Cocktail Pools -- When The Pool Isn't Just For The Kids

Home & Garden Blog

If you want a backyard swimming pool but are limited by either budget or space, you may think you can't have what you really want. The truth is that you can still have a fun and relaxing pool by scaling down your expectations and considering instead a cocktail pool.

As its name suggests, a "cocktail" pool is a small inground pool that is designed to fit all your pool needs in a small space more suitable for enjoying cocktails -- up to one-tenth the size of a traditional pool. It mixes the ingredients you want in your pool -- entertainment, relaxation, design and functionality -- into a blend that's manageable in a small area (often around 12 feet by 14 feet) and on a small budget. 

Here are some of the advantages of choosing a small "cocktail" pool. 

• Save Money and Space. Because a small inground pool uses less water and chemicals, it's easier on your budget. It requires less maintenance and is easier and cheaper to cover, fence in and repair. 
• A Pool and Spa in One. Also known as a "spool" -- a combination of "pool" and "spa" -- this small pool can be built with a heating element that can be turned on in the winter. This way, you have a place for taking cool dips in the summer heat, as well as a spa for relaxation in the winter cold. And rather than pay for and maintain two separate units, you can have it all with a cocktail pool.
• Designed for Entertainment. Unlike spacious regular pools built for play, a compact cocktail pool is designed for entertaining and relaxing. It can be built with underground speakers, fiber optic lighting, fire pits and even attached underwater ledges along the side that are perfect for enjoying your favorite beverages.
• Afford Better Materials. Modern building materials for pools look great, but they can be prohibitively expensive for a traditionally-sized pool. But since you're building a smaller one, you can often afford to beef up the quality of your pool hardscaping. Instead of regular concrete, you may choose granite or glass tiles that look brilliant, or add water features or a small rock grotto to the edge of your new pool -- because you can now afford to go a little more extravagant on the same budget.

A cocktail pool (or spool, if you prefer) is a great compromise for those who may not have families to support a large pool any more, or those who just want to focus on enjoying some adult time in their pool. Talk with a qualified pool contractor such as Charlottesville Aquatics Pools Spas & Billiards to learn more.

4 November 2015