For centuries, water has been a source of fascination and inspiration to people of all cultures, making it a common feature of design world-wide. This is not surprising since it introduces a magical, sometimes mystical element that is cleansing, cooling and restful. It can also captivate the senses, creating an air of excitement and adding a soothing or splashing sound

In the early centuries of Ancient Greece and Rome water features were used more to decorate outdoor courtyards and plush gardens. Only the wealthiest people with grand homes would have such exotic displays of water.

More and more homes have extended their gardens into the house to include water features as part of the decorating. There is also a trend of making water features expressly for indoor use to bring in the tranquility of calming water that has for centuries been used outdoors. Fountains have also become more popular in decorating malls and office complexes, and offer a sense of peacefulness in an otherwise hectic environment.