Custom Pool Features & Design Options
The best pool features are not simply added one by one. They are incorporated into the overall design from the beginning — so water movement, elevations, materials, lighting, fire, and outdoor living elements work together as a single cohesive environment. Below is a selection of the features Pools of Dreams designs and builds.
Bubblers
Bubblers are small jets installed in a pool's shallow areas — typically a tanning ledge — that push gentle streams of water upward through the surface. They add movement and sound to otherwise still water, and can be paired with color-changing LED lighting for an elevated nighttime effect. Bubblers work especially well when designed alongside a tanning ledge as part of a unified shallow-water zone.
Scuppers & Sheer Descents
Scuppers are wall-mounted spouts or troughs that release a controlled flow of water into the pool below. Sheer descents produce a thin, glass-like sheet of water that arcs cleanly away from the wall — available in widths from six inches to several feet. Both features add architectural presence and the sound of moving water, and are most effective when integrated into a raised wall, spa surround, or water wall as part of the overall design.
Deck Jets
Deck jets are installed flush into the pool decking and shoot a narrow, laminar arc of water into the pool. By day they create a clean, precise water feature; by night, color-changing LED illumination transforms each jet into a glowing arc. Deck jets are particularly effective when positioned symmetrically along a raised wall or spa edge, where their arching streams become a defining visual element of the design.
Weeping Walls
A weeping wall is built from stacked moss rock boulders arranged along the pool's edge, with water seeping naturally between the stones and cascading into the pool below. The effect is organic and unhurried — more babbling brook than dramatic waterfall — and introduces a naturalistic texture that contrasts well with clean travertine or concrete decking. Weeping walls are a strong choice when the design calls for a resort feel without the formality of a sheer descent.
Tanning Ledge
A tanning ledge — sometimes called a baja shelf or sun shelf — is a wide, shallow platform built into the pool at a depth of around nine inches. It functions as an entry point, a place to set lounge chairs, and a space to relax in the water without swimming. Bubblers, umbrella sleeves, and in-water furniture can all be incorporated directly into the ledge. Sizing and placement are determined during the design phase to ensure the ledge reads as part of the pool's overall shape rather than an afterthought.
Spillover Spa
A spillover spa is raised above the pool and designed so water flows continuously over its edge and into the pool below. This creates a built-in water feature that is always in motion — the sound and movement of the spillover becoming part of the backyard environment. Finishes range from tiered travertine and stacked stone to iridescent glass tile, and the spa's elevation and position relative to the pool are planned during the design phase to maximize both visual impact and hydraulic performance.
360° Spillover Spa
A 360° spillover spa takes the standard spillover concept further: water flows evenly over all four sides simultaneously, creating a mirror-like surface that appears to float above the pool. The effect is striking from every angle and works best when the spa is positioned as a freestanding centerpiece within the design. It is one of the more architecturally demanding features to execute correctly, requiring precise hydraulic engineering and careful integration with the surrounding deck and pool shell.
In-Pool Table & Seating
An in-pool table and seating area is built directly into the pool's shallow zone — typically a submerged ledge or platform at seat height, with a table surface at water level. It creates a natural gathering point for entertaining without leaving the water. In-pool seating works best when designed as part of a dedicated shallow area rather than retrofitted into an existing pool shape.
Pool Grotto
A grotto is a natural rock structure built at the pool's edge, creating a shaded alcove with a bench seat beneath a canopy of stone and cascading water. It functions as a private retreat within the pool — a place to sit out of the sun while remaining in the water. Grottos create a strong focal point in the overall design and integrate naturally with weeping walls, waterfalls, and lush landscaping. They are best suited to freeform pool designs where the organic shape of the rock complements the pool's overall character.
Fire & Water Features
Fire bowls, fire ribbons, and fire-and-water combinations introduce a dramatic contrast that transforms a pool from a daytime amenity into an evening destination. When positioned on raised columns, spa walls, or integrated into a water feature structure, fire elements become architectural anchors for the entire backyard. The key to using fire effectively is restraint — one or two well-placed elements carry far more impact than a perimeter lined with bowls. Pools of Dreams designs fire features as part of the overall composition, not as standalone additions.
Designing the Right Combination
Exceptional custom pools are designed as complete environments, not collections of individual add-ons. Water features, fire elements, spas, tanning ledges, elevations, materials, lighting, and surrounding outdoor living spaces should complement one another — each decision informing the next. Pools of Dreams uses a detailed design process and 3D visualization to help homeowners see exactly how these elements work together before a single shovel breaks ground.
Design Your Custom Pool
Every backyard is different. Schedule a private design consultation and we'll discuss which features make sense for your property, your lifestyle, and the overall design vision.