How to Design a Backyard Oasis Around Your Hot Tub
🌴 How to Design a Backyard Oasis Around Your Hot Tub
Brought to you by Polar Springs Hot Tubs — turning backyards into personal paradises.
A hot tub isn’t just a luxury — it’s a focal point. When done right, it can anchor your entire outdoor space and turn even a plain backyard into a relaxing, retreat-worthy oasis.
Whether you're planning a full transformation or working with the bones of an existing yard, here's how to design a backyard oasis around your hot tub — with pro tips from the team at Polar Springs Hot Tubs, your go-to Canadian hot tub experts.
🧭 1. Start With Placement: Where the Spa Goes Matters
Before anything else, figure out where your hot tub should live. This sets the tone for the entire layout.
✅ Consider:
Privacy: Can neighbours see in? Is it close to the house but tucked away?
Access: You’ll want a clear path to the spa — especially in winter.
Views: Orient the tub for maximum scenic enjoyment (sunset, garden, pool, etc.)
Drainage & Base: Make sure the area is level with proper support and runoff.
💡 Pro Tip: Many Polar Springs clients build decks or patios around the tub after it's placed — not before. That way, it fits like a glove.
🌿 2. Build a Surrounding Experience — Not Just a “Hot Tub Area”
Think beyond the tub. A true backyard oasis flows with intentional design and layered functionality.
💡 Ideas to create zones:
A lounging area with outdoor furniture or hammocks
A fire feature nearby for warmth and visual drama
A small bar or refreshment station
Garden paths that guide guests through the space
Outdoor speakers or a waterproof sound system
Done right, it feels like an extension of your home — not just a tub in the yard.
🛋️ 3. Choose Spa-Friendly Furniture and Decor
Hot tubs come with splashes and steam, so pick furniture and materials that can handle the elements.
🌧️ Ideal choices:
Polywood or powder-coated aluminum furniture
Outdoor-rated cushions and fabrics
UV-resistant umbrellas or pergolas
Waterproof storage for towels and spa accessories
At Polar Springs, we often help clients source spa-side accessories like towel hooks, steps, and aromatherapy holders that blend seamlessly with your backyard aesthetic.
🌱 4. Add Greenery — But Be Strategic
Plants are essential to creating that lush, resort-like feel — but they can also be a source of debris and mess if placed too close to your spa.
🌿 Good picks:
Tall grasses or bamboo for privacy
Potted plants on rolling stands for mobility
Lavender, eucalyptus, or rosemary — aromatherapy bonus!
🚫 Avoid:
Pine trees or anything that sheds heavily
Flower beds directly next to the spa (petals, pollen, soil = maintenance nightmare)
🔒 5. Privacy Without Walls
No one wants to feel like they're on display in their swimsuit. But fencing off your entire yard isn’t always the vibe.
Instead, use creative privacy solutions like:
Vertical gardens or green walls
Outdoor curtains on a pergola
Trellises with climbing vines
Frosted glass panels or modern privacy screens
Bonus: These double as design elements, giving your oasis a signature look.
💡 6. Lighting = Magic
The right lighting makes your space shine long after the sun goes down — and enhances both mood and safety.
💡 Ideas to try:
Soft LED string lights or bistro lights
Solar path lights to lead to the spa
Spotlights in garden beds
Colour-changing underwater lights inside the tub (ask us about built-in options)
Pro tip: Layer your lighting — ambient, accent, and task — just like you would indoors.
❄️ 7. Don’t Forget the Seasons (Especially in Canada)
If you're in Ontario or anywhere else in Canada, your backyard oasis needs to be four-season friendly.
🔥 Cold-weather must-haves:
Heated towel rack or insulated towel bin
Wind block or shelter wall
Easy-to-navigate pathway that’s safe in snow/ice
An all-weather spa cover (we carry Polar Springs–branded thermal covers!)
With the right prep, winter soaking becomes your new favourite thing.
🧼 Bonus: Keep It Clean, Keep It Enjoyable
A beautiful space is no fun if it’s full of leaves and murky water. Stay on top of hot tub maintenance with:
Regular water testing & balancing
Monthly filter cleans
Seasonal draining (every 3–4 months, or up to 6 with ozone/UV)
Using a good cover daily
Need help? The Polar Springs Hot Tub Care team is just a call or click away.
✅ Final Thoughts
Designing your dream backyard oasis around your hot tub is about more than furniture and landscaping — it's about creating a feeling. A place to unwind. To connect. To escape the everyday.
At Polar Springs Hot Tubs, we don’t just sell spas — we help you build the lifestyle that goes with it.
📍 Visit us in Brockville, Ontario or explore more spa design ideas on the blog.
📧 Got questions? Contact us at info@polarsprings.ca or call 613-572-2777 — we’re here to help bring your backyard vision to life.