Are you looking to upgrade your backyard, but aren’t sure what your budget can get you? Don’t worry, you are not alone! Putting together a budget for your dream outdoor living design can be an intimidating task.

Our Arizona Backyard Design Ideas series was created to help spark ideas of what is possible in your backyard within certain budget ranges. When you’re building a pool, there are numerous decisions to make about your design, features and materials selected. All of these decisions can also impact the budget of your project.

At California Pools & Landscape, we’ve been creating custom pools in the Phoenix area since 1988. We’ve designed over 30,000 backyards, custom built to match the look & feel of every home.

In this article we’ll use this beautiful Mesa backyard as a case study to what you can get with a backyard budget between $90,000 - $110,000 or rather $750 - $920 per month based on a 15 year pool loan.

About This Mesa Backyard

This modern backyard features a linear pool design with an elevated overflow spa and fire pit; offering several destinations in the area. Our design team worked hand in hand with the homeowner to bring their backyard vision to life. The raised pool wall with the smooth flow scupper and the sit and spin spa are the star of this stunning modern marvel.

These Mesa homeowners were looking for a modern geometric pool to match their modern home. Creating a design with artificial turf running up to the edge of the pool decking was important to maximize the space for their young children and golden retriever. Our design team integrated the Arctic Travertine throughout the environment, including travertine step pads that lead from the back porch to the outdoor living space.

Modern Geometric Pool & Spa Design

The geometric play pool and attached elevated overflow spa sparkle in this modern pool design, contrasting beautifully with the artificial turf. The play pool design starts at 3”, goes down to 5” in the middle of the pool and then back up to 4”. This play pool design enables you to stand anywhere in the pool and offers a great opportunity for playing games like basketball or volleyball in the water.

There are some special design features on this geometric play pool that make it shine. The raised water wall with a smooth flow scupper creates the perfect pairing for this backyard. The 24” stainless steel scupper adds a visible and audible ambiance in the yard as a smooth blanket of water cascades into the pool, perfect for endless relaxation. A 14’ long pool bench sits below the raised water wall, creating another destination in the pool.

You can enter this backyard oasis by stepping down onto a large baja shelf. This extended baja shelf sits at a 12” depth and is 89 square feet which offers a large area for relaxing or splashing with the kids.

The pools’ Arctic Sea Glass Pebble interior creates a vibrant blue color that mirrors the bright blue Arizona sky. The Granito Dolomite Gray 6” x 6” waterline tile contributes to the modern look and pairs beautifully with the Arctic White Travertine coping that surrounds the perimeter of the pool.

The elevated overflow spa offers a wonderful option for enjoyment on cool desert nights. The sit and spin spa design features maximized space for relaxation in the spa without losing any seating area, as there aren’t steps into the water. At 9’ x 7’6”, the spa offers plenty of room for relaxation and serenity.

The fire pit sits next to the sit and spin spa and truly maximizes the space available in the yard. The 2’6” x 2’6” fire feature is also covered by the White Quartz Stacked Stone and capped with Arctic White Travertine Cappers. The edge of the sit and spin spa also offers a bonus seat next to the fire pit, thanks to their proximity. This corner of this outdoor living area is perfect for entertaining and is able to be used year round.

Landscaping Around A Pool & Spa
No outdoor oasis is complete without landscaping to add the final touches! Landscape design is pivotal in creating a natural feel in the backyard along with beautiful splashes of color. Our design team incorporated several trees, hedges and accent plants to create a lush environment in this Mesa backyard.

Hopseed Bush shrubs line the back wall of the yard creating a vibrant color splash to go along with simple serenity. In the near feature they will also provide some privacy as they continue to grow taller.

Hopefully, these backyard design ideas helped you figure out some design elements that you might enjoy in your backyard design. Selecting pool and backyard elements as well as design features is a fun part of the process. It’s important to consider what will fit into your home's environment and be enjoyed by you and your family while staying within your budget.