Inspiration and Advice
How to Choose the Right Water Feature for your Garden
There’s just something about the soothing sound of a trickling fountain or the reflective mood of a water bowl that makes you feel more relaxed. It’s not until you introduce a water feature into your home or garden that you can truly appreciate how much it brings to a space. Explore the wonderful world of water features and you’ll also discover that there’s one for every indoor and outdoor situation, from tabletop water features that bring a touch of serenity to any room, to grand fountains that are the focal point of a space.
Finding the Perfect Position for your Water Feature
A water feature is a great way to create ambience, and in the right place it can also make a real splash, make it a focal point in your garden and let it steal the show. You might like to place a water feature at the end of a path to draw people through your garden or decorate a bare fence with a beautiful wall fountain. In smaller spaces, make a water feature the heart of your entertaining area or the highlight of a cozy garden nook. Always think about the mood you want to create. Do you want the sound of running water to be a symphony or just soft background music? Choose the right water feature to balance your space. You don’t want it to overwhelm the whole scene.
Tabletop Water Features to Create Calm in Small Indoor Spaces
Small tabletop water features are the perfect way to bring a laid-back vibe to your home or office. They sit neatly on a desk or side table and bring a splash of nature to your living space. You’ll sometimes hear them called “plug and play” water features, because all you need is a nearby power-point and off you go.
Look for a petite water feature that complements your interior style, from modern or classic designs to those that shine in transitional spaces, marrying the best of both worlds. A current favourite is Northcote Pottery’s Enso Water Feature. It leans into the Japandi style, which celebrates simplicity and natural, minimalist design. It even comes with a miniature pebble garden and rake, so you can practice mindfulness while you listen to the relaxing sound of water.
Impactful Water Features for Indoor Living Spaces and Small Outdoor Areas
Just like Goldilocks, sometimes water features are too small for your space, but large-scale fountains are too big! Northcote Pottery create a range of water features that still have the convenience of a small “plug and play” tabletop but have been scaled up in size to give impact in larger living areas.
Bring indoor bliss with the Symphonic Circles Water Feature, which can be used both indoors and outside in alfresco areas like balconies and decks. With in-built LED lights, this water feature creates a sense of calm from day to night.
Bring the Tropics to your Garden with a Balinese-Inspired Water Feature
I love the idea that gardens are an oasis and whether we live in a warm place or not, our backyards can be transformed into a tropical paradise. Northcote Pottery’s Bardo Fountain was designed with exactly that in mind. Give this Buddha-style fountain pride of place in your garden, surround it with lush tropical plants and you’ll think you’ve landed in Bali.
Choose plants with big bold foliage that provide an instant jungle feel, like Ginger Lilies (Hedychiums) with their lush leaves and scented flowers in sunset colours or striking broad-leafed Cordylines which provides year-round ornamental foliage. Vibrant blooms also conjure up images of the tropics, so include bursts of warm exotic colour with flowering plants like Heliconias that display striking red, orange, yellow or green flowers. The Hibiscus is another star of the resort garden with flamboyant flowers in an array of exotic colours or make a splash with vibrant Tibouchinas, with eye-popping purple flowers.
Water Features that Help Add Greenery to your Entertaining Space
If you’re looking to bring serenity and greenery to a space that lacks its own natural foliage, then look out for a water feature like Northcote Pottery’s Dawn Fountain, which features an in-built planter at the top. It has a sleek modern design, will suit most styles of entertaining areas and gardens.
Set off the strong lines and geometric shape of the fountain with architectural looking plants like Carex ‘Feather Falls’ or chocolate coloured Aeoniums. You can also opt to keep it simple yet lush by filling the planter box with lush green ferns to create a rainforest look.
Water Features that become Garden Art Sculptures
A water feature is a work of art, bringing a sculptural quality to the garden even when they are turned off. Northcote Pottery’s Bliss Fountain and Daybreak Fountain deserve a top spot in the garden
Position them where they can draw the eye and create a focal point. Enhance their sculptural form with
architectural looking plants or soften them with greenery
in contrasting forms.
Water Feature Tips
- Ensure to regularly check the water levels of your water feature and top it up as required.
- Water features can be positioned in both sun or shade, but remember, too much sunlight can encourage algae growth. Also, keep them away from trees that drop leaves into your water feature and create unwanted maintenance.
- Particularly in colder areas, water features need to hibernate during winter as not to allow ice to form. Drain the fountain completely and store from freezing temperatures to protect from frost.
- To extend the moments to enjoy your water feature, Northcote Pottery have a range of products that have in-built LED lights to take you from day to night in your entertaining areas.
- Always supervise young children around water.