Enclosure for an indoor pool: Design tips to match your individuality Building an indoor pool in your garden is not enough. You need an enclosure so that you can control the temperature around the pool and enjoy swimming the year-round. An enclosure also helps keep the pool cleaner. Here are some things you would like to consider when you build an enclosure around your private pool:

Flooring - An indoor pool enclosure can serve as a nice evening or sun room. You can put out deck chairs and enjoy a card party too. So, instead of going for the regular flooring - at least in some area of the enclosure - consider laminated tiles as an alternative. Water-resistant fiber or wood flooring to the edge of the enclosure where you want to keep plants or a little coffee table is a creative idea.

Furniture - Wicker, rattan, cane, metal furniture is goes well by the side of an indoor pool. Don't forget the color scheme to match the pool side so you would be better off sticking to blues, browns and greens. Or, you can pick furniture in elegant white and grays.

While choosing furniture for the enclosure of an indoor pool, you will have to consider the amount of sunlight that pours in. For enclosures that have doors to the north and east, you will need warmer shades like red, browns and oranges. For an enclosure which has more light coming in from the south and the west, stick to the greens and blues.

Lighting - An indoor pool can be really jazzed up with floor lights. But you can also enhance the effect by using lights effectively on the walls. Low-voltage glazed lights casting all kinds of shadows on the pool and surrounding area can be mystical and charming. You can use wall-lights to particularly highlight some parts of the enclosure. Alternatively, you can pick the New Age look for a meditative feel around your indoor pool.

When considering what lights to put up, don't forget that you will be using them more often during the night or after sunset. Unless you have lots and lots of plants holding back most of the natural light around your indoor pool.

Plants - The enclosure around your pool can also serve as a greenhouse or conservatory where you can grow lots of indoor plants. However, it is best to keep plants to a minimal or only those of the indoor variety around the pool. You don't want the water getting contaminated or insects etc getting into the water of the pool.

Ventilation - Ventilation of the enclosure around your indoor pool is very important. Unless you have a sliding roof, you will need to ensure that proper fresh air can get in so that the poolside does not take on a damp feel. If you are installing artificial temperature control systems, you will need to make arrangements for occasional airing of the enclosure to let in fresh air and sunlight during cleaning sessions.

Designing - You needn't call up the interior designer for this but let your creativity show you the path. There are hundreds of places to pick up designer stones, water statuettes and fountains, designer plants, poolside accessories and other embellishments to make jazz up your indoor pool.