Decorative Hose Reels
Buy the best decorative hose reels selected and recommended by interior designers. By Tara Gosselin.
If you like to have a quality hose, but are afraid of it getting damaged by the pounding sun, or by a dog who loves to chew things, then you need a hose reel. And for your home, we offer a line of decorative hose reels that will hide your hose, as well as accent your exterior. Now, have that hose for a while, and enjoy the aesthetic addition to your home.
Decorative Hose Reels
Buying Guide
Tara Gosselin
Interior Design Expert
Tara is a San Antonio-based award-winning landscape architect, writer and educator, passionate about eco-friendly solutions and growing her own food. She knows all it takes to help you create a sustainable backyard retreat that combines blissful charm with a modern take on landscaping.
There are different types of decorative hose reels:
- Stationary hose reels are the most basic type and particularly practical if you have a fairly small garden where you can reach every spot without the need to move your hose reel around
- Mobile or portable hose reels are a handier and more flexible choice in larger gardens: thanks to their wheels or casters, you can push them around to reach any area
- Hideaway hose reels are the most space-saving option in the smallest settings, and they can either be wall-mounted or freestanding, usually featuring a box design
- Hose reel carts are bigger table-style models including shelves or compartments: you can use them to store water nozzles and additional accessories that might come in handy if you take your gardening very seriously
Decorative hose reels may look pretty, but they’re also subject to universal standards. One of these standards is actually how much hose they can hold, which is based on universal hose lengths. Your decorative hose reel will likely have the capacity to hold anywhere between 100-600 meters of hose, depending on what size you get. A small, decorative hose reel will hold between 75-150 meters, whereas the largest size will hold closer to 600 meters at a maximum. However, even a small reel should be more than enough to hold the hose you need: Generally speaking, garden hoses come in 15-100 meter lengths
To find the right type of decorative hose reel for you, consider the size of your garden, whether or not you’ll need to move the reel around for the hose to reach specific spots, and whether you’ve got additional bits and bobs to store next to it.
A good garden hose can make all the difference when doing those outside chores. But, if you have a really long hose, moving the entire length from front yard to backyard, then into the garage for storage, can be a tremendously tedious and exhausting process.
Having a quality garden hose reel can save you a lot of hassle, and back strain, and keep your hose neat and tidy, storing it out of the way. No more dread thinking about dragging it all over the place when you have multiple tasks on that "honey-do" list. Just reel it in, and/or cart it off. Easy peasy.
For no other reason than efficient storage, or easy transport of your hose from point A to point B. But there are other factors, as well:
For instance, good quality garden hoses aren't cheap. If it gets left in the sun, eventually, it will deteriorate. With a garden hose reel, you can collect the hose on the spool and store it inside, keeping your investment pristine.
Another good reason is the unsightly pile. Hoses are great to have, but once their use for the chore is finished, the resulting cluster of its length can be an eyesore. Finishing your task, spooling it into the garden hose reel, and storing it for the next task, keeps your yard tidy.
Also, it prevents a trip hazard, or mowing catastrophe. Excess lengths of hose lying about can become a problem when doing heavy landscaping or playing outdoors with the kids. Keeping the unnecessary lengths of hose spooled, keeps everyone safer and less likely to have a bad situation arise.
Most are metal or heavy plastic. The metal reels are most often aluminum, with the heavier duty models being made from steel.
The three basic options for garden hose reels are:
- Wall-mounted: A spool mounted to an exterior wall, near a faucet. Usually set at two to three feet above the ground. As these are mounted, they do not travel from chore to chore. It may be the right choice if you don't have a big lawn area and space will not be an issue. It is a good idea to have multiple wall-mounted reels if you intend to do chores a large distance from each other. Can come in hand-powered spool, or spring-retracting spool models.
- Cart-mounted: The spool is set on a frame with wheels for easy hose relocation. It comes in handy when your rolled hose is too heavy to carry around. Only available with hand-crank spool.
- Hose cabinet: Essentially an enclosed box that sits on the ground, the hose is hidden within when not in use. Respooling can be done by hand, with a spring-powered return, or an automatic-return option. A good marriage of form and functionality. Some cabinets can be beautifully decorative.
Most garden hose reels have a hand crank to spool in the hose when done with use. Some have a hose guide that helps keep the hose from tangling, either hand powered or gear powered depending on the unit.
Another simple and efficient option is self-winding and auto-winding garden hose reels. For a quick way to spool a lot of hose in a short time, this is the right garden hose reel choice for you. Especially if you have back issues, where bending over to hand-crank is a problem.
Self-retracting reels use a spring built into the reel mechanism. The spring tightens as the hose is unspooled from the reel. A quick tug, and the reel retracts the hose, using the spring tension. A locking mechanism keeps the hose from spooling back into the reel until you are ready. These are also known as spring-winding.
Auto-winding reels are terrific if bending over is a problem. They come in two varieties: water pressure driven and motor driven.
Water pressure driven hose retractors use a water piston to force excess water out of the hose, powering the retractor mechanism. Just flip a switch, and it purges the water, and the hose disappears
Motor driven has a rechargeable battery within that powers a motor, which winds the hose in with a switch or foot pedal.
A sturdy, often ornamental option in garden hose reels, a hose cabinet is a tremendous decision, especially if you live in a hot, dry area. The cool darkness within is the perfect protection for your hose from those destructive sun rays.
Hose cabinets are often cumbersome, so most people put it in one place, near a faucet, and only use the hose within a specific area. Placing a couple hose cabinets at key points within proximity of your outdoor needs is a worthwhile idea.
It can be constructed of many materials, and be ornate for decorative landscaping desires. Some options are:
- Plastic: Simply a box, white and plain or lattice. This will work if you wish to set something decorative on top of it, as the lid is flat and level. Mostly used for functionality and less for landscaping aesthetics.
- Resin: Like the plastic option, resin is light and durable, but unlike plastic, it is more malleable in fabrication, so it can be molded into many decorative options and colors. For instance, you can have a resin hose cabinet that looks just like wicker, wrought iron or a planter box.
- Wrought Iron: Ornate with swirls and spear points, this cabinet speaks to a classic, regal look, pairing well with a lovely topiary arrangement, or if sculptures or fountains are an aesthetic choice in your yard.
- Steel: These are versatile, and can go with many landscaping options. With lots of interesting shapes, a steel cabinet will enhance any botanical display.