Key Takeaways

• Hot tubs have numerous benefits such as muscle pain relief, improved blood circulation, stress reduction, and lowering blood pressure.
• Adding landscaping elements like outdoor fireplaces, fountains, and tropical plants can elevate the hot tub area and create a private oasis.
• Consider glass fences, pergolas, or attaching the hot tub to a deck for stunning views and easy access, while incorporating additional features like seating areas or outdoor speakers for entertainment.

Hot tubs are the epitome of relaxation and a reminder to slow down and be present. They provide numerous benefits besides staying warm when the temperature drops. Hot tubs can relieve muscle aches, improve blood circulation, decrease stress, and lower blood pressure. Adding a hot tub to your backyard is a real perk for those chilly days or nights, especially considering all those benefits!

Just like backyards, there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to hot tubs. They come in an array of sizes, designs, and brands. Whether your hot tub is above or in-ground, wooden or inflatable, get inspired to make it look its best with the help of landscaping.

Outdoor Fireplace

If your hot tub is connected to your pool or built into the pool deck, you can elevate the space by adding entertainment sources nearby. Placing an outdoor fire pit or fireplace near the hot tub adds a cozy element to the backyard.

Create a path from the hot tub to the fire pit with flagstone or sandstone for a natural look. Keep the path lit with candles or tiki torches, enticing guests to enjoy the hot tub after conversing by the fire or vice versa. Planting taller hedges for privacy from neighbors is also a good idea. Try the Austree willow hybrid or the 'Green Giant' arborvitae for a tall, full look.

Private Oasis

If you’re landscaping your backyard with your hot tub as the focal point, turn it into a private oasis. Place a fountain feature for tranquility and plant some big leaf plants like rubber or elephant ear plants for a tropical vibe. Bamboo is also a great plant to place nearby for some zen and privacy. It grows incredibly fast and spreads quickly.

Aside from a water feature and some tropical potted plants, lighting can make all the difference for a relaxing at-home oasis. Place candles on some holders or add soft light fixtures to the outside for a light glow.

Stunning Views

If your hot tub is on a deck or overlooks a beautiful view, why not have a glass fence or safety structure so you can soak in the sights? It’s a perk to relax in a hot tub while looking at a great view, but that view can be ruined by taller plants or a fence obstructing the eyeshot.

A glass fence mixes modernity and nature. It allows guests to stay safe while also letting them see what’s happening outside the hot tub. Because the view is the star here, keep landscaping simple and minimal. Leafy plants like hostas are great near a hot tub like this because they're shorter and spread nicely.

Private Pergola

Pergolas are beam-like structures that look nice in a backyard for shade and privacy. Instead of putting lawn furniture under the pergola, use it as the designated area for your hot tub.

For seclusion, add transparent curtains or a plant wall to one side. Lightweight curtains add whimsy to a space when they flutter in the breeze. If you’d instead incorporate nature into your décor, use plants like heuchera or thyme to create a plant wall.

Keep the hot tub and pergola close to outdoor seating to create a unified backyard. Input a walkway to the seating area using pebbles or stone, and have a fire pit to keep those who aren't in the hot tub warm on colder days or nights. Between the hot tub, lawn furniture, and fire pit, there's something for everyone in this backyard.

Decked Out

Walking right from your deck into your hot tub is like something out of a travel magazine. It allows those on the deck to converse with those in the hot tub and vice versa. Build additional stairs from the hot tub that aren't attached to the deck so you can enter and exit through different areas comfortably. The tub being connected to the deck also allows hot tub users a place to put their drinks, phones, or snacks.

Having the hot tub attached to the deck is great for entertaining. It allows everyone to mingle in different ways. Adding other sources of amusement to the landscaping can make this backyard more fun for guests. Place some yard games nearby and set up outdoor speakers for music.

Tucked-Away

If you want the hot tub to be on its own in the backyard, place it under a pergola with well-designed stairs. Make the hot tub the place to unwind by adding a TV or outdoor speakers to the pergola’s wall, with tall trees or shrubs for privacy.

If your hot tub is above ground, place some tall tables alongside it so you have a place to put your personal items or snacks. To make the landscaping stand out, grow some vines around the pergola so they’ll eventually grow up and around the beams.

Large stepping stones going to and from the hot tub to the home is a wise decision so you don't get grass stuck to your wet feet.

Water-ful Landscaping

Whether you have large stepping stones, hedges, or a well-designed pergola, there are various ways to make your hot tub's landscaping pop while being the star of the backyard.

What kind of landscaping ideas do you have for your backyard hot tub? Share your thoughts in the comment section for like-minded readers!