Have you ever wondered how to create the ultimate relaxing swimming pool experience in your backyard? Want to come home to a haven of calm and tranquillity? A pool water feature could be exactly what you are looking for.
Here we take a look at the many ways a water feature can add value to your backyard pool, and look at some of the different water feature design options to choose from, so you can see for yourself what a difference a water feature can make.
Water features are good for your health and wellbeing
If you have a backyard pool, you will know that it is the ultimate leisure facility to have on your property. It gives you the opportunity to enjoy exercising in the open air, with the privacy offered by its setting in your own backyard. It is also an important place to relax, as spending time in water is well known to reduce your levels of stress and anxiety.
A pool with water feature is an even more relaxing and enjoyable space. The sound of rushing water creates a calm and peaceful atmosphere, making it easier for you to forget the stresses of the day and sink into a state of relaxation. You can also enjoy the sight of the water shimmering as it cascades into the pool, making you feel closer to your surroundings and connecting you with the natural environment. This is an experience we all need now more than ever, as modern life is so full of pressures and lived at a frenetic pace. The soothing qualities of water enable us to reconnect with our more natural selves and improve our sense of wellbeing, boosting our health mentally and physically.
Water features make your pool more attractive
The better your pool looks, the more you will enjoy it. Your pool is the centrepiece of your backyard, so you want to make sure it looks attractive, encouraging you to use it as much as possible, as this way you get true value for the large amount of money you have paid for it. A water feature has the effect of drawing your attention to the pool, as you can see the water moving continuously, and hear the sound of it splashing back into the pool, encouraging you to get into the water.
Water feature designs are also impressive in themselves. There are a huge number of styles available to choose from, so they are an ideal way of customising your pool so it looks completely unique. Adding extra visual interest to your pool will make it look and feel even more luxurious, providing an essential finishing touch to the design of your backyard.
This effect also helps to increase the value of your home. Properties which look attractive and well-maintained can achieve higher sale prices, so it is important to give your backyard the visual “wow” factor which shows you have taken pride in it and cared for it to the highest standards. A water feature creates instant impact and will draw potential buyers to your property by making it that bit more memorable and special. Also, speaking of the home value, have you considered upgrading to an intelligent pool with self-cleaning? Pool owners love this feature and it definitely increases the value of your home providing that there is no maintenance required to have the pool up and running.
Water features make your pool a more sociable space
A pool water feature opens up the possibilities for sharing social time and having fun in and around your backyard pool. They offer a way of enjoying the water without even having to get into the pool, as you can stand under the water jets or run through them whenever you feel like cooling down in hot weather.
You can also use your water feature to introduce your children to the water before they are confident enough at swimming to use the pool. Encouraging them to have fun around water will make them want to explore it further, giving them a love of swimming which will keep them fit and healthy throughout their lives.
The time you spend together around the pool also increases the bonds between you and your loved ones. Water features can bring more quality to this time and add an extra element of enjoyment to your pool parties, helping you to create happy memories and make the most of your social time.
How are water features installed?
The installation process depends on the water feature design. Most water features, however, require additional pipework running between the pool and the water feature, to send the water through the water feature, from where it falls back into the pool.
Creating this piping infrastructure is a job for experienced, professional pool builders, as it has to be done right if the water feature is going to function well and safely. This is why many people choose to have their water feature installed at the same time as the pool, so the building process can all be done in one go, avoiding the need to have any further building work done on your property in the future.
However, it is possible to fit a water feature retrospectively to an existing pool, although this does involve a certain amount of building work. At Natural Pools, we are accustomed to designing and building a wide variety of complex concrete pools for both residential and commercial settings, so a job like this is something we can easily tackle.
If you are currently thinking about having a pool installed but you are not sure yet whether or not you want a water feature, there is no need to decide straight away. If you tell your pool builder that you want to keep open the possibility of having a water feature installed at a later date, they can put the pipework in place at the time of building your pool, so it is ready for a water feature if you want to add one at a later time of your choosing. This enables you to budget more easily, as a pool costs a lot of money, so you might not want the extra expense of a water feature at the same time.
Different water features explained
There are a wide variety of water features available, so it is important to choose one which meets your needs and suits the style of your pool. Here are some of the most popular water feature design options for you to consider:
1. Waterfall
A pool waterfall feature makes your pool a truly calm and relaxing environment, as it is directly based on nature. Rocks or boulders are installed in an attractive shape at one side of your pool, so the water can cascade down over them and into the pool, just as it would in a natural setting.
If you want to add extra visual detailing, you can include ferns or other plants among the rocks, creating your own personal oasis in your backyard. It is an ideal way of getting away from it all and achieving real tranquillity in the water.
2. Water wall
A water wall feature is a modern classic design. This sleek water feature has clean lines and is ideally suited to contemporary pools with geometric shapes, while still creating the calming effect of a waterfall.
The difference is that instead of the water cascading over rocks, it flows through a wall-like structure constructed at one side of your pool. Usually custom-built to your own design, water feature wall ideas are practically endless, and they are among the most popular and sophisticated water feature designs.
3. Deck jets
Deck jets are ideal for having fun around the pool, as they shoot water upwards from the ground and it then falls back into the pool in an arc from each jet. Your deck jets can be positioned in a variety of locations around your pool area, to create interesting visual effects and enable you to have as much enjoyment as possible running through the jets or standing under them whenever you need a quick way to cool down.
Some deck jets now are available with inbuilt LED lighting to make them even more stunning after the sun goes down.
4. Fountains
Fountains really need no explanation. From simple jets to opulent statues, they give your pool a real feeling of luxury, and add enjoyment to your swimming experience, while enabling you to stamp your own sense of style and design onto your pool.
Do you want to know more about pool water features?
Whatever your taste in pool water features, they are a great investment, as they add real value to your pool and make it a more enjoyable and attractive place to spend your time. Here we have discussed some of the most popular water feature designs, but there are so many possibilities that you are really limited only by your imagination.
If you would like to know more about water features, and how Natural Pools can help you create a water feature which is perfect for your needs and the style of your pool, please contact us. Getting us on the phone is the quickest way of discussing your pool project with us. Dial (03) 9555 2215 now – we will be happy to help you.
