The pool and wellness sector provides precisely what people need when times get tough - and it has adapted to the changing conditions. At aquanale, taking place in Cologne from 28 to 31 October 2025, the industry will showcase how sustainable water enjoyment can be achieved and how to meet both current and future challenges.

When water, design and sustainability come together: the trends shaping tomorrow's pools

A private retreat becomes more important

The more crises we experience, the stronger the desire to create a safe and comfortable private retreat. This development, often summed up by the buzzwords "cocooning" or "homing", has continued beyond the post-Covid era, still marked by uncertainty. Home remains the central living space - and we now know it can be much more than just a place to live.

Today, our private spaces serve as workplaces, gyms and areas of relaxation. It is hardly surprising that consulting firm Accenture, in its study The Big Value Shift, speaks of a "decade of the home", predicting that investment will increasingly shift towards the domestic sphere. The trend is clear: barbecue and pool party in the garden instead of dinner at a restaurant followed by a night out.

©pools & ponds

The green living room

"New Work" has made mobile and hybrid working possible - and those who spend more time at home invest more in it. A touch of greenery is becoming increasingly essential. The yearning for nature is tangible - even indoors. And with warmer weather overall, outdoor living is growing ever more popular.

When the garden becomes an extension of the living space, it needs to feel just as welcoming. House, garden and pool are no longer viewed as separate entities but as part of an integrated concept - a lifestyle that could be summed up as "living by the water". The pool is not just for swimming; it's a place to recharge, enjoy nature and gather with friends.

The garden transforms into a green oasis complete with water features, plants, outdoor furniture, design elements - even outdoor kitchens or barbecue stations. The result is a personal paradise that offers the perfect escape from everyday life.

©Woodtli Schwimmbadtechnik

The garden as a holiday destination

A pool in the garden brings the feeling of the South Seas home - creating a private holiday resort that can be enjoyed far longer than a two-week trip abroad. This is the concept of "staycation" - a holiday experience without the flight. But in today's eco-conscious world, simply avoiding air travel is not enough. Home swimming too must be as resource-efficient as possible.

At aquanale, exhibitors will demonstrate how to save water and energy while adopting environmentally friendly practices throughout pool management.

A European environmental standard for private pools

To further strengthen energy awareness, the sector introduced the European standard DIN EN 17645 in 2022, defining the energy classification of private swimming pools. Even before this voluntary commitment, the industry had already proven its sense of responsibility through innovative, energy-saving products.

 ©SSF Schwimmbad

Functional yet beautiful

These eco-efficient products are not just about functionality. Quite the opposite - they also meet high design standards. For example, the pool cover, once seen purely as a practical energy and water saver, is now appreciated as an elegant design feature - both aesthetic and efficient.

Inspired by nature

Product development across the pool industry can best be described as nature-focused. Whether in pool structures, accessories or water treatment, everything is designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible. The desire to feel close to nature is even reflected in pool linings with natural stone-look finishes.

The sector has not only succeeded in making nature visible - it has made it tangible too, with counter-current systems that simulate river flow for a natural swimming experience.

©A1 Schwimmbadbau

Vision and responsibility

Product innovation in the "pool world" follows a holistic approach, and customers share that same mindset. They expect environmental awareness not only in their pools but also from the companies themselves.

Those manufacturers who focus on sustainability have a clear competitive edge - using renewable energy in production, expanding recyclability, favouring regional materials, and cooperating with local suppliers.

This embodies the strength of Europe's medium-sized companies that live by the principle: "Think global - act local."

Open to the world and to design

The pool market has become increasingly global - "international is the new normal." This openness encourages fresh ideas, diverse perspectives and cross-cultural creativity. It also manifests in design trends: light tones, transparent surfaces, natural materials, minimalist aesthetics and open concepts dominate.

Today's pools and wellness facilities impress with clean lines and timeless architecture - simple yet refined. Still, the megatrend of individualisation surpasses all others: every pool owner can now design their personal wellness space as they wish - from sleek elegance to bold statement pieces.

Poolcover-eleganter Energiesparer mit Verdunstungsschutz ©Mori Piscines

Quality in every detail

Regardless of taste, one thing is clear: quality and design coherence have become paramount. Plastic is passé - even the smallest components now follow a refined, cohesive aesthetic.

Formerly utilitarian elements, such as built-in parts, are now stylish and well-integrated, transforming from "necessary additions" into expressions of thoughtful, high-quality design.

©Hütel & Meß

An international network

Trends and design directions are felt on both national and international levels. The pool and wellness industry is globally interconnected, and aquanale stands as proof.

The 2025 edition welcomes Belgium as the official partner country, while Scandinavia participates with Sauna from Finland, Switzerland with aqua suisse (including its traditional Apéro), and Italy with Assopiscine and its signature Caffè Italia session featuring market data and pasticcini.

Further highlights await visitors, including the International Swimming Pool and Wellness Forum, organised by the bsw (German Swimming Pool and Wellness Association) together with its partners.

The DGfnB (German Society for Natural Swimming Pools) also participates - showing that "blue" and "green" have long since grown together, symbolising the harmony between technology and nature.

Digitalisation and artificial intelligence

Managing a pool via app-based control systems and remote maintenance is now part of everyday pool ownership. Smart technologies, digital tools and online platforms have long been established in the pool sector - and are continuously evolving to meet rising comfort expectations.

Artificial intelligence has entered the world of water and wellness, with control systems that analyse data in real time and learn continuously, providing efficient automation and more time to enjoy an active lifestyle.

Health, movement and wellbeing

Health awareness is growing, and everyone knows the importance of exercise, relaxation and recovery. But physical and mental fitness today is not about exhausting workouts or treadmill routines - it's about joy instead of pressure.

Natural movement in the open air, reconnecting with oneself and switching off from global crises - all of this can be achieved with a private pool, part of one's open-air living space.

As an always-accessible training environment, it offers flexibility and continuity, even at night. Ambience and lighting design play a vital role too, with aquanale exhibitors presenting products that enhance atmosphere and sensory wellbeing.

 ©Vita Bad

Time, wealth and opportunity

Work is no longer "half of life" - that was last true in 1882. Today, people spend only about 19% of their lifetime working, leaving 30% for leisure - more than enough time to enjoy a pool.

And financially? The statistics are encouraging: private wealth in Germany now totals around 9 trillion euros.

Despite the "pool boom" of 2020-2022, nearly 16 million of Germany's 18 million detached homes remain without a pool, according to a study by bsw and B+L Market Data.

Furthermore, real estate portal Immowelt found that a swimming pool increases a property's value by an average of 13%. Investing in a pool, therefore, is not just a lifestyle choice - it's a sound investment with a wellness return.

Of course, challenges remain: economic fluctuations, political uncertainty, rising energy costs, labour shortages and bureaucracy - all key concerns reflected in the latest bsw Business Climate Barometer.

Yet aquanale provides the ideal opportunity to build connections, strengthen networks and foster resilience in challenging times.

EuroSpaPoolNews wishes all participants a successful and inspiring trade fair.