Water filters protect you and your family from waterborne contaminants, but they aren’t exactly beautiful to look at. With some advance planning and creative thinking, though, you can integrate healthier water into your home without ruining the look of your living space. The right approach lets you install water filters in an unobtrusive, or even attractive way.
Why Should You Integrate Filtration Systems?
Water is necessary for life, but it is also a potent solvent, with the power to dissolve more substances than any other solvent on the planet. Water picks up trace amounts of nearly everything it comes into contact with, including a huge variety of hazardous materials and contaminants. And while municipal water treatment plants in the United States generally do a good job of making water safe to drink, things still go wrong, and having some extra filtration at home is an inexpensive way to gain some protection and peace of mind.
The good news is that a wide variety of sleek systems are available today. You won’t have to sacrifice a modern aesthetic in order to achieve healthier water.
Types of Filtration Systems Available
The first step is figuring out what type of water filter system best addresses your needs. Any number of contaminants might be affecting your water, and different types of water filters are designed to solve different problems. If you have extremely hard water, consider a water softener or descaler. If you are on well water and concerned about coliform bacteria or cysts, an ultraviolet filter may be the best option.
Determine your water filtration needs first, and that will give you a range of options to choose from. There’s no point in considering style before substance. Once you have chosen the system that will meet your needs, you can then focus on selecting the most visually appealing version.
Tips to Incorporate Filtration Systems into Home Décor
Once you’ve determined your water filtration needs and chosen the best type of system to address them, you can start considering how to fit it into your home. Keep in mind that fancier systems will likely cost more, but won’t necessarily perform better. Aesthetics count too, so if you’re going for the best look you can achieve, consider the following tips.
Choose Filtration Systems with Sleek Designs
Some filtration companies are still stuck in the 1970s, offering the same bulky hardware and unappealing kitchen fixtures we grew up seeing in our parents’ houses. Others have stepped into the 21st century and updated the tired look of water softeners, under-sink units, and air gap faucets. Look for companies with modern designs, such as cabinet-style water softeners and countertop RO units.
Integrate Them into Existing Furniture
If you are a clever DIY-er, you can find plenty of ways to work filter elements into your existing kitchen features and furniture. Much can be hidden under the sink, or in custom areas behind garbage disposals or trash cans. If you plan ahead and work with a contractor, you can set up any water filtration system in a hidden, organic way, making it no more visible than the normal pipes transporting your family’s water.
Hide Filters Within Decorative Elements
If you are installing a whole-house system or water softener, you will likely be placing it in your basement, where the water main comes into the house. These spaces are usually out-of-the-way to begin with, but if yours is more open, you could install cabinetry around the systems or put in shelving to make use of the surrounding space as storage.
For an under-sink system, you can hide most of the components away with your garbage can, cleaning supplies, and disposal machine, but there will need to be at least one visible component: the faucet. Choose a faucet that complements your existing kitchen features. If drilling a second hole for a new faucet isn’t an option, then you might consider a system that can deliver water directly to your existing tap, such as an in-line filter, or a tankless reverse osmosis system with a booster pump.
Opt for Built-in Filtration Systems
Whenever possible, make use of existing filtration systems or equipment. It is always easier to build upon existing structures and plumbing lines, so tailor your approach to fit the situation you are in. If you already have a water softener, for instance, then consider what system might best supplement it at your point of use. Since softeners take care of water hardness, but leave salt in its place, many people like adding on a reverse osmosis system under the kitchen sink, to reduce TDS, including the added salt content. Work with the existing systems within your home or complex to achieve the best results.
Coordinate Filter Colors with Room Aesthetics
Take care to match your water filtration system, along with any peripherals such as tanks, hoses, and faucets, as closely as possible to your existing color scheme. Sometimes options are limited, so be flexible and try to pick a system with muted colors that doesn’t stand out. Black and white go with everything, and it’s easier to redecorate around a black or white appliance than a hot pink or neon blue one. Wild colors can be fun, but ask yourself if you will still enjoy looking at it six months down the road.
Maintenance and Care
Whatever system you go with, it won’t complement your space well if you don’t care for it properly. As with any appliance, water filtration systems need regular maintenance: cleaning, dusting, replacing the filter cartridges, and keeping an eye on your water pressure to name a few. Water quality differs dramatically from region to region, sometimes even within the same county or city. Get to know what is in your water, and the problems it causes, and address those. A filtration system with rust or limescale stains won’t beautify your space, so keep ahead of problematic elements by knowing what to look out for.
The Bottom Line
Function is more important than looks when it comes to water filtration, so go with the system that will address the problems with your water. That said, there’s no reason you can’t aim for the best of both worlds. With the wide variety of sleek, modern water filtration systems on the market, you won’t be short on options. Start by getting to know your water, then plan your system around your filtration needs and your aesthetic goals.
