12 Pool Party Ideas That’ll Make a Splash

Adorn an oasis with dazzling balloon arches, palm trees, and other elements that will make a splash with your guests. These sizzling pool party ideas can help you celebrate special events and beautiful days with your loved ones.

But where to start? First and foremost, book an epic pool party venue on Peerspace. Peerspace is the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals and makes it easy to connect with venues that have pools in locations across the globe.

Below, we’ve gathered some of the most creative pool party ideas to help you spice up your summer gatherings with color and diversity. Themes, decorations, food, games, and of course, Peerspace venues, will be included. Let’s hop (or rather, splash) to it!

1. Book a Peerspace venue with a pool!

The first step to an amazing pool party is booking an amazing pool venue. And Peerspace is the perfect spot for finding your event venue, whether it’s an annual dinner, a wedding, a birthday party, or your pool party.

Just visit our pool party landing page, input your location, and click search. You’ll soon see a whole list of amazing options, with listings that include high-def photos, upfront pricing, a list of amenities, and a means to contact the host.

We’ll include information about actual Peerspace pool rentals throughout this article. They’re available for you to book and are in cities across the globe. All you need to bring are your guests and your bathing suits to party at these venues!

2. Jellyfish lanterns

Stringing up these adorable paper jellyfish lanterns from Amazon lets you create an under-the-sea atmosphere for your pool party. All you need are the lanterns and the branches of a nearby tree to add a seriously sweet ambiance to the festivities. And they’re reusable, so you can use them all summer long!

Want to book a space that already has poolside lanterns? Then check out this pool deck oasis with city views in Stevenson Ranch, CA. It’s a spacious and utterly gorgeous outdoor paradise that includes beautiful lantern lighting throughout the property.

“My experience with this space was amazing,” shares a Peerspace reviewer. “The views were beautiful, the pool was so cute, there were so many chairs and tables, the bluetooth system played at a great volume, the bathroom space was very nice. Me and my guest had an amazing time. Holli was an amazing host <3”

3. Beach ball pool party

Catch the attention of your pool party guests with DIY-themed invites. Make your guests eager for your pool party fiesta by putting all the party details, printed on a beach ball, in the invitation.

If you want to make it more interesting, you can deliver the beach balls already inflated, or you can send the beach balls with instructions for your attendees to blow up the ball to discover the party plan!

Our friends Down Under should consider booking this spacious home with large open spaces in Ventnor, Victoria. It not only has a pool, but it also has a tennis court and a bocce ball court, helping take your sporty pool party to the next level!

We answer your burning question: what’s like an Airbnb for pool parties? here!

4. Shark-themed pool party

Inviting sharks to your pool party this summer is a must. After all, a shark-themed pool party idea is a unique and entertaining variation of the traditional pool party. The shark at this party is not a terrible predator; instead, it is a happy shark that can be spotted throughout the party décor.

Many “JAW some” elements are there for you to dig your teeth into, including a dessert table that you might just figuratively die over. Party attendees’ stomachs will be satisfied, and their hearts will be pleased as they enjoy gummy sharks, shark fin-topped cupcakes, shark-adorned cookies, and a variety of other delicious snacks.

Consider hosting it at this Dallas pool paradise. The home itself is a modern Tudor beaut with a kitchen perfect for putting your shark-inspired treats together. Plus, the home’s backyard has a gorgeous pool with two nearby lounge areas for snacking and mingling.

5. Pool party desserts

Desserts with a summer theme are ideal for a pool party in the summer. You can create lots of fantastic pool party dessert ideas at this pool party celebration! Can you imagine how much fun the cake pops in the shape of an ice cream bar are, as well as the cupcakes in the shape of an ice cream cone and an ice cream sundae, and the cookies adorned in the shapes of sunglasses, popsicles, and flip-flops? Aside from that, the outdoor pool-shaped cake with tiny fondant swimmers is a fun and original cake design!

6. Sun protection station

A sunburn is the one thing that can destroy the pleasure of a pool party faster than anything else! A sun protection booth at your next outdoor pool party can assist you in keeping your guests from becoming sunburned while enjoying themselves.

Assist guests in slathering on sunscreen and set up a basic protection station, complete with a basket of various sunscreen products. The guests will appreciate this added level of safety.

Host this pool party at this light and airy home in Austin. Its pool area offers several shaded spots, perfect for setting up your sunscreen station. Plus, you’ll have run of the utterly gorgeous home, so you and your guests can stay cool and have a place to relax.

7. Popping colors

Colorful candy-colored outfits are the essence of summer. You can get a vivid splash of color for your party simply and inexpensively using plastic tablecloths from dollar stores and create your own backyard party scene. Set the wall as a backdrop with a tablecloth draped over the front of the table.

You can also opt to take the easy (and super fun!) route and instead book this dreamy, candy-colored Peerspace venue! It’s a Palm Springs-inspired pool in Los Angeles that provides you with pool floats, an outdoor lounge, a fire pit, and a barbecue grill.

8. Squirt gun races

This boredom-busting game is perfect for a summer pool party idea or as a standalone activity. The good news is that you probably already have all the supplies you’ll need for these squirt gun races at your house: strong thread, scissors, disposable cups, duct tape, and squirt guns. Time to put the game together and guide your guests on the game’s rules! Then be ready to create a splash because this game is a lot of fun to play.

Make sure you keep your young guests as safe as possible by booking a Peerspace pool with lots of grass. For instance, this tropical backyard oasis in Miami with plenty of landscaping surrounding the pool should do the trick.

9. DIY beach ball garland

Who would have thought that you could transform a bunch of Styrofoam balls into anything so adorable? Decorate your pool party with a homemade beach ball garland that you made yourself.

Create these with Styrofoam balls, paint, and a little thread if you want to get creative! How adorable would it be to have them swinging from your food table or strung across your pool deck and party space?

Get more stylish poolside inspiration with our pool party decoration ideas guide!

10. Snow in summer

Sno cones are often a great pool party idea, no matter how old your pool party participants are, whether five, fifteen, or fifty years old. This nostalgic summer delicacy will have your guests laughing all day long. You can make the adult sno cones by adding a splash of alcohol or using a colorful liquor, like Blue Curacao, in place of the kids’ colorful syrup flavoring.

Love this idea? Then make it happen by booking this pool party venue in Hughesville, MD. It comes with a pool as well as exciting add-on equipment, like a bounce house, tiki torches, and even a Sno Cone maker!

11. Pallet pool storage

Prepare for summer and all the pool parties you want to host by putting your pool equipment together in one place. When it comes to pool party season, this DIY pallet pool storage is the ideal method to showcase and store all your gear while keeping it close enough to enjoy without a lot of hunting and bother.

Assembly is straightforward, and the price is quite reasonable! If you don’t know how to build one in your backyard, you can surf the internet for a tutorial video. This step-by-step guide by Juggling Act Mama is easy to follow and effective.

12. Flashy floats

Life is too short of throwing a pool party without a larger-than-life flamingo float that adults and kids can ride. Aren’t giant birds your cup of tea? Increase the level of enjoyment for your pals of all ages by putting together a collection of colorful floats — the more audacious, the better.

We especially love the llama pool floats at this Italian pool villa in Bethesda, MD! If you’re in the area, book this sweet spot and enjoy a stylish pool party your guests will adore.

Pool party ideas: conclusion

How fun are these pool ideas? As you can see, all of them are easy to achieve once you start with the perfect Peerspace pool venue! Start your search for the best one near you and then start planning a pool party your guests will never forget.

Find unique party venues on Peerspace