The New Pool: What Luxury Backyard Design Looks Like in 2026

The most impactful addition to a luxury pool in the current market is a water feature that is integrated into the design rather than bolted on. Raised spa walls that overflow into the pool, fire-and-water combinations along a rear wall, and infinity edges on hillside properties are all common in high-end projects across Encino, Brentwood, and the hills above Sherman Oaks.

What separates a well-designed water feature from a gimmick is restraint. A single strong element, executed at scale and with quality materials, reads better than three competing features that cancel each other out. The most successful pool projects I have worked on have one focal moment: a long overflow edge, a raised fire wall with a water curtain, or a sunken fire pit at the far end of the lawn. Everything else in the space defers to that moment.

The pool deck is not a separate decision from the pool itself. The hardscape material, the width of the coping, the depth of the patio, and the placement of the lounge area all determine how the pool lives day to day. A pool with an undersized deck, or a deck material that gets too hot to walk on barefoot in an LA summer, will be avoided rather than used.

Large-format pavers in light colors, travertine, and brushed concrete are the current standards for luxury pool decks in Southern California. They stay cooler underfoot, drain properly, and hold up to the UV exposure and pool chemistry without degrading quickly. For hillside properties where structural considerations limit the size of the deck, cantilevered sections or stepped terracing can create usable patio area without major grading work.