For those of us who don’t have the room or finances to have a “real” pool installed at our homes, the very popular easy set pool systems are a great option. We bought one last summer, and it was probably the best $100 I’ve spent.
After setting it up — which I will admit was a nightmare — I quickly realized unless I came up with a place outside for everyone to change in and out of wet clothes, store towels and pool items and hang things to dry, my house would be a sopping mess of dirt, water, wet bathing suites and damp towels all summer.
After determining we needed a pool house of some kind, I started thinking of where and how I could make it work. The obvious choice for my particular yard was the small garden shed we have near the pool, used to keep various gardening tools, lawn furniture and a friend’s motorcycle. It was the perfect location.
I then went searching about my house, basement and garage for items to create the space. My search yielded some blue- and white-striped fabric I purchased a few years ago, a hammer and nails, some 3-inch ribbon with a star pattern, a set of old patriotic curtains and a folding clothes-drying rack.
I first cleared out one corner of the shed near the door for the changing area. I then nailed the largest piece of fabric to the rafter to create a private area. After attaching the ribbon to the wall to act as a tieback, I then added a small piece of fabric above the window for a curtain and the two curtain panels to the floor as a rug. In the corner, I placed an outdoor resin chair, a hanging basket for goggles and diving masks and the drying rack for wet swimsuits and towels.
Now for those of you who don’t have a shed or other covered space to use, you can still create an area for changing. Hang a few pieces of fabric between a couple of trees, on as many sides as you need to offer privacy. Between two more trees within your designated area, hang a clothesline at two levels — for towels and bathing suites — and set a chair or two for sitting, along with something to hold various pool accessories and toys.
Here are a few other quick tips for keeping outdoor items neat and organized:
1. Use an umbrella stand with a dowel or stick in it to store inner tubes; they stay grounded even during some of the worst storms throughout the summer season.
2. Keep dry towels in a lidded plastic tub in the changing area. Use one bag, tray or basket everyday to carry all the things that need to come in and out, such as the phone, a book or magazine, sunblock and other items that come in and out on a daily basis.
My goal is always to make things easier to manage and more appealing to the eye. You can add your own flare and personality to your pool house or changing area. Above all else -- have fun with it.
author: Rachael Mard