Leaving the Ivory Tower : May 2018

The lazy days of summer are upon us, and I am so excited! It's my very favorite time of year, and a great reason to embark on a fun outdoor project.

One of summer's greatest pleasures is splashing around in the cool waters of a swimming pool. We can't put in an in-ground pool, so instead we chose to go the "above ground" route.

Unfortunately because of the nature of their design, above ground pools can be a bit of an eyesore!

Not a pretty sight!

However, I was determined to enjoy the fun of having a pool, without the "ugly" factor. So, with a small budget and a creative vision, I was able to transform an ordinary plastic pool into a welcoming tropical oasis.

Here's how I did it:

Start with a framed above ground pool. I did a lot of research and decided on this one:

The price on this pool was great, and the reviews were quite good overall. Plus the size was right. I wanted something deep enough that my kids could still swim underwater, but not too large for our yard. Set up was pretty easy and the whole family had fun putting it together.

Here are the additional supplies I ordered for the pool. I also carefully researched all of these products and have been happy with them.

Start by setting up your pool on level ground. I opted to put a tarp under ours. We simply folded the corners of the tarp underneath the pool during set up so that it wouldn't show.

First things first... Cover up that ugly plastic side of your pool!

To disguise the sides, I wrapped our pool in inexpensive willow fencing. This is the kind I used:

I ordered it in the 4ft height. Don't be scared off by the reviews of this! Yes, it is true that it is pretty flimsy and see through. But that is easily solved!

First of 3 layers

To compensate for the quality, I ordered enough rolls to go around the circumference of my pool 3 times. When you layer this fencing it looks great! It was also easy to secure using brown zip ties.

The fencing was a little taller than the edge of the pool, so I went around and trimmed off the top using a pair of garden sheers. But, any heavy duty scissors would work.

Next:

I decided to add some color and cheer with flower pots.
Because buying new glazed pots wasn't in my budget, I got creative. I gathered a group of large mismatched planters and decided to give them a colorful makeover.

Before

First, I covered them completely (inside and out) with a layer of primer. The primer will help block moisture and aid in protecting the pot's color from the elements.

During

This project took just under two cans of primer. I applied thick layers and let them dry for a couple of hours.

Then I chose a variety of colors in a cheerful palette. I mixed and matched different brands of spray paint and was sure to select paints formulated for outdoors.

Then it was time to paint the pots! Most of them took at least two coasts of paint. Then for good measure I covered each one with an additional protective clear coat. I was thrilled with how well they turned out!

After

Then it was time to add the fun stuff!

I LOVE flowers and plants, and I had a wonderful time selecting things to go in these pots. While shopping for plants I was careful to keep my color theme in mind.
I also wanted to add some plants that looked "tropical". Unfortunately were we live it can drop below freezing in the winter, so I can only use cold hardy plants. Luckily there are some tropical looking plants that can stand the cooler temperatures. Here are some ideas:

-Agapanthus
-Cannas
-Cold Hearty Banana Plants
-Cold Hearty Queen Palms

Don't forget to add a fun garden trinket or two! These worked perfectly for me:

For a soft landing and to help keep debris out of the pool, consider using a door mat on the ground at the entrance to your pool.

Add in a few more fun accessories and you'll be ready to swim! Here are a few more ideas:

Keep cute towels handy and dry with nearby hooks. I found both in my color scheme on Amazon.