Floor water fountain are the perfect thing that would greatly fit your courtyard, garden, lobby, living area or even office. These art pieces add to the grace, elegance and natural bliss of your home. It is one of the most popular fountain designs just because it works well in any kind of setting and interior decoration. There is no need to dig mud, screw up wall. It is a highly versatile piece of art and you do not even require plumbing work.

Today, market is flooded with endless variety of such fountains which come in different shapes, sizes, material, designs, colors and styles. Often rock, clay, stone, fiber, wood, slate, pebbles, aluminum, resin, stainless steel, cooper and metal are used as basic building block for these products.

In this article I would like to state some of the benefits that can be attained from this art piece. Let us start with the first one:

1. These fountains grab the attention of each and every individual at a very first instance. People are highly enthralled by seeing this object. It provides relaxation to people and relieves their stress. Imagine what pleasure is achieved when you hear the shooting sound after a hectic day schedule. I am quite sure that everybody would love to admire the beauty and dignity of this art piece.

2. This art piece is also an outstanding gizmo which is highly effective in removing negative ions from the environment. The atmosphere is full with numerous negative ions such as dust, dirt, pollution, etc. The running water attracts various negative ions from the atmosphere and keeps the environment neat and healthy.

3. It is commonly used decorative item. Now a day’s, most of the interior decorators use them for decorating homes, hotels, motels and corporate houses.

4. These decorative pieces also bring in an element of Feng Shui to the environment. A floor water fountain in the exact area of the home is said to release the “chi” of the house.

A floor water fountains can make you feel better, just by being around! They not only make your living space attractive but also keep it cool and seductive.

Floor fountains are ornamental water features which can be added to any room to help create a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere.  They work using just a couple of key devices, the pump, a water tray and the backdrop, all of these combined together help to create a wonderful item that can give relaxation and joy to the owner for many years to come.

Require No Plumbing or Installation

One of the key factors to note about Floor Fountains is they require no plumbing, this is great as they are easy to move around (depending on the size) and extremely easy to setup.  Unlike other types of water fountain such as the wall fountains they do not require any form of installation, all that is required is a flat surface to rest the fountain against such as a wall.

Where are they best used?

If you are buying Floor Fountains then it is best to either have them placed directly against a wall or they can be used as a room divider.  There are some little tricks that can be used to ensure they look as good as possible when in place.  Firstly, if you are buying one that stands against a wall then get a solid style such as mirrored, this will allow you to cover up the wall space so it does not show through and the floor fountain will look much better.  However, if you are having a room divider then it is best to use a clear backdrop and when the water flows over the backdrop it will act as a frost.  Floor fountains can also be used outside and make excellent visual statements in the garden or on the patio.   

What are they made from?

Generally you will find that the floor fountains are made from natural materials, these tend to be slate, glass, copper or ceramic.  Increasingly now though steel floor fountains are the preference for many, and this is due to the effect the water has when it runs over the steel.  Due to the popularity there are now an increasing number of the steel floor fountain designs to be found. 

The Visual and Sound Impact

Whichever type of floor fountain you choose they create a superb relaxing atmosphere and enhance the room or outdoor space where you have them.  Many of the floor fountains you can buy are hand crafted and every care goes into ensuring each and every piece looks and sounds great.  The beauty of a floor fountain is once you have it in place then it is virtually maintenance free, all you need to do is add some water every now and then.   So if you want a unique and dramatic statement for your home, garden or office a floor fountain will provide everything you need and more.

Wall fountains will look almost anywhere. They can be part of your living room garden or dining area. It was probably the Romans who introduced the concept of wall fountains. The water would be piped through the walls in the city and the lion would sprout the water. The lion was considered as a symbol of strength and courage, and Romans would add the lions to decorate the city.

Even now these leonine figures are being used for decorating public places. Wall fountains have a sense of nostalgia. Now wall fountains are less expensive which means that you can easily add them to your house. If you want a lion or a gargoyle as fountains, you can include it in your home décor. After you choose the design, you can select the material or the stone that will be used to create the design. Before buying a wall fountain, you must think of the total space at your disposal. If you have ample space in the living room, the wall fountain with a panel can look magnificent. The wall fountains are available in both vertical and horizontal modes.

If you have high ceilings in the room, a tall wall fountain will look magnificent. If you have a wide wall, it is better to avoid a tall vertical fountain unless there are other features which you can add later. If the room ha slow ceiling height it will look better if you use a horizontal wall fountain. The depth of the fountain is a matter of consideration. If it is a narrow corridor, you cannot use a deep wall fountain. Although the standard depth of wall fountains is six inches, it will be better if you install a wall fountain with deeper panels in the wall.

Before you buy the wall fountain, you should measure the dimensions of the wall and accordingly choose the product. In order to point the dimensions, you can use thumb tracks or post-it notes. Then you can observe it from a distance to find out the overall impact. Sticky tapes can be used to outline the fountains to get a better impression. If you are looking for a good online shop to buy water fountains, you can check Water Fountain Place. The selection is amazing and you will have varied choices. Water fountains are also good for health. They can be installed in dry places and they can act as natural humidifiers.

Moreover when you think of the aesthetic value of waterfalls, it is difficult to deny their importance. With Water Fountain Place you will have different designs, shapes and all of them will come within a price range which is affordable. Some of the common types available in the shop include the outdoor fountains, wall fountains, indoor fountains and garden fountains. If you want, you will have customized fountains which will suit the overall decor of the room.

Backyard fountains can be found all over the place in trade shows and gardening magazines. There are many different styles so you’ll probably have a few choices to make.

My favorite style of fountain is made out of stone. You can go to Mexico and see large, handmade stone fountains, and these are the most beautiful. Some mass-produced fountains from China are even made of stone, but you can’t really tell because they crush the rock and mix it with resin to fit in a mold.

Another option is to build your own fountain. There are many products out there to get you started.

The easiest way to build a backyard fountain is to get a small water pump and place it in a small tub or over a liner. You would then cover the liner with either a plastic of mesh grating and cover it with a layer of rock and small pebbles.

Next, you want to connect some PVC pipe to the pump so water will rise up out of the rocks. Black PVC pipe for sprinklers is the best at concealing your setup, but its also expensive so you make the choice. This way you won’t have to worry about kids or pets getting in the way.

This would be a great time to build a small waterfall! Then just cover up all your electrical and tubing under large rocks.

If you bought your backyard water fountain in a store, it should tell you what size pump you need, if it doesn’t come with the fountain. If your making your own, you should try to estimate so that every inch of width you add, you have about 100 gallons per hour being pumped. Remember elevation will also affect how much water you are pumping. Many newer pumps can be adjusted or turned down, but not much.

Cleanliness is next to godliness – It is imperative that you start the season with a clean slate.  Remove old weeds and dead branches.  Clean your patios and walkways and if they need it, seal them.  It will not only preserve their life, but also keep them cleaner.  If your lawn has dead patches where it gets foot traffic, replace it with a patio material that can take the traffic.  Your garden department has forms that can make a cement path look like stonework or you could choose gravel, mulch or patio tiles.  The idea is to replace your struggling grass with something that will look great with little on going effort.

Mulch, mulch, mulch – I can’t stress the value of mulch enough.  With my last vegetable garden, I raked all of my oak leaves onto the beds.  Now I have heard that Oak is too acid to be used without composting it first but by adding a little garden lime, I had superb results.  The leaves kept my garden soil cooler and moister.  It really cut my watering time and my veggies loved it.  You can bet I added it to all my other garden beds the next year.  PLEASE NOTE:The secret to boosting the benefit of your mulch is to lay landscape fabric under it.  Some people use strips of plastic but unless you poke holes in it, the rain can’t penetrate.  Other people use newspapers, whatever you choose, putting mulch on top of a weed barrier keeps weeds from taking over your garden.  If any do sprout, you will find that they have shallow root systems and pull out easily.  Along with this, add your permanent edging.  It not only defines the edges of your flower beds, but also helps to keep grass from creeping into them.

Plant permanent greenery – It will become the backdrop for seasonal additions.  This is one of the secrets to avoid starting from scratch each year.  Once a permanent bush is planted, you can easily add flowering annuals in front of it and change them with the season.  It keeps your garden looking fresh even though you are only actively working the front 1 or 2 feet of space..

Plan to water – Even if you can’t afford timers this year, you can simplify your watering task. If possible, set up a pvc sprinkler system that can be manually operated.  Doing so will easily give you better water coverage.  Timers can be added when your budget allows.  If that is beyond your means and you have to rely on a hose and sprinkler system, consider adding separate hoses for each area that you have to water.  A simple shutoff splitter will direct the water where it’s needed without having to reposition the hose each time.  You are more likely to stay up with needed watering if all you have to do is turn a valve on or off.

Pick durable tables and chairs – Garden furniture must be weatherproof and easy to clean.  If you are in an area that gets a lot of rain, add a garden chest where chair cushions can be kept clean until you need them.  Who wants to be wiping down cushions when company is coming?

Finally, choose outdoor garden statues over a fountain – I have both in my landscape and I really love my fountain; but if you want to make your life easier, the fountain needs weekly cleaning.  You can provide a soothing sound like a fountain does but without the work by hanging big brass garden bells or large wind chimes that have a low tone.  Either one will add interest to your garden without increasing your work load.

This has got many advantages over a standard fountain. Firstly you don’t need a direct electrical supply if you plan to use a solar fountain in your backyard. This is almost impossible with a standard one because you will require a direct AC supply for the pump to run properly.

Providing a direct electrical supply may not be always possible for a standard fountain in many cases. If the location of the fountain is far from the home building then most consultants will advice you to take the electrical cable underground up to the point where you want to erect the water fountain.

Such type of arrangement may require you to dig through the existing pathways, lawn areas, flowerbeds or any other obstacles. So basically it’s an expensive affair and there is no guarantee that after the erection of fountain is complete, you will back the beauty of your garden as it was previously.

All this can be completely eliminated instantly with a solar powered water fountain. All you need is a water cascade and a small solar panel attached to it, which generates electricity for the pump. It hardly requires any time to install this fountain and start running is mere minutes. This is the reason why these kinds of fountains are becoming popular amongst homeowners.

The only disadvantage of this type of fountain is that it cannot run during night hours due to lack of direct sunlight. To solve this problem there is an arrangement of direct AC adapter connection so that you can run the fountain indoor as well. Thus there is no harm in trying out a solar powered water fountain in your backyard and see the difference for yourself.

Copyright Samir Joshi

Procedure and guide
A fountain can be simply made by recycling pots and installing a water pump in it. The things needed are submersible pump, tubes, and terra cotta pots and rocks. It is easy to purchase these items from garden supply stores. It is recommended to build a fountain on the spot that would like to be placed so that it does not need to be moved later. It has to be made sure that the power cord is sufficiently long enough so that it can easily reach the nearest electrical outlet. Before purchasing the materials, the size of the pot has to be selected first so that it will be known what kind of submersible pump is to be bought.

First, a layer of waterproof sealer is to be brushed to the inner part of the pot and it should be left to set for a while. Pots with drainage hole are needed so that no drilling would be required. The plug has to be pulled through the hole and the pump has to be placed inside the pot. A gap of a few inches has to be left because pea gravel has to be poured later into the pot for the pump to sit on, then the cord outside the pot can be taped for securing its position. After that, the pot has to be placed on the pot feet where the fountain is preferred to be situated.

The gap of the drainage hole is to be filled with silicon sealer so the water will not leak out from the bottom. It should be given at least a day or two to completely dry before using it, then 3 to 4 inches of pea gravel can be poured in to level up the pump. Before the bubbling fountain nozzle is installed to the pump, it has to be made certain that the pot is sufficiently deep. The nozzle must be a few inches away from the lip of the pot.

Finally, the pot can now be filled with water, the water pump is to be turned on and it’s done. These attractive fountains can be used together by placing a small pot in a large tub for creating multiple fountains. Placing water plants in larger pots is also a good idea to decorate these fountains.

When contemplating a water feature for your garden it is
important to reflect on the style of your landscaping and draw
from this to select the right style of water feature to suit the
surroundings. The wrong choice could result in your water
feature looking out of place. Consider a contemporary minimalist
garden with a Whisky Barrel Kit as the water feature!

Below we have prepared a list of common garden styles and some
suggestions for incorporating water features into these gardens.
This list is by no means exhaustive. Also, take into account
that many gardens are a fusion of two or three garden styles.

Contemporary Garden

This style of garden is usually characterised by attention to
detail such as the use of a single specimen plant. Simplicity,
form and the clever use of light and space are fundamental to
this style. Colours are used minimally to produce dramatic
effects.

Suitable Water Features Stainless Steel Features Water Walls
Clad (with Contemporary materials) Canals and Rills (made from
Contemporary materials) Reflection Pools Architectural Granite
Features (Aquifer Columns or spheres)

Cottage Garden

Arguably the most enduring of all garden styles, this garden is
characterised by mass planting of colourful flowers and herbs in
well designed garden beds. Although the plant design is
carefully structured it is designed to look natural and
free-flowing. This style often incorporates places of interest
to visit such as bench seats, arbours, and gazebos.

Suitable Water Features Bird Baths Wishing Wells Natural Ponds
Statuary Features Formal Ponds Fountains

Formal Garden

A formal look in a landscape is typically achieved by placing
plants to conform strictly to a geometric design theme. This
style relies on the use of symmetry to draw the eye to focal
points such as water features or sculpture. The use of hedging
plants and topiaries is essential to achieve the formal look.

Suitable Water Features Stone Fountains Bird Baths Reflection
Pools Spilling Urns / Pots Fountain Sprayers Geometric Ponds

Tuscan Garden

The rustic Italian garden seems to assimilate very well into the
Australian landscape. Aged, muted colors intrinsic to Italian
gardens are echoed in our landscape. A focus on Al Fresco dining
and entertaining is essential to this style. Planting is often
semi-formal – formal and includes topiaries and hedges.

Suitable Water Features Spilling Urns Wall Fountains Stone
Fountains Classical Statuary Tiled/Stone Water Walls Wall
Spitters

Japanese Garden

The Japanese garden has its emphasis in simplicity, control and
thoughtful design. This garden must incorporate the careful use
water as a focal point. Well placed, gracefully formed plants
such as bamboos, grasses and flowering shrubs provide balance
which is essential to this style. These gardens also use stone
and sand to imitate the natural landscape. The Japanese garden
is the ultimate meditation and relaxation. Suitable Water
Features Deer Scarer (Shi Shi Odoshi) Japanese Spill Basin
(Tsukabi) Large Containers with Fish and Water Lilies Rock
Geysers Fish Ponds Natural Ponds with Rock Waterfalls and
Cascades

Xeriscape Garden

Xeriscape is a term derived from the Greek word ‘xeros’ meaning
dry and from the word landscape, to form a new term for water
conserving gardens. This style is increasing in popularity due
to our dry climate. This garden often features both native and
exotic species and is landscaped to minimise water use and to
channel water to plants that have a higher requirement.
Xeriscaping often draws from Cottage and Contemporary styles.

Suitable Water Features Dry Creek Bed Mill Stone Features
(re-circulating) Rock Geyser (re-circulating) Granite Features
Natural Ponds (to provide an oasis for wildlife)

Tropical Gardens

The tropical garden is one for the plant lovers, these gardens
are gaining in popularity due to the range of plant species now
available to Australian gardeners. Tropical plants, densely
planted, look their best in summer when we typically use our
gardens. Characterised by the use of bold, lush and colourful
foliage with spectacular flowers. This style provides a cooling
oasis in the warmer months.

Suitable Water Features Natural Ponds Waterfalls Creeks /
Streams Reflection Ponds Spilling Pots/Urns Contemporary
Statuary Water Walls

Australian Native Garden

This style of garden draws on the unique characteristics of
Australian materials and the natural colours of Australia. Often
rustic in style, the use of timber, stone and corrugated iron
can be incorporated into the Australian garden. Modern
Australian native plantings are often designed similar to a
traditional cottage garden with the focus on the colour palette.

Suitable Water Features Whisky/Wine Barrels Wishing Wells Mill
Stone Features Cobbled Creeks Natural Ponds Concrete
Sinks/Troughs Rock Geysers