If you're thinking about installing a pool in your back yard, chances are you will also want to design a pool house to go with it. A cabana or changing pavilion can provide the finishing touch to your landscaping plans as well as form the centerpiece of summer entertainment. There are several factors you'll need to consider before implementing your pool house floor plan.

The first consideration is cost. Construction of a pool house begins at approximately $30,000. The average home owner wants more than just a tented shield from the sun and the primary features of most pool house floor plans, bathrooms and kitchens, don't come cheap. Required plumbing, tile work and fixtures are pricey to install. The initial cost of construction isn't the end of allowances to be made. Installing a pool house could also cost you a pretty penny at tax time as well since the addition of a pool house will raise the appraised value of the property.

The second factor to consider is function. What features do you want in and around your pool house? The most basic pool house floor plan offers shade from the sun and changing rooms. However, most home owners think of a pool house in terms of convenience and entertainment value for the summer months.

Separate bathrooms, showers and laundry facilities are just a few of the amenities that can be added. Other practical additions can be a small or full kitchen, grilling area, outdoor fireplace with extra lounging space, or full wetbar with refrigerator to eliminate wet feet trodding back and forth into the house for cool drinks and snacks. A properly equipped pool house can provide a full day or evening of entertainment without having to step back into the main house.

What about luxuries? Saunas and Jacuzzis are wonderful additions, but will quickly add to the construction cost. Depending on the size, your pool house can also double as space for a home gym, home theatre, or even separate guest quarters. If you are implementing a pool house floor plan on a large scale, don't forget to double check zoning laws concerning construction, size and use of outbuildings. Make sure your ideas and plans conform to local requirements and restrictions. Non-compliance with local regulations can be costly!

Design scheme is next in line. How do you want your pool house to look when it's completed? Do you have a certain overall look you are trying to achieve? Most home owners want a pool house floor plan that is reflective of, but not necessarily exactly like the main home. Generally speaking, the best designed pool house exteriors will pick up on the architectural motifs and design details of the main house without mimicking it exactly. A pool house floor plan should complete the residence and tie the swimming pool, main house and landscaped yard into one cohesive and coherent unit. The decision to add a pool house relies on a number of factors. This list of considerations is by no means complete, but should be viewed as a starting point only.