An indoor water fountain can be a fantastic investment, adding a little bit of personality to an otherwise dull space, whether it be commercial or residential. However, a poorly chosen fountain can be an eyesore, lending a “tacky” or gaudy look and actually distracting visitors from forming a positive aesthetic association with the room. This can be for any number of reasons, including that the fountain might look out of place due to extreme size, the water feature might be a loud distraction, or the color scheme simply does not match the immediate surroundings. Therefore, it pays to heed some simple considerations before rushing into a purchase. This article will detail a few of these things, hopefully aiding you in making an informed decision.
Aesthetics
First on the list of aesthetic concerns is customization. Think hard about whether you want some kind of personal touch added to the water feature. This mostly applies to people who are shopping for their business, since this level of customization is rarely needed in a home. For instance, it is quite common for corporations to have their logo engraved or otherwise stamped on an indoor floor fountain that sits in the entryway to the building. This gives off an air of professionalism and confidence.
On a more practical level, you will want to consider what material and color will be best for your desired fountain. You don’t need to be an advanced interior designer to make this decision; simply consider whether the the fountain will be placed within a room that features mostly earth tones, or whether the color scheme is a bit more vivid and bright. If the room features mostly earth tones or pastels, you will have no shortage of perfectly matched choices in the indoor floor water fountain market, offering anything from slate to marble.
Next determine whether you need a fountain that sits up against a wall or whether you want something that sits in the middle of a larger area like an entrance or waiting room. A related issues is noise. Many people that end up regretting their fountain purchase do so because of the noise levels created by the water feature. Take special care to test out the fountain before purchasing, regardless of whether you do on a brick and mortar showroom floor or in an online demonstration (although you really should see and hear the fountain in person to be totally sure whether it will be too loud).
Next on the list is lighting. Indoor floor water fountains come with every different feature set you could possibly think of, and lighting is no exception. Do a little due diligence in researching how different lighting types will affect the space in which your fountain will eventually be placed. Many of these fountains feature halogen bulbs, a type of lighting which burns hot by design, providing an extremely vivid light.
This video shows a fountain with a traditional, flat water feature:
Related to the issue of lighting is the amount of reflection given off by the fountain. This becomes an important issue with fountains made from metallic surfaces such as chrome or stainless steel. If you choose a highly reflective water feature, make doubly sure that you haven’t chosen a spot where there will be complicated lighting that will negatively interact with the reflections. It’s all too easy to go overboard and end up with a blinding confluence of different light sources which ends up being a safety hazard.
The last aesthetic consideration I want to mention is the shape of the water feature, itself. While many indoor floor fountains come in the standard flat shape where the water pours down from the top in a uniform fashion, this is not the end of the design choices. For instance, one popular design is arranged in a series of stylishly overturned pots, one on top of the other. The water spills down from one pot to the other until it reaches the reservoir at the bottom of the feature. This is just one example out of many possibilities, so you should by no means feel restricted to the standard, flat design.
Other Miscellaneous Considerations
Although there are a large number of aesthetic considerations, there are a few practical things to keep in mind as well/
First, consider the weight of the fountain as well as how often (if ever) it will need to be moved. These water features are usually quite heavy, so this is an extremely important consideration to make before having the product delivered and installed. Most resellers will offer the help of professional movers to assist you in moving the unit into the correct position, so make the most of their assistance and get it right the first time.
Additionally, you should carefully research what kind of power supply your desired fountain uses and whether your building will be able to provide enough power, safely. These fountains are designed for use inside most homes and businesses so it is unlikely that you will run into any incompatibility, but it always pays to be sure.
Flexibility of placement can be an important issue for the indecisive business owner, so if you want the ability to switch the fountain’s placement between indoor and outdoor, be sure to find a product that is rated for both uses. The specification sheet for every product should include this information, but if you have any doubt you should contact the reseller or manufacturer to make doubly sure that you will be getting what you need!
Last, be sure to check out some reviews on your desired product if any exist (the same goes for any appliance whether it be a water cooler or a fountain). This is something I harp on over and over again all over this site, and for good reason. Relying entirely on the company’s ad copy, information that is presented solely to get you to spend money, is a bad move. Due diligence as a consumer dictates that you should find some reviews which are untainted by commercial intent; real users who understand the pros and cons of the company’s products are perhaps the best source of information that exists! Speaking of which: If you have any comments about your current fountain model, please do no hesitate to drop me a line through the contact form at the top of this site.
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