Is September the end of pool season? While the month is certainly less associated with this garden feature, there’s no reason why a pool can’t take on a new role as the seasons change. The secret lies in how you style the space around it, as Zendaya demonstrates.
While the glimpse of the actress's pool area dates back to 2019, the space offers a useful lesson in how to approach the pool once summer is over. The terrace is deliberately kept simple, with minimal outdoor furniture and open space around the water, allowing the architecture and planting to take the lead.
With accessories removed, the pool becomes more prominent within the garden. The terrace gives the water space to reflect the light, while the surrounding architecture and evergreen planting become more noticeable.
The furniture is kept to a minimum, too. A lounge chair and an umbrella sit towards the back of the terrace, leaving the rest of the space open. Meanwhile, the evergreen planting provides structure and keeps the garden looking full as other plants change along with the season.
Shop the Fall Pool Edit
This umbrella brings a little structure to an outdoor space, with its warm wood detailing and understated canopy making it feel well suited to the transition into fall. Trust me that it would be an easy addition to a patio or pool area.
This sling chaise lounger takes its cue from the one by Zendaya’s pool, feeling perfectly at home in a fall setting. Its understated palette makes it easy to layer with warmer textures and seasonal accents as the weather cools.
Alvah Outdoor Eucalyptus Chaise Lounge
A comfortable poolside lounger is just as useful as the pool itself for making the most of the garden, especially as the seasons change. Made from eucalyptus wood and galvanized steel hardware, this is a durable choice for outdoor spaces that need to withstand cooler weather.
Floating Solar Powered Pool Lights
If you want to give your pool a little extra glow as the evenings draw in, these floating solar lights are an easy addition. They bring a warm, atmospheric touch to the water after dark without the need for mains-powered lighting.
Kviter American Arborvitae Tree Seeds
These American arborvitae seeds are a great way to bring the rich, evergreen look seen around Zendaya's home into your own garden. Their deep green foliage adds structure outdoors, while still looking fitting as the garden shifts into its fall palette.
This best-selling solar lantern is a lovely way to keep the pool area softly lit as the evenings draw in, adding a glow around the water after dark. The intricate cut-out design makes the pool feel just as inviting after sunset.
'Viewing a pool as a permanent architectural anchor completely shifts its presence,' says Tenielle, Gardens Content Editor at . 'Once you take away the extra loungers and summer accessories, the water becomes an uninterrupted mirror for low fall light and fall foliage. Pair that reflection with evergreens, and a few well-chosen pieces, and the terrace takes on a sense of permanence without trying to recreate the feeling of midsummer.'
As Tenielle points out, a pool terrace doesn’t suddenly become irrelevant when September arrives. It can still be a focal point in the garden, even when swimming is off the agenda. 'This is often when a well-designed pool area can really come into its own,' she says.
'As the garden moves away from the abundance of summer, the hard landscaping becomes more noticeable, while the changing light brings out the texture of the stone, foliage and water.'
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The lesson is not to keep the terrace looking like summer for as long as possible, but to let it change with the garden. Once night falls, thoughtful outdoor lighting can pick out the edges of the pool and surrounding planting, giving the whole space a softer, more atmospheric feel.
With the cushions removed and the poolside accessories cleared, the architecture becomes more visible, and the garden feels calmer in time for the new season. Take it from Zendaya, who, judging by her terrace, seems to have understood this long before the rest of us.