Want to know something that may come as somewhat of a surprise? Pools are not a bad investment in Central Ohio.

Sure, our “pool season” is shorter than, say, Southern California or Arizona, and our weather tends to be dramatically unpredictable. And we don’t have mountainous backdrops or ubiquitous palm trees.

But we do have backyards and the urge to be outside. We even have warm (and hot) weather months.

How fitting, then, that pools are more aesthetic than ever, serving as the centerpiece of backyard spaces that have evolved into entertainment hubs and mini getaways.

The days of boring tiles surrounding kidney-shaped, uniformly-deep, manually-chlorinated holes of water are over. Spice up your backyard with an aquatic oasis that is fun, functional, attractive and safe.

Fun
You can head to your local have-it-all retailer and buy some basketball hoops or volleyball nets to add to your pool. Throw in some water noodles and a few floats and you’ve got yourself an afternoon of fun.

But surely you’d like to get more out of your pool than a day of game playing. Diving boards are staples, but are actually waning a bit in popularity, according to Charlotte Lambert, co-owner (with her husband Charlie) of Commercial Pools Plus (www.commercialpools.com) on Sawmill Road.

They’re being replaced by slides, fountains and waterfalls. “We’re seeing more waterfall-type of additions, from walls to rock formations. We’re also seeing more fountains, whether it’s from the pool’s floor and comes up over the surface, or if it’s coming from the side and shooting in an arc. Whatever people want they can get these days,” she says.

Pool amenities include water gardens with waterfalls, fountains that are harbored in Greek urns, foaming fountains, sleek sheets of water over granite platforms or playful cascades that run down manmade rocks.

Residential slides remain popular, but have advanced beyond the big blue eyesores of yesteryear. There are now safer, longer, curved fiberglass slides that fit into the natural landscaping of your backyard and bring home elements of a water park. Visit www.waterslides.biz to get some ideas.

Functional
Get the most use out of your investment: add a spa, or a Jacuzzi, or better yet, a swim-up bar. The possibilities really are endless.

“Homeowners need to understand that when a pool company gives them a picture of their different pool packages, they’re not glued to getting just that. They can create their own design and make it exactly how they’d want it,” says Tim Wilson, president of The Clearwater Group (www.clearwatergroupinc.com), which provides a variety of poolscaping options.

Now people want more out of their backyards and that means building functional pool houses – with kitchens or bathrooms – or saunas and whirlpools that are actually connected to the pool by a simple dividing wall. People want spa-like features for their personal oasis.

Another trend, according to Lambert, is a shallow or zero-entry area, “where people can stand up and play, or sit down and read something and not actually go all the way into the pool. They tend to use it more this way,” she says.

Attractive
People are bound to use – and enjoy – their pool more if it’s aesthetically appealing. One visually stunning trend that is finally trickling to the Midwest from the West Coast is vanishing edges – which create an illusion that the edge of the pool has disappeared. As the water cascades over the back edge, it creates an elegant waterfall view from the backside, as though it’s on a hillside.

Surrounding the pool, decorative stone and stamped concrete have taken over where basic concrete left off, giving your deck a little more life. “You can install special stone that makes it look like brick or slate and it certainly adds that extra special something to your pool. There are so many different kinds or colors and you can coordinate patterns and match the deck of your pool with your patio or the rest of your landscaping,” Lambert says.

Poolscaping is a big factor to consider when planning your backyard, whether the designs are centered on potted plants, statuary, even a fireplace.

A pool takes up a lot of space, so you’ll want to create layers, and use plants and trees that are compatible with being proximate to a body of water. “Creating levels with planting boxes or patios or waterfalls, is the key to getting away from that large, flat space. You also want to make sure you’re not planting pines or trees like that, which shed all year-round,” Wilson says. “Propping small plants around the pool will make it look bigger when the goal is to bring it down to size because it is massive when it’s all done. You need a master plan.”

Water naturally lends itself to an intriguing ambience. Make your pool shimmer by simply keeping it clean. This is much easier to do now with the abundance of low maintenance cleaners, automatic cleaning systems, salt generators and easy covers.

“People used to spend hours on their pools for maintenance and cleaning and I think that turned many people off. Now you don’t have to worry about lugging around chlorine or having all these chemicals around, you don’t have to test the water everyday. It is now plain and simple and enjoyable,” Lambert says.

Safe
Whether you have a pool and want to pretty it up, or you want to build a pool in the future, first thing’s first: safety. Teach your children how to swim, supervise at all times and make sure hazards are minimized.

Lighting not only adds time spent enjoying your aquatic retreat, but it is also a very effective safety measure worth the expense and maintenance. There are even floating, battery-operated lights like GlowBuoy (www.glowbuoy.com).

Most zoning ordinances require a safety fence. The right fence design can also offer privacy. It’s important to place furniture and ornamentation at least 4 feet from the edge of the pool, to prevent tripping hazards.

There are many slip-resistant deck options, and remember brick is not typically one of them. While you’re safe-proofing the area, erect a shed or pool house to store tools and chemicals and lock it up. When it comes to pools, it is better to be safe than sorry with every single detail.

It’s also important to enjoy yourself. A pool and its many features is an investment in backyard fun. The right planning will make everything go just swimmingly.

Alicia Kelso is editor of Luxury Living Magazine