Decorative Ideas for Outdoor Water Features

There are several things that you can do to improve your home. Adding some water features like ponds and waterfalls can not only increase your property value, but it can improve your quality of life. With all of the aquatic features that are available, you can easily find something that fits your home's look and your lifestyle. Whether you want a wonderland for some neighborhood parties, a spot to cool off in the heat, or just a secluded retreat where you can relax and gather yourself, there are some water features that you can add to your home. Here is a look at some design ideas that can really make you want to stay home.

Pools and Jacuzzis -

Two of the most common and known water features for your home are pools and hot tubs. There are several things that you can do to make yours an original. For a pool, you can paint the bottom and make a unique design. Be it a flag, cloudscape, or a deep sea theme, you can make your pool just as original as you are. There are several companies that offer aquariums that you can install in your pool as well. These are usually a little expensive, but you can have a salt water fish tank that surrounds your pool. You can swim with the fishes every day. You can even toss in some sharks or rays if you have the money. While hot tubs are nice, many people do something to touch up the look. While most will surround it with a wooden deck, that is not the only option. One of my favorite Jacuzzis puts a natural hot springs feel to it. You can take the jets and heater from a hot tub and build a small stone pool to put these in. The natural rock gives it a great outdoorsy feel and is quite comfortable. You can build stone steps down into it and custom benches for the interior. By leaving the top looking like natural boulders you can be whisked away to a relaxing natural hot springs. This is much more relaxing than your ordinary Jacuzzi. You can also have a pebble path leading to it and surround it with bamboo or hedges to get a truly secluded getaway in your own backyard.

Koi Pond or Terrarium -

One very simple addition that you can put in your yard is a pond. Why have a pond if you can't put some animals in it though. Koi ponds are very common, but if you cannot afford koi, there are several other fish that can survive an outdoor pond. Goldfish are hearty enough, but they have a very short lifespan. American carp and bass are also good fish for this and you can eat them when the winter comes in. There are several other varieties that you can put in your pond, but you may need an indoor aquarium to house them if you go through cold winters. If you are not much of a fish person, there are other options. If you can get a deep enough pond, you can only partially fill it and create a terrarium. Fire bellied toads are great for this as well as fire bellied salamanders. These guys have a very difficult time climbing out and if your terrarium is deep enough with steep walls they will be effectively contained. Not only will this reduce your insect population, but they are very easy to care for and can give you an original addition to your yard.

Waterfall or Fountain -

If you are going to install a pond or terrarium, you might as well put a waterfall in. Not only will this help to filter your pond, but it can give you a very relaxing sound effect in your yard. Even if you don't have a pond, a waterfall can be a great addition. These add some beauty and you can do many things with them. There are several waterproof lights that you can mix in to the waterfall while giving you a light show as well. If you are not the waterfall type, a fountain may be the answer. These come in many different styles and fashions. From little boys peeing in a pool to spitting fish, there is a wide variety of fountains out there. If you enjoy sculptures and statues, this may be your answer. If you are artistic enough, you can even create your own.

Rock Slide -

One way that you can elaborate on a waterfall is to turn it into a slide. If you put a small but deep pool at the bottom of a tall waterfall, you can smooth it out, add a twist, and put in some steps on the back side for a very impressive slide. This is actually a simple addition that you can put in yourself. All it takes is a normal waterslide. You can encase the outside all the way to the ground with chicken wire and put stucco over that. Now you can get some boulders or granite and build these on top to give it a natural look. This is a cheap and fun addition for any back yard. You can either build a small pool specifically for this slide, or have it dump into your swimming pool. You may want to paint the slide part in a marbled pattern with a waterproof paint to complete the effect.

River -

Another thing that you can add to your yard is a small river or stream. This is a great way to split up your yard if you have a garden, kitchen, or relaxation area. This adds a natural appearing boundary to split your yard into sections. You can easily put in little wooden bridges to keep a foot path for heavy traffic areas. The best part about this is that it fits with almost any other outdoor water feature. Putting a waterfall on one end and a pond on the other will give the water a direction to flow so that it never goes stagnant. If you do install a stream, you need to keep it flowing. This will prevent mosquitoes from breeding in it and mold and pond scum from clouding it up and destroying your yard. By recycling the water (catch it at the end and send it back to the beginning of the stream) you won't need chlorine since you can filter the water constantly. You can also use this technique for your koi pond, terrarium, slide, or even the pool if you have your stream dump into it.

While you may not have the room or the desire to include all of these options, they do offer a list of some of the more extravagant and unusual features that you can add to your home. There are more options out there. A little hunting around can land you a backyard wonderland or just a spot to kick back and relax. The possibilities are really as endless as your imagination. Many of these features may sound like they are quite expensive, but when you install them yourself; you may be able to afford more of these than you think. The koi pond and terrarium are both rather cheap to install and easy to care for if you select the right animals for your pond. Waterfalls are another cheap addition that can cost a mint if you hire someone to install it. If you do well enough on your own yard, you may even get hired by friends to install theirs. If that happens you can get paid and be there for the unveiling party.