What Are Rain Chains And Why Homeowners Are Choosing Them?

During any home improvement project, homeowners, builders, and designers have to walk the line between function and beauty. Odds are, you’re probably more excited about the beauty aspect of your project—the furnishings, decor, and other pieces that uplift a house into a home. Still, you can’t forget about the practical needs of a house, even if they’re not typically as glamorous a task. 

One essential piece of the functional home puzzle is preparing your exterior to brave the elements. Whether you live in a wet place or a dry one, rain will occur at some frequency and your home needs to be able to handle it. Gutters are non-negotiable to catch rain and siphon the water off your roof. Usually, the path from the gutters to the ground is connected by a downspout, but more and more, custom home builder Mary Hatcliff is seeing homeowners choose an alternative to purely-practical downspouts. And, this alternative is as beautiful as it is functional—hitting exactly the home design sweet spot. Introducing: rain chains.

What Are Rain Chains?

“Rain chains are an alternative to a gutter downspout,” Hatcliff explains. “So, where you would normally have the downspout going down to ground, you would replace it with a chain.”

The chain, she says, is exactly what it sounds like—a chain—often with bowls or cups placed evenly down the chain to help navigate water flow. The bottom of the chain then connects to a grate with a pipe beneath to further transport the water away from the house. If you are interested in saving rainwater, you may also attach a rain barrel or basin to the end of the chain that will double as a bird bath. However, Hatcliff advises against this option if you live somewhere with more rain where the basin would flood in no time at all.

Rain chains are a lovely design idea hailing from Japan, but according to our expert, they are becoming increasingly popular across the South. They can be found at larger home improvement stores like The Home Depot, or specialty retailers like Hatfcliff’s favorite, rainchains.com. 

The Pros And Cons Of Rain Chains

In addition to managing rain, ornamental rain chains offer aesthetic appeal. At worst, boring old downspouts can be an eye-sore and at best, they’re a neutral part of the exterior. Rain chains on the other hand, add to the appearance of the house. As water flows from the gutters through the rain chain, it will create a lovely waterfall effect, complete with the spa-like sound of trickling water.

The only downside of rain chains, Hatcliff says, is the potential for splattering during particularly heavy rain storms. As such, she recommends taking the potential for splashing into consideration when choosing where to place a rain chain. Hang it away from any doors, she advises. Instead, install a rain chain at the end of a long porch or in a farther corner of the house.

When buildingour 2023 Idea House, Hatcliff chose to use rain chains to enhance the home’s elegance and beauty. Unlike a downspout, a rain chain adds charm to the house whether or not it's raining.

“They're just beautiful," Hatcliff says. "A rain chain is like jewelry for your house—like a dangly earring.”