35 Fabulous Fountains
Cool Off and Be Soothed With a Little Water Music In Your Garden
Leonardo da Vinci once said that water is the driving force of all nature. Although in nature, water can be fearsome and powerful, it also has an incredible soothing effect on both people and animals. Implementing water features in the garden can accomplish the same task.
Outdoor fountains can be enjoyed year round, but are often appreciated most in the blistering sunshine of summer. Few things complement a perfect summer daydream more than a bubbling fountain with a refreshing pool to dip your toes into. These 35 inspiring fountains are just a taste of the many ways you can use the natural tranquility of a water feature to add to your landscape or patio.
Outdoor fountains can be enjoyed year round, but are often appreciated most in the blistering sunshine of summer. Few things complement a perfect summer daydream more than a bubbling fountain with a refreshing pool to dip your toes into. These 35 inspiring fountains are just a taste of the many ways you can use the natural tranquility of a water feature to add to your landscape or patio.
This angular water feature is balanced with a more delicate flow of water and its naturally landscaped environment.
Modern landscape artists have embraced the idea of fountains as art, creating exterior sculptures that embrace the movement of water, like this "forest" of fountains at staggered heights …
… or this glassy ball of continuously flowing water, which contrasts nicely with a more traditional exterior structure.
I love how this slick and streamlined fountain is almost a modern play on the waterfall. Although it's just a small trickle of water, the structure itself is guaranteed to be the focal point of whatever garden it's placed in.
There's something oddly comforting about overflowing fountains like these (maybe it's a "cup runneth over" mentality). I particularly like this style, where water spills over the edge of a bowl.
This is a similar concept, but the bowl component has multiple indentations on the edge, which allows water to spill over in several locations. It's amazing how such a minor change can completely change the feature's look!
The use of this style in a desert environment works well, since it makes more sense than say, a waterfall, in terms of the landscape and aesthetic. The staggered heights add a sense of depth, and the use of multiple bowls will enhance the soothing noise of the water.
This little bowl fountain has a subtle bubbler, which eliminates the need for a pool underneath. I love how it's so understated, yet unexpected. Sitting on this bench on a warm night and listening to the soft murmur of the fountain sounds like heaven!
If you want to get a water feature that's even more understated, this is about the most subtle fountain you can get. It looks like a puddle after a rainstorm until you get close and notice the slight movement underneath the surface.
This bowl fountain is much more active than the serene feel of the fountains prior. Long reaching streams of water combined with a more aggressive bubbler in the bowl creates a water feature that becomes more of a show than a means of relaxation.
Doesn't it almost look like a pipe burst here? But with beautiful rather than stressful side effects, of course.
This set of three is installed directly in the wall; its trough-like spout that creates a waterfall effect.
It's okay to keep your water feature as straightforward as you want. This single spout doesn't need much else — the water speaks for itself.
I like the way the illusion that this faucet-like fountain provides. It's almost as if someone watered the shrub too much, and it's perpetually spilling water out.
This fountain almost looks accidental, which gives it a great rustic-chic look.
Of course, you can always go very traditional and use a more conventional sculpture as the foundation for your water feature. (Although I'd personally like a garden guardian with more of a smile on his face!)
Today, some of the most famous and historically significant fountains in the world reside in Italy. So naturally, it makes sense that this Mediterranean influence still lives on in modern fountain design. This courtyard fountain looks like it would be right at home in the courtyard of a Tuscan villa.
Here's a similar style installed into an exterior wall.
This tiled courtyard fountain is a great accent to the yellow exterior wall. The entire space has a distinctly Mediterranean feel, which is added to by the rosemary and lavender plants.
This fountain is a bit more abstract, with its mosaic background. But the more traditional structure allows it to meld seamlessly with the landscaping — making it appear almost like a hidden treasure in a secret garden.
A lion's head accent helps pay tribute to the French and Spanish love of fountains — King Louis XIV of France was said to put fountains into the Garden of Versailles to display his power over nature.
A streamlined water feature like this can be used to draw the eye out towards a beautiful view …
Of course, if you'd rather go the natural route, it's hard to get a more natural water feature than a waterfall. If you have the space, try a massive waterfall with multiple levels …
… or keep it simple and implement a backyard waterfall on a much smaller scale.
And there's always the option of a not-so-natural waterfall feature in a more modern style.
The use of large vessels in water features is fairly common. This piece is reminiscent of a large Grecian urn …
… while this tall piece has a more Spanish or Italian vibe.
This fountain adds year-round color to the garden.
A simple stone basin can be given a splash of Asian style by simply adding a beautiful and naturally strong bamboo fixture.
This fixture is a bit more traditional, but the same concept as the previous fountain. Both of these could be great DIY additions to an outdoor space as well!
There's something romantic about the softly rippling water spilling over a fountain that has the appearance of a tree stump. It makes a garden feel like a fairly tale!
This photo has always been one of my favorite outdoor shots on the site. Not just because the fountain has a dragon in a tub, but also because the rosemary, lavender, and olive tree landscaping is one of my absolute favorite combinations.