How Do I Plan a Custom Pool for My Backyard?–Thinking about putting a pool in your backyard? You’re not alone. More families in Leawood are ditching the community pool passes. They are looking into private, permanent setups that fit their space, not someone else’s. But planning a custom pool is a lot more than picking a shape. Then calling a contractor. If you want it done right, you need a custom pool design company in Leawood. We know the process from start to swim.

Here’s how to go from idea to installation, with no surprises and no regrets.

Table of Contents

Step One: Know How You Want to Use It
Step Two: Get Real About Your Yard
Step Three: Think Beyond the Pool Shell
Step Four: Budget Honestly
Step Five: Don’t Skip the Design Phase
Step Six: Trust a Team That Does It All

Step One: Know How You Want to Use It

Design for your lifestyle. Forget the latest trends. Don’t copy those photos. Decide the pool’s purpose. Is it for kids? Or for relaxing? Maybe for swimming laps?

A seasoned pool company in Leawood will help translate those goals into smart features: beach entries for kids, benches for lounging, water features for ambiance, and layouts that maximize your specific yard.

Step Two: Get Real About Your Yard

Every backyard has quirks, slopes, sun angles, utility lines, HOA rules. That’s why custom is key. No two installs are the same. And this is where experience counts.

A pro custom pool design company in Leawood will handle more than just drawing up a pool. They’ll assess your drainage, soil type, yard access for equipment, and how the pool will interact with patios, decks, or landscaping.

That kind of planning helps you avoid costly mistakes, like placing the pool where you’ll never get afternoon sun, or building it too close to trees that will clog the filter year-round.

Step Three: Think Beyond the Pool Shell

A great pool is only as good as what surrounds it. That means designing the space around the water just as carefully. Decking, lighting, planting beds, fencing, even audio zones, these all matter more than most people expect.

If you’re already considering a splash pad company in Leawood, odds are you want the space to be versatile. That’s a smart move, especially for families who want features kids can enjoy without turning the whole yard into a water park.

From there, the options are endless. Fire pits. Shade structures. Spillover spas. And if you’re going all in? Add a bar or grill zone. The right outdoor bar design company in Leawood can help tie it all together without turning your yard into a theme park.

Step Four: Budget Honestly

This one’s tough but important. Building a custom pool isn’t cheap, and it shouldn’t be. The best pools last decades. That means heavy-duty materials, properly graded bases, professional plumbing and electrical, and a team that won’t cut corners.

The good news? A solid outdoor entertainment company in Leawood can help you phase the project. Start with the shell and decking now. Add lighting, fencing, or furniture later. With the right plan, your pool doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing situation.

Don’t just chase the lowest bid. That almost always means sacrificing something important, whether it’s warranty coverage, craftsmanship, or future upgrade options. Quality work costs more, but it pays off every summer after.

Step Five: Don’t Skip the Design Phase

The number one regret we hear from homeowners who rushed into a pool build? “We didn’t think through the layout.” That’s why design is non-negotiable.

A real custom pool design company in Leawood won’t just hand you a catalog and say pick one. They’ll model how the space will look from inside your home. They’ll mark sun paths. They’ll show you how close your grill is to the deep end, and whether your pool steps block the view from the kitchen window.

That level of thought makes all the difference. Because once the concrete is poured, you’re living with it for the next 20+ years.

Step Six: Trust a Team That Does It All

There’s a huge advantage to hiring a custom pool design company in Leawood that handles the full process, design, build, landscaping, lighting, and long-term maintenance. When one team owns the vision, you don’t end up chasing multiple contractors or dealing with finger-pointing when something shifts.

That’s the setup we run at By The Blade. We’re not just installers, we’re planners, builders, and problem-solvers who know what a Kansas summer looks like, what pool equipment holds up, and how to make your outdoor space look intentional, not pieced together.

And when you’ve got a full crew who already knows your yard inside and out? Every future upgrade, whether it’s a hot tub, pergola, or water feature, starts that much faster. We have tons of lawn services in Leawood too!

We help families. We help neighbors. We help people turn their backyards into personal sanctuaries.

We listen. We design. We build outdoor spaces that invite you to live better, outside.