How to Make an Interior Waterfall

Falling water has a naturally soothing effect on the psyche.

An indoor waterfall adds a refreshing quality of peace and relaxation to your home's interior, as well as recharging the oxygen levels in the air and benefiting your indoor plants. Waterfall design can be modern or rustic. An indoor waterfall can be large enough to take up an entire wall, or small enough to place on an end table. The delicate mix of art and engineering required to successfully build a watertight waterfall inside your home is well worth the effort. At the end of a long day, you can come home to the soothing sound of water flowing over rock.

Things You'll Need

• Top basin
• Bottom basin
• Submersible pump
• Sealant
• Electric and plumbing hookups
• Water purification system
• Automatic float

Instructions

1. Decide on how much space you can devote to your indoor waterfall. Also decide whether your look will be contemporary, classic or rustic, and how much money you want to spend on your waterfall.

2. 

   Unless you are skilled in plumbing and electrical installation, leave this step to the pros.

   Install a 1/2-inch cold water supply line, and electricity for a primary pump, which should be controlled by a switch near the waterfall, along with two more GCFI outlets for the water purification system. Unless you're competent in these specialties and can meet your local building codes, leave these steps to a professional.

3. Install the lower catch basin. If the basin will be covered, build a surround at this point. Position the submersible pump and attach an access grille over the top of the basin. Use sealant to plug any openings and to seal the hole around the tubing that runs to the top basin.

4. Attach the top basin to the surface of the wall. If the top basin will be covered, build a surround.

5. 

   Barrier walls move the water from the top basin to the bottom.

   Attach the barrier wall, called a weir, to the two basins. Run the tubing from the pump to the top basin, hiding it as you go.

6. Install an automatic float to ensure that water won't overflow into the room.

7. Add rocks or pebbles to make your waterfall look authentic, and glue them down with sealant.

Tips & Warnings

• Never use hard water in your waterfall. Install a water softening system or a reverse osmosis water purifier.

• Add submersible lights for greater enjoyment.

References

• Origin Falls: How To Build An Indoor Waterfall
• Calming Waterfalls: How to Build An Indoor Waterfall