Outdoor water fountains for gardens and patios

The Japanese have for years used outdoor fountains as a focal point in gardens, creating a scene of beauty and a sense of calm. Just as the Romans, further back in our history, used water sources to offer drinking water and to bathe.

Today, there are many types of water fountains on the market. When choosing a water feature for your garden or patio, there are a few things to consider.

The first thing to consider is space. An overly large fountain can overpower your garden or patio if space is at a premium. Sometimes smaller is better. However, fonts are available in as many shapes and sizes as you like.

The next thing to consider is the style. What is the look you are trying to do? Your fountain can have a whimsical effect, which can include fairies, gnomes, animals, birds, or people. Golden, sophisticated and sculptural. The choice is definitely a personal preference.

The next thing to consider is the composition or materials you would like for the effect you want to create. There are as many types of outdoor water feature materials as you can imagine.

There are fountains built with heavy stone or concrete, for a permanent outdoor fountain in your garden or patio. These outdoor fountains are not designed to be moved or stored indoors during the cold or harsh winter months.

Other building materials can be fiberglass, ceramic, copper, metal, aluminum, glass, wire, polyresin, steel, iron stone, brick, tile, bamboo and the list is only limited by your imagination. However, a very popular material for outdoor fountains is fiberglass.

Fiberglass can be manipulated into many shapes, forms, sizes, and dimensions. It can take on the appearance of an antique look, like maybe, and an old waterwheel with water cascading through it. Or, it can be painted in a bright color like a statue of some sort.

Fiberglass is a very lightweight material that allows the unit to be easily moved to different locations in your garden or patio. The fact that it is lightweight provides the ability to clean the unit, dry it and store it inside. In regions of the country that have particularly cold winters, it protects it from damage.

Other types of outdoor fountains are sometimes built with iron as a support to hold pots, bowls, leaves, old shoes, or anything else that can help create a waterfall effect. For the DIYer, outdoor fountains are made of anything that will hold and support water.

Some water fountains have LED lights that glow when it gets dark enough to see them. Others use LED lights in the waterfall to highlight the flowing water from one item to another.

There are so many water fountains on the market today, we’ve barely scratched the surface. One more thing to note, some water fountains have a switch to turn the sound on or off. Some prefer to see the water and not hear it, while others like the sound and movement. It’s just personal preference.

There are so many variables when choosing the right outdoor water feature. For those who live in a warmer climate where they can use their gardens or patios any time of year, buy the best unit you can afford. That way you will have peace and quiet in your garden or patio throughout the seasons.