As spring begins to transition into early summer and the mercury climbs higher, you'll likely be looking for ways to escape your house and make the most of the beautiful seasonal weather. Whether you already have a pool or are interested in having one installed, designing a surrounding patio or deck that's conducive to solo relaxation or large social events will make your home the happening destination of the summer. So, if you're interested in expanding your pool area's arrangement beyond a couple of lawn chairs and an umbrella, here are some décor tips to get started.

Cooking area
A great way to organize the space around your pool is to base it on the layout you might find at a community pool or outdoor resort – put a premium on serving your guests. While you might be tempted to put your grill off on its own, incorporating a built-in barbecue area into your pool will make it the center of activity for any social occasion. Consider placing an outdoor bar or poolside shack next to your barbecue area with contemporary or traditional outdoor furniture nearby for guests to socialize without straying too far from the food and beverages. If you can include shade in this area in the form of large patio umbrellas, a gazebo or awning, you'll have the perfect spot for relaxing and drying off by the pool.

Nighttime appeal
While the longer days of summer are great for hosting midday events that extend into the evening, there will no doubt be some parties that guests simply don't want to end just because the sun is down. For instances such as these, you'll want to make sure there is plenty of illumination for people to continue safely enjoying the pool area. Consider putting up some torches for added ambiance along with ground-level lights to reveal walkways. You may also want to consider lining your pool with glowing, colorful lights to put a unique twist on nighttime swimming.

After-hours entertainment
While swimming and relaxing by the pool is great, you may want to include a secondary source of entertainment when you and your guests grow tired of the water – particularly at night when it gets a bit chilly outside. To keep the party going, including a portable bio-ethanol outdoor fireplace will provide a source of warmth and light that's also a social focal point for guests to converse around and roast marshmallows.