Imagine stepping outside on a warm Sacramento afternoon and feeling like you’ve arrived at your own private resort. The pool is sparkling in the sunlight. Comfortable lounge chairs surround a shallow tanning ledge. The kids are swimming while burgers cook on the outdoor grill. A shaded patio provides a cool place to relax, and later that evening, the pool lights will come on as everyone gathers around the fire pit. You don't have to leave home to escape—you've created the des

Building a swimming pool is an opportunity to completely transform the way your family uses its backyard. But before choosing water features, decking, lighting, or landscaping, there’s one fundamental decision to make: What shape should your pool be? The answer isn't as simple as choosing the design you like best. Your home's architecture, backyard dimensions, available space, intended pool activities, landscaping, and outdoor living plans should all influence the final desig