Swimming Pool Tile Design Ideas

Featured Image: Geometro Belfort Coastal Glass Pool Tile from Arizona Tile

As the weather starts to warm up and the sun starts to shine longer and brighter, you may find yourself daydreaming of being pool side. If you have a pool at your home, maybe you’re thinking how you can enhance the pool you already have, or maybe you are envisioning the design of your dreams for a new swimming pool.

There are many styles, designs, and types of pools to create at your home. Regardless of what type of swimming pool tile design you dream of, tile options to make your outdoor space a true oasis are endless.

Patio and Beyond

When formulating your tile design plan, not only is the pool itself in need of design consideration, but the patio is as well. Lounging in the pool is only half of the summer fun, the other is gathering around the pool for relaxation and soaking up the sun. Therefore, having functional and aesthetically pleasing decking around the pool is just as necessary as pool components themselves.

Porcelain is a wonderful option to use for your indoor and outdoor surfaces because of its durability and low maintenance. Porcelain is an investment that lasts a lifetime as it appreciates in value over the ages. It is also very easy to maintain and only needs to be wiped with a sponge or with a soap-less detergent to revitalize its luster. Not only can porcelain be used around the pool (in the appropriate finish), but it can create a seamless transition from the patio into the home if you want to run the same flooring throughout. Porcelain is also durable enough to be used within the pool, both submerged and at the waterline.

Image: Konkrete Beige Outdoor 24 x 48 Large-Format Poolside Patio Porcelain Tile with R11 Anti-Slip Finish from Arizona Tile

Outdoor flooring can often be wet, either from environmental factors or splashes from the pool, so the flooring should be an anti-slip surface to avoid injury due to a fall. R11 Anti-Slip Finish comes highly recommended to help reduce the risk of such a fall. Needing to pass internationally recognized testing, R11 Anti-Slip Finish is the result of the material surface being modified during the production process to make the finish rougher (this will not impact the products aesthetic features). Let’s look at a few great options that might be perfect for your swimming pool tile design that can be used as interior and exterior flooring, can come with the R11 Anti-Slip Finish, and can be used within the pool, submerged and at the waterline:

• The Konkrete porcelain series is Italian-made, comes in four wonderful color options, and is designed to mimic the appearance of concrete. Konkrete offers the modern appeal of concrete with the practical properties of porcelain tile.
• The Futura porcelain series is American-made, available in four neutral colors, and is created to appear as limestone. Given its versatility, Futura will compliment any contemporary or traditional designs.

Image: Futura Ivory 24 x 48 Porcelain Outdoor Pool Deck Tile with R11 Anti-Slip Finish from Arizona Tile

• Ardesia porcelain series offers a larger color range through its four color options. From light to black, this American-made series is created to resemble natural stone but with worry-free maintenance. It, too, is very versatile and will graciously compliment any contemporary or traditional style.
• Similar in structure but different in design than previous porcelain options is the More Wood More Wood porcelain comes in four nature-inspired colors to emulate the appearance of wood and add warmth to any space. The look of wood is appealing to many people but the minimal maintenance of this porcelain product appeals to everyone.

Designs to Love

Design styles are different for everyone. Some people may love soft simplicity while others love a type of liveliness. Then there is the in between. Mixing and matching tile is always a good way to liven up a design. One way to do that would be to incorporate large format tile (24”x48”), like the Reside Series, to show expansiveness mixed with a rich, textured modern look. Cementine Black and White is great way to get creative, as it shows the charm and elegance of a vintage effect. With five unique black and white design, they can be used as individual accents by mixing multiple designs together. Though exterior flooring is not suitable for this porcelain tile, it could be incorporated in all aspects within the swimming pool and exterior cladding for a fun, cohesive look.  Want to carry it inside and keep it relative to water? Cementine Black and White also dazzles in a shower or steam shower.

Image: Reside Matte Beige Large-Format Outdoor Poolside Patio Porcelain Tile from Arizona Tile

To add even more visual appeal to a swimming pool design, glass tile pairs beautifully with water features as the water and sunlight glisten off the tile. To create a stunning visual, some glass tile products are on a special-order basis. With that said, a few glass tile options to consider are Geo-Belfort, Geo-Tulle, and the entire Geo 2 series which includes three designs in various color combinations, as well as five solid colors. These make wonderful tile within a pool but do have to be fully submerged under the water and are not suitable for the waterline. There are other exterior elements that can be dazzled with glass tile to pair the designs together, like exterior cladding.

Image: Geometro Bayeux Coastal Glass Pool Tile from Arizona Tile

Geometro is a decorative mosaic and mesh mount series that is available via special order (which may mean a longer lead time). This series, which includes Geo-Belfort and Geo-Tulle, provides a contemporary style that features innovative, geometric patterns in trendy color palettes. Created from 98% recycled glass that is ground to a fine powder and colored with inert natural minerals and enamel, Geometro series is a full-color body product that is immune from fading or discoloration.

Similar in all aspects to Geometro, Geo 2 series is another glass tile option that comes in 14 variations from patterns to solid colors. Simply more options and not a special-order product.

Inspiration for All

No matter where you find your inspiration, your swimming pool tile design will raise your backyard from standard to spectacular. Once you’ve found tile you want to see, try our Just Imagine Tile Visualizer to see your selection in your own design. Also, if you can, visit an Arizona Tile store for help crafting your swimming pool design.

We are here for you! Reach out to the helpful and knowledgeable staff at Arizona Tile to assist you in any way we can.