The Joy of Water Fountains

Enhance Your Garden with a Water Fountain: Tips & Tricks

Any good landscape designer will tell you that your yard isn’t done without a water feature, no matter how lush and beautiful your plants are.  Flowing water doesn’t just add beauty to your outdoor space; it brings a sense of vitality and peacefulness that you can’t get any other way.  The water feature itself is very important, but the sounds created by the flow of water as well as the watery reflections created by sunlight and fountain lighting add a whole new dimension to your garden.

Bringing a fountain into your exterior space will give it a fresh new feel.  The addition of any water at all will do a world of good, but you can maximize the benefits of an outdoor fountain just with a few simple tricks.  Here are some of our favorite ways to enhance your yard or garden with a water fountain.

Place the fountain where it can be enjoyed both from outside and through a window from inside your home or business.  Unless you spend a large amount of your spare time in your yard, you won’t be able to enjoy your fountain very often if it’s not visible from inside.  Placing it where it can be enjoyed both inside and out will give you twice the benefits.

Maximize the beautiful, tranquil reflections that are cast off the moving water with other reflective objects.  Glass or stainless steel sculptures, wind chimes, gazing balls, stained glass garden ornaments and other decorative accents will catch that watery reflection and multiply it, making your garden feel like there’s more water present than there actually is. This works best with low-profile fountains. If your fountain is placed up against a wall, hanging an odd number of small mirrors on the wall will reflect the water and make your garden appear larger. Just be sure not to crowd your fountain with too many surrounding objects; simplicity is best.  Try out a variety of different reflective objects and pick your favorites for best results.

Stagger the height of plants around your fountain for visual interest.  Just as you would in a flower bed, you should have taller plants placed behind your fountain, medium-height plants placed around the base of the fountain and low-growing plants in front.  Vary the texture and color of the plants as well to achieve a striking focal point that will truly make your fountain the most exciting part of your yard.

Illuminate your outdoor fountain at night with the right type of lighting for the fountain and the effect you’re going for.  You can get more details about fountain lighting from our previous post, Designer Fountain Lighting.

For a wide variety of beautiful outdoor water fountains, see the Garden Fountains category at KineticFountains.com.  Save up to 25% off retail prices and get free shipping on orders over $100!

Pictured: San Remo Pigna Garden Fountain (top), Copper Cascade Solar Fountain

Product Spotlight: Tiered Garden Fountains

When you think of a grand, elegant garden fountain, what’s the first thing that springs to mind?  More than likely, it’s a traditional tiered fountain.  Tiered garden fountains feature at least two separate ‘basins’ that catch the flow of water that typically comes from the top of the fountain.  In most tiered fountain designs, water overflows from the top basin into the next until it gets to the bottom basin where the fountain pump is located.  The water is then pumped back up to the top of the fountain.

Tiered garden fountains are a beautiful way to bring the sparkling vitality of flowing water to your outdoor space.  They’re available in a wide range of colors, styles, price points and materials including granite, cast stone, copper, ceramic and lightweight materials like fiberglass composite.  Tiered fountains can be small and casual or large and bold.  The Tiered Garden Fountains category at KineticFountains.com offers a great variety of tiered outdoor fountains so you can find the one that’s just right for your yard.

Here are some of our favorite tiered garden fountains from the KineticFountains.com collection:

Italian 4-Tier Garden Fountain - Chances are, this is the sort of fountain you think of when you hear ‘tiered fountain’.  It’s got that classic, romantic look evocative of hidden courtyards in the Italian countryside.  The ornate details, scallops and scrolls plant it firmly in the traditional category.  It’s the perfect fountain for formal gardens, courtyards, or anytime you want a bold statement and a lush, luxurious look.  It’s crafted of durable cast stone and is available in 5 colors.

Platia Garden Fountain – This fountain is a great example of how a tiered garden fountain can be modern and clean-lined, but still offer the beautiful reflective qualities of a traditional tiered fountain.  The Platia Garden Fountain, made by Campania, is crafted of cast stone, a durable material that closely resembles the look of aged natural stone.  The Platia Garden Fountain is sleek and simple, and available in 6 colors.

Copper Cascade Solar Fountain – The design of this solar powered fountain turns the idea of ‘tiered fountains’ on its head with the way the tiers swivel to the side before pouring into the main basin below.  The vase at the top of the fountain acts as the fountainhead, pouring water forth into the copper tiers.  The Copper Cascade Solar Fountain shows how tiered fountains can be casual and fun, and small enough for limited outdoor spaces such as balconies and itty bitty townhouse backyards. 

You can see many more tiered outdoor fountains at KineticFountains.com.  Shop now to get up to 25% off plus free shipping on orders over $100!

Guide to In-Ground Garden Fountain Installations

Streams of water splashing over the edge of a fountain, river rocks glistening in the sun – nothing makes quite such a luxurious impression in the garden as a built-in water feature.  Many outdoor fountains with basins can be set into the ground and covered with stones for a rich, timeless look that will add a sense of tranquility and elegance to your outdoor space.

Built-in water features don’t have to be custom-made to be beautiful.  There are a wide variety of garden fountains available that can be purchased as a set with an in-ground basin and easily installed in an afternoon with just a few people (depending on the weight of the water feature itself.  Some are very heavy and may require heavy equipment – you can hire a local contractor to help in that case).  Some options include solid granite, stainless steel and lightweight fiberglass composites. 

So, how do in-ground fountain installations work?  It’s simpler than it looks.  You purchase the main water feature part of the fountain, which generally includes a pump and tubing (though sometimes, this must be purchased separately).  A good example of one of these is the Basalt Column pictured above; it’s available in three sizes and comes with a pump and tubing.

The next thing you need is the basin.  Many water features like the Basalt Column have a recommended basin that works well with that particular fountain.  If it isn’t mentioned in the product description, you can generally use any basin available that will support the weight of the fountain and contain the water stream that comes from the main water feature.  If you need help with this, the customer service representatives at KineticFountains.com will be glad to assist you. 

In the photo of the SW Basalt Column Garden Fountain, right, you can see the entire setup put together.  The base of this would be buried in the ground; the river rocks hide the basin on the surface.  (The base of this fountain is sold separately).  When the water streams out of the top of the basalt columns, it ‘disappears’ through the river rocks into the basin below and is pumped back up into the water features, so you don’t need a dedicated water source.  River rocks are generally not included, but you can find them at your local garden center.  You’ll need to occasionally add water to the basin to make up for evaporation.

You can find a wide variety of water features, basins and other fountain parts in the ‘Garden Fountain Components’ category at KineticFountains.com.

Interested in learning about the actual set-up process?  Check out our previous post, 'Memorial Day Garden Project – How to Install an Outdoor Fountain'.

Avant Garden: Modern Outdoor Fountains

When you think of garden fountains, visions of elaborately detailed traditional water features most likely come to mind – replete with cherubs, scrolls and other classic imagery.  Those fountains are beautiful, but you may be one of the many people who prefer a more streamlined, modern look for every aspect of your interior and exterior design.  If you’ve got a home filled with carefully chosen mid century modern décor, you probably aren’t in the market for a pair of stone angels pouring water out of carved jugs like the ones you see in local garden centers.

Don’t be discouraged – there are outdoor fountains just for you!  You don’t have to go without a water fountain just because you don’t like tiered formal to-dos.  Options available for those who prefer the chic, simple modern look include stainless steel, concrete, granite, and new lightweight materials like fiberglass.

Here are a few of our favorite ‘avant garde’ water features for outdoor spaces.

Calais Eclipse Garden Fountain – Sleek, reflective and yet still fluid and organic.  The Calais Eclipse is one of the shining stars of Kinetic Fountains’ range of stainless steel outdoor fountains.  This towering beauty can be placed in a pond, or you can purchase a hidden reservoir that is installed in the ground to create a ‘disappearing water’ effect.  This fountain is especially fitting for commercial applications, but also looks stunning in residential outdoor spaces.

Helix Garden Fountain – How can something so simple be so strikingly beautiful? The Helix is hand carved of pure granite, giving it a timeless feel that will create an atmosphere of effortless serenity in your yard or garden.  The twisting shape of this granite column gives it a feeling of movement, as water travels out the top and over the sides, into a hidden reservoir (sold separately).  Stone Forest, the maker of this piece, says it best: “Within hard stone are movement, direction, and centuries of accumulated time.”

Escala Garden Fountain – A bold contemporary shape, low profile and highly audible water sounds make this outdoor fountain a versatile addition to any exterior.  Made of durable cast stone, this fountain will retain its beauty for many years to come. It comes in six shades, so you can customize it to perfectly complement your outdoor setting.  Use it as the focal point in the center of your courtyard, or a hidden treasure along a meandering garden path.

Looking for more modern outdoor fountains?  We suggest you browse the following categories on KineticFountains.com: Stainless Steel Garden Fountains, Granite Garden Fountains, Lightweight Garden Fountains and Trevi Fountains.

Fast Feng Shui with Water Fountains

Increase the positive chi in your living space with a little flowing water, feng shui-style.  If that sentence sounds to you like it was written in another language, don’t worry!  We can help you reap the benefits of feng shui in your home in a way that’s quick, simple and easy to understand.

Feng shui is the ancient Chinese art of using placement of objects to enhance the flow of energy within an environment.  It’s been practiced in China for thousands of years, and has recently experienced a revival of interest across the world.  According to the principles of feng shui, you can harness the positive and negative energy flow in a space to improve health, wealth, peace of mind and personal relationships.

Clear, fresh flowing water is an incredibly important part of improving the positive energy flow in your home.  In accordance with the feng shui philosophy, water features can enhance your health and wealth.  Water fountains circulate and refresh the ‘chi’.   For best results, place your feng shui water fountain bottom center of any room.  You can find the bottom center and other important areas of the room with a Bagua map, which is an essential tool of feng shui practice.  As shown in the Bagua map, the bottom center is associated with your career.  Flowing water in the form of a fountain can help you grow and prosper in your chosen profession.

A wide variety of water fountains can be used for feng shui purposes including wall fountains, tabletop fountains and floor fountains.  Fountains featuring mirrors, such as the Inspiration Falls Stainless Steel and Mirror Wall Fountain pictured, are even more effective for feng shui as mirrors are also a symbol for water.  In each fountain, the flow of water should face into the room, so place the fountain so you can always see the water as it falls.  You can shop for beautiful feng shui water fountains at KineticFountains.com.

To learn more about implementing feng shui into your home, see the feng shui articles at About.com.

Related articles that may be of help: Feng Shui Home – The Element of Water; Fountains and Feng Shui; Feng Shui in Office Settings and Garden Feng Shui: Energize your Garden with Feng Shui Fountains.

Creative Ways to Use Water Fountains in Your Garden

Outdoor water fountains can be used for much more than just decoration.  When you add a tranquil water feature to your courtyard, garden, front yard, patio or deck, you’ll find that it has many benefits to offer including stress relief, humidification, sound mitigation, drawing in wildlife and even entertaining children.  If you’ve been thinking about adding a beautiful garden fountain to your outdoor area, check out these creative ways to integrate it into your lifestyle and landscaping design.

Child’s play – A ‘sculpture sprinkler’ is a great option for those who want their kids to be able to run around and enjoy the showers of water on a warm day, but also want something decorative that will add beauty to their outdoor space.  Sculpture Sprinklers are hand made of copper and connect to any standard garden hose in a snap.  As the water starts to run through the sprinkler, it twirls around, sending streams of water up into the air.  See a video of how they work on the artists' website.  Children love them!  Of course, kids should be supervised at all times when playing around water.  Pictured: Sun Ray Garden Sculpture Sprinkler

Bubbling Planters – Add interest to your garden with unexpected, subtle flowing water in garden pots!  You can turn any planter into an instant bubbling fountain in minutes, just with a fountain pump rated for outdoor use.  Simply stack some bricks or stones inside the planter to raise the pump up close to the surface of the water, plug it in to a grounded outlet and watch the water start bubbling up.  It’s an incredible simple effect, but can really have a lot of impact on the feel of your outdoor space.  Just make sure never to let the pump run dry – keep the water level up high enough to cover it.

Sounds for Meditation – Use a water fountain to enhance your daily meditation, yoga and other stress relieving efforts.  The soothing sounds of falling water can help make even a backyard on a busy suburban street feel much more tranquil and conducive to deep reflection.  Help clear your mind by reducing background sounds from traffic, construction and noisy neighbors by placing a garden fountain with a high water sound close to the area where you like to relax.  You’ll get the highest water sound out of waterfall-style fountains and fountains in which large volumes of water fall from a distance into a basin or pool, as opposed to trickles or bubblers.  Pictured: Flagstone Fountain

Bird Sanctuaries – It’s easy to draw a variety of birds into your garden with flowing water.  Birds are attracted to moving water, whether it’s a creek or a fountain in your backyard.  Most birds tend to prefer gentle streams.  One great option is to place a solar fountain head in your existing birdbath, or purchase a solar birdbath fountain.  Since solar fountains don’t require electricity, you can place them further away from your home, which makes birds feel more comfortable.

Get ready for the warm spring and summer months with a relaxing garden fountain for your outdoor space!  Shop for a wide variety of outdoor fountains at KineticFountains.com.

Refreshing Spring Fountains for Small Gardens

You don’t have to have a large outdoor space to enjoy the stress-reducing, eye-catching, traffic-noise-quieting benefits of a garden fountain.  There are hundreds of small-scale outdoor fountains available that provide all of this and more, in sizes and styles that will fit even the tiniest garden, including city balconies.  Don’t miss out on giving your garden a fresh new look for spring just because you have limited space – check out this list of our favorite small fountains for spring!

Frog Solar Water Fountain – This is about as compact as garden fountains get!  Since it’s solar powered, there are no cords to worry about – just place it where it will receive plenty of sun.   This nature-inspired solar fountain fits easily on plant stands, side tables and other small spaces so you can enjoy easy elegance in even the smallest of outdoor spaces.  Enjoy the sparkling sunlight as it reflects off the moving water in this economical, beautiful little fountain.

Cara Classica Garden Fountain – Bring all of the classic beauty of grand cast stone fountains to your garden, in a much smaller scale.  This lovely water feature looks like a remnant of an ancient sculpture, uncovered in a secret garden and revitalized with flowing water.  It may be diminutive, but it has a bold presence that will create a strong focal point in any outdoor space.  The durable cast stone material will grow even more beautiful with age, and last many years.

Formal Garden Wall Fountain – Wall-hanging outdoor fountains are a great idea for small gardens that have a strong wall surface available.  They hardly take up any space at all, yet help transform even the most boring outdoor space to a relaxing getaway you’ll find yourself drawn to.  The Formal Garden Fountain has a beautiful, classic look that will give any outdoor space a sense of timelessness.  Hang it on the side of your house, the garden wall or a strong fence.   

Country Gardens Solar Birdbath Fountain – Add a little whimsical joie de vivre to your yard with this lovely solar powered birdbath fountain.  Birds will flock to it, and you'll want to sit nearby as often as possible.  Set it in direct sunlight and watch as the water starts flowing.  Keeping the water moving in your birdbath will attract beneficial wildlife and deter mosquitoes from laying eggs.  This durable, lightweight birdbath fountain features a classic silhouette and details of turtles, dragonflies and leaves. 

5-Arm Bamboo Water Spout - Bring the quiet tranquility of Japanese gardens to your outdoor space with the simple, organic beauty of a bamboo fountain.  Small and versatile, bamboo water spouts can be used with nearly any water-tight container, making them an extremely economical choice that will really change the ambiance of your yard for the better.   Made of high quality bamboo that will remain beautiful despite constant contact with water, the 5-Arm Bamboo Water Spout has a unique design that will create a harmonious natural look in your yard or garden.

Browse a collection of Small Outdoor Fountains at KineticFountains.com, or view the entire Garden Fountains category.

Spring Projects: Choosing the Right Fountain for Your Garden

Now that warm weather is on its way back, it’s a great time to start thinking about giving your outdoor space a face lift.  No garden is complete without flowing water, and whether you’ve already got a garden fountain or are shopping for your first one, we’ve got a few tips that can help you choose one that’s just right for your space.  Get your spring garden makeover off to a great start by doing a little homework before you buy.

Take some time to relax in your backyard and have a look around.  What areas need improvement?  What’s the strongest focal point?  If you don’t already have a spot in mind for your new garden fountain, it’s best to go ahead and choose one before you make a purchase so you don’t get it set up only to find that it’s the wrong size, color or design for the space.  You can highlight and draw the eye to colorful flowers and foliage, make the most of interesting architectural features or distract from areas that are not as attractive.  You may want to consider placing it where it can be seen from indoors as well, so you can enjoy it during all seasons and weather.  Try not to place your new fountain under a tree, unless you plan on removing debris daily.

Be sure to measure the height, width and depth of the space.  Remember that free-standing (floor) fountains will need plenty of clearance around them to allow regular maintenance and foot traffic as necessary.  Tabletop fountains can be placed nearly anywhere, and wall fountains simply require a wall surface strong enough to support the fountain’s weight.

Choose a fountain style that blends in well with the style of your garden.  Quirky, whimsical fountains add to the charm of eclectic cottage gardens where large formal gardens would overwhelm the space.  Sleek ultra-modern designs may not work in the average suburban lawn, whereas more traditional styles can set it off nicely.  It may help to have a photograph of your front or back yard to look at while you shop, so you can imagine the fountain in the space.

At KineticFountains.com, you can browse a wide variety of garden fountains by size, material and design including lightweight garden fountains, tiered garden fountains, animal garden fountains and sphere outdoor fountains.  See the Garden Fountains page for a full category list!

Now until Easter Sunday, shop the Easter Sale for great deals on a hand-picked assortment of beautiful fountains for the home and garden.  Save up to 25% and get free shipping on orders over $100!

Pictured: Cherub with Ornate Pond Fountain

How to Choose Lighting for Your Fountain

The proper lighting can transform nearly any object from ordinary to beautiful.  When combined with flowing water, lighting creates an eye-catching shimmering effect that casts watery reflections onto nearby surfaces for a dreamy, tranquil ambiance.  Many fountains – particularly wall fountains – come with built-in lighting designed to enhance the beauty of that particular fountain so you don’t have to purchase lighting separately (like the Nojoqui Falls Tripe Slate Tech and Copper Fountain pictured).  Most fountains, however, don’t come with lighting included.  So, how do you choose the right lighting for your fountain?  Here are some simple tips.

The most popular choice in fountain lighting is submersible fountain lights.  Submersible lighting is placed underwater and shines up through the water onto the fountain for a beautiful sparkling effect.  Rather than just lighting up the main part of the fountain, it highlights and illuminates streams of water as they flow into the basin.  Submersible fountain lighting often comes with interchangeable colored filters that allow you to change the look and feel of the room where you place the fountain.  Go for yellow or amber colored filters for a subtle glow, blue or green for a peaceful stress-reducing effect or dramatic red for parties.

Some tabletop and wall fountains come equipped with clip-on easel-style lighting that highlights the fountain from above.  This style of lighting works for some people, but others may find that it distracts from the beauty of the fountain design.  In that case, you can remove the easel-style lighting and choose submersible lighting instead.

Submersible fountain lighting can be purchased in a variety of styles.   The type you choose depends upon the size of the fountain basin.  Most fountains, with the exception of very large outdoor fountains, use standard 5-watt or 10-watt fountain lights.  Whether you choose 5 or 10 watts simply depends upon how bright you’d like the light to be.  For large garden fountains and ponds, 20 watt or 50 watt halogen lights are recommended.

Floor fountains, garden fountains and pond fountains can also be illuminated with above-water lighting that acts as a spotlight on the decorative part of the water feature.  This type of lighting is similar to the lighting used to illuminate the foliage of trees at night.  The Pond, Water Fountain & Garden Light (pictured) is a great option since it can be used either in or out of the water, giving you a range of options to find the best lighting setup for your fountain.  It is particularly well suited for fountains without basins such as pond and pool spitters and garden fountains with hidden basins buried underground and covered with river rocks.  This light can also be purchased in an economical set of 3.

For a wide range of fountain lighting options, see the Fountain Lights category at KineticFountains.com.

Buying Fountains for Clients: Tips for Designers and Contractors

Interior decorators, landscape designers and other trade professionals – did you know that you can get your clients custom designed water features for the home and garden?  KineticFountains.com offers custom fountain services that make it easy to meet the needs of even your most discerning clients. The custom ordering process is easy, and you and your client can be involved in every step of the way – from the initial design to the finishing touches.

Many of the fountains in our regular collection can be customized to add a company logo or change the shape, colors, materials, size and lighting.  See Customizable Fountains and Fountains with Logo Option for more details.

Custom fountains created for homes and businesses in the past include in-ground fountain basins built in to interior floors with wall-hanging or freestanding sculptural fountain designs, waterfalls behind bars or used as room dividers, grand courtyard creations with designer lighting schemes, fountains created to match the surrounding décor of a room including colors, shapes and materials and even wall fountains customized with your choice of artwork.  Browse the gallery of custom fountain ideas to get inspired, or contact Kinetic Fountains with the details of your plan. 

Throughout the custom ordering process, Kinetic Fountains will work with you to ensure your client’s complete satisfaction with every aspect of the fountain.  We work closely with the best fountain manufacturers in the business and handle all the details so all you have to do is create and approve your design.   If you’ve got any questions about the custom fountain ordering process, see our Custom Fountains FAQs.

Trade professionals may also be eligible for discount rates based on the details of the order – contact us for more information!