The space surrounding a swimming pool can be organized in many ways. The nature of this organization depends on the size of the space around the pool, i.e. the backyard (only special people would build a pool in the front yard). Once you have set up your mind on the swimming pool project, you have to determine the size of the pool.
And the size of the pool will depend on the space that you have in the area meant for the pool. If this first stage is done in a lazy way, it might happen that there will not be any space for the pool patio. To avoid that, you should measure the whole area very carefully and even ask professionals swimming pool builders to come and make that part on your behalf. When you have determined the size and shape of the pool, you are ready to cope with the patio and all its possible features.
How Big Should It Be?
When you have decided what area is going to be taken by the swimming pool, it is time to make a clear plan about the dimensions of the pool patio. There will be several options and possible shapes of the patio. Some people like to line the pool with the patio, which usually means that they have a path-like and about five to six feet wide patio around the pool. The disadvantage of this approach is the fact that you waste a lot of pretty expensive materials to make a path around the pool, rather than a classy and glittery patio.
Size does matter, but it is wiser to make your patio a compact unit that can be turned into a multipurpose area. To do so, the best option is to reserve the area between the pool and your house for the pool patio. If applying such an exterior design strategy, you will be able to connect your pool and your house with the patio. That way the patio could serve as a summer garden during the warm season and then during colder months, it could be turned into a real winter garden.
What Materials to Use?
The type of materials depends largely on your budget. If you are already in the middle of the pool building process and you are considering the patio, it probably means that money is not a big deal for you. If that is the case, the only thing that you should bear in mind is the esthetic value of the materials for your patio and their durability.
When it comes to patio materials, concrete is the most popular option. It is most affordable and if it cracks, which it eventually will, you it is quite easily fixed by pouring only a new amount of concrete into the cracks. However, concrete patios are quite outdated today. They might be a fine option for a hut in the hills, but a beautiful house in the suburbia should not be paired with such a solution. For these houses and their swimming pools there are many different paver products that can make your patio an outstanding area for killing hot summer afternoons under by reading a book in the shade or, on the other hand, a cozy lounge for drizzly autumn morning coffee-drinking sessions.
What Furniture?
Once the patio has been done, you are in front of the next task – decorating it with furniture. This largely depends on the type of patio you have created. If you have opted for a multipurpose patio lunge that can be enriched with a patio roof, or screened during winter days, then you can go for softer furniture items, such as armchairs and wooden chairs. 
