A swimming pool can offer much-needed respite from the blistering heat of a summer day. Designing a pool for your yard may seem like a straightforward task, but there are many factors that must be taken into consideration throughout the design process to ensure that your pool is a success. This is especially true if you have small children who will be using the pool. Here are three tips that you can use to create a pool design that will be both exciting and safe for your young ones.

1. Incorporate Natural Paving Materials

The materials that you will use to create your pool deck should be given a lot of consideration when you are designing your private pool. Young children have a tendency to engage in boisterous play. Roughhousing and running on a slippery surface can lead to serious injury. Natural materials make better paving options than concrete or tile when you have children that will be using your pool. Stone is a great option because it doesn't get too slippery when it becomes wet.

Your contractor can help you select a natural stone that will enhance the overall design of your pool and blend seamlessly into your existing landscape.

2. Avoid Sharp Edges

If you think of a rectangular shape when you think of a swimming pool, you aren't alone. Many homeowners believe that a rectangle is the best overall design for a private pool. When you have young children in your home, the sharp edges found in and around rectangular pools could be dangerous. Opt for a pool with a more rounded design instead. It's especially important that the coping (the material at the top of the pool walls that runs the perimeter of the pool) you select has a soft, rounded appearance. This can help prevent injuries when children are splashing and playing in your pool.

3. Incorporate a Tanning Ledge

Most parents feel more secure when their child spends time in the shallow end of a swimming pool. If you don't want to dedicate a sizable portion of your pool to shallow water, you can incorporate a tanning ledge into the pool's design instead. A tanning ledge is a shelf a few feet below the surface of the water that runs around the outer walls of a pool. Adults can use the tanning shelf to catch some sun while still enjoying the cooling sensation of the water. Young children can use the shallow water on a tanning ledge as a place to safely play.

Contact a local contractor to learn more about swimming pool design.