Excellence in luxury boutique hotels lives in the details. Nowhere is this more apparent, or more essential, than at the pool, where design and atmosphere converge.
Roughly three-quarters of respondents rank pools, besides hot tubs, among the top three essential amenities when selecting a luxury resort. That makes this space far more than a visual bonus. It’s a deciding factor.
Adding a pool patio is a great way to elevate the guest experience and transform a simple swimming area into a destination of its own. It creates a place where guests can unwind, socialize, and fully immerse themselves in the hotel’s personality. But that alone isn’t enough. You must decorate it such that guests want to linger longer.
Below, we’ll walk you through a few pool patio decorating ideas that can turn your luxury hotel’s pool area into a memorable highlight.
The chairs and beds around a pool are the first things a guest sees. They need to be aesthetically pleasing as well as comfortable.
Pick materials that can handle the sun and water but still look like indoor furniture. Teak wood is a top choice. It has natural oils that keep it from rotting or being ruined by bugs. High-quality wood like A-grade teak stays cool in the sweltering heat. That protects guests from accidental burns.
For the ultimate luxury feel, many hotels add daybeds. A daybed is like a giant bed for the outdoors. They are perfect for naps or reading. Some have frames made of teak or woven wicker.
To elevate the experience, some hotels add cabanas as well. Often outfitted with plush cushions and ethereal drapes, cabanas provide guests with a private outdoor sanctuary.
Since cabanas are expensive, you could offer them for rent. Some hotels charge over $1,000 for full-day access. Loews Miami Beach, for instance, charges $1,200 a day for a 2-story cabana. Its cabanas are equipped with showers, air-conditioning, and an ocean-view deck.
Plants do more than just look pretty. In a luxury boutique hotel, greenery helps define different areas. It also provides privacy, softens the hard angles of the patio, and creates that lush, tropical vibe that travelers crave.
You can use tall, structural plants like Sansevieria, Bamboo, or Bird of Paradise to create natural partitions between groups of lounge chairs. This gives guests a sense of intimacy and belonging to their own little corner of paradise.
PolyMade advises choosing deer grass, Mexican blue palm, desert lavender, or fortnight lily if you want to add texture, color, and style to your pool space.
To achieve a truly bespoke look, the vessels you choose are just as important as the plants themselves. Here’s where a custom commercial planter can be a game-changer. Unlike off-the-shelf pots, custom planters can be designed to match your hotel’s specific color palette or architectural lines.
Custom planters designed for commercial use are built to withstand heavy foot traffic and extreme weather. A custom commercial planter can also incorporate subtle branding or unique texture, like brushed brass or matte concrete, that ties back to your interior lobby design. That helps create a seamless transition from inside to out.
Nothing says luxury vacation like a perfectly crafted cocktail delivered poolside. However, the design of your beverage station should be as sophisticated as the drinks it serves.
A swim-up bar is the most luxurious option. This allows guests to sit on stools that are underwater. They can order a drink without ever leaving the pool. This creates a wow factor that guests love.
Hotel Monte Mulini, Croatia, Pool Bar at the Viceroy Bali, Bali, and The Blue Lagoon, Iceland, have some of the best swim-up bars in the world.
A permanent poolside bar is also a great choice. These are usually built on the patio near the water. They can include a small kitchen or a grill. This makes it easy to serve food like burgers or tacos along with drinks. For a tropical feel, some hotels use a Tiki-style bar. These have roofs made of thatch and use bamboo for a fun island vibe.
Some luxury boutique hotels prefer a smaller beverage station. This might be a beautiful cabinet with a coffee machine, a wine fridge, and fresh water.
These stations are great for guests who want to help themselves. Hotels often use high-end materials for these stations, like marble tops and brass handles. Some even have zip faucets that give sparkling water instantly.
Designing a pool patio for a luxury boutique hotel is not just about aesthetics but also about creating an experience. When guests feel comfortable, inspired, and genuinely relaxed, they associate those feelings with your brand.
Make these upgrades, and they will turn your pool area into a memorable retreat. The payoff? Guests will linger longer, share their experience, and return for the unique, indulgent experience. Isn’t that what you want?
