Water always finds a way – to add a magical ingredient in home designs. You don’t always need a large outdoor garden to enjoy this element – water features for small spaces can be just as gorgeous. We select examples of water features used in the most creative of ways, ranging from lap-pool sized ponds to fountains to corner niches. Here's look at spaces that are made unforgettable because of the inclusion of a water body.

If space and budget allow, who wouldn’t want a beautiful little formal pond like this. The calming greens, juxtaposed with the vibrant blue of the wall, create an ideal setting for this water body. Cherry on the cake? The floating lotus leaves with a pop of pink. Last but not least, the bordering ledge – for lounging with a book, soaking up the sun.

In this inward looking bungalow, a narrow channel of water runs along the periphery at one side of an indoor courtyard-style space.The home brings together covered and open spaces in clever ways and the deck extends over the water pool, complete with a built-in bench. The design ensures the greens and the blue are visible from most parts of the home.

You don’t need a large garden to bring in a water feature. A water-spout fountain, very Mediterranean in its aesthetic, is the star of this corner outdoors, embellished with some tasteful accessories. Water pouring from an ornate spout in a stone wall into a tall clay pot, overflowing onto a pebbled base, surrounded by plants – what a lovely story it tells.

This is how one should make an entrance. The main door opens into a waiting area that greets you with an unobstructed view of the gently lit water pond as well as the greens beyond. The circular water fountain adds to the calming ambience with the soothing sound of flowing water.

Here is an example of how courtyards and in-between spaces can be further enhanced and designed into accent spaces. The pool lined with mosaic tiles gives a jolt of turquoise to the neutral space. The round skylight above shines a natural spotlight on the copper lotus installation.

In this bungalow, a Shivaling - inspired water fountain sits atop a turquoise two-step pool. Surrounded by sturdy red stone tiles at the borders, this blue-green waterscape reveals a hint of the delicate motifs on the tiles underwater.

Here is an even more compact water feature. One can design the course of the water below according to the space available. This overflowing pebbled vase, with its measured sound from the dropping water, can be a great addition to a Zen garden.