Creating Garden Fountains and Water Features with Pottery (2024)

Incorporating Pottery in Water Features and Fountains: Tips and Ideas

Water features have the power to transform any garden into a tranquil oasis, and the strategic use of pottery can elevate their aesthetic appeal to new heights. Knowing how to integrate pottery into water features allows you to offer fountain designs as a unique service as well as sell more pottery and fountain products. In this post, we’ll explore valuable tips and share creative ideas to inspire your next project. Let’s see what happens when you blend the artistry of pottery with the allure of water features.

Practical Tips for Incorporating Pottery into Water Features:

1. Select a Focal Point: Choose the prime spot in your garden or landscape design for maximum impact. Consider factors like sunlight, visibility, and proximity to seating areas.
2. Create a Stable Base: Ensure your pottery sits on a stable surface. Use a level to make sure everything is even – a wonky water feature isn’t the vibe we’re going for. For a full set of steps see this DIY Pot Fountain from The Owner Builder Network.
3. Install a Pump: Invest in a quality water pump to keep the water circulating. This not only adds a soothing sound but also prevents stagnation.
4. Aquatic Plants: Enhance the natural beauty by adding aquatic plants. Floating lilies, water hyacinths, or rushes can add color and texture. See this fountain container combination for ideas.
5. Decorative Elements: Consider adding decorative stones, pebbles, or even underwater LED lights for that extra ‘wow’ factor, especially if your outdoor space is a highlight after sunset.
6. Waterproof Sealing: Ensure that all pottery used in water features, glazed or unglazed, is properly sealed inside to prevent water absorption and potential damage. This is especially important in colder climates. See this container fountain for sealant tips.
7. Maintenance Tips: Select pottery that is easy to clean and maintain, ensuring long-lasting beauty for your water feature. Regularly clean your pottery to prevent algae buildup, and check the pump for debris. This not only keeps things looking pristine but ensures the longevity of your water feature.

Inspiration for Types of Pottery to Use in Custom Water Features

Tilted Welcome Pots for a Fountain with a Spilling Water Effect

A water feature designed with a tilted flower pot adds a whimsical and playful touch to any garden. It is a creative use of an unusually shaped planter that will spark the interest of all visitors. The cascading water not only adds visual interest but also attracts birds and other wildlife, enhancing the biodiversity of the garden and fostering a deeper connection with nature. There is a reason they are called welcome pots.

Tilted Pot Combination Container and Fountain from Garden Gate Magazine.

Ceramic Urns and Jars for an Elegant Fountain

Incorporating Urn planters and Jars can evoke an elegant and timeless feeling. These classic pieces add a touch of sophistication and historical allure to the landscape. Select urns with intricate details or go for a more rustic finish, depending on the overall theme of your garden. Placing an urn as the centerpiece of a water feature creates a sense of balance and harmony.

DIY Self-Contained Urn Fountain from Inspirations by D.

Use Stacks of the Same Pots in Different Sizes to Create a Multi-Dimensional Fountain

Play with dimension by stacking pots of the same design in varying sizes. This technique adds visual interest and a sense of depth to your water feature. Consider arranging the stacks in a cascading manner for a waterfall effect. As water trickles down, it transforms a simple arrangement into a dynamic water feature. This is where The Pottery Patch’s sets of pots come especially in handy. They are made to nestle perfectly together.

DIY Tiered Fountain from Meaningful Midlife.

Low Bowls for a Quiet and Calm Fountain or Water Feature

A garden fountain crafted from a low bowl pot presents a sleek, minimalist design that effortlessly integrates with diverse garden styles and landscapes. The expansive surface area of a wide bowl, coupled with strategically placing a fountain pump at its center, generates outward ripples that captivate the eye. Water gently cascades over the bowl’s edges, creating a softer tranquil sound for a more serene ambiance. A low bowl is also the perfect container for a water garden to display aquatic plants.

DIY Bowl Water Garden from Better Homes and Gardens.

Play with Planters in Different Materials

Colorful and Metallic Glazes: A fountain finished with a colorful or metallic glaze reflects and refracts light as it interacts with the water, creating dazzling visual effects and enhancing the overall beauty of the pottery. The interplay between the vibrant hues or metallic sheen and the dynamic movement of the water adds depth, captivating the viewer’s attention.

Rustic or Terra Cotta Pots: Classic and timeless, terra cotta pots bring a rustic charm to water features. All sorts of unglazed pots crafted from different types of clay interact with the water differently compared to glazed pots, adding variety and intrigue to the overall aesthetic. Remember to seal the pots properly when using them as a container for a fountain.

Remember, the key is to let your creativity flow as freely as water. Experiment with different pottery styles, sizes, and arrangements until you find the perfect combination that complements the style you are going for. So, whether you’re designing for a client or sprucing up your own green haven, a water feature with pottery incorporated is a fantastic way to create a statement piece for any outdoor space.