Pool Fencing Ideas: How to Elevate the Common Styles

Pool Fencing Ideas: How to Elevate the Common Styles

Posted by Lee Benson on 29th Sep 2025

When designing an outdoor space and a functional landscape, there are usually copious things to consider. Add a swimming pool into the mix – along with the filtration system, pool design, tiles, pavers and fencing – and suddenly, the list of choices becomes overwhelming. If it didn’t feel daunting before, it certainly does now.

As pool fencing is a necessity for safe and compliant swimming pools, it often gets neglected as a contributor to your garden design. But it shouldn't. These days, the number of visually appealing and well-designed pool fencing styles is growing fast. And the right pool fencing can boost the value of your property and help you define zones for privacy, entertaining and relaxation.

So how do you make pool fencing a design feature instead of just a necessity? Let’s dive into some creative pool fencing ideas to help elevate the most common styles, using high-quality materials you can find at Outback Fencing.

Our Favourite Pool Fencing Ideas

Blend Paving Stone Surrounds with Sleek Glass Fencing

Stone or tiled pavers create a solid, timeless foundation around any pool. Paired with a frameless or semi-frameless glass pool fencing, you get the best of both worlds: sturdy footing and clean, uninterrupted sightlines. There’s a reason frameless glass fencing is the top pick for luxury pools – it’s almost invisible. These fences offer maximum visibility and a sleek, minimalist design and are ideal for homes with views, open-plan yards or architectural pool landscaping, allowing your entire pool and surrounding area to shine.

This combo is especially popular in modern Aussie homes where outdoor entertaining is an extension of the interior space. Glass fencing allows your pool to remain the centrepiece, while paving provides a cool, barefoot-friendly surface. This is where nice-on-feet pavers or decking work well to harmoniously deliver a sensory delight and pleasant Aussie oasis. 

Choose earthy or sandstone-toned pavers to contrast beautifully with clear glass panels and stainless steel hardware. Or a great, low-maintenance alternative is Trex composite decking, made of PVC material. Composite decking mimics the appearance of wood while being a lot easier to look after and doesn't fade, rot or rust, meaning it will last you a lot longer than timber decking.

Pair Horizontal Slats with Glass Panels for Warmth and Sophistication

If your style leans more toward contemporary or coastal, combining horizontal aluminium slat fencing with glass pool panels delivers a winning mix. Aluminium slats add a cosy, homey feeling with warmth and texture, while the glass keeps your space open and breezy.

This combo works especially well when you want to visually divide your pool area from the rest of the yard, but still maintain some transparency. It’s also a clever solution for smaller backyards, where heavy fencing might feel too boxed in.

Define Your Deck with Integrated Pool Fencing

If your pool is part of a raised deck, consider integrating your fencing into the structure itself. By incorporating glass or vertical batten fencing directly into the deck design, you create a seamless, cohesive aesthetic. This approach is particularly useful for split-level outdoor areas or sloping backyards. It offers flexibility with layout while maintaining strict safety compliance.

Aluminium batten fencing is especially popular for this job, offering a modern, architectural style that adds texture and rhythm to your outdoor space. The clean vertical lines of batten fencing provide privacy and safety while also helping define the edges of your deck without visually closing it in. Alongside this, the warmth of wood or composite material in your decking with the stylish flair of metal battens is an ideal choice for homeowners looking to create a high-end, resort-style finish around their pool.

Create a Seamless Flow with White Pool Fencing and a PVC Fencing Boundary

Sometimes the best design choice is the simplest one. White PVC fencing offers a clean, cohesive look that works beautifully to complement white pool fencing, especially when you want a unified, uncluttered outdoor aesthetic. White pool fencing is a classic – it looks great, is easy to install and simple to clean and maintain.

PVC is a low-maintenance and long-lasting material that won’t rot, rust or fade in the sun. It’s also incredibly easy to clean and maintain PVC fencing, making it ideal for poolside environments. By choosing white PVC fencing around the perimeter of your backyard, you’ll help the white pool fence subtly thread the colours through the garden space, while blending into the background. Continuing the same or similar style within your pool zone, you create a visually harmonious flow that ties your entire outdoor space together.

This approach works particularly well in Hamptons-style, modern farmhouse or minimalist garden design styles, where crisp white lines and neutral tones help to enhance functional landscaping, pool tiles and decking rather than compete with them. It’s a stylish, functional and affordable solution that simplifies your fencing decisions while still elevating your outdoor design.

Add Character with a Classic Metal Pool Fence

Sometimes the old-school options are still some of the best. A metal pool fence, like tubular aluminium or steel, can be a simple, durable and cost-effective way to secure your pool. Tubular aluminium pool fencing from Outback Fencing comes in both classic black and white options, which are both rust-resistant and available in ready-to-use panels for easy DIY installation. These fences work especially well with traditional, federation-style or post-war Australian homes, where ornate detailing or decorative scrolls are used.

Add Texture and Style with Perforated Pool Fencing

If you're after a modern, architectural statement that still prioritises safety and visibility, perforated pool fencing is hard to go past. This contemporary fencing style uses durable marine grade alloy with precision-cut patterns that offer both form and function.

The beauty of perforated fencing lies in its stylish design versatility that adds to and complements your home’s aesthetic – you can go for a decorative palm pattern or a sophisticated geometric cut. Despite its bold look, perforated fencing maintains excellent airflow and partial transparency, allowing you to keep sightlines open while adding a layer of privacy and security – making it one of the safest outdoor fences for kids.

It’s an ideal solution for homeowners who want something more eye-catching than traditional glass or vertical bars, without sacrificing safety or compliance. Powder-coated fences are built to last in harsh Australian weather, with minimal maintenance required.

Incorporate Landscaping as Fencing

For those who prefer a more natural look, use strategic landscaping to complement or partially conceal your pool fence. While greenery can’t replace compliant fencing, it can soften the lines of glass or metal barriers and make the whole area feel more serene.

Think climbing vines on a vertical slat fence, dense hedging along the perimeter or planter boxes integrated into your fence design. Or maybe you have a raised bed and retaining wall around your pool. Connect the raised sections with a pool fence to provide a partially natural fence that keeps the organic feeling of your space while incorporating pool safety. This hybrid approach is perfect for tropical, Mediterranean or coastal garden styles and can turn your pool area into a lush, private oasis.

Common Questions about Pool Fencing

What is the Cheapest Way to Put a Fence Around a Pool?

The most cost-effective option is usually tubular aluminium pool fencing. It’s lightweight, easy to install and highly resistant to corrosion, which is especially important in Australian climates. Outback Fencing offers a variety of aluminium fence panels that comply with pool safety regulations without breaking the bank.

What is the Average Cost of a Fence Around a Pool?

Costs vary depending on the materials and complexity of the installation. Here's a rough guide ont he cost of supply and installation of the common types:

  • Aluminium pool fencing: $40–$150 per metre
  • Frameless glass pool fencing: $250–$500 per metre
  • Perforated pool fencing: $200-$500 per metre

Keep in mind, these are averages, and factors like site preparation, gate hardware and local council requirements can influence the total cost.

What is the Best Type of Fence for a Pool?

While the “best” fence is subjective, here are some guidelines to help you find the best pool fence for you:

  • Frameless Glass Pool Fence – best for aesthetics and unobstructed views
  • Semi-frameless Glass – good balance of cost and appearance
  • Aluminium or Steel – great for affordability and one of the top durable fencing styles
  • Perforated Pool Fence – perfect for design-conscious homeowners and contemporary homes.
  • Custom Combinations – ideal for unique layouts or design preferences

All in all, though, the best pool fence is also one that keeps everyone safe – and every fence sold by Outback Fencing meets Australian safety standards, so then, the best choice when shopping with us ultimately comes down to budget and style.

How Tall Must a Fence be Around a Swimming Pool?

In most Australian states and territories, your pool fence must be at least 1200mm (1.2 metres) high. The gap under the fence cannot exceed 100mm, and vertical gaps between bars must also be under 100mm to prevent climbing.

Always check with your local council or state regulations to ensure compliance, as rules may vary slightly between regions.

Final Points

Pool fencing doesn’t have to be boring or purely functional. With the right materials and a little creativity, your fence can become a key design feature, one that enhances your pool area and adds lasting value to your home.

Perhaps you're drawn to the sleek minimalism of frameless glass, the coastal charm of white pool fencing with PVC boundaries, the bold geometry of perforated metal or the timeless practicality of aluminium fencing. There's a style to suit every backyard and architectural preference. And while choosing the right type is essential, it's how you integrate that fencing into your overall landscape design that truly brings your space to life.

By applying the pool fencing ideas we've shared, like blending with decking, integrating with the natural contours or matching your boundary fence, you can create a safe, compliant and visually cohesive area that feels anything but off-the-shelf.

Here at Outback Fencing, we’re here to help you choose the right fencing for your space, and we offer a wide range of high-quality pool fencing options designed for Australian conditions and DIY installation. Explore our full range of pool fencing online and take the next step toward building a safe, stylish and sophisticated pool area you'll love for years to come.

About the author

author

Lee Benson

With over a decade of experience in all things Australian-made fencing solutions, Lee Benson is one of Adelaide's most trusted names in fencing. Lee takes great pride in making sure that Outback Fencing's range of fencing supplies is designed to provide Australian homeowners and business owners with all the security and design essentials that they need to get the very most out of their property fencing.

With a passion for problem solving, Lee takes great pride in designing stunning garden spaces that stand up to Australia's harshest weather extremes. Lee draws from all his expert insights to consistently provide his customers with the most suitable fencing solutions for their home and property.