What made the biggest difference for ours was thinking in layers instead of just tossing a few plants around. I added a narrow border of stone edging first to frame the whole area, then put a couple of oversized planters on one side with taller plants so it had a bit of height. After that, I hung a shade sail over part of the pool, and it completely changed the vibe, way more “resort afternoon” than “backyard tank.”
A small seating nook nearby with a rug and two chairs tied everything together. None of it was expensive, but once you build those little zones around the pool, it suddenly feels intentional instead of basic.
