Guest Blogger: Relax with the Addition of Indoor Water Features

Guest Blogger #546, Entry #1236, May 30, 2012

Although you have probably seen water features pictured in the glossy pages of interior design magazines (or more likely on interior design websites these days) and you wish that you could incorporate this sophisticated style into your own home, you might be reticent when it comes to actually taking the plunge, so to speak.

Ideas for adding tranquility with indoor water features

Image via: Marshal-Modern

Indoor water feature ideas

You probably have the same misgivings that you would about including a large fish tank in your décor. What will happen if there’s a leak or it somehow gets knocked over? And how will you keep the darn thing clean? The first concern is addressed easily enough with fail-safes to ensure that no spillage occurs. While you will have to clean it occasionally, a simple design will allow for easy drainage and scrubbing and the inclusion of distilled water will reduce scaly buildup from mineral deposits (less cleaning needed). But how do you pick the proper water feature to grace your indoor space?

You’ll probably want to start by deciding where you plan to put your new item of décor. Do you want it prominently featured in the middle of the room, hidden away in a corner, or taking up one whole wall as a focal point? Do you prefer something low and flat, like a small pool, three dimensional like a tabletop feature, or floor-to-ceiling? Once you decide where your water feature will go and what kind of size and scope you’re interested in, you can start to look at what’s out there and see if anything speaks to you in terms of style.

Matching decor styles

Speaking of style, you should try to match the current aesthetic sensibilities of your home and décor when you add a water feature. So if your house has a traditional feel, you might not want to go with an ultra-modern water feature, and if you’re working with the clean lines of a modern home you should probably avoid the fountains that look like they came from your mother’s lawn. That said, there are certain styles that will fit into just about any residence.

Bring relaxation to your indoors

Image via: Jain Malkin

For example, you could go with a simple set of tiered basins (sans scrollwork and other embellishments) where water fills the top bowl and then cascades down into lower bowls. This classic look will bring a touch of elegance to any style of home. But if you’re looking for something slightly more modern you could opt for a weeping wall. The materials you choose can help you create a rustic look (with rough stone tiles), a minimalistic feel (with a solid sheet of smooth, colored concrete), or a chic, modern aesthetic (with ridged, washboard metal). And if you would prefer something a bit more edgy, consider a system that starts at the ceiling with water dripping down beaded chains or stacked river stones and into a pool on the floor.

Assess how much space you have

If you’re working with a large space you could even have water sluicing down an entire accent wall tiled with pearlescent glass and into a semi-circular pool at the base. There are all kinds of indoor fountains for you to choose from so that you can easily compliment the look and feel of your home aesthetic when you opt to add a water feature. All you need to do is consider the size and style of your space, the placement of the fountain, and how much you want to spend when you bring the peaceful sound of running water into your interior space.

For more home interior ideas on Stagetecture, click here.