Start Here
Before choosing a pool, think about how the entire backyard will be used and how your property affects the plan. Pool type, usable yard size, equipment access, patio space, hot tub placement, seating, privacy, drainage, storage, lighting, maintenance and future upgrades should all be considered early. In London, Stratford and nearby Southwestern Ontario communities, municipal permit, setback and fencing requirements should also be checked before the final layout is confirmed.
Interactive Planner 01
Enter the amount you are thinking about investing and choose your project focus. The planner will divide that working budget into useful planning categories. This is a planning tool, not a Custom LeisureScapes quote. Final pricing depends on the selected pool or hot tub, property conditions, sitework, installation requirements and design choices.
Actual pricing depends on products, your property, site preparation, installation requirements and final design.
Your Planning Snapshot
Balanced planning approach for an inground pool project.
An inground pool works best when patio, access, furniture and landscaping are considered from the beginning.
Compare Your Options
There is no single right choice for every yard. Space, style, budget priorities, permanence and how you plan to use the backyard all matter.
A practical way to make swimming the centre of the backyard while leaving room to customize decks, seating and surrounding outdoor space.
A strong option when you want the pool to feel more integrated into the landscape and surrounding entertaining area.
Best approached as a complete yard design where pool shape, patio, access, equipment, furniture and landscaping work together.
Ideal for year-round relaxation and a natural extension of a patio, pool area or smaller outdoor living space.
Interactive Planner 02
Answer four quick questions and see which backyard direction may deserve a closer look.
Your Result
Your suggested planning direction will appear here.
This quiz is a planning aid. Your actual property and project requirements still need to be reviewed.
Build It In The Right Order
One of the easiest mistakes is choosing individual products before thinking about the whole yard. Make the biggest decisions first and work outward.
01
Who will use the yard and how?
02
Choose pool type, size or hot tub.
03
Access, sun and placement.
04
Patio, deck and walkways.
05
Seating, lighting and privacy.
06
Landscaping and finishing touches.
Interactive Planner 03
Check the features that matter to you. Your personalized shortlist will build automatically.
Design Around Real Life
Prioritize practical pool access, visible seating, storage and enough open space for everyday use.
Think about conversation areas, dining space, lighting and traffic flow between the house, pool and seating areas.
Privacy, comfortable furniture, shade and a hot tub can turn the backyard into a personal retreat.
Leave room for equipment, storage and service while choosing features that fit the upkeep you actually want.
Use this table as a quick way to compare the role each option can play in your backyard plan.
| Option | Best Planning Fit | Surrounding Space | Explore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Above-Ground | Pool-first backyard | Deck, seating, access and storage | View Pools |
| Onground | Integrated outdoor-living look | Patio, grading and landscaping | View Pools |
| Inground | Full backyard transformation | Complete patio, landscape and entertaining plan | View Pools |
| Hot Tub | Relaxation and year-round use | Base, privacy, seating and access | View Hot Tubs |
Have a rough idea already?
Your wishlist, budget priorities and lifestyle goals create a much stronger starting point for a Custom LeisureScapes backyard consultation.
From Idea to Backyard
PHASE 1
Decide what you want the backyard to do for you.
PHASE 2
Look at usable space, access and yard conditions.
PHASE 3
Review pool, hot tub and layout options.
PHASE 4
Separate must-haves from future upgrades.
PHASE 5
Coordinate the pool with the surrounding yard.
PHASE 6
Move from planning into the actual project.
Local Backyard Planning
With more than 40 years of pool and backyard experience, Custom LeisureScapes serves homeowners from its London and Stratford showrooms, with pool, hot tub and backyard projects across Middlesex, Perth, Elgin and Oxford Counties. The team regularly works with homeowners in communities including St. Thomas, Strathroy, St. Marys, Dorchester, Woodstock, Ingersoll, Komoka and Grand Bend.
London Showroom
A local starting point for pool, hot tub, service and backyard-planning conversations in the London area.
Stratford Showroom
Explore options and discuss backyard planning for Stratford, Perth County and nearby Southwestern Ontario communities.
Lot access, grading, drainage, existing structures and municipal requirements can all affect the best pool location and project sequence. A useful online plan is the starting point; the property still needs to be reviewed before final design and pricing.
Backyard Planning FAQ
Start with how you want to use the backyard. Once the lifestyle goal is clear, you can make better decisions about pool type, layout, patio space, seating, hot tub placement, privacy and other features.
Planning them together is helpful because pool location, access points, furniture, walking areas and equipment placement all influence how much surrounding space you need.
The right choice depends on your yard, project priorities, desired appearance, working budget and how integrated you want the finished pool area to feel.
Yes. Thinking about future hot tub placement during the initial planning stage can help protect useful patio space and create a more natural layout later.
Custom LeisureScapes serves London, Stratford and surrounding Southwestern Ontario communities across Middlesex, Perth, Elgin and Oxford Counties, including St. Thomas, Strathroy, St. Marys, Dorchester, Woodstock, Ingersoll, Komoka and Grand Bend.
Starting early gives you more time to compare options, confirm municipal requirements, refine the layout, prioritize the project and discuss realistic installation timing with Custom LeisureScapes.
Start Your Backyard Conversation
Serving London, Stratford and Southwestern Ontario, Custom LeisureScapes can help turn your working budget, pool or hot tub preferences and backyard wishlist into realistic next steps. If you use the Send My Plan button above, the planner will try to place your summary into the message field automatically.