Pool Design Trends We Expect in 2027: A Minnesota Builder's Take
Smaller pools, automation as standard, saltwater as default, and a fresh look at dark finishes — what I expect Minnesota homeowners to ask for in 2027, and why.
What Pool Trends Do I Expect in 2027?
In 2027, I expect three shifts from what I wrote about last year: pools getting smaller and more purposeful instead of bigger, automation moving from a nice-to-have to something most families just build in from the start, and saltwater systems becoming the default ask rather than the upgrade. Tanning ledges are still the one homeowners bring up most in design conversations — that call hasn't changed. For 2027, homeowners are also asking more about cold-plunge and sauna pairings alongside the pool, and a fresh round of questions about dark liners and finishes. In 36 years building pools across the Twin Cities and Western Wisconsin, I write this list from what I actually heard in last winter's and this summer's design conversations, weighed against a three-to-five month Minnesota swim season.
Smaller, Smarter Pools — and the Tanning Ledge Holds Its Spot
For years the instinct was to build as much pool as the lot and budget allowed. Heading into 2027, I expect that to keep reversing. More families are asking for a right-sized pool, enough for laps, a tanning ledge, and room for the kids, rather than maxing out the yard. Part of it is cost: a smaller shell with the features that matter (ledge, automation, a good heater) often lands at a similar or lower price than a bigger, bare-bones pool. It also comes down to maintenance: less surface area means less chemical, less heating cost, and a shorter time to balance the water each spring. I don't push this on anyone; some yards and families genuinely want the bigger pool. But when someone asks me to help them decide, I'm increasingly steering toward 'build what you'll use' over 'build what fits.' The feature that keeps showing up in that right-sized plan is the tanning ledge, that shallow, 4–8 inch shelf built into one end of the pool. It's what I hear most often in design conversations, and 2027 isn't changing that. What is new for 2027 is more people pairing the ledge with in-water furniture or a built-in umbrella sleeve, turning it into a lounge spot for adults as much as a wading area for kids. It's a comfort feature: somewhere to sit in a few inches of warm-enough water with a drink, or let a toddler splash without standing over the deep end. That's reason enough on its own to keep specifying it.
Automation Moves From Upgrade to Standard
Last year I described phone-based pool automation as a $2,000–$5,000 add-on worth considering. For 2027, that's headed toward a default line item on most new builds, the same way a variable-speed pump already is. The systems themselves haven't changed much — you're still controlling pump, heater, lights, and water features from an app — but I'm quoting it into more builds by default now, and homeowners increasingly ask 'what app does it use' before they ask 'do I need this.' For Minnesota, the practical case is still the same one I've made for years: heat the pool from your phone before you leave work, or check the pump remotely while you're at the cabin.
Saltwater Moves from Upgrade to Default
Saltwater chlorine generation has been trending up for a few years, and by 2027 I expect it to keep climbing: it's increasingly the default ask in design conversations, even though I still spec it case-by-case rather than as a blanket default. The appeal for Minnesota owners is the same as always — softer-feeling water and steadier chemical levels through our short but intense season. Most of what people call a 'chlorine smell' is actually chloramines building up when the chemistry has gotten away from you; a salt system's steadier output tends to keep that smell from showing up as often. What's changed is how often the question comes up unprompted — a few years ago I'd explain the option, now most homeowners walk in already asking for it. A saltwater system does add equipment cost, so I still walk through it yard by yard rather than quoting it as standard on every build.
Contrast Therapy: Cold Plunge and Sauna Pairings
This is the clearest new question I'm fielding for 2027 that I wasn't hearing much of a year or two ago: pairing a cold plunge, or the pool itself used cold, with a sauna for contrast therapy. Hot-cold cycling has moved from a niche wellness habit into something regular families ask about alongside a standard pool consultation. For Minnesota, it's a genuinely good climate fit — we already have cold water most of the shoulder season, and a sauna extends outdoor use well past when the pool closes for the year. We build and install backyard saunas alongside pool projects, and I expect more 2027 designs to plan the pool pad, sauna, and plunge space together from day one rather than bolting a sauna on years later. If this is new to you, we've written more on backyard saunas specifically — worth a read before your design appointment.
Dark Liners and Finishes: A Second Look for 2027
Last year I told readers I'd skip dark-bottom liners for Minnesota pools — they look striking, but darker finishes absorb more heat, which sounds good here until you realize it makes water temperature harder to control on the hottest days. I'm not reversing that for 2027. What I am seeing is a middle ground: homeowners asking for deep blue-gray or slate-toned liners rather than true black, which give a similar richer, more natural look without the extreme heat-absorption trade-off of a full dark-bottom finish. If a client wants that darker, moodier water color, that's the version I steer them toward. True black liners remain a request I talk people out of more often than I approve. Our climate's physics stayed the same even as the trend caught on.
Start Your 2027 Build This Winter
What hasn't changed matters as much as what's new: an automatic safety cover is still what we recommend on most Minnesota builds, variable-speed pumps and LED lighting are still the right calls too, the same as they were in 2026, and a tanning ledge remains the feature-for-dollar upgrade I recommend most. Timing is the biggest factor in a good 2027 build. Our design calendar has the most open slots between now and the January rush, which is exactly the window to weigh saltwater, automation, a sauna pairing, and finish color without a deadline pushing the decision. If any of this has you thinking about a 2027 build, that's the window to start — once spring hits, the calendar fills fast and a later slot means a later pool. I'll walk your yard, talk through which trends actually fit your family and which ones I'd skip, and put together a real design and a real number while there's still room on the schedule. Call (651) 653-6807 to get on the winter design calendar.