The sound of a water fountain is a great stress-reliever. The mere sight of water elevates mood instantaneously in the vast majority of us. Yet, very few of us live on the water, or have a fountain either outside or within our homes. For most of us, a large indoor or outdoor residential fountain just isn’t practical. But there is a carefree way to infuse the calming sound of a fountain into your home with a little bit of ingenuity.
Believe it or not, I am about to recommend to you that you take a 9″ deep tuperware container or even a small bucket, along with a fountain pump, and transform it into an ‘auditory fountain’ to create a touch of resort/spa-like ambience. You are going to hide the fountain container from view and just go for the ’sound’. All you need is a mini- tabletop small fountain pump (available at any pet store that sells aquarium fish), a container and an electrical timer. Fill the container with just enough water to cover the small pump’s up-spout and plug the cord into a timer switch. You can set the timer so that the pump will go on when you rise in the morning for your first cup of coffee, and then set it for your return home from work.
When you hear the water while working at home, relaxing with a good book, or enjoying the company of friends and family, the sound will be an added source of tranquility. If you have traffic noise where you live, a fountain noise is a clever way to reduce the incessant drone of cars and trucks.
Of course, you may still want a visual fountain, too. Small slate tabletop fountains can be purchased at most home center stores (Lowes, Home Depot), just be sure to buy one with an ample water basin. Most of the inventory are attractive enough to display but tend to be barely audible, which is why it’s a good idea to have a hidden container pump nearby.
An advantage to the pump and container fountain is that you can tweak the tone and volume depending on the height and material of the container, the depth of the water and by simply rotating the small pump’s water pressure dial. It’s a small price to pay for a whole lot of ambience. But be warned though, your household pets might sleep a bit more from the fountain’s calming effect – mine do.