Japandi fountain: a calm, sturdy 2-size water feature

The Japandi fountain is a printed housing that turns a cheap solar floating fountain into something you would actually want sitting on your terrace table. The idea is simple: most solar fountains look like plastic toys floating in a bowl, so Sektor 7 Studios designed a clean outer shell around one that hides the mechanics and gives the whole thing a calmer, more finished appearance.

It comes in two sizes, so you can match it to whatever solar fountain you already own or plan to buy, including the Action solar fountain with LED and battery that is sold locally for around 6.95€. A centering edge on the bottom holds the fountain in place, and there is room underneath for rubber studs if you want to keep it from sliding on a table or ledge.

What does the Japandi fountain look like once it’s placed

The design leans on a ribbed outer surface paired with a plain round shape. That combination is what gives it the architectural look the studio is going for: enough texture to catch light and shadow, but no ornamentation that would compete with the water itself. It reads as minimal rather than plain, and the round profile means it sits comfortably indoors on a plant table or outdoors on a balcony rail without looking out of place in either setting.

Because the shape is intentionally simple, the Japandi fountain doesn’t try to be a centerpiece on its own. It is meant to disappear a little, letting the moving water and the light on the surface do the work. That is very much the Japandi idea behind it: calm materials, quiet geometry, nothing shouting for attention.

Getting the foam insert to fit

Most solar floating fountains have a foam base underneath the motor, and that foam is usually cut for a generic bowl, not for this design. A cutting template is included specifically so you can trim the foam to the inner size of the printed housing. That keeps the fountain centered instead of drifting to one side, which matters for how clean the final look ends up being once it’s floating in water.

The solar fountain itself is not part of the files. You supply that separately, whether it is the Action unit with LED and battery or one of the other solar fountains with or without battery that have been tested and confirmed to work in this housing.

Should you seal it before using it with water?

If you plan to keep the Japandi fountain filled and running regularly, sealing the print is worth doing. Sektor 7 Studios used DIAMANT Polymer dichtol AM Hydro for water resistance and dichtol AM UV-Protection for extra protection against sun exposure, which matters if the piece lives outdoors. Sealing is optional, but it’s the difference between a print that survives occasional use and one you can leave filled with water on a sunny balcony all season.

For material choice, PETG is recommended, particularly for anything staying outdoors long-term where temperature swings and UV exposure are a factor.

Where the two sizes come in

Having two sizes isn’t just a nice extra, it’s what makes the Japandi fountain workable across different solar fountain models. Solar floating fountains vary a fair bit in diameter, and a housing built for one size only would leave gaps or a loose fit for anything else. Picking the size that matches your specific fountain is the first real decision to make before printing, and it is worth checking your fountain’s dimensions against both options rather than guessing.

A note on assembly

The build itself is straightforward: print the main body and the bottom plate, add rubber studs if you want extra grip, trim the foam with the template, drop the solar fountain into the opening, fill with water, and set it in direct sunlight. Nothing about the process asks for glue or fasteners, which keeps the whole project approachable for a first attempt.

The files are free to download for personal use across Makerworld, Thangs, and Patreon, with commercial use requiring a Sektor 7 Studios membership. For anyone with a plant corner that needs a bit more calm, or a terrace table that could use the sound of moving water, this is a small, quick print that changes how a cheap solar fountain actually looks once it’s running.