The “Staycation” Blueprint – Designing a Resort-Style Pool at Home

The “Staycation” Blueprint – Designing a Resort-Style Pool at Home

San Diego has a way of making outdoor living feel effortless. With our year-round climate and coastal lifestyle, it is no surprise that many homeowners begin to imagine a pool not just as an addition, but as a place to slow down, recharge, and enjoy everyday life at home.

My name is Josh Lawson, and I am the President of San Diego Pools. I began my career here in 1996, starting in pool service before moving into project management, design, and eventually leadership. Today, I lead our Commercial Division and remain closely involved in the design of both residential and commercial pools throughout California. Working hands-on through every phase of this industry has shaped how I think about pool design, especially when it comes to creating environments that feel timeless, immersive, and built to last.

Over the years, I have learned that the most memorable pools are not defined by their size or by the number of features they include. They are defined by how they make people feel. That belief sits at the heart of what many homeowners are seeking today: a private retreat that delivers the same sense of escape and ease found at the world’s best resorts, without ever leaving home.

Designing a true staycation experience is not about recreating a hotel pool feature by feature. It is about understanding why those spaces work so well and translating that feeling into a residential setting that fits the home, the environment, and the way a family lives.

What Makes a Pool Feel Like a Resort

When someone tells me they want a resort-style pool, the first thing I do is slow the conversation down. A resort pool is not a single open body of water. It is a carefully layered experience.

The most successful resort pools are designed with intention. They include areas for gathering, areas for quiet retreat, visual focal points, and transitions that guide movement through the space. These pools feel dynamic without being chaotic, and luxurious without feeling excessive.

From a design perspective, a true resort-style pool typically includes multiple zones instead of one uniform basin, a balance of open sunlight and shaded refuge, features that encourage people to linger and relax, and visual depth created through elevation, water movement, and layout.

This level of planning is especially important because building a pool is a major investment, both financially and emotionally. Many homeowners come to us excited, but also unsure about the process. Clear communication, realistic expectations, and guidance matter just as much as the final design.

As one homeowner shared after completing their project:

“San Diego Pools was amazing to work with. Obviously, deciding to build a pool is a big decision and naturally complicated. Josh and Cory guided us with the design and build process, gave us realistic timelines and price ranges, and gave us the backyard retreat of our dreams. The team has been so supportive since the build, educating us on how to keep our pool looking and running great for years to come. Would 100% do it all over again with these guys.”
– Sara Stein

That experience is exactly what we aim for on every project.

Here is how we built a dream resort style swimming pool for one of our clients in San Diego:  

The Swim-Up Bar: Where the Pool Comes Alive

In both commercial resorts and residential settings, the swim-up bar naturally becomes the social center of the pool. It is where conversations happen, where guests gather, and where people tend to stay far longer than planned.

From a design standpoint, a successful swim-up bar requires far more than adding stools in the water. Placement is critical. The bar must feel connected to the overall outdoor living space without disrupting swim paths or overpowering the pool layout.

Comfort is equally important. Proper seat height, water depth, foot placement, and surface finishes determine whether the bar is truly usable. These details may seem subtle, but they have a major impact on how the space is experienced.

The dry side of the bar plays just as important a role. Thoughtful designs often include durable finishes, shaded structures, storage, and lighting so the bar functions beautifully during the day and remains inviting in the evening.

When designed correctly, the swim-up bar transforms the pool from a place to cool off into a place people naturally gravitate toward.

The Grotto: A Quiet Escape Within the Pool

If the swim-up bar is about connection, the grotto is about contrast. Grottos introduce intimacy into an open pool environment. They provide shade, privacy, and a sense of retreat that mirrors the natural stone formations found in luxury resorts.

People are instinctively drawn to spaces that feel protected. A well-designed grotto offers relief from direct sunlight while creating a calm, secluded atmosphere. The sound of water cascading over stone adds another layer of sensory experience, helping mask surrounding noise and deepen relaxation.

Designing a grotto requires careful planning and craftsmanship. Stone selection, scale, and water flow all matter. A poorly designed grotto can feel heavy or artificial, while a properly executed one feels organic and timeless.

We often incorporate bench seating within the grotto so it becomes a destination rather than simply a feature to pass by.

Pool Islands: Creating Depth and Visual Flow

Pool islands are one of the most effective ways to give a residential pool true resort character. In commercial resort design, islands are used to break up large bodies of water and introduce rhythm and movement. The same concept applies at home.

An island allows water to flow around it, instantly adding visual complexity. It also creates opportunities for features that would otherwise crowd the pool perimeter.

Depending on the design, pool islands may include partially submerged lounge seating, fire features surrounded by water, palm trees or sculptural landscaping, or transitional walkways and stepping areas.

When planned from the beginning, islands guide movement through the pool and create moments of pause and discovery that elevate the entire experience.

Designing One Unified Resort Experience

Resort-style pools succeed when all elements work together. A swim-up bar, a grotto, and a pool island should never compete for attention. They should complement one another and contribute to a cohesive environment.

Before finalizing any feature, we step back and define how the pool will be used. We look at daily living, entertaining, quiet moments, and how the pool will be viewed from inside the home. Sightlines matter. The pool should feel inviting whether you are inside the house or in the water.

Material consistency plays a major role in creating harmony. Stone, tile, coping, and decking should feel related, not random. This is what allows even complex designs to feel calm and intentional.

That same attention to detail carries through the entire process. One client described it perfectly:

“If you’re looking for a pool builder, save yourself the headache of looking around and just go with San Diego Pools. I spoke with six different companies and SO glad I chose San Diego Pools. I could not be happier with my experience. Literally every individual I interacted with in their office, from the office manager, to the design and sales team, technicians, and builders, was wonderful.”
– Andrea O.

Completing the Staycation Environment

A resort-style pool does not end at the water’s edge. The surrounding environment completes the experience.

Shaded structures such as pergolas or cabanas, fire features near seating areas, layered landscaping for privacy, thoughtful lighting for evening ambiance, and water features that add sound and movement all play an important role. Together, they turn a backyard into a place people want to enjoy throughout the day and well into the night.

Building for Longevity and Performance

Having started my career in pool service, I place a strong emphasis on durability. Resort-style pools are complex systems that require proper structural engineering, well-planned hydraulics, and high-quality materials.

The most experienced San Diego pool builders understand that long-term performance matters just as much as appearance. When pools are designed and built correctly, they continue to perform beautifully for decades, even with advanced features like grottos, islands, and swim-up bars.

Thinking about building a Swimming Pool?

A true staycation pool is not about excess. It is about intention.

When swim-up bars encourage connection, grottos offer quiet retreat, and pool islands create depth and balance, the result is an environment that feels complete. The pool becomes more than a feature. It becomes a destination.

At San Diego Pools, we have been designing and building pools long enough to know that the best designs are the ones people never want to leave. That mindset continues to define us as trusted San Diego Pools contractors for both residential and commercial resort-style projects.

If you are considering a resort-style pool for your home and want guidance rooted in decades of hands-on experience, we invite you to start a conversation with our team and explore what your own staycation could become. Call us today. We are here to help you realize your dream swimming pool.