An above ground pool with no deck is basically a giant tub sitting in your yard, ladder and all. Add the right deck, though, and that same pool suddenly looks like something you’d find at a boutique resort instead of a big box store. I installed my own above ground pool a few summers back…

Your pool looks stunning. The water sparkles, the deck is clean, and then — right there in the corner — sits your pool pump, looking like it escaped from an industrial facility. Sound familiar? Trust me, I’ve been there, staring at that eyesore while guests pretend not to notice it. The good news is that…