Best Indoor Fountains

There's a certain relaxing quality to seeing a bubbling brook. But, what if you're a stressed-out city dweller—is it possible to achieve the same effect indoors, or even in your home? A number of designers and landscapers have come up with a product that answers just that: an indoor fountain, that can fit on a living room coffee table. The water flow duplicates the sound of a trickling, tranquil spring. If you live in a hot climate, they can also cool off the room considerably. And they have a unique form of lighting, that lends a certain ambiance to the room. You'll see a number of designs available, according to your taste. 

We've put together this guide to help you select the best indoor fountain that answer to your needs. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of indoor fountain,

• See useful tips about that type of indoor fountain,    

• Read reviews of different brands of indoor fountain, and what customers are saying,

• Select the right brand of indoor fountain, and

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

• Wall fountains: These are fountains that consist of a glass, metal or stone sheet, attached to the wall, with pebbles at the base. (You must attach the fountain to a stud in the wall, so that it is secure. You may need a stud finder to find where is the optimal place to position the fountain.) Water trickles down along the wall, and then is pumped back to the top. These will come in two forms:

  • Horizontal fountain: These will be more wide than tall. That means that they will have a bigger reservoir and hold more water. But they won't have to be refilled as often. They are best if you have a low ceiling, and can be placed over a sofa or table.

  • Vertical fountain: These are more tall than wide, and are preferred when you have a high ceiling.

• Floor fountains: These consist of a base that sits on the floor, with a number of tiers. The water trickles from the top, down the tiers, and then is pumped back to the top again.

• Tabletop fountains: These will be less than two feet tall, and will rest on a table. They are supplied with a light bulb and a pump that recycles the water.

Based on all the consumers' reviews we've scanned, these are the top things they mentioned about their new stuff:

• Doesn't splash or leak: You want to make sure that your indoor fountain doesn't splash or leak (that's forgivable with an outdoor fountain, but not in your living room!

• Ensure that the fountain is level: If you are installing a wall or floor fountain, make sure that the fountain is level. If not, water may not flow properly.

• Automatic turn-off: Some fountains, like the Alpine WCT202 Tiered Column Tabletop Fountain, have an automatic turn-off feature when the water level gets too low. You just add water, and the fountain should run normally.

• Noise of the motor: One customer noticed that their tabletop Bits and Pieces Indoor Water Lily Water Fountain was excessively loud when they plugged it in. But then they realized that the noise was caused by the vibrations of the fountain on the table, not the motor itself. Supporting the fountain on a pad or coaster should solve the noise problem. Also, positioning the pebbles in the fountain will change the sound of the fountain.

• Power supply: If you install a wall fountain, make sure that the power cord will reach an outlet.

• Moisture Barrier: If you install a wall fountain, it's recommended to protect the wall behind it with a piece of plasterboard or paint. Otherwise, the moisture may damage the wall.

• What kind of water to use? Since some places have “hard water”, which can cause buildup of lime scale, it's best to fill the fountain with distilled water. Also, treat the water regularly, to prevent algae from building up.

• Cleaning: You must clean the fountain, because it will accumulate dust over time. The Kinetic Fountain brand requires that you empty out the fountain (it's recommended to do so monthly), wipe out the reservoir, and clean the pump.

HoMedics—is a company that makes a series of products for creating a healthy, stress-free home environment. They were founded in 1987 by Ron Ferber and Alon Kaufman. They make massagers, humidifiers, air filters, baths, sleep aids, fitness monitors, and more. They are based in Commerce Township, Michigan.

Alpine—is a designer of home and garden decor products. They were founded in 1999. They make garden fountains, furniture, decorations such as gazing globes and decorative stakes, as well as pumps and solar powerer equipment for lighting the garden.

Kenroy Home—is a home decor company based in Jacksonville, Florida and founded in the 1950s. They make designer lamps, wall and ceiling lightings, fountains, and outdoor lamps and ornaments.

Gifts and Decor—are makers of home and kitchen decorations. They make products for the home, lawn, patio and garden: lighting products, fountains, ornaments, and more.

Bits and Pieces—are suppliers of unique puzzles and gift ideas through their mail order catalog. They were founded in 1983. They also have a division for home and garden supplies, such as statues, sculptures, novelty lighting, weather instruments, and more.