If we decipher the word aquarium literally, we get "artificial construction with water." The main purpose of aquariums is to keep fish, snails and other living things. Beautiful, unique products are a real highlight of the house. They perform a decorative and even accent role in design.
- Home Aquarium Features
- Types of aquariums
- Shape and size
- Aquariums built into furniture
- Partitions
- Aquarium in the wall
- Outdoor aquarium
- Corner aquarium
- Choosing a place for the aquarium
- Kitchen
- Living room
- Bedroom
- Children
- Bathroom
- Corridor
- Highlights and interior styles
Home Aquarium Features
In most aquariums that are installed in houses, apartments and offices, fish live, and some plants are bred. The original designer aquarium is fully involved in the design of the premises. Often the design is set for a more complete, harmonious look of the room.
Also, the aquarium performs several other functions:
- creates a special atmosphere of relaxation;
- helps to restore energy, relax and calm down;
- reduces the effects of stress;
- serves as an exciting hobby;
- helps to know the world around.
Types of aquariums
The aquarium can be freshwater and marine. It depends on what kind of water is in it, on the type of ecosystem. To equip a mini-pond with marine life, you will have to choose large containers, which is not always appropriate. Therefore, most often, aquariums for apartments and houses are made freshwater. If the river type of decoration is chosen, the reservoir is filled with green algae. For the marine type of design you need to pick up natural or artificial reefs, corals.
Shape and size
The most popular are the designs of square and rectangular shapes, which can be called universal. They are suitable for almost any interior. Their sizes are very diverse. You can make an aquarium with specific dimensions on request. Quite convenient are the triangular ponds, which are designed for installation in a corner.
Other types of aquariums in shape:
- trapezoidal - look original, set against a wall or in a corner;
- L-shaped - designed for zoning rooms;
- panoramic with concave or convex glass - visually increase the room, look very stylish;
- cylindrical - resemble a glass column, suitable for large rooms.
Aquariums built into furniture
Rectangular or square aquariums are easily integrated into cabinet furniture. Also, in some cases, asymmetric reservoirs made according to an individual sketch can be mounted. Most often, designs are inserted into tables, cabinets, racks, bar counters. They are frame or frameless.
An interesting solution is to embed the aquarium in a dining or coffee table. While eating or reading a book you can enjoy the underwater world. When buying a finished product, it is important to evaluate its reliability, because such reservoirs are heavy. It is better if they are additionally reinforced with metal.
to contents ↑Partitions
Unique designs in the form of flat partitions are able to divide the room in a non-standard way.They can be used for zoning open-plan rooms or replace part of a blank wall. Often glass containers are left without water, but sometimes populated with plants, sea or river animals. If desired, a storage system can be arranged under the product, which is ideal for small rooms.
Plants of red or other bright colors look very beautiful in partition aquariums, especially against the background of light wall decoration. If the filling of the reservoir is blue-green, then it will be successfully combined with the black and white design of the room. The aquarium partitions look great between the living room and dining room, kitchen and dining room, bedroom and living room.
to contents ↑Aquarium in the wall
If you build a pond into the wall, this will create a feeling of a “living picture” in the room, and will serve as an excellent decor. There are two varieties of such containers:
- One sided. They are located only on one side of the wall, that is, they exit into one of the rooms. The wall for them should be very strong: concrete, brick, block. GKL bases or profiles will not work, because they do not have sufficient strength. The upper and lower part of the “window” under the aquarium must be strengthened with metal corners.
- Bilateral. Allow you to admire the plants, fish and the underwater world of two rooms. The entire structure is finished with metal frames, mounting them around the perimeter of the aquarium. Above leave free access to water. The ideal option is to install a two-way model before the start of large-scale repair work.
Outdoor aquarium
This type of aquarium is very popular in home interiors. The pond can stand alone or be attached, located against the wall. It is best to choose a standard shape design: square or rectangular. Round and cylindrical outdoor aquariums can tire your eyes because they distort the space.
Some glass products are sold complete with a pedestal stand. It is convenient to use for storing feed, nets, pumps and other accessories. Also on sale you can find devices with metal legs that are mounted on the crossbars. They have different heights and lengths (usually no more than 1.5 meters). The design must be very reliable, because the mass of water in it sometimes exceeds 400-500 liters.
to contents ↑Corner aquarium
The product looks very original, gives an interesting overview of the water world. Usually such an aquarium does not take up too much space, is easy to care for, acts as a bright accent in the room due to originality. If necessary, he will also be able to solve the issue of zoning in the room.
Choosing a place for the aquarium
It is important that the size of the reservoir corresponds to the dimensions of the room in which it will be located. If the room is small, then a large aquarium is not suitable for it. You have to choose a mini-structure or product such as columns, partitions. It is important that the aquarium does not stand directly at the window: direct sunlight will harm the fish and can adversely affect the growth of plants.
The best place for capacity in the house is a quiet, calm corner far from the TV and other equipment that makes noise. Well, if there is an outlet nearby: in this case, you can connect the equipment without pulling extension cords. Immediately required to buy all the necessary accessories for the care of fish. It is also important to leave a little space at the aquarium for the convenience of its maintenance. Washing and other care should be regular, otherwise the fish may die, and an unpleasant smell will settle in the room.
to contents ↑Kitchen
The aquarium in the kitchen is an unusual and interesting solution. It will fill the room with light, the radiance of water and can become an alternative to the TV. Watching living organisms with food will improve your appetite and give you a good mood in the morning. In the kitchen, a pond can be used in the following ways:
- embed in a headset or niche;
- place in the cabinet, the lower part of the bar;
- cut into the refrigerator door;
- mount into the wall.
More unusual accommodation options are picture aquariums, kitchen islands or partitions between the kitchen and the wall. Such products should be narrow (up to 30 cm), but may have a large length.
to contents ↑Living room
Most often, aquariums are placed in the living room. In a small room it is advisable to install mini-ponds, placing them on a table, bedside table, shelf. They will take up a little space, but will become the accent of the room and allow you to admire the life of aquatic organisms. If the aquarium is built into the wall, it will not reduce the usable area in the living room at all, therefore it can be quite large in size.
Such design options look interesting:
- built-in coffee table, column;
- long but flat, located along the walls;
- hemispherical wall;
- angular with a pedestal stand.
to contents ↑If the living room is decorated in bright colors, a black aquarium will look beautiful in it. It looks original, especially if the inner content is bright, colorful.
Bedroom
If the bedroom has high humidity, it is not recommended to put a pond: it also contributes to the growth of this indicator. In addition, the backlight, the operation of the pump and other devices can cause a number of inconveniences during sleep, which should be considered in advance.
The most suitable for the bedroom will be a “dry aquarium”: a vessel with sand, pebbles, beautiful pebbles at the bottom. Corals, starfish, shells, and artificial plants are placed in it. Maintenance of such structures is very simple, because they do not have water. If you decide to install a regular body of water, you should adhere to such criteria:
- conciseness of form;
- not too bright filling;
- preference for light green and blue colors;
- moderate backlight power.
Children
Of course, it will be very interesting for the child to observe the fish and study the underwater world. But children are usually careless and can drop or break the glass bowl. Therefore, it is better to put classic aquariums in the room of already grown up guys who will handle them carefully.
For kids, it is worth considering all safety measures:
- use only acrylic containers that cannot break;
- install compact products;
- embed aquariums in a wall, niche;
- securely fasten the structure.
Bathroom
In the bathroom and the bath, aquariums are usually built into the recesses in the walls, the recesses in the partitions. Interesting decorative elements will be useful for the internal filling of the aquarium: corals, pebbles. The backlight should be soft, giving a diffused light, which adjusts to relaxation.
Corridor
Most often in the hallway, hall, corridor there are no sources of natural light. When arranging the aquarium, you will have to organize a powerful backlight that will simulate the change of day and night. Otherwise, aquatic organisms will not be able to develop normally and will not live long. A good option is to install a small aquarium far from the front door. You can also embed the structure in a cabinet, cabinet, niche or hang it on the wall in the form of a picture.
Highlights and interior styles
In addition to these options, there are non-standard, but labor-intensive solutions for the introduction of an artificial reservoir in the interior of the apartment. For example, a glass sink in which fish live inside is unusual in a kitchen. In the living room, you can combine the aquarium with a decorative fireplace, as a result of which flashes of flame will play beautifully on the water. Other unusual uses for aquariums:
- pond-table rectangular or round;
- tank-aquarium in the form of an arch at the head of the bed;
- an aquarium combined with a flower pot;
- container vase with fish;
- lamp combined with a pond;
- an aquarium under the stairs;
- an aquarium built into the toilet bowl.
Design ponds can even be real islands, in the center of which there is a glass container of an unusual shape. When selecting a product, it is important to consider the general style.
For example, for high-tech they choose clear, geometric shapes that are perfect for decoration and technology. In the loft, constructions with simple content, having a simple form, are appropriate.
For classics, aquariums are decorated with paintings, carvings, framed with baguettes and even stucco molding. For example, round containers are mounted on sculptural stands or handmade wooden cabinets. As for the backlight, it also depends on the style of the room:
- soft, dim light is suitable for classics, provence, country;
- bright, shining light is ideal for modern, hi-tech.
The aquarium in the house is a separate ecosystem that carries with it a piece of nature. It will serve as an excellent decoration of the interior, fashionable and stylish detail of any home.
