Ponds, Pools, and Fountains: Upgrade Your Garden or Patio with Beautiful Water Features

Are you thinking about upgrading your outdoor space? If yes, adding a water feature is one of the best home improvement projects you can take on to increase the value of your home.

Maybe you have a sprawling deck, a medium-sized backyard, a small garden, or a tiny balcony; there is always a water feature that will work for your space. You do not need that much space to enjoy the look and sound of moving water.

The first thing to do is stop thinking about water features in terms of size, as they come in all configurations and sizes. For instance, a large bowl, an old barrel, or even a repurposed bathtub can become a stunning water feature with a little creativity and basic DIY know-how.

Natural setting - Patio water feature with a fountain emptying into a small pond.

Patio Ponds

A small patio pond is easy to create. You can use a large plastic or terracotta bowl to create a pool with cascading water.

For a bigger outdoor area, an old bathtub sunk into the ground will make an impressive pond when half-surrounded by flowering plants at ground level and some water lilies floating on the water. If creatively decorated with stone, pebbles, foliage, and some pretty fish, you will have a feature that looks like it cost a fortune.

Ponds have real home improvement value. They cool the surrounding air, create a calming atmosphere, and significantly boost the visual appeal of your outdoor space.

If you are already planning a patio renovation, it is worth building a pond into the design from the start.

*DIY tips for a ground-level pond:

• Dig out an area of ground.
• Fit in a discarded bathtub.
• Fill it with water.
• Plant low-growing flowers around the edges to soften the tub rim/border.
• Add goldfish and aquatic plants to bring it to life.

For anything more complex, like a multi-level or filtered pond system, bring in a landscape designer.

Small Garden Pools

A patio or garden pool is not the same as a swimming pool. Think of it as a decorative water garden that happens to be large enough to dip your feet into or even splash around in, if built big enough.

Small pools work in both formal and relaxed outdoor settings. They can sit at ground level or raised so you can perch on their edge. Fill them with oxygenating aquatic plants like floating hyacinth, tropical water lilies, or water grasses. Add koi or goldfish for movement and colour.

For something unique, skip the standard rectangular shape. An asymmetrical pool looks far more interesting and adds real character to the exterior.

*Tips:

• If your garden is narrow, go vertical. A wall-fountain that drips water into a slim ground-level pond takes up almost no floor space.
• For larger areas, you can build a still-water pool with stones or rock, then add water lilies and a few fish.
• Brick and concrete are solid choices for a DIY build. They blend well with both traditional and contemporary outdoor styles.
• For anything structural or complex, it is always best to call in a professional.

Home Fountains

A fountain is the easiest to build water feature, but the impact it delivers is hard to beat.

The sound of sprouting water is great for masking street noise. It also creates a relaxing atmosphere and will easily become your garden’s focal point.

You can choose from three types that will work well for residential properties.

1. Spray fountains. They push water upward through various heads, producing everything from a fine mist to a tall column of water.
2. Splash fountains. These feature a centrepiece where water is pumped up and cascades back down. These are often made by sculpting artists and can be bought from garden and landscape supply stores.
3. Spill fountains send a single stream of water from a spout into a basin or through a series of tiered troughs.

They are made from different materials like resin, stone, fibreglass, ceramic, stainless steel, brass, and copper.

You will always find a style to suit any aesthetic.

*Tips for a simple DIY fountain:

• Find a large unused barrel or a big clay pot and install it with a spray spout. The plumbing work needed is minimal, the result looks great, and it works perfectly for a compact patio.
• Place smooth rocks at the bottom of the barrel to absorb the impact of the falling water and reduce splashing onto the surrounding floor.

Once your pump is running, leave it on to flow continuously. Switching it on and off repeatedly will shorten the pump’s lifespan.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Concluding...

Adding a water feature to your outdoor space is actually a home improvement-type project. It will deliver results beyond the effort it'll take you to plan and build. Once completed, its visual impact is immediate because water is powerful. It draws the eye to itself, anchors space into the surroundings, and gives even a small, basic patio a finished, intentional look.

But the benefits go further than beautifying your exterior. Water features also:

• Improve the aesthetics of any space, indoors or outdoors.
• Provides a calming effect with the sound of moving water.
• Makes your patio or garden a place you genuinely want to spend time in.
• Does a practical job by masking traffic noise, loud conversations from the neighbours, and other urban sounds that can make your space feel less private than it should.

From a home improvement perspective, a well-designed water feature:

• Adds perceived value to your home.
• Appeals to intending buyers or tenants.
• Signals that the outdoor space has been intentionally designed rather than built as an afterthought.

So, whether you plan to sell your home eventually or just want to enjoy where you live, that is worth investing in.

The good news is that you don’t need a large budget or a professional contractor to get started.

A barrel fountain or a simple bowl pond can be completed over a weekend, using basic tools and a modest budget. From there on, you can scale up if your confidence and budget allow for it. Move from a small container pond to a raised brick pool, or from a small spray fountain to a full wall-mounted water-spill feature.

Whatever you decide to do, start with the space you have, no matter how small it is. Choose a feature that suits your skill level, then build from there.

Water has a way of transforming outdoor spaces. Almost nothing else can match that.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​