Outdoor Water Features in Outdoor Decor

It is obvious why some outdoor water features are included in a list of landscaping ideas. Swimming pools and hot tubs are examples of these types of features. They provide a place for play and relaxation and a pool can be a source of exercise right in your own backyard.

Other outdoor water features such as a backyard fountain, ponds and waterfalls are more subtle in their appeal. The serenity of a still pond, the gentle trickling water of garden fountains, or the cascade of a waterfall creates a peaceful feeling that is hard to achieve with other landscape construction options. And who among us hasn’t been mesmerized by our reflection in a pond or watching koi swim silently beneath the water’s surface in an Asian garden?

What is an outdoor water feature or backyard water feature?

A water feature is one or more elements from a variety of artistic fountain s, pools, ponds, water gardens, artificial waterfalls, and streams in landscape architecture and garden design.

Modern water features are often self-contained, which means they don’t require water to be piped in; instead, water is recycled from a pond or a sump, which is a buried reservoir. The sump might be buried underground or incorporated within the water feature (in the case of an outdoor water feature).

A garden water feature can be as tiny as a small water fountain or as huge as a massive waterfall, and it can be composed of natural or man-made materials such as stone, stainless steel, resin, iron, or glass. The majority of water features are controlled electronically, with simple timer actuators to complex computerized controls for coordinating music with water and light animation.

Additional benefits of water features to homes include greater curb appeal, property value, reduced noise pollution (due to the sound of water overriding outside noise), increased humidity in dry places, and improved air quality.

Why Add an Outdoor Water Feature to Your Property?

Many homeowners want their houses to be as attractive and inviting as possible. Landscape is frequently a crucial component of outside renovations, which are high on homeowners’ to-do lists.

When designing gardens, homeowners should think about more than simply flowers and bushes, and consider other components that might add vitality to their landscape designs. Water features can help with this because they offer more than simply aesthetic value.

Water components stand out against the greenery and vegetation, making them ideal for creating focal points in the garden or yard. A solitary fountain might attract attention, but a trickling stream or waterfall can transport water to many locations throughout the landscape.

Raindrops on a rooftop or waves lapping on the coastline are soothing sounds that evoke feelings of harmony and relaxation. Water features can bring that soothing sound closer to you, adding to the mood.

Brings texture: Water has a distinct and fluid texture that contrasts sharply with grass blades or the hard lines of architectural elements like pergolas or retaining walls. Lines can be softened by a pond or fountain.

Water features can bring wildlife to a property, which can help to improve the natural ecosystem. Birds may stop by for a drink, and dragonflies will dart and hover above the glistening ripples. By inviting natural wildlife into the yard, you can enjoy the animals and insects for hours.

Problem regions can be remedied by adapting the terrain rather than fighting it. To blend in with the natural surroundings, a damp or flooding-prone region of the yard can be turned into a pond or waterfall.

Develop a pastime: Many people use water features to experiment with the hobby of keeping an outdoor aquarium. Koi ponds are simple to set up and maintain, and the colorful fish add to the overall charm.

Personalize your water feature: Water features are as individual as the people who build them. Homeowners can use fountains, ponds, or flowing water elements to distinguish their landscaping apart from their neighbors’. Pools and spas can also be combined with decorative water features to make them appear as if they were carved directly out of the natural landscape.

With sounds, texture, movement, and beauty, water features can elevate landscapes to new heights.

Is an Outdoor Water Feature Worth It?

You might be wondering what kind of ROI you might expect if you install an outdoor water feature such as a waterfall, swimming pool or fish pond. And, like all home improvements, your choice will appeal to some buyers and be a negative to others. When in doubt, look for water feature ideas that are low maintenance.

If the gardens water feature will add to your enjoyment of your home, then yes, an outdoor water feature is worth it. It will provide you with hours of tranquility that is hard to duplicate with traditional hardscape materials. It may help you reduce stress and give you a hobby you hadn’t previously thought of. Those benefits are priceless to good mental health.

Swimming pools may not be a desirable feature for families with very young children. But if a pool will help you improve your fitness level or help you keep your kids occupied in your own yard, then resale isn’t your top priority.

Also keep in mind that waterfront property, no matter where it is located, will always command a higher price than nearby properties that are landlocked. It is in our DNA to seek the comfort of water.

One often forgotten benefit of a robust backyard water feature (and this is especially true in the desert southwest of the U.S.) is that the area around the pond, water fountains or waterfall is cooler than away from it. This can be a selling point in an arid climate.

As backyard hosts and hostesses, a water feature provides a focal point for your guests to gather around, becomes the subject of conversation and will block undesired neighborhood noises that might spoil the mood and ambiance you’ve worked so hard to achieve for your event.

How to Build an Outdoor DIY Water Feature

For this example, we’ve chosen a charming water feature: an outdoor wall of water on a balcony to illustrate how easy it is to build an outdoor diy water feature that will impress your guests and add unique style and sophistication to your outdoor decor. As a bonus, this outdoor water wall adds privacy.

Supplies:
6- 2×8
1- 1×1
1 Roll of Rubber Tubing
6- C- Clamps
Table Saw to cut lumber to size
Drill
Pond Liner

Notes before you start:
*Use tempered glass for your glass wall, not plastic or acrylic as these will stain and be hard to keep clean. An old shower door will work.
*Make sure your pump will not only provide adequate water flow, but also will pump that flow to the height you need.
*You can add a tablespoon of bleach once a week to the reservoir to keep the glass clean.

1. Start with 2x8s and start building the box that will hold the support for the glass and the pond liner for the water. It takes 8-2x8s to build the box. How wide the box is will depend on the width of your glass. In this example, there are four inches on either side of the glass.
2. Stack one box on top of the other and add 1x in the corners to keep it together.
3. Use a 2×8 for the bottom
4. Build the sides an inch taller than the glass
5. Take 1″ pieces of wood and create a channel for the glass to sit in in the bottom
6. Take the pond liner and line the inside of the box. Staple the liner to the top of the box.
7. Set the glass inside the box on top of the pond liner to make sure it fits snugly.
8. Take a screw and put one screw in the in the front of the glass on each side and one in the back to make sure the glass does not move forwards or backwards.
9. Use c-clamps to hold the hose in place up the side and across the top. Drill holes across the top for the water to flow through and down the glass.
10. Use 2x8s and frame the front which hides the hose, the clamps and the edges of the glass.
11. Hide the pump mechanism inside the pond liner with river rocks, landscaping rocks or stacked stone.
12. Accent the base with flower pots filled with your favorite blooms or green plants. You can also fill the pond liner reservoir with aquatic plants to make a water garden that will appreciate the circulating water and water mist.