10 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.