8 Ways to Beautifully Integrate an Outdoor Hot Tub
Soaking in a bubbling outdoor hot tub is one of life’s great
pleasures. When the tub is not in use, though, staring at those ugly
vinyl covers can feel like a bucket of cold water is being dumped on
your head. Hot tubs present bigger aesthetic challenges, too. Just how
do you integrate a 600-hundred-gallon vessel of water into your
landscape and have it look good?
Here are eight ways to work in a hot tub while preserving your backyard’s beauty.
Here are eight ways to work in a hot tub while preserving your backyard’s beauty.
1. Place it properly. Avoid
leaving all sides of your hot tub exposed. Instead, use existing walls
and railings to hide multiple sides, then mask what remains with a
wooden enclosure. Head on, you’ll see functional steps leading to your
tub, but from the side, the tub will appear as a warm wood wall.
2. Anchor an outdoor room. Use
your tub to create a spa-like outdoor space that’s separate from your
dining area. The example here uses the wood steps that came with the
tub, and the area is partially enclosed by a fiberglass arbor, creating a
garden-like grotto that will never need to be repainted.
3. Make it a focal point. This
cedar tub is a relaxing water feature even when not in use. This method
requires expert execution, as the fountain’s drainage system is built
into the vault that also houses the cedar tub.
4. Give it character. Consider
placing an old claw-foot tub — which can often be sourced for about
$100 — in a secluded corner of your backyard. If you’re placing the tub
near your house, a plumber can often tap into your existing heater,
further minimizing your expense.
5. Plant right up to the edge.
Unlike inground pools, spas don’t require a wide berth of paved space
for access. Instead, use your tub as a beautiful garden focal point.
Here dense plantings create a lush, private spot for soaking.
6. Conceal it completely.
Hot tub? What hot tub? Custom-built spas provide the largest variety of
options for concealment, even when they’re aboveground. In this case a
stone wall hides the tub from the patio area, while the wall continues
as part of a terraced garden.
7. Create a sundeck. Even
inground tubs require covers — many of which, let’s face it, are
downright ugly. This homeowner opted for an ingenious rolling cover that
doubles as a sundeck.
