10 Best Water Feature Ideas for Your Yard

Swimming Pool

Swimming pools aren't limited to just one size or shape. Small ones, big ones—pools for swimming laps, floating, or entertaining family and friends all exist. Whether you're looking for a statement-making lap pool or a small plunge pool for taking a dip, there are countless designs to make your swimming dreams come true.

Feeling extra adventurous? Swimming pools with waterfalls or a water features are a popular way to integrate two types of water features into one space.

Pond

A garden pond can have lotus-like water lilies floating on top and be populated with vibrant and friendly koi fish. If you're not into that level of upkeep, it can also be a small, clean, clear, empty body of water—simply there for reflection and pleasure. Like pools, some ponds have beautiful waterfalls that add aesthetic and sensory pleasure to your outdoor space.

Hot Tub or Spa

While hot tubs and spas are built more for relaxation and entertaining than for aesthetics, they can still be attractive. Its main function is to entertain a homeowner, family, and friends, or is a hot, healing source of therapy for tired, sore bodies and muscles.

Some hot tubs and spas are even custom built to look like small pools or ponds. You can also add water features to the spa, like waterfalls.

Standalone Fountain

If designed and built with water conservation in mind, a water fountain recycles water (perhaps from the pool), feeding it back to the fountain head or inlet where it is used again. And again, and—you get the idea.

Not only that, in hot climates or on hot days, a fountain fills the air with moisture, bringing much-needed relief to your family and the nearby plants and landscaping. Fountains can come or be built in all kinds of styles, materials, and sizes—limited only by your DIY skills, imagination, and budget.

Stream

In nature, streams rush through granite mountains or meander lazily in upland meadows or trickle through valleys. Before embarking on a stream-making project, research the movement and look of real streams. A backyard do-it-yourself stream should provide the kind of water flow that your property and soil are equipped to handle.

Waterfall

A visit to a national park might have gotten you yearning for your own backyard version of the Pacific Northwest's breathtaking Multnomah Falls. While you may not be able to recreate one of the world's natural wonders, you can certainly be inspired to do so. That way, every time you look at your own private waterfall, you will be reminded of that memory-filled trip to Yosemite or wherever.

Before getting started, understand that a backyard waterfall will most likely consist of two or more pools or bodies of water at varying heights. The upper pool is the smallest—big enough to get the water revved-up into a sort of bustling flow.

Natural or man-made rocks and boulders are often incorporated into home-based waterfalls. Also, you can orchestrate whatever course you want the waterfall to take—a direct drop (freefall), interweaving channels, or one that breaks into a series of small holding pools or stair steps.

Well

For a quaint take on a water feature, a wishing well is the way to go. Some wells serve a practical purpose, drawing up water from the deep reaches of the earth below. Others are more of a decorative feature, reminiscent of fairy tales.

Wells as a decorative landscape element probably enjoyed their heyday during the post-World War II era. Still, some people like their old-fashioned appeal and wells complement some periods of architecture and landscape design, like Tudor or Early American home styles.

Outdoor Shower

Whether you live by the beach or just like to rinse off after a long day of yard work, an outdoor shower is a great way to enjoy your outdoor space. Add a wall or two around the shower for extra privacy or simply hide it in a corner, as you can see in this space.

Wall Fountain

For a more built-in look, a wall fountain is a stunning way to incorporate water into your landscaping. Take a cue from this Mediterranean-inspired water feature and make use of stucco and earthy shades to bring the feeling of sunny weather right to your backyard.

Plunge Pool

A raised plunge pool, like the one seen here, is a great idea for those looking for a more built-in look than a typical above-ground pool. The size is perfect for taking a quick dip and is easier to maintain than an Olympic-sized pool.