How To Design A Baja Shelf For Your Pool
Adding a pool to your home is a great way to make your time at home more enjoyable. One of the fastest rising pool design trends today is having a pool with a Baja shelf. Also known as a tanning ledge, this is a large area on your pool where you can have a chair for basking in the sun. Incorporating a tanning ledge into your pool design is an excellent option if you enjoy lounging in the pool. Most Baja shelves are large enough to accommodate a couple of chairs and a small table. Here’s what to consider when designing a Baja shelf for your pool.
1. Decide on the Depth and Size
Traditionally, a tanning ledge is large and shallow, usually set between 3 to 6 inches in water depth as the first step of the pool. However, there are Baja shelf pool designs that are even deeper and set as the second step of the pool, roughly 14 to 17 inches in water depth. Therefore, you need to pick how deep you want your Baja shelf to be. On the other hand, how large do you want your tanning area to be? You can make it as large as a “beach,” like what you can find in resorts, or small in size to accommodate only one or two people. You need to settle on what size tanning ledge you want. Keep in mind the space available around your pool when deciding on the size of the Baja shelf.
2. Mounting Points for Umbrellas
If your tanning ledge will be in a shaded area, you don’t have to worry about umbrellas. However, if it’s not, you have to think about having mounting points for umbrellas. If you decide to have mounting points for umbrellas, the pool contractor will install them directly into the Baja shelf floor. This will let you install umbrellas when you want and remove them when they aren’t needed.
3. Custom Tiles on the Ledge’s Border
Baja shelves allow for endless customization opportunities. One of the simplest customizations you can do is on the border tiles around the perimeter of the ledge. Having custom tiles on the ledge’s border will be a great way to add a touch of style to the tanning ledge. Additionally, this is an excellent safety feature as it will clearly mark where the tanning ledge ends and the pool begins.
4. Water Features and Lighting
Contemplate installing a water feature to your Baja shelf design. This will provide a beautiful aesthetic and add amazing ambient sounds to your pool. Moreover, you can add unique lighting to the side of the ledge to increase the Baja shelf’s aesthetic appeal and provide extra lighting to the pool at night.
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