8 Dreamy Water Features for Big & Small Gardens
Whether a sleek, modern rill or a leafy cascade pleases your senses, there’s a water feature for every style of garden
There’s something wonderfully relaxing about listening to trickling water in a garden, but we often assume we need a large space that can accommodate a pond or stately waterfall. In fact, there’s a water feature idea for every size of garden – take a look at these designs to find inspiration for your own outside area.
Cut through the middle
This terrace is enhanced by a water feature that’s both minimal and dynamic. The designer has used the living wall as the starting point to run a thin bronze rill vertically down and onto the paving.
This terrace is enhanced by a water feature that’s both minimal and dynamic. The designer has used the living wall as the starting point to run a thin bronze rill vertically down and onto the paving.
It then cuts across the patio and crosses over to run water in all directions. The bronze channel is positioned off-centre, so the owners can still use the space easily.
Designer Stefano Marinaz says, “The entire paved floor sits on pedestals on a concrete base with a waterproof membrane. If there’s a leak, [the homeowners] can just lift the stone without breaking anything.”
Designer Stefano Marinaz says, “The entire paved floor sits on pedestals on a concrete base with a waterproof membrane. If there’s a leak, [the homeowners] can just lift the stone without breaking anything.”
Trickle down stairs
If you have some steps in your garden, add a designer touch by installing a water cascade alongside them.
Here, the designers have created a stepped feature on the left of the brick staircase wall. Water flows from top to bottom for a series of mini waterfalls that add movement and soothing sound.
If you have some steps in your garden, add a designer touch by installing a water cascade alongside them.
Here, the designers have created a stepped feature on the left of the brick staircase wall. Water flows from top to bottom for a series of mini waterfalls that add movement and soothing sound.
Create a clear cascade
For a look that works well in a contemporary garden, fit a waterfall blade to the end of a rill. These flat, stainless-steel lips allow the water to cascade off, clear of the wall, in one sheer expanse.
They’re available in a variety of widths, so you should be able to find one to fit your stream exactly. To create a stunning feature at night, choose a design that comes complete with a strip of LED lights that fit along it.
For a look that works well in a contemporary garden, fit a waterfall blade to the end of a rill. These flat, stainless-steel lips allow the water to cascade off, clear of the wall, in one sheer expanse.
They’re available in a variety of widths, so you should be able to find one to fit your stream exactly. To create a stunning feature at night, choose a design that comes complete with a strip of LED lights that fit along it.
Encourage reflection
Even if space is limited in your garden, there are still plenty of ways you can bring in water. Rather than installing a feature on the floor, use vertical space instead.
This mirrored waterfall panel has been tucked into the raised beds that surround a seating area. It’s the ideal spot for enjoying the gentle trickle of water, and the mirrored surface helps to bounce light around.
Find landscape architects and garden designers in your area.
Even if space is limited in your garden, there are still plenty of ways you can bring in water. Rather than installing a feature on the floor, use vertical space instead.
This mirrored waterfall panel has been tucked into the raised beds that surround a seating area. It’s the ideal spot for enjoying the gentle trickle of water, and the mirrored surface helps to bounce light around.
Find landscape architects and garden designers in your area.
Play a long game
For a water feature that ages with the garden, try untreated copper. This waterfall wall has been formed by welded copper and will naturally patinate over time. The water comes through the wall to the chute, then spills over into the pool below.
For a water feature that ages with the garden, try untreated copper. This waterfall wall has been formed by welded copper and will naturally patinate over time. The water comes through the wall to the chute, then spills over into the pool below.
Tuck to the side
Need most of your outside space for entertaining? Try this neat, streamlined idea. A simple cascading waterfall blade juts out from a wall above a drainage tray. The crisp, contemporary design takes up hardly any room, but the feature makes a real impact in the garden.
Need most of your outside space for entertaining? Try this neat, streamlined idea. A simple cascading waterfall blade juts out from a wall above a drainage tray. The crisp, contemporary design takes up hardly any room, but the feature makes a real impact in the garden.
Lead the way
In this contemporary garden, a stunning water feature, complete with waterlilies and goldfish, has been installed in a relatively small area. To achieve this, the designer used the entire width of the plot, rather than the length.
The stepping stones work well in the compact space, as they encourage people to slow down and turn a quick walk into a leisurely stroll from the patio to the garden beyond.
See more garden images
Read more:
How to Introduce Water Features in GardensGorgeous Water Features for Indoor & Outdoor Spaces
Tell us:
Are you planning to install a water feature in your garden? Which of these ideas would work in your space? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
In this contemporary garden, a stunning water feature, complete with waterlilies and goldfish, has been installed in a relatively small area. To achieve this, the designer used the entire width of the plot, rather than the length.
The stepping stones work well in the compact space, as they encourage people to slow down and turn a quick walk into a leisurely stroll from the patio to the garden beyond.
See more garden images
Read more:
How to Introduce Water Features in GardensGorgeous Water Features for Indoor & Outdoor Spaces
Tell us:
Are you planning to install a water feature in your garden? Which of these ideas would work in your space? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
If you’re looking for an idea that merges traditional and contemporary design, choose a feature like this. The circular pool with a rill above it forms a classic waterfall design, added to by the beautiful planting that surrounds it.
The copper gives it a modern twist, however, as does the straight-edged form of the rill.