The Ultimate Guide to Outdoor Water Fountains (2021)

Do you wish your property could be a relaxing retreat from the troubles of your day? Adding an outdoor water fountain will transform the look and feel of your garden, backyard, or patio.

At Garden Fountains and Outdoor Décor in Pennsburg, PA, we’ll help you flow through everything you need to know about outdoor fountains to choose the type, size, style, and location to turn your space into the oasis of your dreams.

Benefits of Adding Outdoor Water Fountains in Your Garden, Backyard, or Patio

An outdoor water fountain will dramatically alter your landscape. While that’s the most obvious benefit, it’s far from the only advantage.

Wash Away Stress

The gentle sight and sound of continuously flowing water will create instant calm, reducing anxiety and stress. Your stunning fountain will mimic the effects of your favorite spa or a relaxing vacation at your favorite waterside retreat. 

Muffle the Chaos

Even the most pleasant neighborhoods come with disruptive noises like construction projects, lawn maintenance, traffic sounds, and family gatherings. The tranquil, moving water of your fountain will drown out the cacophony, creating a peaceful sanctuary.

Gather Wild Friends

Your backyard fountain will act as a watering hole for furred and feathered friends. Sit back and enjoy the show as birds, squirrels, deer, and other lovely, wild creatures stop by for a drink.

Repel the Pests

The fountain’s running water will help keep mosquitoes away, allowing you to enjoy the outdoors with an eco-friendly alternative to sticky, smelly pest control measures.

Outdoor Water Fountain Sizes

Outdoor water fountains come in a variety of sizes to fit any space. When choosing your fountain, you might feel a bit like Goldilocks in the fairy tale, searching for the perfect solution.

At Garden Fountains & Outdoor Décor, you won’t have any problem finding a fountain that fits just right. Your biggest challenge will be choosing from our vast inventory of gorgeous products.

Small Outdoor Water Fountains

Under 24 inches high, a small outdoor fountain serves as an ideal addition to a tiny garden, patio table, or balcony space. Keep in mind that these pieces can still be heavy. Prior to purchase, check the weight and make sure your spot can handle it.

Medium-Sized Garden Fountains

With a medium-sized fountain, you’ll have an ideal addition to any garden, veranda, or small yard. At 24-36 inches high, these products act as a compliment rather than a central décor element.

Large Garden Fountains

If you have more space to work with, why not choose a large garden fountain? These works of art are 36-60 inches high, providing a significant style upgrade to your outdoor wall, yard, flower garden, or pool surroundings.

Extra-Large Outdoor Water Fountains

At over 60 inches high, an extra-large outdoor water fountain makes an eye-catching focal point for any area with plenty of room. These magnificent masterpieces stand out on an expansive lawn or generous garden space. 

From classical design to modern aesthetic, from a small tabletop sculpture to a sizable landscaping centerpiece, we have fountains that will fit your location and style.

We feature traditional birdbaths, wall fountains, and freestanding pieces in a variety of shapes and sizes. With a choice from our massive selection of outdoor fountains, you can create a small, meditative spot to get away from the world or a stunning spot for you to gather and enjoy with your family and friends.

Outdoor Water Fountain Materials

If you’ve just started thinking about enhancing your property’s beauty with an outdoor water fountain, you have plenty of choices, including the material used to create the fountain. They’re all stunning, but their different properties will likely impact your decision. 

Fiber Cement Fountains

These stunning outdoor fountains may look like they’re designed from concrete or metal, but fiber cement is a mixture of cement, cellulose fibers, sand, and water.

A fiber cement fountain will complement any outdoor style with its ability to imitate other materials. The eco-friendly and durable product weighs less than its traditional counterparts and requires less maintenance.

If you want an outdoor fountain that stands up to weather extremes and holds its looks for decades, a fiber cement fountain makes an ideal choice.

Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) Fountains

Crafted from composite materials, glass-fiber-reinforced concrete fountains come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. 

The material is both lightweight and long-lasting. With a reputation for durability, a GFRC fountain makes a fabulous choice in any area that faces weather or temperature extremes. These tough beauties even hold their own in hurricane-strength winds.

A GFRC fountain won’t rust or crack. It doesn’t require much maintenance, so all you have to do is appreciate its gorgeous appeal.  

Cast Stone Fountains

Cast stone delivers a realistic, natural look and feel for your outdoor water fountain. With its porous properties, the weighty material needs detailed maintenance.

If you live in an area where temperatures drop in the winter months, you’ll need to drain the water and let your fountain dry so it won’t crack in the cold.

With proper care, a cast stone fountain makes an attractive and durable addition to your lawn, garden, or patio. If you’re dedicated to the fountain’s upkeep, your cast stone fountain can beautify your surroundings for years to come.

Cast Resin Fountains

Though a cast resin fountain may take on the look of crafted stone or concrete, it’s a lightweight synthetic material that’s both long-lasting and affordable.

Fountain artisans may transform resin into a variety of designs featuring elegant simplicity or elaborate detail.

These stunning pieces of outdoor art come with a reputation for durability, though they hold up best in areas that don’t experience severe freezing in winter.

A cast resin fountain makes a lovely addition to almost any landscape. If you choose to change your outdoor décor, you may easily transport it to another part of your property.

Terra Cotta Fountains

When you search for a terra cotta fountain, you will have a variety of styles from which to choose. Terra cotta glaze gives every piece a unique finish with colors including teal, red, cobalt blue, metallic shine, and more.

While not a delicate material, glazed terra cotta holds up best in warm or moderate climates. If you keep water in the fountain year-round in colder locales, though, the porous material may crack or break during a freeze.

Glazed terra cotta provides a one-of-a-kind look that lasts, though you need to offer some care to keep your fountain in great shape.

Terrazzo Fountains

Contractors often use terrazzo for floors, so it’s certainly strong enough for your outdoor fountain.

A terrazzo fountain will be a low-maintenance, lightweight, long-lasting addition to your garden, yard, deck, or patio.

Terrazzo stands up to extreme weather, giving you a fountain that requires nothing other than your relaxed enjoyment. 

You have so many different options, but the best material for outdoor water fountains is the one that best fits your needs.

Types of Outdoor Garden Fountains

If you enjoy the relaxing properties of a garden water fountain but don’t think you have the right spot for one, think again. We offer fountains in an incredible variety of shapes and sizes suitable for all spaces: from a tiny balcony outside a city apartment to a grand garden surrounding a large estate.

Tabletop Water Fountains

If you have the room for a table, you have the room for a tabletop fountain. These delightful pieces have a dramatic impact without overwhelming the space.

Your tabletop water fountain will add ambiance to the accent table on your front porch or the patio table near your backyard pool.

These small bits of serenity require almost no maintenance. Just change the water, wipe the fountain down with a damp cloth, sit back, and enjoy.

Floor Outdoor Fountains

If you have more area to work with, a floor fountain may be the perfect addition to your décor. These pieces come in all sizes but need a little more room than most tabletop models.

A floor fountain has all of the benefits of a tabletop fountain on a larger scale. Keep in mind that the larger size comes with added weight. You need to make sure the placement area is equipped to handle it.

Plus, your fountain should complement the space rather than dominate it. Examine the place you want to put your floor fountain. Can you put it right in the middle of the area to act as a true centerpiece? Maybe you have a vacant corner that needs a little panache or an expanse of wall that could help your landscaping make a real splash.

Without using much water or requiring much upkeep, a floor outdoor fountain can dramatically transform your lawn, garden, or patio.

Outdoor Wall Fountains  

Even in the great outdoors, a bare wall serves as a magnificent blank canvas. An outdoor wall fountain may be just the work of art your home or business has been missing.

Wall fountains create a relaxing, sophisticated atmosphere without obstructing the flow of people in the spot.

Even if you’re sure you want a wall fountain, you still have more decisions to make. You’ll find a fantastic array of styles, materials, and colors to suit any décor.

You can also choose from floor wall fountains or wall-mounted fountains. Though both serve as long-lasting additions to your property, the floor versions are easier to move, if needed. 

Tiered Fountains

If you dream of a yard that will remind you and your guests of royal gardens, a tiered fountain makes an ideal choice. 

These stunning sculptures bring multiple layers of elegance to any space with the lovely sight and sound of flowing water.

With tiered fountains, your style doesn’t need to be stuffy or uptight. Feel like royalty with a choice of sizes, shapes, materials, and colors.

Though these pieces may require slightly more maintenance to keep them running and looking their best, the beautiful benefits are worth the extra effort.

Zen-Inspired Fountains

All outdoor fountains produce a relaxing ambiance, but if you desire a masterful level of calm, you should check out azen fountain.

The tranquility of one of these fountains will make you feel like you’ve been transported to another place.

If you long for a simple piece for your lawn, garden, or patio, a zen fountain will be the perfect fit. Just sit back, enjoy the sounds of running water, and let the peace wash over you.

Bowl Fountains

Have you been thinking about an outdoor fountain but are worried that a fountain might be too fancy for your space? You can’t go wrong with the effortless simplicity of a bowl fountain. 

Bowl fountains come with pedestals or without, in an array of sizes and materials. Whichever garden water fountain you choose, your bowl fountain will surely bring a gentle abundance of relaxation to your outdoor space.

Contemporary and Modern Water Fountains

Fountains have been elements of architecture and design for thousands of years. Their classic staying power does not need to mean traditional or boring.

If you want the benefits of an outdoor fountain but contemporary sensibility is more your style, choose a modern outdoor water fountain.

If your space demands sharp angles or clean geometric shapes, a simple masterpiece combines conventional fountain advantages with your modern aesthetic.

Jar and Urn Fountains

If you long for a fountain that exemplifies classic beauty, consider a jar fountain or an urn fountain.

These fountains look like they were pulled from the pages of a book on mythology or ancient history, though they’re an ideal fit for your landscape today.

The pleasing jar and urn designs, which symbolize plenty, will bring a bounty of relaxation to your family and guests.

Commercial Water Fountains

We reviewed the different materials and styles of fountains for your home landscape, but these same works of water art will also bring style and relaxation to a professional setting.

The calming effects have terrific impact at the site of a medical office or a restaurant’s outdoor patio. However, any business can enhance the décor with the addition of a commercial water fountain.

Birdbath Water Fountains

If you enjoy watching our feathered friends, a birdbath fountain creates a lovely gathering spot on your property.

With one of these delightful fountains, you can create your own personal avian sanctuary.

From the traditional to the trendy, our team at Garden Fountains and Outdoor Décor in Pennsburg has a wide array of products for your unique style and the needs of your space. 

If none of these categories appeal to you, we have several other fountain options, including:

●   Obelisk fountains
●   Pillar fountains
●   Square water fountains
●   Round fountains
●   Rectangular fountains
●   Oval fountains
●   Irregular-shaped fountains 

Garden Fountain Features

When you decide to add a garden water fountain to your landscape, you make a choice to go beyond the ordinary. You make a commitment to enhance your outdoor living space so you, your family, and your guests can enjoy the property to its fullest.

Why not enhance your outdoor fountain with lights so you can extend the number of hours in the day in which you can appreciate your new addition’s benefits?

Lighting allows you to relax by your fountain even after the sun goes down. Plus, there’s something magical about the play of light on running water. The eye-catching power of an outdoor fountain increases when you add light.

Speaking of eye-catching, have you thought about the color your fountain will bring? Pick neutral gray or brown for a subtle look that blends with the landscape, or go with a stunning black or color glaze to stand out.

Campania International and Other Outdoor Water Fountain Brands

Garden Fountains and Outdoor Décor features only the best outdoor water fountains. When you choose to add one of our pieces to your property, we want to ensure maximum beauty, durability, and enjoyment.

As you search our website to find the ideal outdoor fountain for your patio, deck, yard, or garden, you’ll notice many exceptional products from Campania International.

Campania International designs, manufactures, and distributes water fountains and other fine garden pieces. The company opened its doors in 1983 and has consistently delivered stellar creativity and craftsmanship ever since.

Melding American sensibility with Old World tradition, Campania uses only the finest materials to craft unique, quality works of outdoor art.

Campania offers an incredible array of fine fountains to suit all tastes. From classic beauty to a modern aesthetic, the artists create unique work in a variety of styles, sizes, and materials. Choose a small fountain for your tabletop or a Campania wall fountain to make a bigger, more dramatic statement.

When you purchase a Campania International garden fountain, you’ll have tranquility and peace of mind for years to come.

We also offer a line of fountains from Tivoli USA. Delightful products like the French Quarter wall fountain and the Cambridge wall fountain bring the feel of another place and time to your outdoor space. The winding vine wall fountain delivers climbing vines that display their beauty no matter the season.

Tivoli fountains bring a charming calm to your garden, patio, or backyard, transporting your imagination in the process.

If you’re looking to add some pizazz with a hanging wall fountain. check out Ladybug water fountains.

When you shop at Garden Fountains and Outdoor Décor, the challenge will be narrowing down your choice of a fountain from all of our fabulous options. The easy part will be enjoying the lovely appearance and relaxing atmosphere of your outdoor fountains.

How to Buy the Best Garden Fountain for Your Space

You’ve been dreaming of owning a fountain, and you’ve started the journey down the garden path of how to choose the best fountain for you.

Make sure the picture you have in your head meets reality.

If you live in a condo and have a small balcony with just enough room for a bistro table and chairs, a tiered fountain reminiscent of an English garden won’t work for you (unless you find a miniature version).

On the other hand, if your house has an inground pool surrounded by a large, fenced-in yard, a small tabletop fountain in one corner won’t have much of a visual or atmospheric impact.

Of course, we’re talking extremes here, but one of the major factors is the size of your outdoor fountain. If the fountain is too large, it will overwhelm the space. Depending on the location, the underlying structure, like the table, balcony, or deck, may not be able to support the weight. If the fountain is too small, it will get swallowed up by the surrounding area.

In addition to size, you should consider fountain materials. Part of this choice is aesthetic. You want your fountain to look great in your outdoor living space. The other part is practical. A fountain made of cast stone may crack in severe cold if you don’t care for it properly. On the flip side, some synthetic materials wear after a few years in direct sun. Consider your climate so you can enjoy your fountain for a long time.

You should ask yourself a few other questions before making a final purchase.

How much maintenance will this fountain require? Should we add lighting? Is this a DIY outdoor project or will we need to call in a professional?

If you have a homeowner’s association, does it have any regulations that govern fountain placement?

You will reap maximum enjoyment from your new outdoor water fountain if you deal with these practicalities beforehand.

How Much Does It Cost to Run an Outdoor Fountain?

A simple formula to estimate the cost to run your fountain is kilowatts X price/kilowatt hour X hours of use.

To figure out daily electric costs, find out the wattage of your fountain pump. Divide by 1,000 to find the number of kilowatts. Check your electric bill for price/kilowatt hour at your location. Multiply the kilowatts by hourly cost. Multiply again by hours per day you plan to use your fountain. Next, multiply by 30 to estimate your costs for the month.

If you’re considering an outdoor fountain but you’re concerned about the electric costs, you can keep costs down. Use a timer to turn your fountain off at night. If you live in an area that gets winter freezes, you can shut your fountain down and cover it for the winter months.

However, feel free to enjoy your fountain 24/7 if that works for you. You don’t need to turn your fountain off.

What’s the Optimal Place for Water Fountains at Home?

To ensure maximum enjoyment, think about safety, power source, sound, and visibility when choosing where to put your fountain.

“There’s no place like home,” Dorothy concluded in The Wizard of Oz. When you install an outdoor fountain, you will find no place that compares to the relaxing oasis you create, as long as you ensure proper placement.

Some things to consider are as follows.

Safety first

You’ll struggle to embrace the peaceful serenity of your fountain if you, your family, or your guests constantly end up at urgent care. You want to be sure that your fountain does not present a safety hazard, especially to active kids or pets.

Don’t worry about your furry friends drinking from the fountain. Since the water moves, it stays clean.

Power up

Your fountain’s pump needs an electrical source, and a professional-grade extension cord running across your lawn doesn’t add to the calming atmosphere. Plus, it’s a tripping hazard. Make sure an electrical source is in easy reach. You may need to get a licensed electrician to install one.

Sound placement

When you install an outdoor fountain, the gentle sound of running water offers one of the most significant benefits. If you place your fountain in a little-used area of the yard, you won’t reap the maximum advantage.

Show off

Your fountain will be an eye-catching addition to your property. Make sure you install the fountain where you can see and enjoy it.

Where Should We Place Water Fountains at the Office?

We’ve discussed fountains at home, but they also provide significant benefits at your business. Consider a well-placed fountain inside or outside your office for soothing advantages in a professional setting.

When you add an outdoor fountain to your professional location, you have a new way to attract attention. Think of how diners will feel eating near a flowing fountain on your outdoor patio? Imagine the instant calming effects of a wall-mounted fountain as customers enter your day spa.

You can bring the relaxation inside as well. Imagine the calming effects a fountain can add to a dentist’s or physician’s waiting area — or even an exam room.

The same considerations apply to fountain placement at your office as they would at your home. Think about size and aesthetic appeal, as well as safety of customers, employees, and guests. Of course, if your fountain will be indoors, you won’t need to worry about materials holding up to the elements.

Another benefit of an indoor fountain: As it flows, it adds moisture to the air. This is a great advantage in dry climates. You can install a fountain instead of an unattractive humidifier.

Are Fountains a Waste of Water?

Don’t worry much about water waste. The water your fountain uses will be similar to the amount used in a toilet flush.

Since water recirculates, most outdoor fountains don’t waste much water. Though some evaporates, you don’t need to beat up your inner conservationist.

You’re talking about a few gallons of water a week. You’ll find it’s certainly worth it for the stress relief.

How to Keep Your Fountain Clean

You won’t need to put in much effort to keep your outdoor water fountain clean. Some liquid dish detergent and a soft cloth or brush will do a fine job.

When you install an outdoor water fountain at your property, one of your goals is relaxation. The last thing you want is to add another chore to your to-do list.

Keeping your fountain clean will be fairly easy. Each week, you can wash the basin with some mild dish soap and a gentle brush or cloth. Next, rinse out any remaining suds and refill with fresh water.

No harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners, please.

You will also need to clean your pump and filter, if your fountain has one. You’ll find this job to be pretty quick and straightforward, too. Each manufacturer’s instructions may vary, so be sure to read up to make sure you’re following the proper steps. Of course, you should unplug it to eliminate any risk of electrical shock.

Also, you should consider investing in a cover to keep your water fountain clean and free of debris when you’re not using it.

How Long Do Water Fountains Last?

With minimal care and maintenance, your outdoor water fountain will serve your decorating and stress-relieving needs for years to come.

So many variables come into play with this question: the climate where you live, the material you choose, your dedication to minimal maintenance, year-round vs. occasional use.

Your fountain’s pump will last for up to five years. Ironically, when you run it continuously, you will extend its lifespan. When you keep it clean and protect it from harsh cold, your outdoor fountain can last for decades.

Ready to Go with the Flow?

If you’ve come this far, you’re ready to start your journey from fledgling outdoor fountain fan to full-fledged fountain enthusiast.

You may still have questions, and that’s okay. Our dedicated team of specialists at Garden Fountains and Outdoor Décor can help.

On the other hand, if you know you’re ready to take the plunge, shop our vast selection of outdoor fountains and add one to your cart today.

If you’re still wondering about which is the best water fountain, it’s the one that makes you the happiest. Make your choice, and our team at Garden Fountains and Outdoor Décor will deliver the beauty and relaxation of an outdoor water fountain right to your door. We’re located in Pennsburg, in Montgomery County, PA—only 35 miles north of Philadelphia. Please visit, or call us with any questions at 1-800-920-7457.