Fountain & Water Feature
Buying Guide

The right fountain in the right place transforms a space — but the wrong placement can leave a stunning piece feeling invisible. Start by deciding whether the fountain should serve as a private retreat or a public focal point. Entryways and front gardens benefit enormously from the curb appeal of a tiered or lion head fountain. Backyard patios and garden rooms call for something more intimate — a bubbling sphere, a wall-mounted waterfall, or a natural stone piece that invites you to linger.

Consider proximity to a GFCI-protected electrical outlet, as most fountains require one within reasonable distance. Also note that while the vast majority of our collection is designed for outdoor use, a dedicated indoor waterfall collection is available for living spaces, home offices, lobbies, and commercial environments.

Material determines not just how a fountain looks, but how it weathers, ages, and endures over the years. Each of the materials in our collection has been chosen for its durability and beauty — with proper care and maintenance, a quality water feature can be passed down through generations.

Cast stone concrete is the most traditional outdoor fountain material — dense, richly textured, and available in a wide range of hand-applied finishes. It develops a beautiful patina over time and is the material of choice for the Massarelli family, the Giannini Family, Fiore Stone, and Campania.

Natural real stone — granite, slate, basalt, and limestone — brings an elemental authenticity that no manufactured material can fully replicate. Blue Thumb's sphere and bubbler kits use genuine quarried stone; Adagio's indoor waterfall surfaces draw from a similar palette.

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) is an engineered composite that achieves the look of solid stone at a fraction of the weight — making it ideal for larger installations and rooftop or elevated deck applications. GIST and Blue Thumb's boulder fountain line both use GFRC extensively.

Height is usually the first dimension shoppers consider — but don't overlook width. This is especially critical with tiered fountains, where the lower basin can span 4 feet or more in diameter. In a high-traffic area, make sure there's enough clearance so the fountain enhances the space rather than obstructing it.

Think also about the viewing distance. A small tabletop fountain placed in a large open garden can feel underwhelming; conversely, an imposing 5-tier piece in a narrow side yard will dominate rather than complement. A good rule of thumb: the fountain's height should be roughly proportional to the distance from which it will typically be viewed.

Every product page on Fountainful includes detailed dimensions. Allow for at least 12–18 inches of clearance around the perimeter for occasional maintenance access, and confirm your placement choice is within reach of power without running cords across walkways.

For many buyers, sound is the primary reason to purchase a water feature — whether it's the soft murmur of a small bubbler to mask everyday noise, or the full cascade of a 4-tier fountain meant to provide meaningful sound privacy in an urban backyard. Understanding how different fountain types produce sound will help you choose wisely.

As a general principle: the more water in motion and the greater the drop height, the louder the fountain. A single-tier spillway will be noticeably quieter than a 3-tier design of similar size. For wall fountains, more waterspouts create a fuller, more ambient sound; a single lion head spout produces a gentle, focused trickle.

Campania fountains include a proprietary Sound Rating field directly in the Specs table on each product page — one of the most useful tools in the industry for comparing sound levels before you buy. Their loudest-rated fountains are described as: Can be heard from a distance even with moderate traffic.

A water feature is as much a piece of outdoor sculpture as it is a functional garden element — and the right aesthetic can anchor the entire character of a space. Fountainful sources across a wide spectrum of design sensibilities, from old-world European classicism to organic modern forms to entirely contemporary minimalism.

If your garden draws on a formal or heritage aesthetic, a tiered cast stone fountain or an ornate lion head will feel at home. For more naturalistic, woodland, or rustic gardens, a GFRC boulder fountain or a natural sphere bubbler integrates seamlessly. Contemporary and transitional spaces tend to respond well to clean geometric wall fountains, modern vase designs, or the sculptural fine art of the Cameron Harvey Gallery collection.

Color matters too — nearly all cast stone concrete fountains are available in multiple hand-applied stain options, allowing you to complement existing hardscape, stonework, or plantings. Fiore's color palette in particular is among the broadest in the industry.