For a lot of homeowners, the dream isn’t just a pool – it’s a pool and somewhere to properly unwind afterwards. A combined pool and spa design delivers exactly that, without the cost, space, and complexity of installing two completely separate water features.
If you’ve been picturing both a pool for the family and a spa for relaxing evenings, here’s how a combo design brings the two together.
A pool and spa combo is exactly what it sounds like – a single integrated design that includes both a swimming pool and a spa, typically positioned adjacent to each other and often sharing some equipment (such as filtration), while allowing the spa to be heated and used independently of the main pool.
This means you can have the spa running warm on a winter evening without needing to heat the entire pool – and the pool running cool for a summer dip without the spa.
Extending the usable season. Perth’s pool season is long, but a spa extends it further still. On cooler evenings – even in months when the pool itself might feel too cold for a swim – a heated spa keeps the outdoor area usable year-round.
Entertaining flexibility. For Perth’s outdoor entertaining culture, a combo design means guests have options – a cool dip in the pool during the day, and a warm spa to relax in once the sun goes down. It’s a small addition that significantly expands how the space gets used.
Efficient use of space and budget. Building a combo as part of one integrated installation is generally more efficient than retrofitting a separate spa later – both in terms of construction logistics and overall cost, since site access, plumbing runs, and equipment can be planned together from the outset.
Design cohesion. A combo designed as one unit tends to look more deliberate and integrated than a pool with a spa “added on” – the transition between the two, the shared coping, and the overall proportions all work together as a single design rather than two separate decisions.
Spa placement. Spas are frequently positioned at one end of the pool with a spillway edge into the pool area – creating both a visual feature and a gentle water feature effect.
Heating independence. Make sure your spa can be heated independently from the main pool – this is what allows year-round spa use without needing to heat the (much larger) pool volume to match.
Seating and capacity. Spa size should reflect how it’ll actually be used – a spa for two people relaxing after work has different proportions to one designed for entertaining a group.
Lighting. Combo designs are often used in the evening more than during the day, making lighting – both in the spa and around the surrounding area – a worthwhile investment.
Several of our ranges have a spa combo as part of the overall design such as The Resort, Manhattan, Manhattan Slimline and Sorrento – the best fit depends on your backyard size, layout, and how you envision using both elements. Our team can talk through which combination works best for your space.
If your backyard has the space for a pool but you’ve been unsure whether a separate spa is worth the additional cost and complexity, a combo design is worth exploring. Because the spa shares the same installation project as the pool, the incremental cost and disruption is typically far less than adding a standalone spa as a separate project down the track – while delivering a year-round outdoor space that works for both relaxation and family swimming.
Picturing a pool and spa combo for your backyard? Get in touch and we’ll talk through layout and design options that will create your resort style dream in your backyard.
Yes – this is one of the key advantages of a combo design. The spa can typically be heated and operated independently, so you’re not heating the entire pool volume just to use the spa.
There’s an additional cost for the spa component, but building it as part of one integrated project is generally more cost-effective than adding a separate spa as a later, standalone project – due to shared site access, plumbing, and equipment planning.
This depends on the design and how the spa will be used, but spas are often integrated efficiently into the overall pool footprint rather than requiring substantial additional yard space.
A heated spa significantly extends how usable an outdoor area feels through cooler months, even if the main pool itself isn’t in use during that time.
With three display centres around Perth, there is always someone close by to answer any questions you have on our fibreglass pools and to show you our extensive range of pools.
