Have you ever thought about adding an indoor water feature to your home? Below I will share the many benefits of an indoor fountain along with the 3 main types of water fountains and the various materials you have to choose from.
8 Reasons to include an indoor water feature in your custom build
Relaxing Ambiance -
Human beings have always been drawn to the natural healing power and calming effects of water. The calming sound of water trickling in an indoor fountain can create a relaxing ambience for any room. A water feature, such as a water wall or a bubbling fountain, can be customized to be loud enough to drown out background noise while not being disruptive or disturbing.
Improved Sleep –
The peaceful, gentle trickling, bubbling, or swishing of a home water feature is great for the bedroom. It promotes relaxation, thoughtfulness, peace, comfort and sleep. More sleep and less stress lead to a heightened quality of life and better health.
Visually Appealing –
The styling, shape and materials used in indoor water features today have greatly improved and are more varied. The visual stimuli and artistic beauty can complement and enhance any décor and style to fit your design needs. Whether you’re looking for something modern, classical or even custom, you can now get the perfect looking water feature for your space.
Feng Shui -
Indoor water features are also integral to Feng shui or geomancy, which uses energy forces to harmonize individuals with their environment. According to these beliefs, water fountains are the best way to bring positive energy into homes.
Improved Air Quality –
No matter the size, when water evaporates from your indoor water feature negative ions are released. These negative ions are the same ions found naturally around waterfalls, oceans, rivers, lakes and mountains. These negative ions cleanse the air, making it more refreshing to breathe. The clean air also helps you think more clearly and focus better. Improved air quality also helps the body reduce stress and fatigue.
Doubles as a Humidifier -
Indoor water features add to the moisture of the room, making it more humid. This is great for dryer climates. An increase in humidity is not only good for those who reside in the home, it is also good for indoor plants, making them healthy and vibrant-looking.
Low Maintenance -
Home water features are easy to maintain, requiring a water refill once a week and a deep, thorough cleaning every 6 months. Using filtered or distilled water will reduce calcium deposits and oxidation if your feature has a metal finish. If algae is a problem, you can add a half cap full of bleach or pond additives that are specific for algae control. The cleaning simply involves turning off the water feature, draining the water, and wiping down the outside surface of the fountain, the inside tubing, motor and plumbing.
Low Water Usage -
Most large water features average about five gallons to fill them up but smaller features take much less water. All water features need to be topped off about once a week due to water loss from evaporation. The regular amount of water used weekly is the equivalent of a couple toilet flushes.
Types of Indoor Water Features
There are three main types of indoor fountains – wall mounted, free standing, and tabletop.
Wall-Mounted: These indoor water features are mounted to the wall and are often rectangular in shape, hanging either vertically or horizontally. They each have a small, discreet reservoir on the bottom where the pump is that recirculates the water. These indoor wall fountains come in various sizes and with a one or three panels. Wall-mounted fountains are made of a variety of materials including fiberglass, glass, resin, stone, slate, copper and stainless steel.
Free-Standing: Free-standing fountains are larger versions of the wall mounted indoor fountains. They have a heavy, sturdy water reservoir base that allows them to freely stand upright. Like the wall-mounted fountains, free-standing indoor fountains come in a variety of materials and designs and optional add-ons such as LED lighting.
Tabletop: These tabletop indoor fountains are the smallest and lightest of the indoor fountain types as they are made to sit atop a counter, desk or table. There is a greater diversity in shape for these fountains than for wall-mounted and free-standing fountains.
Materials Used for Indoor Water Features
Indoor water features are made of different materials, so before buying one, make sure you consider the type of material used to make yours. The material used to make the water feature also influences the integrity, design, cost, life expectancy and weight of the water feature.
Natural Stone: Stone is one of the most common materials used to make an indoor waterfall. The benefit of using an indoor water feature made from stone is that it has a longer life expectancy and can withstand all kinds of elements. They also look very rustic and natural. The only disadvantage is that, since made from stone, it can be heavy. Make sure to install it on a sturdy concrete wall.
Concrete: Water features made from concrete come with a textured and rustic look, making it a perfect fixture for spaces that have both rustic and modern industrial interiors. Since it is made of concrete, it lasts a long time. But just like cast stone, it is often heavy and requires professionals to properly install it on a wall.
Fiberglass: Indoor water features made from fiberglass may not be as durable as those made from cast stone, but they are lighter and come with a wide variety of finishes. Being lightweight, they are perfect for any design.
Ceramic: Ceramic indoor water features often come with a unique glazed look thus giving them a very beautiful finish. They are made by forging the ceramic elements in a 1,000-degree oven. Ceramic water features are often used to create tabletop water features. Wall-mounted water features made from ceramic are also available, but they are usually small.
Resin: A resin water feature is made from a special lightweight material making it very easy to install on any space. Another benefit of the indoor water feature made from resin is that it is very affordable. Not only that, the resin can be crafted to perfectly mimic any material, including concrete, rock, wood or ceramic.
In conclusion, if you are considering an indoor water feature, make sure to surf the internet to view the vast number of designs that are available. It may also make sense to reach out to a reputable company to discuss your options.
Resources: