From Concept to Reality: Designing Your Compact Plunge Pool

“Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury.” Coco Chanel
Now imagine that comfort in the form of a crystal-clear, expertly designed plunge pool right in your urban backyard.

More and more homeowners are ditching the oversized, over-the-top pools in favor of something smarter, sleeker, and infinitely more manageable. Enter the compact plunge pool: the perfect solution for space-saving elegance, urban functionality, and year-round enjoyment.

At Blue Lizard, we’ve helped hundreds of homeowners in St. Tammany Parish and Greater New Orleans turn the tiniest of yards into envy-worthy private oases. Here’s how you can do the same.

1. Start With Purpose, Not Just A Picture

Before diving into Pinterest or dreaming of floating cocktails, take a moment to consider how you’ll use your plunge pool.

Is it for relaxation after work? Low-impact fitness? Family playtime?

Action Step:
List your top three goals. For example:

• I want a quiet, cool spot to unwind.
• I need a stylish water feature that complements my landscaping.
• I’d love something that adds resale value without blowing the budget.

Once you have clarity, we can match design to function, not the other way around.

2. Design for Density: Urban Backyards, Meet Smart Engineering

Space is not the enemy. Poor design is. With the right layout, even a 10×12 ft. area can house a stunning, fully functional plunge pool.

We recently worked with a client in downtown Covington with just 144 square feet of backyard. Today? Their space features a compact pool with a built-in bench, LED lighting, and a spillover water feature all framed by low-maintenance landscaping and polished concrete from our Custom Concrete team.

Pro Tip:
Think multi-functional zones. Add submerged seating, a heating element, or even a resistance system for fitness without needing lap-pool length.

3. Compact Pool Designs: Style Without Sacrifice

Don’t mistake small for boring.

Materials matter. Finishes matter. Functionality matters.

Blue Lizard offers custom touches like:

• Sleek concrete walls for modern minimalism
• Integrated planters for a seamless indoor-outdoor vibe
• UV and saltwater systems for low-maintenance health benefits

Real-World Example:
A homeowner in Mandeville chose a charcoal pebble interior with a Baja ledge. It turned their small yard into a luxurious, spa-like retreat perfect for sunrise meditation and wine with friends.

4. From Paper to Plunge: The Build Process Demystified

The design is just the beginning. At Blue Lizard, we don’t hand you a blueprint and wish you luck. We guide you every step of the way, from concept to completion.

Our Proven 4-Step Process:

1. Planning Stage – We define goals, site challenges, and your design vision.
2. Design Process – Our experts create a tailored plan, including landscaping and concrete work if desired.
3. Execution Phase – Our team builds it with precision, from excavation to equipment upgrades.
4. Project Walkthrough – Final polish, personal tour, and champagne if you’re into that (we are).

We don’t just build pools, we craft outdoor lifestyles. All licensed, insured, and delivered with over 20 years of proven expertise.

Final Thoughts: Why Go Small?

Let’s face it, larger isn’t always better. Especially when small can be smarter, more beautiful, and perfectly customized to your lifestyle.

Whether you live in a historic New Orleans shotgun house or a modern home in Abita Springs, your dream plunge pool is absolutely within reach.And with Blue Lizard’s all-in-one services landscaping, custom concrete, pool upgrades you get more than a pool. You get a private sanctuary designed just for you.