Imagine a warm, sunny day. You and your family and friends have gathered around the pool, and it’s a full sensory experience. The trickling of water, the tinkling of clinking glasses, the redolent scents of herbs in full bloom, teasing your taste buds with the promise of delicious things yet to come …
After the winter so many of us have endured, it’s a scene we can all look forward to with enthusiasm.
The pool is more than just a place to swim. It’s the social heart of your home in warm weather. If you’re afraid your pool isn’t quite up to snuff, don’t worry – there’s still time! Intentional design, planned in early spring, is what transforms a beautiful pool area into a truly exceptional place to entertain.
We spoke with two experts, interior/exterior designer Zoe Grant of DBD Lifestyles and East Hampton landscape designer Edwina von Gal to get their best advice on how to intentionally design your poolside area for peak summer entertaining experiences.
Think Like a Designer: The Pool As an Island
Grant says that she and her partner Madeleine Biache like to approach a
new poolside project by thinking of the pool as a large island. Good design is then about crafting a natural traffic flow around that island.
Approaching poolside design this way also helps maintain crucial sightlines. Strive to maintain visibility to the water from every zone, so the pool remains the visual anchor no matter where guests are gathered
Practical takeaway: Before you buy or place a single piece of furniture, map out the flow so everything supports your design vision and helps to maintain the zones.
Zoning for Life (Not Just the 4th of July)
Grant also says that the most common mistake she sees homeowners making is one of focus – that is, designing for the biggest party you’ll ever throw, rather than for everyday use and smaller-scale entertaining. The solution is to create zones that reflect how your family lives in the summer, whether grilling, eating, lounging, or swimming.
Prioritize flexibility over excess. Extendable tables, pull-out chairs, and modular seating serve both the intimate Tuesday dinner as well as the big summer blowout. In Hamptons-style settings with expansive views, cluster seating around anchoring elements such as a fire pit or an outdoor TV to create cozy conversation areas without blocking the landscape. Toss in plush pillows, outdoor poufs, and ottomans to layer in warmth and casual comfort.
Design note: Consider adopting the DBD ethos of “whimsical luxury” so that the space feels inviting and lived-in, not like a showroom.
The Living Landscape: Ecology as Ambiance
There’s more to a beautiful poolside than aesthetics, as Edwina von Gal can attest. In von Gal’s view, a truly beautiful, healthy landscape doesn’t require chemicals. Instead, it requires intention.
She also recommends using trees as design elements, not mere afterthoughts, and says, “[Trees] shade hot hardscape and provide habitat for birds and butterflies. Choose and plant carefully to ensure the shade falls where you need and the leaves or seedpods maybe not. And think about how much less work it is to occasionally sweep under a tree as opposed to buying and messing with lifeless umbrellas.”
Additionally, von Gal points out that hot stone terraces are a natural tick deterrent, providing a practical, chemical-free approach that Hamptons homeowners will appreciate.
Finally, don’t neglect the wellness dimension that a well designed poolside can serve. Birdsong in the morning, fireflies in an early evening, fresh air all day long — von Gal notes these are proven health benefits of an ecological landscape, adding a sensory richness that elevates any gathering.
The Spring Prep: Plan Now, Entertain All Summer Long
It might not be time to plant just yet, but late winter and early spring is prime planning season.
The decisions you make now will pay off by Memorial Day with a visually stunning poolside that teases every sense.
As your guiding design principle, consider the DBD design approach. Grant says, “We love to plan what we call a cocktail garden – herbs, edible flowers, and citrus trees in pots so it’s easy to pop over and have fresh accouterments for cocktails and grilling. There’s nothing better than having your own lavender or mint fresh out of the garden.”
Edwina von Gal also believes that spring is the ideal moment for ecological upgrades. She says, “Instead of buying mulch, fill the spaces with ground cover plants. They will do a much better job suppressing weeds, creating a healthy root zone, and providing beauty.“
In addition to giving you more control and freedom in designing your poolside area, planning ahead reduces stress and creates genuine anticipation. You’ll be eagerly looking forward to receiving your first guests of the season as soon as the pool opens.
Materials That Work As Hard As You Play
According to Grant, the biggest furniture mistake a homeowner can make poolside? Ignoring weather and maintenance realities. Grant recommends homeowners select low-maintenance finishes and materials, so that hosts can focus on their guests, not their furniture.
To that end, Grant and Biache are fond of using polywood, a durable substance made out of recycled high-density polyethylene, or HDPE. It’s their go-to recommendation from the Hamptons to Palm Beach to the Bahamas, offering zero maintenance while capable of withstanding anything. Another great materials choice: Crypton fabrics. For durability and ease of use in cushions and upholstery, without sacrificing style, they’re hard to beat.
What to Leave Out – and Why It Matters
Finally, we asked our experts what smart homeowners should leave out of the poolside area for maximum entertaining performance this year.
The design pros advocate exercising discernment and refraining from maximalizing. Grant says, “You may not need regular dining seating for 20 if you’re a small family but have extra chairs to pull out and an extendable table. It’s easy to get caught up in the summer fun and think that you need a separate area for every possible activity but will you really use a dedicated volleyball space?” Consider it your exterior design edit.
Edwina von Gal suggests leaving out one key substance for the healthiest poolside landscape. She says, “This is super simple to answer – no chemicals – but many people find it hard to do as their landscapes are designed to depend on them.”
Instead of using chemicals, von Gal says you can have beautiful, healthy and ecologically friendly landscapes with a few simple strategies. “[Use] lots of native plants – they were doing just fine before chemicals were invented – and water wisely – seldom and deep to encourage strong roots and discourage fungus diseases and ticks.” (For more tips, visit von Gal’s Perfect Earth Project at perfectearthproject.org.
The shared philosophy: restraint, intention, and designing for your actual life produces spaces that feel generous rather than cluttered. A well-edited pool area is more inviting and more functional than an overstuffed one.
Make the Right Kind of Splash This Summer
Your pool should represent summer at its best, spent poolside with the people you love. By melding an intentionally designed space with an awareness of your living landscape, you can create an environment that is beautiful, functional, ecological, and genuinely hospitable all season long.
