Positioning the naturalistic pool to take advantage of existing topography and vegetation will help make it look completely at home in its environment. Sloping sites allow the pool to be nestled against the rise, and they practically cry out for a waterfall or grotto to be created at the highest point. Primed for drama, rocky promontories offer ready-made stones for waterfalls and edging. At the other end of the spectrum, flat gardens with existing trees lend themselves to shady, tranquil, pond-like additions. And woodland landscapes provide the opportunity to surround the pool with dense plantings.

Surrounding the pools with indigenous rocks – granite in New England or coral stone in Florida, for example – further ties the pool to its location. Boulders and smaller rocks should be arranged in a seemingly random way rather than in a predictable pattern. They should rise out of the water or be set in the water.

Pond or swimming pool? It is often difficult to discern between an artificial body of water and a real one in today’s designs. Planted perimeters, boulder-strewn edges, rushing waterfalls, and sandy beaches transform man-made basins into watery expanses that look as though they were shaped by Mother Earth. Sanctuaries filled with soothing sights and sounds, these pools have the potential to forge strong connections with nature.

Juxtaposing the textured, organic shapes of plants and rocks against the smooth, reflective surface of water creates a captivating scene in almost any setting. On an urban lot, a naturalistic look can easily be achieved by bordering a small pool with shrubs, grasses and flowers, or by integrating a planter into the paving adjacent to the pool. In large, open garden settings, naturalistic designs require a skilful integration of the pool environment into the landscape.