35 Small Pond Ideas for Your Backyard

by Tory Jon | Last Updated: January 10, 2024

Small Pond Ideas With Waterfall

Adding a water feature like a waterfall to a small pond is one of the best ways to create a more dramatic effect, fill the area with ambient noise, and add vital oxygen to the pond’s water to help keep it clean and clear.

Here are some beautiful small pond waterfall ideas to help create the perfect water feature for your backyard pond.

*Click each image to enlarge it.

Small Koi Pond Ideas

A pond doesn’t have to be huge to provide a suitable environment for koi fish. A small koi pond can be just as stunning as its larger counterpart.

With that said, there are some important considerations when designing a small koi pond. For example, how many fish do you plan to add to the pond, do you plan to overwinter the fish in a cold climate, are there predator concerns in your area, and so on.

While the small koi pond ideas below are great for inspiration, it’s important to keep the health of your fish in mind during the design process.

Recommended reading:

• What Is A Koi Pond? (And What You Need To Know Before Starting One)

• How Deep Should a Koi Pond Be?

Small Raised Garden Pond Ideas

Raised ponds, sometimes called above-ground ponds, are versatile in that they can typically be placed in locations where an in-ground pond may be difficult or impossible to put due to local regulations, etc.

Use these small raised garden pond ideas for inspiration to create the perfect pond for your unique space.

Small Container Pond Ideas

Small container ponds are a great way to enjoy the benefits of having a pond, with far fewer maintenance hassles and costs.

Plus, a mini pond in a pot or container has the advantage of being portable. Don't like where it is? Pick it up and move it!

Small Fountain Pond Ideas

Similar to a pond with a waterfall, adding a fountain to a pond is a great way to add movement and sound to your pond and add rich oxygen to the water.

Fountains come in various shapes, sizes, and types - from small bubblers to decorative pond spitters to full-fledged fountains!

Small Pond Landscaping Ideas

A great way to really add some dramatic effect and flair to an otherwise simple small pond is with a creative landscape. Landscaping around a small pond with stones, gravel, plants, etc., is really what sets your pond apart from the rest. The size of the pond is a distant second to landscaping when it comes to its aesthetic appeal.

Small Pond Lighting Ideas

What better way to show off your pond than to highlight it with a little (or a lot of) pond lighting!

Whether you submerge the pond lights or use them to highlight the pond’s surface and landscaping, proper lighting can turn even the simplest pond into a magical experience.

Small Rectangle Pond Ideas

As the modern zen look has quickly gained popularity in recent years, so have more modern, rectangle-shaped ponds.

Here are a few small rectangle pond ideas to help inspire your next pond design.

Need more pond design inspiration? Check out these 48 cool backyard pond ideas to get those creative juices flowing!