Ideas worth stealing.
Real backyard features — what they're good for, how they hit the budget, and what they pair well with. Tap any feature to ask AE about it.
Pool shapes
Shape drives cost, sightlines, and how the yard flows around the pool.
Rectangle / linear
Cleanest modern look; easiest to add a baja shelf.
L-shape
Great for tight lots where you want zones.
Freeform
More forgiving on irregular lots.
Water features
The sound and motion of water makes a yard feel finished.
Sheer descents
Crisp sheet of water — the modern default.
Scuppers
Lowest-cost water feature with big impact.
Rain wall / curtain
Statement piece for resort designs.
Raised spas
A raised spa with a spillover is the single highest-ROI pool upgrade.
Spillover into pool
Visual + audio + functional all at once.
Freestanding raised spa
Year-round hangout — no pool required.
Baja shelves
Shallow shelf for lounging, sun-bathing, and umbrellas.
Baja shelf with umbrella sleeve
Spec the sleeve during design — retrofitting is harder.
Scalloped baja with bench
Built-in bench keeps adults in the shallow end.
Fire bowls
Fire on the pool wall is the resort signature.
Pair on raised wall
Symmetry sells the resort feel.
Single statement bowl
Less is more in modern designs.
Pergolas
Shade is the difference between a yard you use and one you avoid.
Motorized louvered roof
Open or close on demand; weather-tight when needed.
Aluminum freestanding
Zero maintenance, AZ-engineered.
Wood overhead
Beautiful — if you'll maintain it.
Outdoor kitchens
An anchor — not an island.
L-shaped with bar seating
Bar seating turns the cook into a host.
Linear cooking wall
Compact and beautiful against a CMU wall.
Pavilion with pizza oven
The most-used feature in a resort yard.
Turf + paver combos
Defined zones beat one big slab or one big lawn.
Paver stripes through turf
Visually expands small lots.
Putting green + paver patio
Functional and gorgeous.
Glass fencing
Sonoran Glass & Fence — almost invisible, fully code-compliant.
Frameless tempered
Disappears into the design.
Semi-frameless
Best balance of cost and aesthetics.
Lighting ideas
Layered, dimmable, programmable. Not one porch bulb.
Permanent RGBW trim (AE LEDs)
Can reduce ongoing seasonal lighting costs over time vs. annually hiring out installation.
Tree + wall uplighting
Makes the yard feel three times bigger after dark.
Path & step lights
Low cost, high impact.
Small yard ideas
Townhouses, casitas, and zero-lot-line wins.
Plunge pool
Big design impact, small footprint.
Stand-alone spa with pergola
Year-round hangout.
Vertical garden + wall fire
Builds drama up, not out.
Luxury backyard ideas
When budget isn't the constraint, design is.
Outdoor pavilion with TV + kitchen
The most-used space in a resort yard.
Putting green + tee box
Best golf you'll play all year.
Rain curtain entry feature
First impression people remember.
Kid-friendly yards
Safety, soft surfaces, shade, and zones kids actually use.
Splash pad
Recirculating systems save water.
Shaded baja shelf
Where toddlers actually want to be.
Soft turf play zone
Cool-fill turf is non-negotiable.
Pet-friendly yards
Dogs thrive on the right turf and shade — and ruin the wrong ones.
Pet-rated turf zone
Pet base is different from regular base.
Dedicated shade & water
Built-in dog stations elevate the design.
Decomposed-granite dog run
Practical and out-of-sight.