9 Wonderful Backyard Water Features

Adding DIY Water Features to Your Backyard

Adding a water feature to your backyard can be a great DIY project. A backyard water feature can add beauty to your backyard and increase your home value. Plus, there is something about water that is relaxing and soothing to have in your backyard. Whether you install a small bubbler fountain outside your guest shed or go for a small pond with a waterfall, your new water feature will add beauty to your backyard.

Creating a Waterfall in Your Backyard

Creating a pond with a waterfall is easier than you think. There are kits for nearly everything that make DIY projects simple and easy. Pond kits consist of directions and a liner. You can easily convert a pre-made waterfall into a beautiful rock formation waterfall for your pond. Pump, tubing, mortar, and some large rocks and you are ready to build.

Waterfalls provide a dramatic visual for your backyard that can upgrade the look of your entire backyard. No matter the size of your waterfall, the natural flow of water over the rocks adds a wonderful water feature to your backyard and the sound of cascading water is soothing and relaxing.

Fountains Are a Simple DIY Backyard Project

Fountains are a wonderful way to add a water feature to your backyard is you are short on space. There are so many different types of water fountains to choose from these days and picking your favorite one is part of the fun. This is a relatively easy DIY project with only minor electrical and water delivery as part of the DIY build.

Fountains come in so many sizes, shapes, and materials that it’s easy to find one that fits your backyard style and budget. Backyard fountains usually work by sitting on a tub of water that is recirculated through the fountain. A favorite is a ball fountain with a spinning ball at the top that rotates when water is pumped underneath it. Moving water doesn’t usually attract mosquitos, but it you want to be extra careful Mosquito Bits are environmentally safe for all wildlife and will keep your fountain from being a mosquito breeding ground.

Build a Backyard Pond

Ponds come in many sizes, from very small to extremely large. Ponds are a wonderful water feature for your backyard. Creating a pond is a great family DIY project. You can decide what type of pond you want to construct, there are so many choices, such as Koi ponds, or ponds with water plants such as lotuses. If you have the room on your acreage you can go for a small lake or large pond with about 4 feet depth and have a paddle boat to relax and enjoy your pond. With about 4 feet of depth, your pond can also be used for swimming on a hot day.

DIY kits for ponds of all sizes are available these days. Your available acreage, taste, needs, and budget will set the criteria for your backyard pond. The picture above with the small bistro table on the deck over the pond would be a wonderful place to cool off on a hot summer day.

A Birdbath Is a Simple DIY Project

Birdbaths attract lots of beautiful birds to your property and also other wildlife that want to quench their thirst. Expect to see many varieties of wildlife taking a drink from your birdbath, including raccoons, squirrels, and maybe even a deer or two. Installing a bird bath is simple, and only requires leveling the ground while installing the birdbath on.

Bird watchers will enjoy having a backyard birdbath that attracts all sorts of birds. You might want to combine a birdbath with a bubbler to add soothing sounds to your backyard.

Water Walls Are a Dramatic Water Feature

Adding a water wall to your backyard landscaping is one of the most dramatic features you can add to your backyard. A water wall adds a modern and stylish feature to a pool or pond. Your imagination is your only limitation in creating this amazing DIY project. We’ve seen bath spouts used, copper piping, glass, and many other ways of transporting the water from the wall. Basically this is a recirculating fountain behind a wall, so even though it looks dramatic it’s easier than you think to build.

Fountain Installations in a Pond or Pool

Adding a fountain to your pond or pool is easier than you think. If you have an above-ground pool or traditional swimming pool, there are many simple kits for installing a fountain in your pool. If you are installing a fountain in your pond, you are installing a fountain below water level with a pump. Having your fountain on a timer will allow you to control when this feature works. Pond fountains are beautiful and dramatic and add a relaxing sound to your backyard.

Install a Dramatic Bubbler Fountain

Bubbler fountains are simple recirculating fountains. They are generally installed above ground with a container underneath that pumps the water back into the fountain. The type you see in the photo above is dramatic since the water spills over the top of the fountain container and is pumped back into the fountain from below.

Swimming Pools

Installing a swimming pool above ground or having a pool built in the ground is one of the more expensive water feature projects you can choose. Above-ground pools come in a variety of types and some equal their in-ground counterparts in longevity. Adding a wrap-around deck or tiling to an above-ground pool gives it that in-ground appeal for a fraction of the cost. Whichever way you decide to go a pool can add curb appeal and value to your home while giving everyone a place to cool off on a hot summer day. Pools also provide a great way to keep in shape year-round.

Building a DIY Backyard Stream

Adding a backyard stream to your home seems like a large undertaking, but it can be a large project, but it is a pretty simple building project. Building a backyard stream is basically a pond with movement. This water feature is best with a backyard with some slope and large rocks. When thinking of this project consider that you are building a large recirculating fountain. The water can be pumped back uphill and the sound will be the most dramatic when the drop between rock layers is the largest.

Choosing any of these DIY water feature projects can be fun, add ambiance to your backyard, while creating a soothing place to relax close to home. For any of your backyard shed-building projects, be sure to visit Shed Windows and More for our latest products.