Decorative concrete has opened the door to creating swimming pool decks that complement the exterior of the home, meld with the outdoor environment, and replicate traditionally more expensive materials such as slate, stone or even wood. Pools and decks are becoming more specialized with a stronger emphasis on aesthetics, transforming the pool and backyard area into a mini resort with lighting, sound systems, spas, waterfalls and fountains. Today’s space-challenged backyards have also led to a trend in smaller swimming pools, enhanced by leisure areas that extend the indoor living space.