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There is an almost endless number of options available for those looking to design a custom swimming pool to suit their homes. From l-shaped lap-pools to multi-level or rim-flow pools, even a pool in the outlined shape of your chosen country - the only limit to the possible innovations is your own creativity.

Of course, getting yourself into debt over a luxury item like an inground pool is just craziness. If you're likely to put yourself into financial straits to meet your glamorous expectations, it's the time either to hold out until you're in the right position to afford it, or to tone down on your expectations. Are you liquid enough for a pricey pre-shaped metal or fiberglass custom swimming pool design, or are you going to go the simple concrete route? Ultimately, settling for a collapsible rubber pool in the meantime might be the most sensible option.

But if the bug's really in you, you'll be happy to know that there's little you can do to top the jaw-dropping effect of a colour-lit inground design replete with fountains and other water features, and such things won't just give you bragging rights, they could be a serious investment in the long-term value of your home. A custom swimming pool adds character and interest to your recreational area, but be careful when designing the area that surrounds the pool - this is social space that will be the locus of pool parties and late-night, starlit romantic chats. Think about how people will want to arrange themselves in such a setting, and work accordingly to provide places for them to laze, sit and play backgammon. Remember also that the capacity of your pool, if you want to hold large pool parties or other such events, should be sufficient for seven people to move around without impeding each other - as seven in the number of people that, studies show, will be in the pool at any given time during a pool party.

Still, trying to be a party magnet with an extraordinary swimming pool without thinking about what will make you happy in a space is really just a sure path to ultimate dissatisfaction. Pick a design that you feel represents you, and your interests. Do you like being in lush natural surroundings, or enjoying the aesthetic and intellectual appeal of minimalist postmodern architecture features around your swim area? Sharp lines or curves? Gazebos or thatch huts? What color will be easiest on your eyes when you're swimming underwater? Do you like chilly dips in winter, or are you going to need a heat pump to make your pool usable when the cold months hit?

Finding your own answers to questions like this will decide whether your custom swimming pool turns out to be an element of your dream home. Considering aesthetic elements of inground pool design alongside landscaping ideas for privacy and beauty will ensure that your recreational area will suit your taste, not that of your developer or the photographers for the latest issue of Garden&Home.