Soothing Outdoor Fountain for Your Backyard Without Breaking The Bank
Everyone loves relaxing in the yard, whether front or back, and doing so means having a beautiful, tranquil space in which to spend time outdoors. One way to elevate the outdoor space to a sanctuary getaway is to include an outdoor fountain. These can be quite calming and make a great centerpiece to the rest of the landscaping work you decide to do in your yard. They’re also great for conversation, whether placed out front for the neighbors and passersby to see or in the backyard to be shared with friends and family. But how do you choose the best outdoor fountain for your yard?
What to Look for in an Outdoor Fountain
As you browse the thousands of available fountains, one important thing to keep in mind is the style you’re looking for. If you’re heavily into contemporary style, you don’t necessarily want a classic or antique style fountain as your backyard focal point. Another important factor is the type of fountain you want and the available space you have for it. You’d be surprised how many types of fountains are available, from wall and tiered fountains to bubble and pond fountains, just to name a few, and some require more room to install than others.
You’ll also want to know where in your yard you want to install it, since you may need to deal with plumbing and powering issues to assure that you can run your fountain. Make sure you determine the best materials for your particular climate, since you want to make sure your outdoor fountain lasts for years to come without damage from the elements. You should also know how much maintenance is going to be required, taking into account what is involved in cleaning and what sort of natural habitat problems come into play, including not just the weather but the animals that roam the neighborhood. Here are some of the best outdoor fountains on the market to get you started on your search.
Resin Fountain
The Wildon resin fountain is a tiered structure created to look like clay pottery atop stone pedestals, giving you a very natural and rustic feel to the landscaping design. However, because it’s formed from polyresin and fiberglass, the incredibly sturdy structure is actually quite lightweight, despite its heavy stone appearance, making it easy to set up and install. The soothing, attractive fountain can be located on a patio or in the thick of your landscaping. This fountain comes with an electrical submersible pump, with a ½ inch diameter hose, as well as a 69-inch power cord.
A steady stream of water flows down from the pottery container on top with 4 spouts and over the rocks to recycle through, and it’s recommended to keep approximately 3 gallons of water in the fountain. It stands 39 inches tall and weighs less than 26 pounds. You should empty, clean, and store it during cold weather for best performance, but it is otherwise weather resistant. Assembly requires no tools, and the fountain comes with a 1-year warranty.
Resin Fountain with Light
The Hi-Line resin fountain is intricately detailed with a unique shape that creates a charming and peaceful waterfall effect for your enjoyment. Made from extremely durable and lightweight polyresin, this fountain offers you a quick and easy setup so you can start basking in the calming sound of the waterfall almost immediately. The fountain is lighted, so you can even watch the water at night with a pleasant glow in the darkness from the included LED bulb that creates a lovely ambiance, especially when entertaining guests.
This smaller fountain stands just over 14 inches tall and is 8 inches in diameter, weighing only 5.5 pounds, but it makes a big impact, especially if installed on a pedestal of some kind either on the patio or amidst greenery in the yard. You may need an extension cord, as the cord length is only 30 inches. It includes a recirculating pump, as well as flow control to change the flow of the water, and a filter. It is rated for outdoor use and is weather and water resistant.
Olen Resin Solar 2 Tier Fountain
The Olen resin 2 tier fountain offers a more traditional look like a birdbath for a classic appeal in your front or back yard. However, unlike older fountains, this tiered fountain is updated to modern standards in a number of ways. First, it is made of fiberglass and lightweight resin, so while it appears to be carved from stone, it is lightweight and easily mobile so you can relocate it at will. Also, the fountain is solar powered, coming with a solar panel, rechargeable battery pack, and a power cord. If placed in direct sunlight, it will run all day, and the battery pack will last 4 hours on a full charge, even without sunlight.
It also has a waterproof LED light, which requires less power and can be submerged. It holds approximately 3 gallons of water and stands 45 inches tall with the larger tier having a 23-inch diameter and the base measuring 10.5 inches in diameter. It weighs 28 pounds, and assembly requires no tools, so it’s easy to set up. It’s rated for residential use and comes with a 1-year warranty.
Resin Rock Fountain
The Hi Line resin rock fountain provides a very natural look without the weight and hassle of real rock. While it looks as though the fountain has literally been carved into a large, rugged boulder, the truth is that the fountain is formed from polyresin and then finished with purposefully distressed gray paint that looks very realistic in terms of mimicking stone. The 4 level design creates a lovely trickle, using a recirculating pump that is electrically powered.
It includes recycled content so is environmentally friendly, and you’ll find it has an adjustable flow rate so you can determine just how you want your fountain to sound. It includes a white LED light that allows you to enjoy the view of your fountain day or night, and it’s best installed on a pedestal or other stable formation, with the overall height being only 13.25 inches. It makes a great conversation piece for your patio and is weather, water, and rust resistant. It’s rated for outdoor residential use and comes with a limited warranty.
Seville Resin Fountain with Light
The Seville resin fountain has a unique appearance, dating back to the Mudejar architectural style that incorporates both elements of the Renaissance as well as Moorish influence from a millennium ago. A combination of sharp angles and steep curves, the piece is reminiscent of the city in Spain after which it’s named. While the tiered design mimics heavy stone structures, it’s lightweight and easy to clean and handle, made from resin.
The fountain includes a circulating pump with an adjustable flow rate so you determined the sound and feel of your standalone fountain, and it includes a long lasting LED light so you can relax outdoors to the bubbling sound at night as well. It’s powered by a 6-foot cord, and while some assembly is required, it’s nothing strenuous. With a weight of less than 20 pounds, you won’t even need help to install the fountain, which is 12.6 inches tall and 22 inches in diameter. The fountain is UL listed for safety and has a 1-year limited warranty covering residential use only.
Sonora Concrete Fountain
The Sonora concrete fountain elevates a very basic bowl design to new levels, incorporating the look and feel of not just concrete but also heavy metals, without all the weight involved. The grooved design in the concrete creates a very timeless appeal that can blend into its surroundings and look very naturally at home in your yard. Whether you like a more modern design, something transitional, or a traditional feel, this bowl fountain is ideal for your purposes. Made from concrete, the fountain is 12.5 inches tall and 16 inches in diameter, and while there appears to be heavy metal in the design, it actually only weighs 44 pounds.
It has a single spout, holds 3 gallons of water, and has a recirculating pump powered with an electrical cord. While it is weather resistant, you’ll likely want to store or at least cover the fountain during the winter to keep its integrity. To best care for the fountain, you’ll want to empty it from time to time and clean it with dish soap and a gentle rag.
Amidon Resin 3 Stream Outdoor Water Fountain with LED Light
The Amidon resin 3 stream fountain is a very simple piece with contemporary elegance, combining a wall and basin for an overall grand effect. With 3 streams that flow gently from the wall into the urn style basin below, it’s serene and makes a beautiful addition to any lawn or garden. There is no plumbing required, as the fountain comes with a submersible recirculating pump and hose, and it’s powered with a 6-foot cord that can plug into an outdoor electrical outlet. Water capacity is only 0.5 gallons, so it doesn’t use a lot of water, either. You can adjust the flow rate as desired, and an LED light means the flow is visible day or night.
The wall stands 3 feet tall, and the basin is 13 inches in diameter, so it makes a big impact without taking up too much space. While the white and gray stone appearance is deceiving, the fountain is fashioned from resin and weighs only 26 pounds. It is weather resistant and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth for easy care and maintenance. No assembly is required, and the fountain comes with a 1-year warranty to back its quality construction.
Concrete Falling Water Fountain
The Concrete Falling Water fountain is definitely a conversation piece and a central focal point for your landscape design. Made of cast stone, the tiered waterfall fountain is formed into a large rectangular basin in which a square column is positioned, from which water flows down into the pool below. The flow rate is adjustable and set up to create a full waterfall effect. The fountain includes a recirculating pump to keep the 20 gallons of water it can hold moving, and it’s electrically powered so no plumbing is required.
The fountain is available in a number of hand applied finishes and patinas, including aged limestone, copper bronze, English moss, and more, and the structure is created to weather and age naturally for a lifetime of beauty. It stands 35 inches high, with the base measuring 16.5 inches wide and 25 inches long. It is weather, water, and rust resistant, handcrafted for quality, and easy to clean with dish detergent and a soft brush. It weighs 356 pounds and requires some assembly with a level, so you’ll likely need two pairs of hands to complete the work.
Concrete X 3 Fountain
The Concrete X 3 fountain is an innovative wall design that incorporates a rectangular basin with 3 spouts for a clean, minimalist approach to designing your outdoor space. The concrete cast stone material is very natural and handcrafted, with the ability to withstand time as it weathers and ages naturally. The recirculating pump included maintains continuous water flow through electrical power without the need for any extra plumbing installation. Simply plug in the 16-foot electrical cord and keep the water full.
Add flair to the piece with a pair of birds that can sit atop the wall or can be removed if desired. Choose from a variety of patinas and finishes hand applied by professional artisans, including travertine, brownstone, greystone, verde, and more. The fountain is 32 inches tall, 36 inches wide, and 16 inches deep, weighing 504 pounds, so you’ll probably need help with the initial installation, after which it will last a lifetime. Some assembly is required upon receipt.
Concrete Genesis II Fountain
The Genesis III concrete fountain adds a modern element to a classic design, with the clean lines of the base and the carved water fountain of the upper tier. With a water capacity of 6 gallons, the rectangular base is a pool with sharp angles that directly contrast with the round, slanted bowl of the upper tier, which is actually cut in with a square water pool for an even more distinctive appearance. The waterfall trickles from above into the pool below, with a recirculating pump and tube feeding the water through so no plumbing is required. The cast stone fountain is powered with an electrical plug for ease of use.
It’s offered in a number of finishes and patinas that are applied by hand by artisan craftsmen, including aged limestone, alpine stone, copper bronze, English moss, and more. The concrete design measures 18 inches tall, with the base being 27 inches wide and 18 inches deep. The entire product weighs 292 pounds, and since some assembly is required, you should phone a friend for assistance in installation.
Malpelo Resin Solar Fountain
The Malpelo resin solar fountain conserves energy and offers a nice, quaint birdbath appeal to feathered friends who may frequent your backyard. The fountain is truly traditional in appearance, with finely carved details in the 3-tiered piece, with elements of design that date back centuries to the Renaissance. However, it’s heavily updated in terms of construction and functionality. Powered by a solar panel, you don’t have to worry about consuming electricity, and you won’t need to worry about having an outlet in which to plug in a cord for power.
The solar panel has a rechargeable battery pack that charges in full sunlight so that your fountain can run even on a cloudy day or at night. It’s also built with a lightweight, sturdy resin that mimics the appearance of stone but is weather resistant and much lighter, so the fountain only weighs 30 pounds, even though it stands over 34 inches tall with a maximum diameter of 23 inches. Some assembly is required, and it comes with a 1-year warranty.
Resin/Fiberglass Multi Pots Fountain
The Multi-Pots resin and fiberglass fountain offers a unique Zen appeal with its style and charm creating the ultimate serenity in your outdoor space. Crafted from high quality resin and fiberglass, the fountain is highly durable to withstand the test of time, as well as to weather the elements, though it is recommended you cover or store the fountain during freezing temperatures.
At the same time, it’s incredibly lightweight, so while the look of the pots resembles natural clay and stone, the 4-tiered cascade fountain only weighs 15.4 pounds, making it easy to install and move as desired. The entire piece is just under 2 feet tall, measuring 13.4 inches wide and 12.6 inches deep, and it has a 1.1-gallon water capacity. It comes with a 74-inch electrical cord to power the recirculating pump that keeps the water flowing gently through the tiers, and you can adjust the flow of the water to your liking. It is water, rust, and fade resistant so you can expect it to last many years. Assembly requires no tools, and it comes with a 1-year warranty for your protection.
Concrete Sussex Wall Fountain
The Sussex concrete wall fountain is a very classic design, featuring carved stonework and a lovely detailed round basin. The entire piece is made of concrete with Greek and Roman elements to the floral and tree design carved into the wall piece. The basin resembles the base of a Doric column from Roman times as well, and the entire fountain is quite an imposing conversation piece. The single spout is fueled by a gallon of water and a recirculating pump powered by a 6-foot electrical cord that can plug into any outdoor outlet.
The fountain is 28 inches high, 18 inches wide, and 9 inches deep, so while it’s a rather large piece, it doesn’t take up a great deal of room. The fountain is available in a number of hand applied finishes and patinas, including Pietra Nuovo, travertine, and more. It weighs 77 pounds, so you may need assistance to properly mount this fountain, and there is some assembly required.
Mablethorpe Polystone Fountain
The Mablethorpe polystone fountain is a lovely tiered wall fountain with intricate designs that bring to mind the Iron Age. With a carved fleur de lis above 3 traditional spouts, you’ll have Spanish conquest in mind as you enjoy the tranquility of the fountain, and the intricately curling ivy design that looks like wrought iron adds pleasant detail to the piece. The entire fountain is made of polystone, a synthetic stone that is long lasting and durable, able to stand up to the weather without aging into ruin, so you can enjoy your fountain for years to come.
The fountain is available in beige, dark brown, and dark gray finishes to match your other outdoor décor. It includes a recirculating pump and 6-foot electrical cord to power and recycle the 1.5 gallons of water it holds. It stands 33 inches high and measures 20 inches wide and 9 inches deep, with a total weight of only 17 pounds. It comes with a 1-year warranty and is simple to assemble without the use of power tools.