Retro influences are all the rage in design for 2026, and why shouldn't this extend to our pools? As we seek to build outdoor spaces that bring back the joy of childhood summers spent in the backyard, Homes & Gardens decided to look back in time at the most inspiring pools of the last 50 years. Jennifer Aniston's childhood pool makes the cut.
Archival images from 1975 show a 6-year-old Aniston playing in her family's Los Angeles pool with her father, John Aniston, and her mother, Nancy Dow. Though the pool idea is simple, it's full of ultra-cool retro details. From the gritty concrete edging to the lagoon-like shape to the rectangular diving board, it feels like stepping back to a simpler time.
One of the most striking features of the pool area design is the privacy planting, which protects the water feature with thick greenery on all sides. To dive into the family's beautiful design, I've curated an edit of the best products to recreate the look, and interviewed experts on how to use the best plants for privacy just like the Anistons. Let's get started.
Recreate Jennifer's Look at Home
To recreate Jennifer Aniston's nostalgic pool idea, you will need to start with the best plants for privacy. Here are our picks for a chic pool area.
This premium windmill palm tree is carefully grown and shipped by experienced nursery professionals to ensure top quality. Cold-hardy and adaptable, it thrives in USDA zones 7-11, making it a versatile choice for many climates.
A diving board gives your pool area instant charm, and this one from Amazon is a great pick. It's a best seller on the site, and I love its smooth white surface.
This vibrant palm is popular in shady landscapes. It has distinctive ruffled, pleated, fan-shaped leaves, giving it an exotic and ultra-tropical appearance.
This beautiful, verdant ivy plant would be the perfect complement to a wild garden. It looks gorgeous climbing on the fence around a retro pool. There are enough seeds in the pack to ensure you create a beautiful display that is bursting with greenery.
These Felco pruning shears have hardened blades for effortless trimming in your yard, making light work of tough rose pruning jobs. They're essential in every kind of garden. They're ideal for pruning your ivy around the pool area.
Japanese Boxwoods are low-maintenance, and provide structure and formality over a long period. They are a fantastic option for garden novices and make great privacy screens when planted together. Plus, they're green all year round to keep your home feeling protected even in the winter months.
As the Aniston's design shows, pool planting is one of the best way to transform your space into an outdoor oasis. Designer Nina Lichtenstein explains: 'Creating privacy in a backyard can be as simple as strategically selecting the right plants, which not only enhance seclusion but also add lush beauty to your outdoor space. Plants chosen for privacy should have dense foliage, thrive in your climate, and offer year-round coverage if possible.'
What are the best plants for recreating the Aniston pool look? Nina advises: 'For those who want privacy throughout the year, evergreens are ideal. Thuja Green Giant and Leyland Cypress are two popular options; they grow quickly and develop into dense, towering screens. For a unique pop of color and added privacy, Blue Spruce trees are a stunning choice, bringing a cool-toned blue-green hue to the landscape. Their dense branches provide excellent coverage, making them a great option for larger backyards. Smaller evergreen shrubs like boxwood and privet are also excellent for lower privacy hedges and adapt well to various climates.'
Vines are also a great way to make the look gorgeous. Nina advises: 'For smaller backyards or vertical privacy, climbing plants like ivy, clematis, or wisteria can transform a fence or trellis into a green wall. For a more fragrant option, consider star jasmine or honeysuckle, which add both privacy and fragrance.'
Retro pool inspiration is the best way to create an outdoor space to last a lifetime. Take it from Jennifer Aniston.
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