Purchasing an Indoor Water Fountain - Proper Sizing of Fountain

Once you have determined whether you will be purchasing a wall, floor or tabletop fountain, your next decision should concern the dimensions of the piece. A well thought-out fountain purchase will take into consideration the height, width and depth. Following is an overview and tips for each fountain category.

Wall Fountains
You should have an idea where you would like to place your wall fountain, keep in mind that wall fountains can be horizontal or vertical. You should measure the available space by looking at the ceiling height and wall length. If you have very high ceilings, like cathedral-style, a wall fountain built vertically is the best type to accent the wall. A horizontal fountain will appear much smaller and less impressive on a very tall wall. Conversely, you should consider a horizontal wall fountain if the wall you intend to hang it on is long and the ceiling is low. A tall fountain on a short, wide wall will look awkward unless accented by other wall features. In areas where wall space may be limited, in a foyer for example, small wall hanging fountains work exceptionally well.

Also, do not ignore the depth of the wall fountain; it is a very important component in determining how well the fountain will integrate into a room. Purchasing a wall fountain that was so wide for a certain area in a room that it disrupted the flow of traffic would be less than pleasant. 5-6 is the average depth of a wall fountain, which in reality is not very substantial but should be kept in mind.

One way to avoid miscalculations is to map out and test if the fountain you have in mind will work in the room you wish it to. Use thumb tacks, post-it notes or tape to stick on the wall where each of the four corners of fountain will stand. Back up and observe the achieved aesthetic. If you use tape or thumb tacks you can also add string to the outline, or a to scale cardboard cut out for an even more accurate recreation of the size that your fountain will be. This way you can order with confidence your fountain will look fantastic in your living space.

Tabletop Fountains
Finding the appropriate sized tabletop fountain is straightforward, just pay attention to the diameter. This is to insure that the nightstand, table or any other surface, will be substantial enough to accommodate the tabletop fountain. Avoid skimping or forcing the fountain to fit, it will look less than ideal if it is too large for the surface area and could fall off or break. Place a similarly sized object on the table to measure. Also, stacking books is an effective way to replicate the height your desired fountain will have.

Floor Fountains
Sizing considerations for floor fountains are very similar to tabletop fountains, the most important aspect to consider is width. Finding an object around the same size of your potential purchase is the best recommendation. Stacking boxes can assist in determining the height. Remember to consider the surrounding areas and assure the fountain will not block important walkways, sitting areas or cause any other interference.

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