12 Small Garden Water Feature Ideas To Add A Little More Zen To Your Life
Flowing water is not only beautiful to admire, but the sound is very relaxing. And, if you have a small garden, terrace, or patio, strategically adding a water feature is also likely to attract birds, wildlife and hummingbirds.
There are all kinds of water feature ideas out there. Garden water features can be added to even the smallest of spaces—even indoors. All you need is some sort of vessel or bowl. If you have an outlet nearby, a small pump can circulate the water. Or, you can simply have a still water feature with a couple of aquatic plants and a goldfish to keep the mosquito larvae at bay.
Ready to add a little zen into your life? Here’s a round-up of small garden water feature ideas for inspiration.
nalinratphi / Shutterstock
If you have a smaller space, start with small water features like this vessel. These water feature designs can sit in a corner or on a table in your small garden or balcony.
Shop These Products Now: Table Top Water Feature
ThomBal / Shutterstock
Get creative with how you maximize the space you have. A wall-mounted water feature that pours water into a narrow trough or rectangular container can be a good small garden water feature idea when your space is narrow or limited.
Shop These Products Now: Water Feature
hxdbzxy / Shutterstock
A tabletop water feature can be created by filling a beautiful ceramic vessel with water and adding some aquatic plants, such as floating lilies and papyrus. While they may not be small, water features such as this keep things simple yet elegant.
Shop These Products Now: Garden Fountain
vatathara / Shutterstock
A tabletop water feature can be created by filling a beautiful ceramic vessel with water and adding some aquatic plants, such as floating lilies and papyrus. While they may not be small, water features such as this keep things simple yet elegant.
CHOTE BKK / Shutterstock
Think you don’t have the room for garden water features? Think again. When you’re pressed for space, it’s time to get creative. This homeowner used a clay pitcher to add a water feature to their garden.
Shop These Products Now: Watering Can
Nicholas Peter Gavin Davies / Shutterstock
Stacked stones create a unique, earthy water feature effect. You can get creative with how you stack your stones, and the kind of stones you choose to create the appropriate atmosphere you’re looking for. Jagged rocks could function as a more austere centerpiece, whereas rounded rocks can invoke tranquility.
Africa Studio / Shutterstock
A vessel shoots a small fan of water upwards, creating a beautiful architectural aquatic effect. This can add a little life and spark to your garden – and can keep mosquitos at bay.
val lawless / Shutterstock
Electricity is required to add a pump that creates the water flow, but you can still create a beautiful water feature by using only a vessel and adding some aquatic plants. Plants can provide a more earthy and colorful look and feel to your water feature space.
Sandy Blanco / Shutterstock
You don’t always have to keep just your water feature modest. Here’s an idea you can execute in a smaller garden: build your water feature to flow from the wall into a small narrow container.
Shop These Products Now: Wall Waterfall Fountain
Andries Oberholzer / Shutterstock
Two stacked vessels create a relaxing water flow, and a place for birds to visit. Garden water features such as this will give your space a clean and minimalistic appearance.
daizuoxin / Shutterstock
Not only does this wall provide privacy, but it can give garden water features a more industrial look.
LOOK Photography / Getty Images
A wall was converted into a water feature, featuring slate that the water can flow down. The sound of the water muffles the noise from the busy street on the other side of the wall. This provides a more calm space for those using the garden.
Shop These Products Now: Wall Waterfall Feature
12 small garden water feature ideas
1. Start small.
nalinratphi / Shutterstock
If you have a smaller space, start with small water features like this vessel. These water feature designs can sit in a corner or on a table in your small garden or balcony.
Shop These Products Now: Table Top Water Feature
2. Try a wall-mounted feature.
ThomBal / Shutterstock
Get creative with how you maximize the space you have. A wall-mounted water feature that pours water into a narrow trough or rectangular container can be a good small garden water feature idea when your space is narrow or limited.
Shop These Products Now: Water Feature
3. Use a water feature as the focal point of your zen garden.
hxdbzxy / Shutterstock
A tabletop water feature can be created by filling a beautiful ceramic vessel with water and adding some aquatic plants, such as floating lilies and papyrus. While they may not be small, water features such as this keep things simple yet elegant.
Shop These Products Now: Garden Fountain
4. Keep it simple.
vatathara / Shutterstock
A tabletop water feature can be created by filling a beautiful ceramic vessel with water and adding some aquatic plants, such as floating lilies and papyrus. While they may not be small, water features such as this keep things simple yet elegant.
5. Get creative with household items.
CHOTE BKK / Shutterstock
Think you don’t have the room for garden water features? Think again. When you’re pressed for space, it’s time to get creative. This homeowner used a clay pitcher to add a water feature to their garden.
Shop These Products Now: Watering Can
6. Use stones for a beautiful, natural look.
Nicholas Peter Gavin Davies / Shutterstock
Stacked stones create a unique, earthy water feature effect. You can get creative with how you stack your stones, and the kind of stones you choose to create the appropriate atmosphere you’re looking for. Jagged rocks could function as a more austere centerpiece, whereas rounded rocks can invoke tranquility.
7. Try a fountain for a stunning visual effect.
Africa Studio / Shutterstock
A vessel shoots a small fan of water upwards, creating a beautiful architectural aquatic effect. This can add a little life and spark to your garden – and can keep mosquitos at bay.
8. Incorporate plants.
val lawless / Shutterstock
Electricity is required to add a pump that creates the water flow, but you can still create a beautiful water feature by using only a vessel and adding some aquatic plants. Plants can provide a more earthy and colorful look and feel to your water feature space.
9. Have your water flow into a small container.
Sandy Blanco / Shutterstock
You don’t always have to keep just your water feature modest. Here’s an idea you can execute in a smaller garden: build your water feature to flow from the wall into a small narrow container.
Shop These Products Now: Wall Waterfall Fountain
10. Create a stacked look.
Andries Oberholzer / Shutterstock
Two stacked vessels create a relaxing water flow, and a place for birds to visit. Garden water features such as this will give your space a clean and minimalistic appearance.
11. Create a privacy waterfall.
daizuoxin / Shutterstock
Not only does this wall provide privacy, but it can give garden water features a more industrial look.
12. Convert an average wall.
LOOK Photography / Getty Images
A wall was converted into a water feature, featuring slate that the water can flow down. The sound of the water muffles the noise from the busy street on the other side of the wall. This provides a more calm space for those using the garden.
Shop These Products Now: Wall Waterfall Feature
