can feel incomplete, a sparkling rectangle surrounded by bare lawn and a single plastic chair. The best outdoor entertaining areas are planned holistically, where every zone serves a purpose and flows naturally into the next.
The most sought-after outdoor spaces in Canberra share a few key characteristics: they offer shelter from the wind (critical in the ACT), they balance sun and shade throughout the day, they provide comfortable seating for groups, and they feel cohesive with the home's architecture and interior style.
"The pool should be the heart of the space, not just a feature you look at, but an experience you step into. Great design makes the journey from the house to the water feel effortless and inviting."
Whether you're starting from scratch with a new pool build or refreshing an existing backyard, the following zones, materials, and design strategies will help you create something genuinely extraordinary.
Planning your entertaining zones
The most effective outdoor entertaining areas are divided into distinct functional zones that work together. Think of your backyard as an open-plan living room, each "room" has a role, but the flow between them is seamless.
Dining & Alfresco: A dedicated dining area close to the house makes hosting effortless. Ensure space for a full table setting with room to move around chairs comfortably.
Lounging & Relaxation: Poolside sun loungers and a shaded daybed area create spots for both sunbathing and retreating from the heat, both essential for Canberra summers.
Outdoor Kitchen & BBQ: An outdoor kitchen with a quality BBQ, bench space, and a bar fridge transforms your entertaining area into a genuine all-weather hub for hosting.
Kids' Zone: A shallow splash area, pool steps, or an adjacent lawn space keeps younger guests engaged and safe, while giving parents peace of mind.
When planning these zones, consider the sun's path across your property throughout the day. In the ACT, the optimal pool orientation is typically north to north-east, capturing morning and midday sun while the alfresco area remains comfortable in the late afternoon.
Choosing the right pool surrounds & paving
Pool paving is one of the highest-impact decisions you'll make for your outdoor area. It sets the tone for the entire space visually, and it affects safety, comfort, and maintenance for decades.
Popular paving options for ACT pools include:
Natural limestone and travertine — timeless and cool underfoot
Porcelain pavers — low maintenance, wide colour range
Brushed concrete — durable and cost-effective
Timber and composite decking — warm aesthetic, great for pool edges
Natural stone (sandstone, bluestone) — beautiful and distinctive
Textured non-slip tiles — ideal for splash zones and steps
ACT Climate Tip: Canberra's temperature extremes (hot summers and frosty winters) mean you need paving materials that handle thermal expansion and contraction well. Avoid very dark paving colours in full sun zones, as surface temperatures can exceed 60°C and become uncomfortable for bare feet. Light-toned natural stones or porcelain pavers are ideal for poolside areas.
Ensure all pool surrounds are specified with a slip-resistant finish. This is not only a safety requirement in Australia but also provides critical peace of mind when hosting children and guests of all ages.
Shade structures: Essential for the ACT Climate
If there's one element that separates a great outdoor entertaining area from a truly exceptional one in Canberra, it's shade. The ACT summer sun is intense, and without adequate shade, your beautiful outdoor space will sit empty during the hottest part of the day.
The most effective shade structures for pool areas combine form and function. Options range from architectural pergolas that extend the home's roofline, to freestanding shade sails that add drama and geometry to the space.
Shade solutions that work:
Insulated patio roofing — retains warmth in shoulder seasons
Shade sails — cost-effective, dramatic aesthetic
Louvred pergolas — adjustable light control
Timber or steel pergolas with climbing plants
Retractable awnings — flexible for variable weather
Cabanas and poolside pavilions — luxurious focal point
When positioning shade structures, work with the sun angle in mind. A north-facing pergola with the right overhang depth can block summer sun completely while allowing winter sun to penetrate, maximising comfort year-round.
The outdoor kitchen: Upgrade your entertaining game
Nothing elevates a pool party faster than a fully equipped outdoor kitchen. It keeps the host engaged with guests rather than retreating inside, and it anchors the entertaining zone with a sense of permanence and quality.
A well-planned outdoor kitchen for an ACT pool area typically includes a built-in BBQ or wood-fired pizza oven, a bar fridge, a stainless-steel benchtop with integrated sink, and overhead cabinetry or open shelving. Stone or porcelain benchtops handle outdoor conditions well and look sophisticated.
Design Tip: Position your outdoor kitchen so the cook faces the pool and entertaining area, not a wall or fence. This keeps the host as part of the conversation and creates a natural social hub around the BBQ. Ensure gas or electrical connections are planned during construction, not as an afterthought.
Consider adding a bar area with bar stools adjacent to the kitchen. A dedicated bar zone gives guests a place to gather, reduces foot traffic into the indoor kitchen, and creates that holiday resort atmosphere that makes your backyard feel genuinely special.
Pool & outdoor lighting: Ambience after dark
The right lighting transforms a daytime pool area into an enchanting evening environment. In Canberra, where warm summer nights extend well into March, outdoor lighting isn't a luxury, it's what enables you to use your entertaining area for the best hours of the day.
A layered lighting approach works best. Start with functional task lighting over the kitchen and dining areas, then layer in ambient lighting along pathways, garden beds, and fence lines. Finally, add feature lighting to highlight architectural elements, water features, and the pool itself.
Lighting options to consider:
LED pool lights — colour-changing options create dramatic effects
String lights above dining areas — instant warmth and romance
Recessed LED strips under pool coping
Garden uplights for trees and feature planting
Step and path lighting for safety and atmosphere
Smart lighting systems with app control
Landscaping & planting around your pool
Planting transforms a hardscaped pool area from something that looks built into something that looks lived-in and natural. The right plants add privacy screening, soften hard edges, provide fragrance, and create the sense of a resort-style retreat.
Plant selection for ACT pool areas requires careful thought. You want species that tolerate Canberra's cold winters and hot summers, don't drop excessive leaf litter into the pool, aren't toxic when wet, and suit the aesthetic you're aiming for.
Pool-friendly plants for Canberra:
Ornamental grasses — drought tolerant, no messy leaf drop
Agapanthus — hardy, low maintenance, great for screening
Bamboo in planters — privacy without root issues
Dwarf Lomandra varieties — low litter, tough
Rosemary and lavender — fragrant and drought-hardy
Frangipani — best grown in pots for ACT winters
Create privacy screening on the pool's eastern and western boundaries to block afternoon wind, a key consideration in the ACT. A combination of structured planting and feature fencing provides year-round privacy without blocking light.
Water features & pool aesthetics
A swimming pool is already a water feature, but adding secondary water elements takes the sensory experience of your outdoor space to the next level. The sound of moving water is inherently relaxing, and water features add visual depth and a sense of luxury.
Popular additions to ACT pool builds include infinity or overflow blade edges, wall-mounted water blades and jets, an integrated spa with a cascade or waterfall into the pool and raised pond or reflection pool features in the garden. Each of these can be incorporated into a new build or, with some design ingenuity, retrofitted to an existing pool.
"The sound of water flowing does something to a space that no other design element can replicate. It creates calm, masks background noise, and signals to guests that they've arrived somewhere special."
Heating & year-round enjoyment
One of the most common regrets pool owners in Canberra have is not investing in pool heating from the start. The ACT's climate means an unheated pool is comfortable for swimming for only three to four months of the year. With heating, that window extends to eight months or more, dramatically increasing your return on investment.
Heat pump technology is the preferred solution for most ACT pools, offering a balance of cost-effectiveness and performance even in cooler ambient temperatures. Solar heating is an excellent supplement for spring and autumn but lacks the capacity for winter use. Gas heating offers rapid heat-up times, making it ideal for spa heating or boosting on cool evenings.
For the entertaining area itself, outdoor heating extends usability into autumn and the shoulder seasons. Options include ceiling-mounted radiant heaters under your pergola, freestanding gas heaters for flexible positioning, and a fire pit or fireplace as a social centrepiece.
Ready to design your dream pool space?
Talk to the ACT Pools team about your outdoor entertaining vision. We offer free design consultations for new builds and renovations across Canberra and the ACT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need council approval for a poolside pergola or outdoor kitchen in the ACT?
Most pergolas and shade structures under 25m² are exempt from development approval in the ACT, but there are conditions around height, setbacks, and heritage overlays. An outdoor kitchen with a gas connection will require a licensed plumber. ACT Pools can assist in navigating approval requirements as part of your project planning.
What pool fencing style best suits an outdoor entertaining area?
Frameless glass pool fencing is the most popular choice for entertaining areas because it preserves sightlines to the pool while meeting Australian safety standards (AS 1926). It creates a seamless, resort-style look and doesn't interrupt conversation or views. Semi-frameless glass and powder-coated aluminium are cost-effective alternatives that still look sophisticated.
Can ACT Pools help with the full outdoor design, not just the pool?
Absolutely. ACT Pools works with trusted local landscape designers, pergola builders, and outdoor kitchen specialists to offer an end-to-end design and build service. We believe the pool and the space around it should be designed together, and we coordinate the entire project so you have one point of contact from concept to completion.
