How to create a backyard pool that holds all day outdoors – loungers, shade, a bar cart, and towel racks all in one.
This post is sponsored by Wayfair
In the middle of summer, the lake is where everyone ends up. The trick is setting it up to feel like a resort – the kind of place no one wants to leave.
One of the easiest steps is to stock the yard with everything you need, so there is no running inside every ten minutes (and if your imagination is good, you can pretend that someone brings everything). A towel valet that keeps a fresh stack ready, a towel rack that gives every wet towel a home, a collapsible cooler that comes to you, and a floating tray that keeps snacks out of the water – they’re what turn “we have a pool” into “we’ll never go inside.” And Wayfair has become a one-stop shop.
A towel valet that comes out the back is one of those additions that changes everything. Keep it stocked and always have a fresh stack ready – no awkward “can I borrow a towel?” ask, and no one was running inside dripping wet on the trail. It doubles as a home for pool toys, so the whole setup stays compact and on the go from the first swim of the day to the last.
This year’s favorite, however, is one of the glitzier pieces: a glossy black towel rack placed by the pool. Six bars mean everyone has room for a wet towel, the heavy-duty base stays put even when everything is loaded, and the small tray on top is a convenient landing spot for sunscreen. The details are so lovely – a little thing that takes the back of the house up another notch.
Then there is the rolling cooler, which is quickly gaining ground. Instead of sitting on the ground, it stands tall and rolls right to where everyone is gathered, so cold drinks are always close at hand. There’s a built-in bottle opener on the side, and the soft blue looks more pulled together than the cooler has any right to be. Fill up in the morning and half the trip back to the kitchen is gone.
And a detail that makes swimming day feel like a real event: the floating tray. Load it with snacks and drinks, push it a little, and it drifts from float to float so no one has to get on board to be refilled. It’s a little thing that keeps everyone in the water for a long time – which, on a hot afternoon, is the point.
If you’re trying to transform your backyard into that kind of all-day space, here’s everything Wayfair has assembled to get you there:
Black Glossy Towel Rack [$149] – This year’s favorite. Six bars, a heavy base that stays put, and a tray on top for sun protection.
Floating Tray [$215] — Floats treats and drinks to the water, so refills come to you instead.
Rolling Beverage Cooler [~$219 + link] — It sits on a stand instead of the floor, rolls to wherever everyone is gathered, and has a built-in bottle opener. Blue is the one to get you. (More on this here.)
Towel Valet [$369] – Keeps towels and pool toys easy to grab – it’s what makes the backyard feel like a resort.
Chaise Loungers [$1699] — Match the pair in the water and build the best seat in the yard.
An outdoor umbrella [$295] – The shade can run around the deck as the sun moves. It is appropriate to design other residential areas around it.
Bar Cart [$122] — Parked within reach so no one has to get up for a cold drink… which is part of the reason everyone stays outside.
Outdoor Chaise Lounge [$799] – Cabana lines on a base of hand-woven yarn – it looks like it was pulled straight from the resort, and is a piece everyone will want to claim first.
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