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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Lifestyle
Saskia Kemsley

Best garden water fountains for elegant outdoor landscapes

Often associated with palatial landscapes and manor homes, garden fountains are a highly underrated landscaping tool that needn’t be limited to the dukes and duchesses of the world.

Whether crafted from stone, steel or ceramics, water fountains have a way of enveloping a space in a wonderful sense of calm.

Indeed, in the Chinese tradition of Feng Shui, placing a water fountain at the entrance of your home is said to encourage peace, harmony and positivity while attracting good luck. This is because moving water represents “chi”, otherwise known as life force or energy.

Bodies of water have long been associated with mystical power, but wells and fountains were considered to be wish-granting vessels. Supported by the Celtic belief that deities inhabited wells, as well as the Nordic myth of the “Well of Wisdom”, people would toss offerings in the form of coins to please the higher power lurking below, in the hopes that they may receive a blessing in return.

While the myths associated with wishing wells and water fountains can’t possibly be confirmed, we can agree with potential water-dwelling deities that the luxurious and lovingly crafted vessels might certainly be a magical place to pass the time.

With the power to transform any outdoor space into a zen haven of positivity, garden fountain enthusiasts may borrow from an array of traditions to curate their perfect landscape.

From delicately balanced bamboo fountains to stone basins crafted by artisans, we’ve curated a selection of garden fountains to improve your outdoor space – no matter its size.

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Verdigris Ball Style Water Feature

Who says you can’t recreate the opulence of royal residences in your own home? While this large, sculptural globe-shaped fountain may take up substantial space in your garden, the beautiful, weathered symmetry and earthy hues will certainly make up for it as the fountain blends seamlessly into your carefully curated landscape. The verdigris effect is soothing and water bubbles from the top of the sphere and flows gently down.

Buy now £525.00, Cox & Cox

Stainless Steel Design Fountain with Warm Lighting

Realised in a dramatic basin style, this handcrafted stainless steel fountain comes alive at night with its inbuilt warm white lighting. Choose from an array of fountain sizes and finishes or get in touch directly with the Düsseldorf-based designer through Etsy. Naturally, this fountain is designed to rust over time, forming an appealing patina on the surface from natural weathering.

Buy now £142.32, Etsy

Ivyline Spiral LED Light Garden Water Feature, Graphite

An option for those looking to elevate their garden landscape with contemporary, sculptural design, this spiral water feature is finished in a deep graphite grey hue which becomes darker when saturated. Textured and modern, this piece comes with in-built LEDs for a fuss-free ambience.

Buy now £249.99, John Lewis

Haddonstone Water Nypmh

A traditional cast stone fountain perfect for lovers of old English manor houses, mythology and literature, this water nymph fountain by Haddonstone is a beautiful, classically posed water feature. Available in a range of colours, this versatile piece of landscaping kit is elegant, robust and frost-proof. Designed to weather over time, the statue will only get better as it ages.

Buy now £769.00, Haddonstone

Bronze Fish fountain

A classic, bronze patina fountain which is perfect for smaller spaces, this spouting fish is sure to delight visitors from the moment they lay eyes on it. Measuring just 29 x 23cm, we think this piece would go swimmingly alongside a small allotment or herb garden.

Buy now £262.17, Etsy

Three Tier Medium Barcelona Fountain

If you’re in the market for a classical three-tiered fountain, look no further than Geoff’s Garden Ornaments on Etsy. Cast in limestone with an antique finish, this fountain is also available in different colours and sizes – depending on how large of a splash you’re looking to make.

Buy now £578.60, Etsy

Large Odoshi Japanese Style Fountain For Outdoor

A traditional Japanese Odoshi bamboo fountain is sure to imbue your outdoor space with an immediate sense of calm. This option is a sizeable 72cm tall and has a pump included for easy installation.

Buy now £181.11, Etsy

Primrose Solar Powered Green Pouring Bowls Tiered Cascading Water Feature

Shades of green are all the rage in interior design right now, and though it might seem nonsensical to include more decorative greenery in your garden landscape, you won’t be able to resist this ceramic cascading fountain. Crafted from a UV and frost-resistant polyresin, this porcelain wonder is fitted with solar-powered streams, a self-contained internal water reservoir and LED lights for the nighttime.

Buy now £107.99, B&Q

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