Custom Gunite Pool Design Trends for 2026: Spas, Sun Shelves & Beach Entries

Pool design trends are mostly slow-moving. The shapes and finishes we built in 2018 are mostly the shapes and finishes we’ll build in 2030. But every year a handful of features move from “premium upgrade” to “expected default,” and 2026 is no exception. Here’s what we’re seeing on almost every new-build proposal this spring.

1. Spillover spas are the new default, not the upgrade

Five years ago a spillover spa — the raised hot-tub feature integrated into the same gunite shell as the pool, sharing equipment, with water spilling over a wall back into the main pool — was a premium add. In 2026 it’s on more than two-thirds of new proposals we write.

The reason it stuck: it dramatically extends the season. A pool in Michigan is a roughly 16-week feature; a spa attached to that pool gives you usable evenings April through October. The water-feature visual when the spa overflows is a bonus. More on spillover spas here.

2. Sun shelves and tanning ledges

A sun shelf is a wide, shallow (typically 9–12 inch deep) ledge inside the pool — usually at the shallow end — designed for in-water lounging. Many include built-in chair anchors so half-submerged loungers stay put, and bubbler jets for visual interest.

The footprint is small, the cost addition is modest, and the use case is real: this is where the adults sit at most pool parties, where small kids play safely, and where loungers float on a hot afternoon. Almost every new design includes one in some form now.

3. Beach entries and zero-depth gradual entry

A beach entry replaces the traditional steps with a gradual slope from deck level into the pool. Walk in like you’re walking into Lake Michigan. The aesthetic is “resort,” the practical use is “kids and grandparents both love it.”

Beach entries take more pool footprint than steps for the same swim area, so they work best on larger lots where you have the room. They pair beautifully with freeform shapes and naturalistic landscaping.

4. Vanishing edges — when they actually make sense

The vanishing edge (sometimes called infinity edge) creates the visual effect of water disappearing over the far edge of the pool, usually facing a view. They’re stunning in the right setting and pointless in the wrong one. The setting that works: a yard with significant grade drop, ideally with a view across to a lake or down a hill.

In 2026 we’re seeing more interest in modified vanishing-edge configurations — partial edges, perimeter overflow troughs that mimic the look without the engineering, and “knife edges” where the pool wall is intentionally minimized.

5. Modern automation: smartphone control, salt systems, variable-speed everything

The automation conversation has shifted. The questions aren’t “should I get automation?” anymore — they’re “what level?”

The 2026 standard automation package most customers ask about:

• Pool/spa control panel with smartphone app (Pentair, Hayward, Jandy — all reasonable)
• Salt chlorine generator (eliminates daily chlorine, gentler on swimmers and equipment)
• Variable-speed pump (saves significant electricity over the season)
• Heater commissioning with the panel for one-tap “warm it up for tonight”
• LED lighting tied into the panel with scheduled or one-tap evening scenes

The total adder for this package is in the $8,000–$15,000 range depending on equipment selection. Most customers tell us a year later it was the best money they spent.

6. Decking trends: large-format porcelain pavers, travertine, integrated lighting

Concrete deck (brushed or stamped) is still the budget-friendly default. The 2026 step-up that we’re installing more of:

• Large-format porcelain pavers (24×24 or 24×48 inch) — modern look, very low maintenance, holds up well in Michigan freeze-thaw
• Travertine — warm-feeling, natural, historically a higher-end backyard look
• Stone with integrated landscape lighting — recessed deck lights along pathways and pool edges, subtle, high impact at dusk

7. Color trends in plaster and finishes

Standard white plaster gives you the classic blue water Americans associate with pools. Darker plasters (charcoal, dark gray, midnight blue) deliver a deeper, more Mediterranean look — the water reads as a richer blue or even green-gray. They’re notably popular in 2026, especially paired with travertine or large-format paver decking.

The trade-off: darker plaster shows pool chemistry imbalances and surface buildup more prominently than white plaster. They’re not a maintenance-free upgrade. Worth it for the look, just plan to stay on top of chemistry.

8. Smaller, smarter pools

The biggest quiet shift in 2026: smaller pools, better used. Five years ago more customers wanted “as big as you can make it.” Now we’re seeing more interest in cocktail pools, plunge pools, and well-designed mid-size pools where every square foot of swim area is intentional. The reason: more spend goes to the spa, the lighting, the decking, the automation, and the surrounding outdoor-living elements rather than just adding pool footprint.

What we’re not seeing much of (and why)

• Diving boards — insurance and liability have killed most homeowner diving boards. Still possible but rare on new builds.
• Slides — same story; occasional integrated rock-feature slides on resort-style backyards, but rare.
• Indoor pools — the cost of properly engineering ventilation, humidity control, and an indoor pool room remains high enough that most clients pivot to a covered outdoor pool with a spa instead.

What to do next

Trends are conversation starters, not directives. The right design for your yard isn’t the trendiest one — it’s the one that gets used. Schedule a consultation and bring your “love this” and “don’t like this” Pinterest photos. We’ll talk through what fits your lot, your home, and how you actually want to use the space.