Hot tubs come in all sorts of shapes,  sizes, materials and looks. There are some uniquely creative hot tubs around too, taking the basic design to a new level. Imagine a gorgeous set of shallow wood spiral steps leading right up to the rim of a circular hot tub disguised as a barrel, clad in lovely pale wood with metal bands. Or a square hot tub surrounded to the brim by a rockery full of exotic spiny plants, cacti and succulents, a mini landscape like you’d see on the island of Fuerteventura.

Smooth striped fibreglass

We’ve seen a stunning fibreglass hot tub with a finish exactly like striped agate in beautiful shades of brown and cream, so clever. It’s surrounded by a smart brick wall topped with rustic flagstones. If we did it we’d go a bit further, leaving little spaces in the wall to tuck alpines, house leeks and herbs, softening the hard edges of the walls and adding fragrance.

A risky business?

The most unusual hot tub we’ve seen appears to be made from metal, an enormous four-person six sided cup-shape hung from three thick chains and suspended from a giant wooden tripod. They’ve lit a fire underneath and while it looks like fun there’s no ladder or steps to get in and out and unless it is well insulated we suspect their feet and backsides get scorched.

A hot tub with a view 

It looks like the infinity hot tub is gaining popularity out there, basically a small infinity pool set at ground level . It works just as well in a back garden as it does in a posh holiday villa with panoramic views. Just don’t forget it’s there and walk into it. We know someone who did that, and while it was pretty funny he was covered in bruises.

Imaginative planting

A lot of people either sit their hot tub level with a high deck or build a deck around the edge at ground level. Both look great, and both come with the chance to do some creative planting. Use containers for more flexibility. Say you’re having a hot tub party for more people than usual. You can move the plants out of the way to stop them being knocked over or getting in the way. Pot fragrant flowers in pots at water level for gorgeous smells and colours. Tall container plants like ornamental grasses and bamboos provide privacy and give you the height you need for the best-looking effect.

Beautiful solar LEDs

Outdoor solar lights have changed the hot tubbing vibe, the best way to create dramatic lighting effects with no dangerous heat and no energy costs. The best ones are also rechargeable with a USB for reliable light even when the weather’s iffy. You could up-light your hot tub steps, light up the rim, make a waterfall of lights behind it, or string them along the handrail. Colour change LEDs are popular, but not as on-trend as cool or warm white, and everybody’s doing it.

Wooden gazebos, elegantly tall fences

Build a decorative wooden gazebo around your hot tub and you can hang floaty curtains around it in summer, thick velvets in cooler weather, to keep the wind off. Grow fragrant climbers up the posts if you like. We’ve seen one huge hot tub with a wooden four poster bed built around it, a brilliant idea and a seriously funky look. A tall fence or wall set behind just one or two of the tub’s sides may well be enough to keep you private and give you the basis for creativity – paint it, stain it, mosaic it, mural it, add window boxes to it, set your imagination free.

Surround your hot tub with garden elements made from the same material for a sophisticated put-together look. If your garden fence is wooden, bring the same style of colour and wood into play for the hot tub surround. If it’s a brick wall, echo that in the hot tub surround and setting.

Teepees and yurts

We love the idea of a hot tub inside a tepee. It’s the ideal shape and if your garden’s big enough, it makes stylishly quirky choice. The same goes for a yurt, a stunning living space you can decorate inside and out to make a cosy Boho haven. A large bell tent in thick cream canvas makes an excellent way to stay private and cosy in cooler weather through spring, autumn and winter.

Faux rocks

Plastic rocks are the new rock ‘n roll, a million times lighter than the real deal. We’ve seen a brilliant plastic rock hot tub storage box with a lid, just like a boulder, with matching hot tub plastic stone steps.

Where Ofuro meets Greek  

When we saw a photo of a modern Japanese ‘Ofuro’ copper hot tub costing twelve thousand US dollars back in 2012, we gasped out loud. What a stunner.  A two-person version cost $17,000 in 2012 so it’ll cost a lot more now. Or maybe something Greek is more your thing. How about an ancient Greek temple in your back garden? Build one around your hot tub in pure white reconstituted stone with Grecian columns at each corner. You can get massive plastic columns that look just like the real thing, sometimes used by builders on new houses. Then go accessorise.  

Layered steps

A hot tub surrounded by three layers of steps, like a wedding cake, is great for sitting around. We’ve seen a circular hot tub with a curved wooden table – like a tree bench – built around it with bar stools, so people can sit, eat and drink facing each other across the water.

The ultimate in ‘chill’

Imagine the delicious tinkling sound of a waterfall. That’s what some people do, fitting a water feature above the tub into a rocky setting so it tumbles into the tub. Because the waterfall water circulates to and from the tub there’s no need for a separate water source. 

Geodesic fun, iceberg madness

One of our faves is a hot tub set inside a four metre diameter glass geodesic dome greenhouse and entertainment space filled with plants. But the maddest of all? An absolutely HUGE hot tub in the shape of an iceberg, floating on a lake.  

Get the right style of hot tub for your space – Then go create

A portable vinyl-lined hot tub is small, low cost and needs less energy to run. A roto-moulded hot tub is cast in one piece, seats included. An acrylic hot tub is made from cast acrylic shell inside  a frame, usually edged in water resistant cedar or wood-look plastic resin, and big enough for 6 or more people.

A wooden hot tub is a rare sight these days, replaced by modern materials that last longer and are easier to care for. A stainless steel hot tub is as tough as nails. A fibreglass hot tub is made from  glass-reinforced polyester, a popular choice. Inflatable PVC hot tubs are cheap and cheerful, a great entry model you can test drive before investing in a permanent hot tub.

Once you’ve made the right choice of hot tub the tubs setting, environment and decor is up to you. We hope we’ve given you some food for thought!