How do I Size Choose the Right Indoor Fountain For Me?

This is a great question, as well as a very common question. As Jeanne’s mother was shopping and looking for the perfect fountain for her daughter she faced the same question.

The first obstacle she faced was determining the form or model she wanted for her daughter. There are 3 basic design models. Each of the models is identified by their title and each title is very self explanatory. Her mother found the following explanations very helpful and I trust that you will find it equally informative and helpful.

Wall Fountains are simply fountains that mount to and hang on the wall similar to a piece of art.  Despite the fact that these units are typically larger then the other 2 models they operate with the same concept of circulating water within the unit itself. Most of the wall mounted fountains are not require to be plumbed into a water source; rather the water re-circulates within the feature itself.

When deciding on the size of wall fountain to purchase I suggest following the same steps Mitch followed in choosing the perfect wall fountain for his home. This is the first step:  Decide what size of wall fountain you are looking for. Then look at style and exact fountain you feel will fit best in your decor. There is nothing worse then choosing the style you want and falling in love with the fountain itself only to realize later it you don’t have the right space for it. Mitch actually fell into this trap and because his mind was set on a style that would not fit the space he had to work with, so he had one custom made.

The first decision Mitch faced was whether he wanted a fountain that was larger vertically or horizontally. We directed him to follow this basic principle in hanging wall decor. If there are high vaulted ceilings and lots of vertical space within the room then a vertical fountain is best suited because the eyes are naturally drawn upward because of the spaciousness of the room. A horizontal wall fountain will appear much smaller on a larger open, tall wall and not draw the attention that a vertical fountain would. In opposition a vertical wall fountain can look very cramped and squished on a short, low wall with a low ceiling. Now obviously the rest of the wall decor with the room and adjacent rooms will play a factor in how well the unit visually fits within the room. To make a general summary regardless of the ceiling height, if space is limited install a smaller fountain as oppose to a larger one.

Because Mitch mounted the wall fountain in his reception area and the ceiling was low he decided to have a horizontal unit installed in the larger open wall when clients entered from the exterior. This made a very bold, strong first impression when they entered. The large stainless steel wall fountain was the first thing they approached and was primarily the main wall decor in the room which made it stand out very majestically.

The average wall fountain protrudes about 5 to 6 inches from the wall so it important to situate it in such a place that it will not interfere with the traffic in a room. It is a standard rule to avoid mounting a wall fountain on a wall that is a high traffic wall and is in danger of being bumped by the flow of traffic. Because Mitch placed the fountain on the wall across from the main entrance he was confident that it would not be disturbed or bumped by mistake.

To be confident that Mitch was ordering the right size for the wall, he wanted to visually test the best option. He experimented on what size would fit the space best by using a piece of cardboard to simulate the size of the fountain. He cut and changed the size of cardboard to see what size visually fit best. (Start with a larger piece of cardboard and then cut it smaller as it is easier to cut it smaller then to make it bigger; although you may need to tape it together to test the larger size again.)

I suggest that you consider placing a GFI electrical plug behind the wall mounted fountain because the fountain itself covers and hides any electrical cords. It is important to consider this when choosing a wall, if you want to have the cords hidden from view. This is the most visually appealing option.

Table Top Fountains are exactly what the name would imply.Tabletop fountains are much simpler to determine and they also follow the same rule as other room decor accessories. The main dimension you need to determine is the diameter of the fountain. It is important choose a size that fits naturally within the decor and on the surface on which it will be placed. You can place a bowl or stack of books as a mock fountain to help determine what size may or may not fit the space you have to work with. Consideration should also be given to the accessibility of a power source. If an electrical outlet is not easily accessible consider a battery operated table top fountain.

Floor Fountains are very similar to table top fountains, but they are typically much larger vertically. Again it is important to find balance within the decor of the room and find a unit not too large or small but rather one that naturally fits the flow of the room. Typically a floor fountain will get lost on a large open wall. Because of their size they fit well within an array of other features or along side another feature room accessory or piece of furniture. Floor fountains also can become a hazard if they are placed in a location that can impede or slow the traffic flow of a room.  Jeanne settled on placing her floor standing fountain alongside the raised hearth of her first place which happened to be the spot her mother had pictured it in when she bought it for her. Because the stone work of the fireplace protruded from the wall and gave some structure and texture to the room she found that it complimented the rough finish of the floor fountain. As a bonus there was an electrical outlet near by and the cord was naturally hidden from view.

One final consideration that should be considered in choosing a location for your indoor fountain is a place that the water reservoir will not become an automatic pet watering container. If pets have free reign of your home you will want to consider this potential obstacle. One solution can be choosing a location that is off limits to the pet, a second is to choose a style that does not have a reservoir of sitting open water. Many fountains have the reservoir below a barrier such a layer of river stone that will deter pets from taking a drink. This is not always an issue because most animals do not like drinking moving water, but it’s a consideration to think about before making a purchase.