Water Features to Install Instead of a Pool

Considering an Outdoor Water Feature?

Especially if you live in a hot, dry climate like we have in Phoenix, the idea of water in your own back yard is appealing. Who hasn’t imagined a swimming pool, cool and inviting, beckoning from just outside the door? When you go beyond the daydream and really think it through, though, you will realize that a pool is not for everyone. After all, they require quite a bit of maintenance and the expense that goes along with it, and for many families, they are a safety hazard. Fortunately, there are plenty of different options for backyard water features that aren’t a pool. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular water feature ideas, to give you inspiration.

Consider the Fun of a Splash Pad

If you have young children, you are probably already familiar with the concept of a splash pad. Offering a great way to cool off, they provide plenty of fun without the expense, maintenance, and safety concerns of a pool. What’s more, are one of those outdoor water features that can serve more than one purpose, as they can be transformed into a nighttime fountain with the addition of in-ground lighting.

Fountains Come in an Astonishing Variety of Options

If you are looking for ideas for a water feature, you could spend hours or even days browsing the different types of fountains. While simple fountains can be patio water features or water features for a yard, the sky is really the limit as to what a fountain can be. In fact, a fountain can even be an indoor water feature, bringing a tranquil ambiance to your sunroom or screened porch. Statue fountains can be classic or modern, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so finding one to complement your backyard space shouldn’t be a problem. The only complication is that they run on electricity, which can make placement tricky. Wall fountains provide a stunning visual element that doesn’t use too much outdoor space, but they definitely need to be installed professionally, because they are very complicated. A rain curtain is a fountain made of several thin rods, suspended from an overhead structure, with water droplets that slowly cascade down the rods, for a beautiful visual effect and the soothing sounds of rainfall. Other types of fountains to check out include basalt, spillway bowls, and urns.

Why Not Install a Peaceful Pond?

If you long for your own body of water, a pond may be the answer. You can choose an ecosystem pond, a natural looking water feature that is virtually self-maintaining, or a man-made pond, that does not have that natural look, but can still support an ecosystem, if desired. Ponds can be small and decorative or large and elaborate, made to support fish, or simply hold water. Whatever you want to do with them, it is probably possible, as there are ponds with waterfalls, rock formations, and even caves.

Misters Help You Beat the Heat

Misters are not among the more aesthetic garden water features, but they can do a good job of cooling down your yard when the weather is hot. Enjoying a light mist can make all the difference when it comes to wanting to spend time in your yard, and can cool you just about as effectively as a pool. This is another feature that definitely requires professional planning and installation.

A Water Garden Can Be a Beautiful Option

Water gardens are good for small outdoor spaces because they are container-based. They can contain aquatic plants or even small fish, and are easier to maintain than some larger water features. Water gardens have good visual appeal, but they are not as impressive as some of the other features on this list.

Pondless Waterfalls Delight the Senses

If you don’t have room for a pond or pool, but love the idea of a natural water feature, consider a pondless waterfall. Consisting of water cascading over rocks and stones, with no pond at the end, they don’t require much space but do make a big impact. The only drawback, in fact, is that they can be expensive to install and operate.

Waterwalls Make a Stunning Addition to Your Space

If you want a truly impressive outdoor water feature, consider a waterwall. Large-scale installations, waterwalls can be built in a variety of styles and create beautiful visuals and soothing sounds. There’s no maintenance required, and when used with accent lighting , they can create a gorgeous ambiance, even after dark. They are expensive, and definitely require professional installation.

You Can Also Have Both

If some of these appeal to you, but you are still thinking longingly about a pool, you do have the option to incorporate more than one feature. Modern pool water features are plentiful, and you are not limited to simple pool lights, diving boards, or perhaps a slide. Consider a natural pool, with a waterfall cascading into it, or a pool that incorporates fountains. Just as you can feature water in your backyard without a pool, you can also incorporate pool water features to make your outdoor space truly unique.

Make Your Outside Space Your Own Oasis with Outside Living Concepts

No matter what type of features you dream of incorporating into your outdoor living space, Outside Living Concepts can bring your dreams to life. A luxury landscaping company in the Metropolitan Phoenix Area, Outside Living Concepts specializes in custom landscape designs and backyard remodeling, with the goal of providing an unprecedented level of customer service. We design and build with quality and value as our top priorities, and create spectacular outside living environments that serve as a natural extension of the home. By providing a resort-like feel, we create an outdoor living space we like to call the “Great Room,” and it often becomes the most used room in the home. We are dedicated to designing beautiful landscaping and hardscaping for families large and small, tailored to each family’s lifestyle. Not only does the finished product add value to your home, but the process is timely and fun because our crews are so talented, courteous, and dedicated to bringing to life one of your largest, most thoughtful, personal investments. For more information about our landscape design offerings, call 602-581-8225 or contact us through our website.