17 Underrated Water Features That Give Your Yard A Luxurious Touch

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A water feature can be a beautiful addition to your yard. Water features can help add privacy, drown out noise, and come in dozens of styles. It livens up an outdoor space and can create a luxurious, resort-inspired look. But it's also fun to think outside the box when choosing a water feature. While a large pond or classic waterfall are tried-and-true choices, there are many underrated options that range from subtle to bold. And just because you label something underrated, it doesn't mean that your water feature cannot be beautiful and well-made.

Consider a bubbling urn fountain to give a cozy outdoor nook a serene soundtrack. You could also build a small but elegant plunge pool in a corner of the yard for a modern touch. While these water features might not be the most typical and popular options for outdoor design, they make up for it with the luxurious ambience they create. Any of these water features can help give your yard a more elevated feel. Plus, you can pick from a range of options that include several that are simple to install on your own and others that require more elaborate, professional installation. 

Unlike a traditional waterfall setup with a pond below it, pondless waterfalls add drama to your yard with a little less maintenance required. If you have less space than you would like for a grand pond design, a pondless waterfall might be a solution. Without a pond at the base of the rocks, water is recirculated through a hidden reservoir, creating a sustainable water feature. Don't discount the impact this kind of small water feature can have on the atmosphere of your outdoor space.

Give your yard a gentle auditory experience with a bubbling urn. This type of water feature often uses a medium-to-large pot that resembles an urn for storing wine or other liquids. While you can purchase a fountain with this distinct design, it's also easy to create your own. All you require is a durable and beautiful pot, a fountain pump, and some other items. A set of two or three bubbling urns may look more lively than one large fountain for the right yard.

While a bird bath may be one of the most useful water features to have, it might not be the first option you imagine when planning an outdoor space. They can be very basic without flowing water or include small fountains to attract more birds. Either way, bird baths often display quiet elegance with intricate designs carved into concrete or terracotta. Also, consider the positives of having a fountain in your birdbath, which provides an incentive to birds and brings gentle sounds to your yard.

What might appear to be a simple pool or basic fountain can be upgraded with an extra touch. Stepping stones make a water feature more playful and add a touch of mystery to your yard. Designing stepping stones to look as though they are floating on top of a water feature may require an expert, which can make this a pricier choice. Placing stones also gives you a way to get closer to your water feature and interact with it more.

Water dripping or cascading down rock creates a more natural look than a highly symmetrical fountain or sculptural piece. Standalone waterfall fountains made from natural rock may have rough edges or large, bold surfaces. With the water dripping down in random ways, the result is the appearance of untouched beauty in your yard. You can DIY a rock fountain with cascading water using a stone of your own, or purchase a pre-designed one for a corner of your yard.

Unlike a pond, a reflecting pool provides a great spot for private contemplation. Typically, a reflecting pool will not have fish, plants, fountains, or any moving water. This type of water feature might appear to lack adornment, but in reality, a yard with a reflecting pool gives off a feeling of quiet elegance. Situate one in a yard near a patio to bring a sense of serenity to your gatherings. Or a large pool might reflect your home or the surrounding garden.

You may desire a retaining wall in your yard for a number of reasons. Perhaps you want a little more privacy from a busy street, or you need to prevent erosion in your landscape. A retaining wall waterfall combines the functionality of a retaining wall with the beauty of a water feature. It may appear understated compared to waterfall features that serve as focal points in a yard. But this type of waterfall can reduce traffic noise and turn a utilitarian yard feature into something beautiful.

Water features don't require much vertical space in a yard. A flat stone fountain showcases symmetry and style in a garden without a big waterfall or loud fountain. Give your yard a touch of artistry with this type of simple, yet bold fountain. While you can purchase a large stone fountain for your landscaping, it's also possible to DIY one using a large paver or stone and a bubbling fountain kit. The goal is to create a spouting water effect without showing a visible pump or sprinkler, which may take some creativity.

Water rills are a type of decorative water channel designed to move water slowly and gently from one area of your yard to another. Water rills can be a calming garden feature for your outdoor space, especially if you want to draw attention to a special area or landscape feature. Before modern garden design, rills were often added to yards to bring water closer to the home, but today they serve a primarily decorative purpose. The sound of flowing water and the symmetrical look of a rill make it a bold yet undervalued yard feature.

A basin, sometimes made of copper, stone, or wood, sits below a spout to catch water. This simple basin fountain, referred to as a tsukubai in Japanese, can be a key component of a backyard Japanese meditation garden. You can also add a tsukubai on its own for a bit of serenity. Although originally intended to provide fresh water for visitors to shrines, these basin fountains are a unique addition to a yard to give it a little personality and inspire tranquility.

The sound of a calm afternoon rainshower may not be easy to replicate. But a rainfall curtain wall attempts to bring that vibe to your yard all the time. This type of water feature is designed to bring a sheet of water down vertically, with an emphasis on symmetry. A thin curtain of water falls from the wall of the fountain. This newer type of feature is a minimalist option with a small footprint. Plus, a small rainfall curtain wall can give purpose to an overlooked corner of a yard.

Place a spillway bowl, with a special notch or spout that lets water pour out from the side, above a reflecting pool, swimming pool, or pond feature. An effective way to add movement to your yard without an elaborate fountain, spillway bowls are versatile with a variety of shapes and materials. Placing a few together can create a cascading effect as the bowls spill into each other. You can also purchase large, modern bowls such as this Outdoor Zen Garden Spillway Bowl Waterfall Fountain Kit from Home Depot.

Unlike a large, impressive swimming pool that often takes up a significant portion of your yard, a plunge pool is a small, reserved option. You can turn your backyard garden into a dreamy oasis with this mini feature, which is typically 8 to 12 feet long. Plunge pools are small and usually shallower than other pools, with less maintenance involved. Relax and entertain in your backyard with a plunge pool designed with quiet luxury in mind.

This water feature is an underrated, but highly functional way to make your outdoor space appear more luxurious and intentional. A rain chain is a unique option to slow down water flowing from gutters. Rain chains can be set up to collect water or simply divert it. The result is the pleasant sound of tinkling water during rainfall and the glint of the chain. For the most elegant choice, select a chain with a floral or bell-like shape.

Wall fountains take up much less space than freestanding ones, plus they add a little bit of Old World charm to your yard. Pick a wall fountain with a distinct artisanal look, complete with a decorative spout to match your overall garden or yard design. For example, a rustic wall fountain made from natural stone may evoke the feeling of visiting the Italian countryside. This Royal Lion Head Italian Wall Fountain on Amazon pairs sculptural beauty with Tuscan-style charm.

A backyard pond can be a quiet water feature without fish, a large footprint, or a dramatic waterfall addition. A small, shallow pond can be an ideal spot for reflection and meditation in your outdoor area. Consider adding a bench for a spot to sit and contemplate the beautiful imagery of aquatic plants. Rather than serving as the main feature in your yard, this type of shallow pond becomes a peaceful area for escape.