How to set up a backyard pool that holds a whole day outside — the loungers, shade, bar cart, and towel rack that pull it together.
This post is sponsored by Wayfair
By the middle of summer, the pool is where everyone ends up. The trick is setting it up so it actually feels like a resort — the kind of spot no one wants to leave.
One of the easiest moves is to stock the backyard with everything you need, so there’s no running inside every ten minutes (and if your imagination is good, you can even pretend someone is bringing it all out to you). A towel valet that keeps a fresh stack ready, a towel rack that gives every wet towel a home, a rolling cooler that comes to you, and a floating tray that keeps snacks out on the water — they’re what turn “we have a pool” into “we’re never going inside.” And Wayfair has become the go-to for pulling it all together.
A towel valet out back is one of those additions that changes everything. Keep it stocked and there’s always a fresh stack ready — no awkward “can I borrow a towel?” ask, and no one running inside dripping wet to track one down. It doubles as a home for the pool toys too, so the whole setup stays grab-and-go from the first swim of the day to the last.
This year’s favorite, though, is one of the least flashy pieces: a glossy black towel rack set right by the pool. Six bars mean everyone gets a spot for a wet towel, the heavy base stays put even with the whole thing loaded, and the little tray up top is the perfect landing spot for sunscreen. The details are so charming — a small thing that takes a backyard resort up another notch.
Then there’s the rolling cooler, which earns its spot fast. Instead of sitting on the ground, it stands at counter height and rolls right over to wherever everyone’s gathered, so cold drinks are always close by. There’s a built-in bottle opener on the side, and the soft blue looks far more pulled-together than a cooler has any right to. Fill it in the morning and half the trips back to the kitchen disappear.
And the detail that makes a pool day feel like an actual event: a floating tray. Load it up with snacks and drinks, give it a gentle push, and it drifts from float to float so no one has to climb out for a refill. It’s a small thing that keeps everyone in the water longer — which, on a hot afternoon, is exactly the point.
If you’re trying to turn your own backyard into that kind of all-day spot, here’s everything rounded up at Wayfair to get you there:
Glossy Black Towel Rack [$149] — This year’s favorite. Six bars, a heavy base that stays put, and a tray on top that’s perfect for sunscreen.
Floating Tray [$215] — Floats snacks and drinks right out to the water, so refills come to you instead of the other way around.
Rolling Beverage Cooler [~$219 + link] — It sits up on a stand instead of on the ground, rolls over to wherever everyone’s gathered, and has a built-in bottle opener. The blue is the one to get. (More on this one here.)
Towel Valet [$369] — Keeps towels and pool toys easy to grab — it’s what makes a backyard start feeling like a resort.
Chaise Loungers [$1699] — Angle a pair toward the water and you’ve built the best seat in the yard.
Outdoor Umbrella [$295] — Shade you can chase around the deck as the sun moves. Worth designing the rest of the seating around.
Bar Cart [$122] — Parked within arm’s reach so nobody has to get up for a cold drink… which is half the reason everyone stays outside.
Outdoor Chaise Lounge [$799] — Cabana stripes on a hand-woven rope base — it looks like it was pulled straight off a resort deck, and it’s the piece everyone will want to claim first.
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