Water filters can help to protect you and your family against waterborne contaminants, but they aren’t exactly beautiful to look at. In this article, we’ll consider the aesthetics of water filtration, and how you can integrate healthier water into your home without ruining the look of your living space. With some advance planning, or some creative thinking, you can install your water filters in an unobtrusive, or even attractive way.
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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.
Moreover, with a wide variety of sleek systems available today, you won’t have to sacrifice a modern aesthetic in order to achieve healthier water.
Types of Filtration Systems Available
The first thing to do is determine what type of water filter system will best address your needs. Any number of contaminants might be plaguing your water, and different types of water filters are geared towards solving different problems. If you have extremely hard water, consider a water softener or descaler. If you are on well water, and are concerned about coliform bacteria or cysts, an ultraviolet filter may be the best option, and so on. 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, i.e., getting the actual filtration work done. Once you have chosen the system that will meet your needs, then you can focus on choosing the most beautiful version.
Tips to Incorporate Filtration Systems into Home Décor
Once you’ve determined your water filtration needs, and chosen the best type of system available to address them, you can start considering how to fit it into your home. Keep in mind that fancier systems will likely be more expensive, but not necessarily more effective. But aesthetic count too, so if you’re going for the best look you can, then consider the following tips.
Choose filtration systems with sleek designs
Some filtration companies are still stuck in the 1970s, with the same bulky hardware and unappealing kitchen fixtures that we grew up seeing in our parents’ houses. But others have stepped into the 21st century, and updated the tired look of water softeners, undersink 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 a lot of ways to filter elements into your existing kitchen features and furniture. Much can be hidden under the sink, or in custom areas hidden 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 and organic way, such that it is 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, then you will likely be installing it in your basement, where the water main comes into the house. These spaces are usually more 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 utilize 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
In line with the above tip, take care to match your water filtration system, as well as 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 it is a hot pink or neon blue one. It can be fun to go with wild colors, 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. However, there’s no reason you can’t aim for the best of both worlds, and 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.
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Whether she is researching the latest trends in home decor, life-changing destination getaways, or the best way to maintain your finances, Dewey takes pride in leaving no stone unturned. She is passionate about distilling and delivering high-quality information that you can use to upgrade your life.
