20 Pool Party Ideas to Copy This Summer

Make a splash with our favorite poolside hacks, recipes and DIY decor projects.

By: Maria Conti

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Soak Up the Sun

Sweltering temps, spritzers on ice and sunshine aplenty, summer is here and what better way to celebrate the season (and beat the heat) than hosting an unforgettable pool party in your backyard? Take the plunge and use our tips to create the ultimate poolside event for family and friends. We're sharing refreshing cocktail recipes, mouth-watering bites, dreamy DIY decorations and thoughtful hostess touches that will leave guests speechless the moment they enter your outdoor space. Read on for our best pool party ideas for adults and kids.

Fine More Ideas: 35 Summer Dinner Party Ideas for People Who Don't Cook

Sunscreen, Bug Spray + Aloe Vera Basket

Ensure your guests sidestep sunburns and bug bites with a DIY skin defense basket. Use a wire bin, glossy pail or woven basket as your base and fill with summer skin essentials. Cover all your bases and include a body sunscreen, facial sunscreen, kid-friendly sunscreen, bug spray and cooling aloe vera gel.

See More: Party Like a Pro: Our 60 Fave Entertaining Ideas

Whip Up a Lowcountry Crowd Pleaser

Guests are guaranteed to leave with a smile on their face with this Lowcountry crowd-pleaser on your menu. Our sheet pan shrimp boil offers all of the mouthwatering flavors found in traditional Lowcountry boils without the infamous mess that comes with it. Serve with fresh lemon, hot sauce and plenty of napkins at the center of your picnic table.

Get the Recipe: Easy + Delicious Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil Recipe

From: Chelsea Faulkner

Create a Poolside Towel Caddy

What's a pool party without someone forgetting to bring their towel from home, right? Save your guests from themselves and keep them comfortably dry between dips with a thoughtful towel caddy. Use wire cubbies, a woven basket or a bar cart as your caddy base, then roll your towels into compact, easy-to-grab cylinders for a neat presentation.

Fine More Ideas: Bring the Fun With These 22 Swimming Pool Games

Snow in Summer

It doesn't matter whether your pool party guests are 5, 15 or 50 years old – snow cones are always a good idea. Serve up the nostalgic summer treat in a classic paper cone at your next pool party and laugh through stained teeth all day long. Add a splash of something spirited into your adult cones for even more frosted fun in the sun.

Get the Recipe: DIY Snow Cones at Home

Set the Tone for Celebration

Deck out your poolside patio or pergola with festive bunting, banners and tassels galore. Select your statement-making streamers with a curated color palette to give your event an impressive, polished appeal your guests feel the moment they walk through the door. Here, two tassel garlands pair with a graphic lettered banner to bring playful whimsy to this poolside lunch.

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Put Floor Pillows to Work

No need to run out and rent 30 extra chairs to accommodate your pool party guest list. Work with what you have on hand to create cozy poolside seating. Pull your floor pillows, poufs and garden stools together to create an intimate spot to swap stories and sip cocktails with friends. Best part? A setup like this allows you to dip your toes in the water and cool off while enjoying your company.

See More: Throw A Retro-Inspired Beach Party This Summer

Ferocious + Fruity Focal Point

Impress kids of all ages with this killer shark centerpiece. The fierce watermelon vessel is easier to recreate than you think, and the fruit tastes just as delicious as you suspect. Get the scoop on how to make this tasty, toothy terror in the link below.

Get the How-To: Easy Watermelon Shark

Build Your Own Taco Board

Save the cabernet and canapes for your fall gathering and lean into the flavors of summer with this sizzling spread. Recreate the wow-worthy fajita charcuterie board with corn tortillas, grilled steak, chicken and shrimp, creamy avocado slices, crisp vegetables and fresh salsa. Serve with lime wedges and a pitcher of margaritas.

Get the How-To: How to Make a Taco-Themed Party Board

Keep Icy Drinks Within Reach

The problem? Everyone wants to drink, but no one wants to dig through a cramped, crowded cooler. The solution? Blow up a baby pool, fill it to the brim with ice and stock with bottled water, staple sodas and boozy beverages aplenty.

See More: 11 Party Hacks Every Parent Should Know

Cure Boredom With DIY Games

"I'm bored" will be a thing of the past. Make a splash at your pool party with our easy-to-craft pool games made from a few dollar store items and other easy-to-find household objects.

Find More Ideas: Bring the Fun With These 22 Swimming Pool Games

Take a Dip

Offer guests a healthy poolside snack with this easy (and on-theme) alternative. Fill clear plastic cups with Greek yogurt ranch dressing and add fresh carrot, celery and red pepper slices for dipping.

See More: 40 Handheld Party Foods for Your Next Shindig

Up the Fun With Flashy Floats

Life is too short to host a pool party without a larger-than-life, ridable flamingo float on site. Giant birds not your thing? Up the fun factor for friends of all ages with an arsenal of flamboyant (read: Instagram-able) floats at your disposal. The bolder, the better.

Find More Ideas: 10 Splashy Stock Tank Pool Ideas to Copy This Summer

Create Cozy Seating Areas

Use this dreamy outdoor space as your muse to master the art of event furniture arrangement. Pull various chairs, stools and floor pillows from around the house to create 2-4 separate lounge and dining areas for guests to enjoy. This technique creates intimacy in otherwise expansive outdoor spaces and paves the way for socializing throughout the event.

Find More Ideas: 50 Patio Ideas and Design Tips

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Set Up a Spirited Libation Station

Nothing puts the "party" in pool party like a spirited and stylish drink station to greet guests the moment they walk through the door. Follow our step-by-step instructions to recreate this playful upcycled grill cooler to fill with ice and aperitifs aplenty for your splashy soiree.

Get the How-To: Upcycle an Old Charcoal Grill Into a Chill Patio Bar Cart

From: H. Camille Smith

Bring the Party (Food) Indoors

Keep your party food fresh and pest-free by creating a pool-inspired spread indoors. This inviting pink buffet uses classic poolside accessories like a pool towel table runner, tropical floral arrangements and a flock of flashy flamingos to tie into the alfresco party space.

See More: Build the Perfect Summer Entertaining Space: 8 Tips From a HomeGoods Style Expert

Magical Lighting

Our favorite failproof way to wow your guests is dreamy outdoor lighting. Drape multiple rows of string lights above your pool for unmatched ambiance and magical swimming that lasts through the night.

See More: 25 Outdoor Lighting Ideas That Won't Break the Bank

From: LGB Interiors

Pop, Fizz, Freeze!

The only thing better than an ice-cold popsicle on a hot summer day? Champagne popsicles. The mouthwatering pops are made with zesty lemon mixed with refreshing bubbly and are sure to be your new favorite summer treat.

Create a Can't Miss Photo Op

We live in the era of "pics or it didn’t happen" so a photo op prop is a must-have for any event. We've got you covered with this tropical-inspired DIY balloon photo booth perfect for a poolside gathering.

Get the How-To: DIY Balloon Photo Booth

Roll Out All the Stops

Treat your party crew to the poolside bottle treatment with a fully stocked and oh-so-festive bar cart. Take cues from this tropical stunner and equip your cart with beaucoup bubbly, fresh fruit and decorative details that reflect your party theme.

See More: 35 Delicious Drinks to Sip by the Pool

From: H. Camille Smith

Dry Off by the Fire

Use a poolside fire pit to keep guests warm, cozy and, perhaps most importantly, dry after taking a dip in the water. Set up two or three lounge chairs around the flames and equip each with a fresh towel and a plush, all-weather pillow.

See More: 60 Gorgeous Fire Pit Ideas and DIYs

From: Mom's Design Build

20 Pool Party Ideas to Copy This Summer

Related To:

Shop This Look

Soak Up the Sun

Sunscreen, Bug Spray + Aloe Vera Basket

Whip Up a Lowcountry Crowd Pleaser

Create a Poolside Towel Caddy

Snow in Summer

Set the Tone for Celebration

Put Floor Pillows to Work

Ferocious + Fruity Focal Point

Build Your Own Taco Board

Keep Icy Drinks Within Reach

Cure Boredom With DIY Games

Take a Dip

Up the Fun With Flashy Floats

Create Cozy Seating Areas

Set Up a Spirited Libation Station

Bring the Party (Food) Indoors

Magical Lighting

Pop, Fizz, Freeze!

Create a Can't Miss Photo Op

Roll Out All the Stops

Dry Off by the Fire

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