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Rock waterfalls and grottos are beautiful, but they're not right for every backyard. If you want something sleeker, more contemporary, or just different, you have a lot of options.
These 10 swimming pool water features range from affordable deck jets to high-end rain curtains, and each one adds movement, sound, and visual interest in a way a static pool simply can't match. Here's what each one looks like and which style might suit yours.
1. Fountains
Bubbler fountains are one of the most popular pool add-ons right now, and tanning ledges are a big reason why. A bubbler placed on a ledge or beach entry adds movement while naturally alerting swimmers to the shallow water below. They also work well centered in a spa.
Spray fountains offer a taller, more symmetrical look. The water fans out as it hits the surface, catching sunlight in a way that photographs well and looks great in person.
Add color-changing LED lighting to either style and the feature works just as well at night as it does during the day.
That’s because a lively bubbler is a perfect way to accent a tanning ledge or the pool’s first entry step. Their fluid motion provides a cue to alert pool users to the shallow structure below.
For the same reason, bubblers are a favorite to mark a beach entry on a pool. A bubbler fountain can also go in the center of a spa.
2. Water Bowls
Water bowls, also called water pots or water woks, are one of the standout modern pool accents of the last decade. They come in round or square shapes and a range of finishes: concrete, stainless steel, hammered copper, and more. The shape and material you choose can reinforce your pool's overall look, whether that's clean and contemporary or organic and natural.
They work best elevated on a pedestal or raised wall, where the water has enough height to spill out dramatically into the pool below.
For a luxury upgrade, fire-and-water combination bowls are available. The combination of flames and flowing water is one of those things that's genuinely hard to look away from.
3. Deck Jets
Deck jets shoot smooth, arcing streams of water from the pool deck into the pool below, typically reaching four to five feet. They're one of the most affordable ways to add visual interest to a pool and are commonly installed in pairs or sets, with one at each corner of a rectangle or Roman-style pool, for example.
Beyond the looks, four or more deck jets create a genuinely calming atmosphere. The steady sound of falling water changes the feel of the entire space.
Kids love them too. The streaming arcs are nearly impossible to resist playing in.
4. Laminars
A laminar is the luxury upgrade to a deck jet. It reaches higher (six to eight feet), carries a thicker stream, and maintains a nearly perfect glass-like arc all the way to the water's surface, which is a look deck jets can't replicate. Even as it hits the pool, the shape holds.
That precision requires motorized components, which means a higher price. But the built-in LED lighting makes it worth considering: the illumination travels through the entire liquid arc, creating a glowing, color-changing display after dark.
If you want a water feature that becomes the centerpiece of your pool at night, laminars are hard to beat.
5. Reverse Infinity Edge
Most infinity pools spill water over one edge toward a distant view. A reverse infinity edge flips that: the spillway faces you rather than the horizon, turning it into the visual focal point of the backyard.
When designed this way, the exposed wall and basin are finished with decorative tile or stone, creating what's essentially a living wall of water you can see from the patio, a dining area, or even from inside your home.
This is a custom feature that requires the right yard elevation and layout, but when it works, it's one of the most dramatic things you can add to a pool.
6. Cascades
Cascades (also called sheer descents) are one of the most popular water features on new pools, and it's easy to see why. A thin, even sheet of water flows over a raised section of pool wall, creating a sleek, shimmering curtain effect. In direct sunlight, the smooth style has an almost mirror-like quality.
They come in two main styles, a smooth sheet or a raindrop pattern, and a range of widths. The taller the wall they fall from, the more dramatic the result.
Cascades can be installed as a single wide feature or in a series across a longer bond beam. They're versatile, affordable, and suit almost any pool style.
7. Spouting Statue
A spouting statue adds personality to a pool in a way no other feature can. Figurines, animals, and classical urns can all be plumbed to send a curving stream of water into the pool. A dolphin spout, a lion's-head fountain, or a simple urn are common choices.
This is a more personal selection than most water features, which is part of the appeal. Your pool designer can plumb the feature once you've chosen the statue and its placement.
8. Rain Curtains
A rain curtain takes the cascade concept and scales it dramatically. Instead of water falling from a standard pool wall, it drops from a frame structure that's typically four to eight feet tall, producing a floor-to-ceiling waterfall effect right at the pool's edge.
The height means it's visible from across the yard and often from inside the home. The sound at that drop distance is genuinely different from smaller features, deeper and more enveloping. Add LED lighting and it becomes a nighttime showpiece.
This is one of the pricier specialty features, but it's also one of the most visually striking things you can add to a backyard pool.
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9. Scuppers and Spouts
Scuppers and spouts channel water through a shaped metal form before it exits into the pool. The variety of shapes (square, round, U-shaped, rectangular) and finishes (brass, copper, nickel, stainless steel, or concrete) means they can work within almost any design aesthetic.
Like cascades, they're installed on a raised bond beam, elevated spa, or landscape box. Scuppers can also attach to certain water bowls for a layered effect.
Spouts take a more focused approach, funneling water into tight, thin streams that are almost sculptural in appearance. Both are strong choices if you want a feature that looks intentional and design-forward.
10. Spa Spillways
If your pool includes an elevated spa, its spillway (the opening where water overflows into the pool) can serve as a beautiful water feature on its own. Spas raised 18 to 24 inches or more give you the most flexibility, and the greater the height, the more pronounced the sound and visual effect.
Placement matters: you want the spillway visible from where you actually spend time, whether that's a patio, a dining area, or a kitchen window. A well-positioned spa spillway becomes a natural focal point without requiring any extra footprint in the yard.
Spillway styles range from one wide opening to a series of smaller notched channels. For maximum drama, a weeping spa uses a stepped exterior wall so water cascades down multiple levels. For something more refined, a rimflow spa spills water over the entire spa perimeter.
Ready to Add a Water Feature to Your Pool?
Whether you're planning a new pool or thinking about upgrading an existing one, the right water feature changes the entire feel of a backyard. Blue Haven's designers can help you choose and customize the option that fits your style and budget.
