Poolside Oasis: How to Elevate Your Summer Sanctuary with Changes Big and Small

They say the days are long, but the summers slip by fast. If you are the type to spend your warmest months poolside, surrounded by family, friends, and the sound of splashing water, you already know those sun-drenched afternoons are the ultimate investment in quality time.

We’ve recently been working on something incredibly exciting behind the scenes. In a brand-new feature for Midtown Magazine. Amanda, our Founder and Principal Designer, shares the ultimate guide to transforming a standard pool deck into an unapologetic, resort-style oasis.

While the issue hasn't officially hit the stands yet, we wanted to take a deeper dive into the exact why behind this curation. True luxury isn’t accidental; it’s a series of highly intentional design choices built to bridge the gap between high-end interiors and the open air.

The Big Change: Invest in a Poolside Daybed

If you make one major update to your outdoor layout this season, swap out standard pool loungers for a dedicated outdoor daybed.

Too often, outdoor seating is designed solely for upright conversations. But a true poolside oasis is about absolute relaxation. For our Midtown feature, we chose the Eichholtz Outdoor Bed Laguno. If your vibe is serenity over stripes, swap out structured sectional sofas for the refined, curved lines of this bed. It invites you to truly stretch out whether you're cuddling up with a partner, your kids, or your pup as the sun goes down.

Where to shop: You can source this exact piece directly through our friends at

Day Dreamer Decor to bring the ultimate living room comfort right to your water's edge.

The Small Changes: Unexpected Textures & Styling

True luxury design is highly functional as it solves friction before it even starts, while keeping your eyes happy.

For the Midtown feature, Amanda focused on using unexpected interior textures to elevate these micro-moments:

1. The "SPF & Sunnies" Station: Bowl Oceana

We’ve all been there: you’re perfectly settled, and then you realize you left your protection inside. Cue the frantic chorus of: "Where is the sunblock? Have you seen my sunnies?"

Instead of letting plastic bottles clutter your side tables, we love styling the sculptural Bowl Oceana. Placing this beautiful wavy piece on an outdoor table gives you a designated, beautiful home for your sunglasses and SPF. If your sunscreen is always in the same place, maybe you'll actually remember to keep applying it this summer!

2. Sophisticated Curves: Grantham Outdoor Planter

To bridge the gap between the pool water and the lush surroundings, we selected the Grantham Outdoor Planter. Its rich green glaze and architectural, cascading curves instantly elevate the organic, biophilic flow of the deck, bringing high-end interior styling sensibilities out into the open air.

"Your home and your backyard should be as exceptional as the memories you make in it. If it isn't, why are you living there?" — Amanda

Transform Your Poolside into a Sanctuary

This feature is a masterclass in creating a true staycation oasis right in your own backyard, where the luxury of your indoor living spaces effortlessly meets the open air.

The full layout and article will be live soon. Stay tuned to our Instagram [@asfinteriorsnc] and the official Midtown Magazine website for the release date so you can read the complete breakdown the moment it drops!