Leave The Eyesore Of Downspouts & Gutters Behind With A Stunning DIY Solution

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A rainwater management system is crucial for protecting your home's foundation from water damage. Without it, water can pool under the house, weakening the foundation and creating conditions for mold growth. Gutters and downspouts are typical solutions to manage this water by guiding rainwater to the ground and away from your home, but they're not very attractive, and many consider them a bit of an eyesore. On the other hand, rain chains are beautiful alternatives that do the same thing but are much more aesthetically pleasing. Use this guide to help you decide whether rain chains or downspouts are better for your home. Rain chains are also super easy to install yourself, especially if you're looking to replace downspouts you already have on your home.

TikTok user Andi Phipps (@andi_phipps27) and her partner easily removed their downspout and installed a beautiful rain chain featuring upside-down umbrellas, turning an eyesore into a front porch water feature. They started their project by drilling a few drainage holes into the bottom of a terra cotta flower pot, which would act as the base for the water to flow into. Then they removed the downspout by unscrewing it from their house. Many times this can be done by unscrewing the brackets from the wall that hold it in place. Next, an adapter plate was installed onto the gutter where the downspout was originally connected. This helps properly guide the water flow onto the chain. 

It's easy enough for you to do the same. Once you've attached the adaptor plate, it's simply a matter of hanging the chain and preparing a spot underneath to catch the rainwater. You can fill this area with river rocks and place the prepared terra cotta pot on top. Ideally, you want to fill the container with layers of river rocks and soil. Once your rain chain is in place, you can enjoy the pleasing sound of a waterfall the next time you get a shower of rain. 

The rain chain is not only attractive by itself, but it also offers limitless options for drain basins or water features at its base. What you should know about rain chains is that they can help your garden get plenty of moisture by allowing water to soak into the soil. Rain gardens work perfectly at the end of a rain chain. But the options are truly limitless. A pot filled with rocks is only one idea. Another is to collect the flow in a basin or rain barrel as a clever way to reuse rainwater around your home and garden. To really turn this into a water feature, add something like this gorgeous Naturefalls outdoor garden fountain at the base of the chain. If you have the space and live in an area that gets a lot of rain, a swale or dry creek can be another stunning option for diverting water and adding a pleasant garden feature at the end of your rain chain.