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You’ve sorted the shape and size. Phew! Now you’re staring down the most personal (and permanent) choice: your fibreglass pool’s colour.
It might seem like just a style decision, but the colour you choose does more than set the vibe. It shapes how the water looks in different light, how it plays off your backyard, and how the whole space feels when you’re kicking back with a cold drink.
But here’s the bit most pool buyers don’t realise, it’s not just about choosing a colour you love. It’s also about making sure that colour stays looking good for years to come.
So, if you’re tossing up between crisp blues, earthy neutrals or something bold and dramatic, this guide will walk you through:
- How different colours affect water appearance and mood
- What depth, sunlight, and landscaping do to the final look
- The shift toward lighter colours and why it’s happening
- What causes fading and how to avoid it
- The colour options available in our Shimmer, MarbleTech™, and Quartz Ultra ranges
Whether you’re leaning coastal, modern, tropical or something in between, this guide will help you pick a colour that looks great on installation and still turns heads a decade or two later.
How Pool Colour Affects Water Appearance
The Science of Water Reflection
Here’s a fun fact most people don’t realise: water actually has its own natural colour. Pure water is very slightly blue because it absorbs red light more readily than blue. In small amounts this isn’t noticeable, but in larger volumes, like a swimming pool, the effect becomes visible as sunlight passes through the water and the red, orange and yellow wavelengths are filtered out. What’s left is that beautiful, clear blue you imagine from tropical island postcards.
The sky’s reflection plays a supporting role by enhancing the intensity of that blue, especially on bright, clear days. Even on cloudy days or indoors, the water will still appear faintly blue thanks to its natural properties. In white-coloured pools, this effect is most noticeable because there’s no shell colour influencing the look, letting the water’s true hue shine through.
Your pool’s shell colour has a big influence on how the water appears:
- Lighter colours like white, light grey, or very pale blue create that classic bright, sparkling look. These tones reflect more sunlight, so the water takes on a clear, inviting light blue shade that feels fresh and tropical. They also make the pool area feel more open and can emphasise a clean, modern aesthetic.
- Mid-tone colours, such as medium blues or aquas, deepen the water colour and give it a richer, lagoon-like appearance. These shades balance vibrancy with warmth, often appearing bright in full sun while maintaining depth and character on cloudy days.
- Darker shells, including deep blues and dark greens, absorb more light and give the water a dramatic, mirror-like finish. The water can appear almost navy or emerald, creating a striking contrast with the surrounding paving and landscaping. These colours can enhance a resort-style atmosphere but may slightly mute the sparkle effect compared to lighter finishes.
As light conditions change, so will the appearance of the water. Bright sunlight enhances light blues and turquoise hues, while overcast skies or shaded areas can deepen the colour.
Depth and Surroundings: The Unsung Influencers
The gelcoat doesn’t just influence the colour of your pool’s water; it also depends on pool depth and backyard surroundings.
Pool Depth Affects Water Colour
Pool depth subtly affects how light interacts with the water. In deeper areas, light travels further through the water before reflecting back, which can give the water a slightly richer, more saturated tone overall. This doesn’t mean the shallow and deep ends will look like different colours, but rather that depth helps enhance the overall depth and vibrancy of the hue you see across the pool.
Surroundings Influence the Water’s Hue
- Lush greenery and trees can give pool water a slight greenish tint, especially with neutral or grey tones.
- Light-coloured paving and pool surrounds enhance bright blue and turquoise tones.
- Dark decking or fences reduce light reflection, making blue and grey pools appear deeper and more dramatic.
Understanding how water interacts with light and its surroundings ensures that your chosen pool colour delivers the desired aesthetic in your backyard.
How Pool Colour Affects Mood and Atmosphere
The colour you choose does more than just change how your pool looks. It sets the entire mood of your backyard. It's what makes your pool feel like a private retreat, a resort-style centrepiece, or a laid-back family splash zone.
- Lighter tones like Sky Pearl, Whitehaven or Ocean Sand create a clean, bright feel that’s open and refreshing. These colours can make smaller areas feel more spacious and relaxed, and they tend to give off that tropical “holiday-at-home” vibe - all sun, sparkle and good times.
- Mid-toned colours, such as Cascade or Mediterranean, strike a balance between soft and bold. They’re great for those who want depth without going too dark. These shades shift beautifully with the light, adding interest throughout the day without dominating the space.
- Darker colours like Midnight Glitter, Mystic, or Black Pearl lend a sense of drama and luxury. They create a mirrored water surface that feels elegant and serene, which is perfect for a high-end, resort-inspired look. These tones pair beautifully with darker paving or minimalist landscaping.
As for water temperature? Colour does have a small influence. Darker pools can hold a touch more warmth, while lighter shades stay around one to two degrees cooler. It’s a small enough difference not to let it influence your colour choice. You’ll generally look at your pool more than you swim in it.
Will My Fibreglass Pool Colour Fade Over Time?
Let’s talk about fading, because it’s one of the most common worries people have when choosing fibreglass pool colours.
Here’s the truth: if your pool is made with a high-quality gelcoat, like Allnex AquaGuard™, then fading is incredibly minimal, even after years under the Aussie sun. We’re talking decades of solid performance, not just a few good summers.
Cheap, generic gelcoats used by some manufacturers? That’s a different story. If a company doesn’t name their gelcoat or offer decent cosmetic warranties, there’s usually a reason. Inferior products don’t hold up to UV exposure, and once the colour fades, there’s no getting it back.
But with a properly built pool using AquaGuard™, there’s a simple solution for the small cosmetic changes that can happen over time. After about 10 years, the exposed gelcoat above the waterline might lose a bit of its original shine, just like a car parked in the sun for years. A quick polish of that area is all it takes to restore the colour and finish to showroom condition.
In fact, we’ve seen 20-year-old fibreglass pools that still look brand new simply because they were built well and looked after.
It’s also worth clearing up a common myth: that a chalky or dull appearance near the waterline is fading. Most of the time, it’s actually just calcium from hard water building up on the gelcoat. A once-over with a liquid calcium remover will usually fix it in no time.
And just like with any pool, fibreglass, concrete, or vinyl, poor water chemistry can cause discolouration. High chlorine levels, neglecting to release gas build-up under a pool cover, or letting the balance go completely off can lead to bleaching. That’s not a gelcoat issue, that’s a chemistry issue.
The good news? With proper care, you’ll enjoy your pool’s colour and finish for decades. A quality gelcoat doesn’t just last - it keeps your pool looking sharp with very little effort.
Fibreglass Pool Colour Trends: Lighter Shades in the Spotlight
In recent years, we’ve seen a noticeable shift toward lighter pool colours, particularly tones like Whitehaven, Alabaster, Bahamas, and Ocean Sand. These colours offer a clean, modern look that really pops, especially when paired with white paving, coastal landscaping, or natural stone finishes.
That said, the classic mid-blue shades are still the most popular choice overall. They work in almost any backyard, feel familiar, and never go out of style. But more buyers are now leaning even lighter to create a pool that feels fresh, open, and visually striking.
Concerns about lighter colours showing more dirt have eased in recent years too. Thanks to cordless robotic pool cleaners, maintenance is now easier than ever. With cleaning less of a hassle, more homeowners are choosing based on look, not just practicality.
It’s a subtle trend that continues to grow. More people are feeling confident to choose the colour that truly suits their space and style.
Fibreglass Pool Colour Options: Find Your Perfect Match
Whether you're after a modern, crisp look or a natural stone-inspired centrepiece, there’s a fibreglass pool colour to match your backyard style, and each finish brings its own personality to the water.
Here’s a breakdown of the colour collections available across our below ground and above ground fibreglass pools, including the advanced gelcoat technology behind them.
Shimmer Finish Collection – Below Ground Pools
The Shimmer Finish Collection features a classic range of six pool colours, from light and bright to deep and dramatic. Each one is made with a fine shimmer material embedded directly into the gelcoat — giving the water a soft, sparkling effect that changes beautifully with the light.
You’ll find colours like Bahamas for a bright, tropical look, or Atlantic for a deeper, more striking blue. This collection offers wide appeal, whether you're chasing a clean modern vibe or something with a bit more presence.
All Shimmer Finish pools use Allnex AquaGuard X™, a next-generation, Australian-made gelcoat designed for serious fade resistance. It’s built to protect against harsh UV rays, chlorine, and even algae growth and is hands down the best gelcoat on the market.
MarbleTech™ Collection – Below Ground Pools
MarbleTech™ is a completely unique, natural stone-inspired finish that no other fibreglass pool manufacturer in Australia offers. It delivers a rich, multi-toned surface with layered patterns that give your pool depth, texture, and that high-end architectural look.
Creating this finish takes more time, skill and more layers of Allnex AquaGuard X™ gelcoat. That added thickness not only enhances the visual depth, it also boosts long-term protection, which is why this range includes a 20-year cosmetic warranty.
In this collection, you’ll find 17 colour options, with popular choices including:
If you're after something that looks a cut above, MarbleTech™ is the standout.
Quartz Ultra Shimmer Finish – Above Ground Pools
If you're going for one of our patented freestanding above ground fibreglass pools, you don’t have to compromise on colour or finish.
The Quartz Ultra Shimmer Finish Collection features a larger quartz glitter flake embedded in the gelcoat, adding incredible depth and movement to the water. It's a premium look designed to catch the light and turn heads, which you won’t find on any other above ground fibreglass pool in the country.
There are 11 show-stopping colours to choose from, with standout favourites like Mid Blue, Twilight Blue, and Arctic White, all designed to hold their brilliance under the harshest Aussie conditions.
Every Quartz Ultra finish is made with Allnex AquaGuard™ gelcoat, the same trusted formula used across our entire range. It’s hands down the best gelcoat in the country, offering industry-leading resistance to fading, UV exposure, and chlorine. It’s a finish that’ll keep performing year after year, and it leaves vinyl liner pools in the dust when it comes to durability and visual impact.
Ready to Choose Your Pool Colour?
Picking a pool colour isn’t just about trends or looks. It’s about choosing a finish that feels right for your space, suits your lifestyle, and holds up in the real world.
Whether you’re drawn to crisp blues, earthy neutrals, or modern light tones, there’s a fibreglass pool colour that’ll bring your backyard to life and keep it looking sharp for years. Explore our full range of fibreglass pool colours and find the perfect match for your space.
Not sure where to start? We’re here to help. Explore our colour ranges or book a quick call with the team. We’ll walk you through your options, answer your questions, and make sure you feel confident choosing a colour you’ll love every time you step outside.
