21 Splashy Stock Tank Pool Ideas to Copy This Summer

If having a pool in your backyard has always felt like a fantasy, consider a stock tank pool. These "pools" are actually water troughs for livestock. But for those of us who are pool-less, they’re an easy, inexpensive solution for almost any outdoor space. A stock tank typically costs just a few hundred dollars. They come in a variety of sizes and can be set up with a pump like a traditional pool. Discover fun ways to incorporate one of these sturdy plunge pools in your backyard.

If the views from your stock pool are limited to your neighbor’s concerningly overgrown grass and chronically cluttered garden shed, grab your lucky pen. Take notes from the pros at H2O Tank Avenue and create your own view. Using acrylic-based formulas, paint a vibrant mural of your ideal vacation spot on your existing wood or metal privacy screen. Not only will this project detract from less-than-lovely neighboring yards, but it offers an opportunity to let your personality shine in your outdoor design.

Make your stock tank pool the standout focal point in your backyard with a few coats of paint. Check out our DIY stock tank pool tutorial below to find our step-by-step process to paint crisp, clean stripes on your pool at home. HGTV Stylist Jill Tennant uses lively lime green and ultra-white paint to achieve a punchy retro appeal that feels fresh for summer. Follow her lead with the same chic hues or select new shades catered to your style and existing outdoor furnishings.

Bamboo, chinoiserie and fringe trim — oh my! Design blogger Rachel Sweerin of Serene & Co. wraps her stock tank pool in a neat row of white bamboo reeds to achieve playful Palm Beach flair in this tropical backyard. Give your stock tank pool the same regency-chic treatment with bamboo reeds lacquered in a color of your choice. Finish your elegant outdoor space with a midcentury patio dining set, rattan lounge chairs and glossy blue-and-white planters.

Designer Bri Moysa proves the power of restraint with this sleek, modern stock tank pool. The pared-back design is simple yet striking with an inky black stock tank, a streamlined wooden deck and a jungle of potted succulents. Follow Moysa’s less-is-more approach and stick with a solid-color stock tank pool and corner deck to maximize space in your modest backyard.

Make this dreamy decked-out stock tank pool by Tipsy Tank Pools your muse if your idea of the ideal summer afternoon involves dipping your toes in the water before spending your time stretched out on your lounge chair under the sun. An expansive wood deck surrounds the classic stock tank pool and offers ample space to set up sun chaises, roll out towels and dry off between swims with family and friends.

Take notes from textile designer Erin Barrett of Sunwoven and give your stock tank pool the Midas touch this summer. This gold-coated stock tank pool serves as a cheerful gathering point for friends and family on the deck. Paint your pool the same showy shade with options like Dutch Tulip by HGTV Home Sherwin Williams or Babouche by Farrow & Ball, then accessorize with aqua and white details for a clean, inviting look.

Here we have definitive proof that it is always a good idea to think outside the box (or, in this case, the sphere). Interior decorator Becky Grunwald of The Other Side of Neutral breaks from the mold and uses an oval stock tank pool to beat the heat on this coastal-style deck. Grunwald paints the tank fresh white and adds a navy-and-blue lifebuoy for nautical appeal. Recreate this breezy design on your porch or patio with an oval stock tank, white paint and a decorative buoy. Inflatable waterfowl are optional but recommended.

Escape the hustle and create a relaxing outdoor oasis inspired by this H2O Tank Avenue design. The L-shaped deck wraps around a wood-clad stock tank pool, giving way to a sunbathing platform framed with integrated privacy walls. Dual stairs offer easy access to the deck platform and bring striking symmetry to the outdoor space.

Give your stock tank pool a finished look with a quick-and-easy brick border. Here, the experts at H2O Tank Avenue use standard red bricks to create a tailored edge around an inky-black stock tank pool. The textural garden bricks mirror the undertones of the stone retaining wall behind the pool and soften the otherwise stark black-and-white structure for a balanced result.

Escape the rigors of your daily routine in an outdoor oasis of your making a la this dream set up by Melissa Wyckstandt. Here, a collection of lush tropical plants creates a makeshift privacy wall for the wooden deck surrounding the stock tank pool. The blanket of fronds and leaves allows for sunbathing and socializing without feeling on display to surrounding neighbors and lends the space a vacation-worthy feel. A sunshade extends over the deck and pool, adding another layer of peacefulness to the space.

The late, great Frank Sinatra once said that orange is the happiest color and we think Ol’ Blue Eyes was on to something. Case and point: this splashy citrus stock tank pool from Erin Barrett of Sunwoven. The bold hue brings unbridled joy to this contemporary deck and serves as a fiery focal point for friends and family. Paint your pool a similar, smile-inducing orange with our top picks: Outgoing Orange from HGTV HOME by Sherwin Williams, Charlotte’s Locks from Farrow & Ball or Tangerine Fusion by Benjamin Moore.

Why limit your stock tank to a single color when you can wrap it in rainbow stripes instead? Blogger Marissa Bushee offers ample inspiration with this playful polychrome stock pool design. To recreate Marissa’s design, paint your tank solid white, then use painter’s tape to create clean, evenly spaced lines around the parameter. Select 5-10 lively summer hues in an acrylic-based paint formula and apply them to your tank following our step-by-step tutorial below.

Here’s your sign to book a trip to Thornbury, Ontario, and stay at the endlessly charming Penny’s Motel so you can take a dip in their dreamy stock tank pool. But in the meantime, recreate their swimming hole in your backyard by coating your tank in creamy-white paint and installing a spacious wooden deck. And, if you’re installing your deck against a wall or fence, take a page out of Penny’s book and add a mural for the ultimate photo-op.

Who says circles are the only shape option for your stock tank pool? Take notes from this modern mountain home and extend your outdoor living space with a pool made from a converted shipping container. This sophisticated design sports a charcoal-slatted exterior that pairs seamlessly with the home’s exterior and complements the surrounding stone hardscaping.

Nothing spells summer quite like the classic color combination of blue and white. This stock tank pool from Tipsy Tank Pools wears the seasonal shades well, sporting a cabana stripe finish that pops against the espresso-stained privacy fence. Follow their lead and use color theory to accessorize your blue-and-white stock tank pool with orange floats and warm decking or accent bench.

Double the umbrellas make this resort-style set up by Tipsy Tank Pools double the fun. This contemporary stock tank pool offers a chic reprieve from sweltering afternoon rays with a pair of crisp-white umbrellas and a semi-circle wooden deck complete with integrated bench seating. Beat the heat and achieve a similarly striking display for your stock tank pool by installing twin cantilever umbrellas on each side of your deck.

Home by Hiliary prepares her stock tank pool for summer by wrapping the exterior with natural bamboo reeds. The cinnamon-colored shoots add an inviting warmth to the pool and contrast with the icy blue water and flashy flamingo that floats within. Follow her lead and surround your stock tank pool with lush ferns and hanging planters, plus a tile-top accent table to hold your glass of rosé as you dip between sips.

The two words that come to mind with this beauty? “Hi, Barbie!” The Abbey Eilermann at Daily Disco offers all the inspiration you need to doll up your stock tank pool with Barb’s favorite color. Classic cabana stripes are always a resounding yes in our book, and the best part? You can find our easy-to-follow guide for painting your stock tank pool in our step-by-step tutorial linked below.

Make your stock tank pool the focal point of your backyard using an unconventional privacy wall like the larger-than-life avocado slice employed by The Mid-Century Millennial, Megan Housekeeper. While giant avocado slices are few and far between, you can always get creative by building artful fencing or installing statement-making sculptures along the perimeter of your stock tank pool.

This wood-wrapped stock tank pool appears stately and seamless in this stunning garden. The metal vessel is disguised using aged wood, yielding a barrel-inspired result that feels at home against the stone and gravel hardscaping. A few regional plants line the pool base and continue to a secluded lounge with two sunbeds with cheery, pattern-packed pillows.