Custom Inground Pool Designs for Chicago Suburbs
Top Swimming Pool Design Ideas for Chicagoland Homeowners
Explore Custom Inground Pool Designs for Your Suburban Backyard
From clean geometric layouts to soft freeform shapes, the right pool design should fit your home, yard, lifestyle, and long-term plans.
Sunset Pools & Spas designs and builds custom inground pool designs for Chicago suburbs homeowners who want a durable concrete pool, thoughtful backyard layout, and turnkey guidance from design through permits and construction. Every pool is planned around how your family will swim, relax, entertain, and use the space season after season.
- Concrete pool construction: Custom shapes, depths, steps, benches, tanning ledges, spas, and water features can be designed around your yard instead of forcing a standard template.
- Shape and layout options: Popular designs include geometric, rectangular, Roman, kidney, oval, freeform, and L-shaped pools for different backyard sizes and architectural styles.
- Suburban planning details: Lot lines, setbacks, access, grading, patios, fencing, and local permit requirements all influence the final pool design.
- Family-focused features: Entry steps, shallow lounging areas, integrated spas, covers, lighting, and safety-minded layouts can make the pool easier to enjoy and manage.
- Efficient operation: Equipment, circulation, automation, and energy-conscious options can be planned early so the pool is beautiful and practical to own.
- Turnkey coordination: Sunset helps guide the project from initial design concepts through permitting, construction, and final details.
Use the design ideas below as a starting point, then connect with Sunset Pools & Spas to create a custom concrete pool that fits your home, your yard, and the way you want to live outdoors.
When comparing custom inground pool designs for Chicago suburbs homes, the best shape depends on your yard size, home style, patio layout, and how your family plans to use the pool. These popular swimming pool designs can all be customized with concrete construction, built-in spas, tanning ledges, benches, steps, lighting, and water features.
Figure Eight Swimming Pool
A figure eight swimming pool is a great choice for homeowners who want a softer, more custom look than a standard square or rectangle. The gentle curves create two distinct zones within the pool, which can work well for separating lounging, play, or shallow-water areas from the main swimming space.
For Chicago suburbs homeowners, a figure eight pool can also help the design feel more integrated with landscaping, patios, and outdoor living areas. The curved edges make it easier to place steps, benches, or ladders where they feel most natural for your backyard layout.
Roman Swimming Pool
A Roman swimming pool is ideal if you like the clean structure of a rectangular pool but want a more elegant, architectural design. This style typically uses squared lines with rounded ends or classical detailing, giving the pool a timeless look that works well with traditional, transitional, and luxury homes.
Roman pool designs are a strong option for suburban backyards where symmetry, patio alignment, and a polished outdoor living space are priorities. They can also pair beautifully with built-in spas, formal landscaping, water features, and wide entry steps.
Kidney Swimming Pool
A kidney swimming pool is one of the most popular custom inground pool designs because it fits naturally into many backyard layouts. Its curved shape creates a relaxed, organic look and can make the pool feel less rigid than a rectangle or geometric design.
Kidney-shaped pools are often a smart choice for smaller or more irregular suburban yards because the design can work around landscaping, patios, and existing outdoor features. Homeowners can also add visual interest with waterfalls, boulders, planting areas, lighting, or a connected spa.
Round or Oval Swimming Pool
Round and oval swimming pools create a welcoming, social feel that works well for families who want a pool centered around relaxation, conversation, and casual entertaining. A round pool encourages gathering, while an oval pool provides a longer swimming path and can still support a designated shallow and deeper end.
These pool designs usually need more open yard space than some compact custom shapes, but they can be a beautiful fit for larger Chicago suburbs properties. Oval pools can also work well when homeowners want a softer alternative to a rectangle without giving up a traditional swim-friendly layout.
L-Shaped Swimming Pool
An L-shaped swimming pool is a versatile custom pool design that creates separate areas for different activities. The longer section can be used for swimming laps or active play, while the shorter section can be designed for lounging, steps, a tanning ledge, or a shallow family area.
For larger suburban backyards, an L-shaped pool can help connect the pool to the patio, outdoor kitchen, seating area, or home architecture. The shape feels upscale and functional because it gives homeowners multiple ways to use the pool without making the backyard feel divided.
Why Homeowners Choose Sunset Pools & Spas for Custom Pool Design
A custom concrete inground pool should look beautiful, operate efficiently, and hold up for years of family use. Sunset Pools & Spas brings 17+ years of hands-on experience to custom pool and spa projects across Chicagoland, with a start-to-finish process built around clear communication, quality engineering, and thoughtful design.
- Designed around your property: Your pool shape, patio flow, entry points, spa placement, and feature selections are planned around your yard conditions and how you want to use the space.
- Built with concrete flexibility: Concrete construction gives homeowners more freedom to create custom shapes, integrated spas, tanning ledges, benches, steps, and architectural details.
- Engineered for longevity: Sunset focuses on pool structures, systems, and equipment layouts that support reliable performance and efficient operation over time.
- Guided from design to permits to build: The team helps coordinate the major steps of the project so homeowners are not left trying to manage the process alone.
- Clear expectations: Accurate estimates, construction timelines, communication, and planning details help make a major backyard investment feel more manageable.
- Safety and compliance mindset: Pool layouts are planned with families, code requirements, access, circulation, and long-term usability in mind.
- Premium quality without feeling out of reach: Sunset creates high-end custom pools with an approachable, practical process for homeowners who value craftsmanship and smart value.
What you can expect: design consultation, concept planning, site review, permit coordination, construction, equipment setup, and final walkthrough guidance.
Ready to compare pool shapes, features, and layout options for your home? Request a consultation and let Sunset Pools & Spas help turn your backyard ideas into a buildable custom pool design.
Custom Inground Pool Design FAQs for Chicago Suburbs Homeowners
What are the best inground pool designs for Chicago suburban homes?
The best inground pool designs for Chicago suburban homes are custom layouts that match the yard size, home architecture, family use, and local permit requirements. Geometric pools work well for modern homes, freeform and kidney-shaped pools create a softer landscape feel, and L-shaped pools can separate swimming, lounging, and play areas.
What pool shape works best for a family backyard?
A family backyard often works best with a geometric, rectangular, kidney, or L-shaped pool because those layouts can support swimming, lounging, games, and supervision. The right choice depends on how much patio space you want, whether you want a spa or tanning ledge, and how the pool will sit in relation to the house.
Are concrete pools better for custom pool designs?
Concrete pools are a strong choice for custom pool designs because they allow more flexibility in shape, size, depth, steps, benches, spas, and built-in features. For homeowners who want a pool designed around their specific backyard instead of a preset shell, concrete construction offers significant design freedom.
Can a custom inground pool fit in a small suburban yard?
A custom inground pool can often fit in a smaller suburban yard when the design is planned around setbacks, access, patio space, grading, and how the family will use the pool. Compact geometric, plunge-style, and kidney-shaped designs can work well when every foot of the backyard needs to be used carefully.
What features can be added to a custom pool design?
Custom pool designs can include features such as built-in spas, tanning ledges, benches, wide entry steps, water features, lighting, automation, automatic covers, and integrated patio areas. The best features are selected early so the pool structure, equipment, and surrounding outdoor living space can be planned together.
How do permits affect pool design in the Chicago suburbs?
Permits can affect pool design by influencing placement, setbacks, fencing, drainage, electrical planning, inspections, and construction timing. Because requirements vary by municipality, suburban homeowners should plan their pool layout with permitting and site conditions in mind from the beginning.
When should I start planning a custom pool in Chicagoland?
Homeowners should start planning a custom pool as early as possible because design, estimating, permits, material selections, and seasonal construction windows all take time. Early planning gives you more room to compare pool shapes, features, equipment options, and backyard layouts before construction begins.