50 Swimming Pool House, Cabana and Pergola Ideas (Photos)

These are amazing poolside houses, cabanas and pergolas for your backyard. Whether you need a shaded area or a full pool house for guests, get ideas for your poolside structures here.

As if having a pool isn’t lucky enough, some very fortunate swimming pool owners splurge for a pool cabana.

The cabana is a structure adjacent to a swimming pool. It’s a broad term and as you can see in our photo gallery below, can include a variety of structure types including fully enclosed, partially enclosed such as gazebo and entirely open (i.e. pavilion).

The above-featured pool house photo was provided by Pool Craft.

Related: Backyard Hot Tub Ideas | Wood Pergola Plan and Parts | Redwood Decks & Pergolas | Deck Plan with Pergola | House Exteriors | Pool Gazebo Ideas | Swimming Pool Slides 

Pool House Ideas

Poolside house designed by Wael Farran Studio. See the entire pool house here.

A pool-side house with a modish built and warm white lights. There’s a pergola on the side featuring a romantic swing.

A stunning swimming pool area with modish sitting lounges and a pool slide, along with a modern pool house on the corner.

A stunning backyard with a pool-side house and lush trees, plants and lawns. There’s a deck leading to the swimming pool as well.

A beautiful pool side house lighted by warm white lights. The swimming pool looks so luxurious.

A nicely setup swimming pool surrounded by lush lawns, trees and plants. The outdoor also offers multiple sitting lounges.

The following pool houses are by Pool Craft.

A modish swimming pool with a deck and a pool-side house surrounded by trees and plants.

A custom made swimming pool offering beautiful views of the surrounding. The colorful flowers and plants add liveliness to the property.

This custom made swimming pool also has a pool-side house featuring a bar area and a fireplace near the living space.

A close up look at this pool side house’s rattan sofa set near the fireplace, set on the concrete tiles flooring.

Kidney-shaped swimming pool featuring a classy poolside house on the side, offering a bar area and a living space with a fireplace and TV on the wall.

A glamorous pool-side house featuring a bar outside. The property boasts a luxurious swimming pool surrounded by healthy trees, plants and flowers.

This home offers a stunning swimming pool with a modern pool-side house on the side lighted by warm white lights for a romantic vibe.

Poolside Cabana Ideas

A close up look at this pool-side modern cabana. The swimming pool looks handsome with its infinity style.

This cabana looks very charming. It is surrounded by the stunning infinity pool of the property.

A swimming pool area surrounded by tropical trees and plants. It also features traditional sitting lounges and a cabana.

This home boasts an Asian-inspired swimming pool area and a cabana with a bridge. The surrounding mature trees and plants make the property stay cool.

An infinity pool with a pool-side cabana offering a breathtaking view of the surroundings.

A modern home featuring a rectangular swimming pool with a modern pool-side cabana.

An infinity swimming pool with a jacuzzi and a pool-side cabana, surrounded by magnificent mature trees.

A focused shot at the property’s pool-side cabana. The swimming pool looks stunning as well.

A close up look at the swimming pool’s deck. On the other side is where the pool-side cabana is located.

Large swimming pool surrounded by colorful plants. There’s a cabana as well, providing a great spot for relaxing.

A close up look at this property’s pool-side cabana with a dining table set and a barbecue grill.

Very charming pool-side cabanas overlooking the breathtaking ocean view. The home also boasts an infinity-style swimming pool.

This swimming pool area is surrounded by mature trees and plants. The tropical vibe makes the deck and cabana a more relaxing place.

A tropical style outdoor area featuring a swimming pool leading directly to the traditional cabana.

This mansion offers a large outdoor area featuring a swimming pool and a pool-side cabana offering multiple sitting lounges.

This mansion offers a custom made swimming pool and a traditional cabana on top.

This mansion boasts a stylish infinity-style swimming pool with a lovely pool-side cabana and a couple of sitting lounges on the side. There’s a patio area as well.

This mansion boasts a stylish infinity-style swimming pool with a lovely pool-side cabana and a couple of sitting lounges on the side. There’s a modern patio area as well.

A close up look at this pool-side cabana’s modern pieces of furniture set on the backyard’s deck.

A stunning pool-side home with a handsome rectangular swimming pool featuring a cabana on the end.

This home boasts a luxurious swimming pool and pool-side cabana. The flooring adds class to the swimming pool area.

A modern swimming pool area and a pool-side cabana surrounded by lush lawn and beautiful trees, plants and flowers.

A focused shot at this pool-side cabana offering classy seats and lighting. The pool area offers multiple sitting lounges.

The following poolside cabanas are by Pool Craft.

Large backyard area with a stunning custom made swimming pool along with a pathway leading to the cabana.

A stunning swimming pool with multiple lounges. There’s a bar area and a classic cabana as well.

This home boasts a swimming pool and a pool-side cabana with a modern set of furniture and a firepit. The area is protected by a wooden fence.

A close up look at this cabana’s bar with a stunning countertop.

A close up look at this property’s jacuzzi just beside the pool-side cabana with modern furniture set and a firepit on the center.

Poolside Pergola Ideas

Poolside gazebo designed by Wael Farran Studio. See the entire pool house here.

A large pool-side pergola with multiple rattan seats and classy lighting. The area overlooks the breathtaking surroundings.

Poolside gazebo designed by Wael Farran Studio. See the entire pool house here.

A large pool-side pergola with multiple rattan seats and classy lighting. The area overlooks the breathtaking surroundings.

A luxurious custom made swimming pool with a pergola on the side, offering a couple of sitting lounges.

Rectangle-shaped swimming pool with a pergola on the end, featuring two sitting lounges surrounded by beautiful greenery.

A small pool-side pergola featuring a round coffee table set.

The following poolside pergolas are by Pool Craft.

A classy white pool-side pergola featuring a stylish set of sitting lounges set at the end of the swimming pool.

An oval-shaped swimming pool with a slide and a pergola on the edge, featuring a small bar counter.

A rectangular swimming pool featuring a jacuzzi and a pool-side pergola with a classic set of rattan seats.

Pool house vs. Cabana vs. Pergola

While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they are different.

• Pool house: A full structure with 4 walls. Often used as a guest house or a secondary structure on the property such as a man cave, lounge, etc.
• Cabana:  Usually a 3 wall structure with the open side facing the pool. Often the walls are fabric that can be kept open. Pavilions are also referred to as cabanas. Pavilions have a solid roof atop 4 posts.
• Pergola:  A pergola is a structure with parallel beams for the roof which lets in some sun. Its primary purpose is to offer some shade but still somewhat exposed to the elements.

Why build a cabana or pool house?

I have to admit I can’t handle too much heat and if I exposed to a lot of heat, I like some shade. I love swimming in pools, but once I get too hot, I run for shelter. That’s why I love cabanas so much.

I don’t require an extravagant cabana with bathroom, kitchen and lounge. A simple structure with some comfortable seating that provides full shade does it for me.

In my view, any pool can be enhanced with a cabana. The only exception may be if there’s a covered deck / patio adjacent to the pool from an awning or roof extension.

Types of Poolside Structures

Fully Enclosed

Some cabanas are like a guest house on the property. They have interior rooms such as a living room, bathroom, bar and/or kitchen.

Partially Enclosed

Other cabanas are partially enclosed and partially open to the pool area. This is more common than a fully enclosed type. These usually consist of a large covered lounge area but may contain an enclosed bathroom and/or changing room. Other features may include a covered outdoor kitchen, sleeping quarters such as a bunk house or guest quarters, a bar, a patio dining area and/or covered patio lounge area.

Fully Open

This is the simplest structure. It may be four posts with a roof, which is also referred to as a pavilion, but qualifies as a cabana when adjacent to a swimming pool. Usually these are covered lounge and/or dining areas. They’re designed to provide a shaded area in the swimming pool oasis backyard. In a nutshell they’re pavilions or pergolas.

Cabana Design

Some extravagant homes will build a solid structure cabana in a replicate style to the main home. This is obviously over the top, but can look fantastic and provide a great guest house in addition to an additional lounge/dining area outside.

Most cabanas are much simpler and are built as a simple structure containing four posts and a roof. The design is basic; usually constructed of wood.

About Pool Craft (featured above)

Pool Craft is a custom swimming pool design and installation company that specializes in all aspects of backyard planning. Our in-house designs allows us to produce very creative swimming pool designs in a timely manner. Whether you’re looking to have only a pool installed or you want to build the backyard of your dreams, Pool Craft is here to help every step of the way.