44 Natural Swimming Ponds And Pools

natural swimming ponds and pools cover

Spring is soon and there’s nothing more pleasant in spring and summer than sunbathing and swimming. If you don’t have a pool but are considering such an option and if you prefer staying closer to nature, skip a usual pool and think of having a swimming pond or a natural pool. A swimming pond is a water feature that will bring your garden to life with birds, insects and various water creatures and you may use it for swimming. Natural swimming pools and ponds look super harmonious and totally blend the landscape, which is achieved using greenery and water plants plus plants. Is it worth it or not? And how to design one? Let’s see.

Advantages

Swimming in a natural pond does not leave you with itchy red eyes, dry skin or wanting a shower, which is common after swimming in chlorinated water, so chlorine haters, this is your option. A natural swimming pond looks very cool in your landscape becoming an additional decor feature and it looks absolutely natural integrating into the landscape. A natural pond has excellent water quality, it creates a habitat for wildlife and flora and features reduced maintenance costs thanks to that.

a beautiful and all-natural swimming pond with rocks inside, a rock border and a wooden deck plus a ladder

a beautiful and all-natural swimming pond with rocks inside, a rock border and a wooden deck plus a ladder

a beautiful and natural swimming pond with water plants and a bit of wood to line up the pool, with a wooden deck

a beautiful and natural swimming pond with water plants and a bit of wood to line up the pool, with a wooden deck

a beautiful outdoor space with greenery, blooms and a manicured lawn, with a natural swimming pond and a wooden deck

a beautiful outdoor space with greenery, blooms and a manicured lawn, with a natural swimming pond and a wooden deck

a beautiful swimming pond with a brick border and a wooden deck, plants and blooms around is super chic

a beautiful swimming pond with a brick border and a wooden deck, plants and blooms around is super chic

a cool and large swimming pond with brick staps and a wooden deck with outdoor furniture, greenery and water plants

a cool and large swimming pond with brick staps and a wooden deck with outdoor furniture, greenery and water plants

a cool asymmetrical swimming pond with water plants and a wooden deck with some loungers and an umbrella

a cool asymmetrical swimming pond with water plants and a wooden deck with some loungers and an umbrella

a cool large swimming pond with rocks and water plants that allow self-cleaning easily, plus a wooden deck and a ladder

a cool large swimming pond with rocks and water plants that allow self-cleaning easily, plus a wooden deck and a ladder

a large asymmetrical swimming pond with a wooden deck all around it and lots of water plants is a super cozy and cool space

a large asymmetrical swimming pond with a wooden deck all around it and lots of water plants is a super cozy and cool space

a large natural pool with a stone path and a ladder plus water plants around it is a cool space to refresh yourself

a large natural pool with a stone path and a ladder plus water plants around it is a cool space to refresh yourself

a large natural swimming pool clad with stone and with a small cave looks very cohesive in the space and is all cool for dogs and humans

a large natural swimming pool clad with stone and with a small cave looks very cohesive in the space and is all cool for dogs and humans

a large swimming pond with rocks inside, cool water plants, a wooden deck and some plants around is a cool and welcoming water body

a large swimming pond with rocks inside, cool water plants, a wooden deck and some plants around is a cool and welcoming water body

a modern yet natural-looking swimming pond with steps and water plants is a cool and chic idea to rock

a modern yet natural-looking swimming pond with steps and water plants is a cool and chic idea to rock

a natural swimming pond clad with rocks, with a large wooden deck and wooden loungers over the pond is cool

a natural swimming pond clad with rocks, with a large wooden deck and wooden loungers over the pond is cool

Designs

A usual natural pool creates some space for swimming (50-70% of the surface) and some for filtration. There are lots of different configurations and looks, and minimum pool size recommendations range from 30 to 50 square meters, but there are also much smaller pools that function quite well. Water is pumped to shallow areas with abundant plant life and aggregate that act as natural filters, keeping water pure and clear.

The larger (and deeper) a pool is, the less likely it is to develop an algae problem. A deeper pool will mean a cooler water temperature, which means a slower start to your swimming season, but perhaps a more refreshing dip in the full heat of the summer. Somewhere between one and two meters will protect living organisms during winter. The sun promotes algae growth and photosynthesis, so really, the less exposure to sun the better. Having a natural swimming pond in your yard can actually work to reduce the population of stinging insects, by attracting dragonflies and other natural predators of fully developed mosquitoes.

a natural swimming pond with rocks around and a wooden deck over it is a cool space to swim in and relax

a natural swimming pond with rocks around and a wooden deck over it is a cool space to swim in and relax

a natural swimming pool clad with stone around, with a wooden deck over it and nothing else looks as if it was always there

a natural swimming pool clad with stone around, with a wooden deck over it and nothing else looks as if it was always there

a natural swimming pool with greenery and water plants, a wooden deck with a ladder and some blooms is cool

a natural swimming pool with greenery and water plants, a wooden deck with a ladder and some blooms is cool

a natural-looking swimming pond with rocks around and a wooden deck is a cool solution if you love natural landscaping

a natural-looking swimming pond with rocks around and a wooden deck is a cool solution if you love natural landscaping

a pretty small swimming pond with a wooden border, rocks and water plants, a small deck with loungers and greenery around

a pretty small swimming pond with a wooden border, rocks and water plants, a small deck with loungers and greenery around

a pretty small swimming pond with water plants, a large wooden deck with loungers, chairs and a table and blooms and greenery around

a pretty small swimming pond with water plants, a large wooden deck with loungers, chairs and a table and blooms and greenery around

a pretty swimming pond with natural borders and a small deck plus a ladder is ideal for a garden

a pretty swimming pond with natural borders and a small deck plus a ladder is ideal for a garden

a wooden and stone deck with a small and cool natural swimming pond, just like a plunge pool and greenery

a wooden and stone deck with a small and cool natural swimming pond, just like a plunge pool and greenery

a contemporary natural swimming pond with pebbles, rocks and water plants looks very soothing and relaxing, can be used for swimming or just lookign at it

a contemporary natural swimming pond with pebbles, rocks and water plants looks very soothing and relaxing, can be used for swimming or just lookign at it

a gorgeous natural swimming pool with greenery around and a cool swing to jump in is a dreamy location for any summer

a gorgeous natural swimming pool with greenery around and a cool swing to jump in is a dreamy location for any summer

a large natural pool with greenery around and a wooden deck looks absolutely harmonious in the landscape and invites in

a large natural pool with greenery around and a wooden deck looks absolutely harmonious in the landscape and invites in

a large natural pool with steps that looks like a real pond thanks to greenery and floating plants on its surface

a large natural pool with steps that looks like a real pond thanks to greenery and floating plants on its surface

a large natural swimming pond surrounded with greenery and other plants, with a wooden deck and a tiny plank bridge to jump inside

a large natural swimming pond surrounded with greenery and other plants, with a wooden deck and a tiny plank bridge to jump inside

Wildlife

Plants, some insects, amphibians and other aquatic life are part of the ecosystem of a natural swimming pond. You end up sharing your swim with all the life (stationary and mobile) who keep your pool clean and clear. Keep in mind – these little creatures will have no interest in you and are likely quicker swimmers than you, so relax and enjoy. Ge tinspired to make one in your backyard!

a natural pool done with stone and a small waterfall, with greenery and other plants around

a natural pool done with stone and a small waterfall, with greenery and other plants around

a natural pool surrounded with rocks, with a waterfall, looks like a small lagoon and is a real centerpiece of your outdoor space

a natural pool surrounded with rocks, with a waterfall, looks like a small lagoon and is a real centerpiece of your outdoor space

a natural swimming pond done with rocks and pebbles and with greenery around reminds of a real lake

a natural swimming pond done with rocks and pebbles and with greenery around reminds of a real lake

a natural swimming pond with a wooden ladder, rocks and greenery and water plants all around

a natural swimming pond with a wooden ladder, rocks and greenery and water plants all around

a natural swimming pond with gravel and rocks plus greenery and plants lining up the pool

a natural swimming pond with gravel and rocks plus greenery and plants lining up the pool

a natural swimming pool done with rocks and pebbles, with a small wooden deck and ladder

a natural swimming pool done with rocks and pebbles, with a small wooden deck and ladder

a natural swimming pool lined up with rocks and pebbles and with larger rocks inside

a natural swimming pool lined up with rocks and pebbles and with larger rocks inside

a natural swimming pool surrounded with a wooden deck on its whole length and greenery and blooms around plus water plants inside

a natural swimming pool surrounded with a wooden deck on its whole length and greenery and blooms around plus water plants inside

a natural swimming pool with grasses and greenery growing by its side and a wooden deck for comfortable relaxation

a natural swimming pool with grasses and greenery growing by its side and a wooden deck for comfortable relaxation

a natural swimming pool with grasses, water lilies and a wooden deck by its side is a dreamy space to stay in

a natural swimming pool with grasses, water lilies and a wooden deck by its side is a dreamy space to stay in

a natural swimming pool with rocks and greenery on its sides and moss resembles a natural lake

a natural swimming pool with rocks and greenery on its sides and moss resembles a natural lake

a small natural pool surrounded with oversized rocks, tropical plants and loungers on its side

a small natural pool surrounded with oversized rocks, tropical plants and loungers on its side

a small natural swimming pool with steps, a small deck and some plants surrounding the water feature

a small natural swimming pool with steps, a small deck and some plants surrounding the water feature

a swimming pond with a rock path and a ladder, surrounded with grasses looks super cool

a swimming pond with a rock path and a ladder, surrounded with grasses looks super cool

a swimming pond with rocks, various plants and a terrace by its side plus umbrellas is a cool idea and invites to relax here

a swimming pond with rocks, various plants and a terrace by its side plus umbrellas is a cool idea and invites to relax here

a swimming pond with water plants and a simple wooden deck is a great idea

a swimming pond with water plants and a simple wooden deck is a great idea

a swimming pond with a wooden deck and contemporary furniture, grasses and greenery on the sides of the pond for a natural feel

a swimming pond with a wooden deck and contemporary furniture, grasses and greenery on the sides of the pond for a natural feel

an oversized natural swimming pool with lots of plants and greenery and some rocks inside it that create totally a natural feel

an oversized natural swimming pool with lots of plants and greenery and some rocks inside it that create totally a natural feel