Decorative Water Fountains: an easy way to a quick home improvement

Indoor fountains can be an easy way to change any home environment.  The “music” of trickling water is very soothing and can give the home a more peaceful feeling.  There is something primal about water splashing over rapids or crashing down a waterfall.

Indoor water fountains can be made of just about any waterproof material.  People use copper, stainless steel, slate, aluminum, glass, resin, and pebbles.  Almost all of these materials are easy to keep clean, but copper requires the most effort.  A copper surface must be coated to avoid corrosion and the green color that results.

Glass is a beautiful material that magically enhances the overall appearance of the fountain. The water “sheeting” — falling down a thick piece of glass — appears as symmetrical waves that glide down and glisten from any lighting.  These fountains create a special environment with their running water, interesting illumination and striking appearance.

If you are concerned about the cost of the fountain, or the amount of the space it will require, then a table top fountain is an attractive alternative. Tabletop fountains are relatively inexpensive, very attractive, and because they are generally used indoors, require very little maintenance. Many fountains implement traditional Japanese designs, while others are based on the American country décor of using wooden milk buckets. Other fountains are more eclectic and resemble postmodern art projects.

The minimum elements needed to make a table top fountain are a small submersible pump (available from aquarium shops and garden centers), a large bowl or other watertight container, a prop to cover the pump, rocks or marbles, flexible tubing that fits the pump, a small copper elbow to direct the water flow downward, and (of course) water.

Lighting is very important to the total effect of an indoor water fountain. There is a special beauty about light reflecting off water.  A person could use LED or halogen pond lighting, under-water fountain lighting, and outdoor lights, as well as colored lenses to create that little extra “kick.”  When designing a tabletop fountain and the lighting, you will need to take into consideration whether the fountain will be viewed from the side or from above.