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Struggling to get a key west look

thehumanfish

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Jun 19, 2025
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I'm building a small backyard pool and there's this key west vibe I came across months back before I started building the pool that I've been trying to get, I dont know if anyone here is familiar with it but I'm not sure I'm getting it right. The pool shell is in 12x24 rectangle, but now that it's time to do the decking and landscaping, it's starting to feel a little too clean and modern, its supposed to have this old town charm vibe but it's now looking more like a hotel lap pool
Can someone give me tips to get it to the key west vibe
 
To nail that Key West vibe, go with weathered wood or travertine decking, lots of lush tropical plants, white picket fencing, pastel accents, and maybe a hammock or string lights
 
How can you transform a modern rectangular pool into something that captures that laid-back, weathered Key West charm without completely redoing the structure?
 
To nail that Key West vibe, go with weathered wood or travertine decking, lots of lush tropical plants, white picket fencing, pastel accents, and maybe a hammock or string lights
Agree with this, @thehumanfish. Nothing else I can say but good luck. Just wanna ask if the pool shell is all ready? Like is it really going to be that size and shape?
 
I can totally relate, my friend's pool looked really sleek at first, but then they made some changes. They added some rustic wood decking, a few palm trees, vintage lanterns, and some whitewashed furniture. It transformed the entire vibe without even altering the pool itself. By the way, have you already poured your decking or is it still open?
 
When I went to visit a friend in the Keys, his pool wasn't anything extravagant, just a simple rectangle, pretty much like yours. But he added his own flair, there were driftwood planters around it, an old canoe hanging up vertically with vines cascading out, and café lights strung across some palm trees that were leaning a bit. We spent the evening barefoot, sipping on mojitos, and it never once felt like we were in a hotel. It was all about the charm, not the symmetry, that really gave it that Key West vibe.
 
How can you transform a modern rectangular pool into something that captures that laid-back, weathered Key West charm without completely redoing the structure?
Add some tropical plants, weathered stone or brick decking and vintage coastal decor like lanterns or string lights. Think old wood, soft colors and relaxed furniture.. stuff that feels more like a beach cottage than a hotel. You dont need to change the pool itself, just warm up the space around it.
 
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