Inner beauty: five ways to add new life to tired indoor pools without killing your budget.(Bottom Line)

If indoor pools were clothing, most facilities built in the 50s, '60s and '70s would be the equivalent of leisure suits.

With tight budgets the rule around the country, many operators may feel stuck with what they have. But you can dramatically change your indoor facility's appearance for a small sum by following these five tips:

1 Go toward the light

Light plays a huge factor in how your pool is perceived. If your facility has burned-out bulbs, dingy Plexiglas or simply not enough light, increase the lighting.

Your area's bathing code may require a certain level of light. Generally, bathing codes range from 35 to 100 lumens per square foot. You will need to determine proper lighting vs. glare. Glare may present difficulty for your lifeguards when conducting scanning and thus can be a real safety issue.

The positioning of lights, windows, skylights and lifeguard stations is paramount for safety.

2 Pour on the paint