The 10 Best Wind Chimes
Special Honors
Harmonious Three Steps Wind Chime Made in Bali’s Trisna Dewi, this set consists of aluminum pipes suspended beneath rods of bamboo. The three sturdy tiers are linked together with natural agel grass cord. It features a length of 12 inches and comes in a colorful gift package. novica.com
Recycled Bottle Season Chimes These soothing chimes are made from the top halves of wine bottles, and each of the four represents a season of the year. They’re painted by hand in New Hampshire by artist Irina Amalia Flaisher, who uses hammered aluminum for the clappers. The set includes two shades of blue, yellow, and orange. uncommongoods.com
Madelena Celestial Wind Chime This bright hanging sun features matching rectangles in red, orange, and yellow, along with shiny metallic balls and a bell at the bottom. Its charming distressed look will add a whimsical, relaxing feel to any yard. It includes the hook and a durable metal chain, and measures almost 12 inches in length. wayfair.com
Editor's Notes
July 09, 2020:
Like garden lights or tiki torches, a set of wind chimes can instantly add a relaxing, whimsical ambience to any backyard atmosphere. Today we added in the Blue Handworks Beach Glass, which is made of more than two dozen blue and green rectangular glass pieces hanging from driftwood. Whether you live near the seashore or not, it evokes a laid-back feel around your yard or front porch. Its protective powder coating keeps it looking nice over time, and its gentle, pleasant sound makes it relaxing to sit outside and enjoy a breezy summer day. It replaces the Santa Fe model by the same manufacturer, the colors of which are not true to the photos.
We also added in the Woodstock Chimes Aloha, which is made of bamboo and boasts a striking plum finish. Its appearance, combined with the soft tones, are sure to have you feeling calm and relaxed as you sit and take them in. It’s created by Grammy-winning musician Garry Kvistad, who has been designing wind chimes since 1979. Other designs by Kvistad featured on our list include the Woodstock Chimes Pachelbel Canon and the Woodstock Chimes of Pluto, both of which produce melodious notes and are backed by a lifetime tuning guarantee.
In this update we kept the Bellaa Urban Trends Capiz high on the list, as it’s a budget-friendly choice that’s great for brightening up any indoor or outdoor space, even on the gloomiest of days. It’s available in a bright rainbow design, as well as pastels, turquoise, peacock blue, sea blue, and more. If you’re seeking an elegant design that’s not over the top, look to the evergreen-colored Pixpri Elegant, which sounds as calming as it looks. It features a durable aluminum construction and comes with an S-hook that allows you to hang it easily from a roof overhang or a tree.
April 17, 2019:
We tidied up this list by updating it with the most sought after selections and replacing a few previous models due to availability concerns. We prioritized sound, aesthetic appeal, durability, quality materials and workmanship, and price for this ranking, placing the Woodstock Pachelbel Canon at the top spot thanks to its impressive dedication to each category and reasonable cost. The Bellaa Urban Trends Capiz is a reliable, colorful choice for those on a budget, while the Cohasset Plain Antique's bamboo chimes emits restful notes coupled with an Asian-inspired design. Those with a more elaborate sense of style will appreciate the Ylyycc Brassiness Windbell. The Image Windlights Solar Powered couples the gentle tinkling of glass with colorful LED lights, so users can enjoy a multi-sensory experience.
How Do I Choose The Right Wind Chimes For Me?
The bigger the chime, the more you'll need to give some thought to where - and how - you plan on positioning it.
When it comes to wind chimes, sound is what really sets one model apart from another. If you live in a wooded area, for example, you might prefer the sound of bamboo or wooden chimes. If you live in the city, perhaps a set of brass or metal chimes might make more sense. Whatever the case, you'll want to get some idea of how a specific set of chimes might sound. One simple way to achieve that is by doing a video search on the internet based on the type - or even the model - of wind chime in which you're interested.
The bigger the chime, the more you'll need to give some thought to where - and how - you plan on positioning it. Any average set of wind chimes should weigh somewhere between 10 oz. and 2 lbs., which means that you can suspend it from a metal hook. There are certain larger chimes (i.e., 5-12 lbs.), however, that may require the strength of an individual arbor, or a stabilized rail.
Finally, you may want to consider how a set of wind chimes might respond to your local climate. Glass chimes could get cracked by a heavy gale, for instance. Aluminum, bamboo, and wooden chimes may suffer weathering if they're subject to extreme rain, or snow, or heat. Metal, steel, and brass chimes tend to weigh more, but they're extremely durable. Your biggest challenge with those chimes might be unclogging the tubes and keeping them clean.
Several Little-Known Uses For a Wind Chime
A lot of people tend to view wind chimes as a decoration - something ornamental to be placed along a porch, providing soothing noise and ambiance. Yet in reality there are a variety of uses for any set of wind chimes, and many of these uses will allow a person to repurpose a set of wind chimes the whole year round.
Yet in reality there are a variety of uses for any set of wind chimes, and many of these uses will allow a person to repurpose a set of wind chimes the whole year round.
For centuries, Chinese Taoists have used wind chimes to encourage a sense of harmony, inner-calm, and balance. Modern-day masseuses and acupuncturists use wind chimes to achieve a similar goal.
Certain business owners are known to dangle a set of wind chimes directly above the front door of a shop, thereby enabling them to know whenever a customer has entered the store. Some homeowners are known to hang a set of wind chimes along the inside of a gate, thereby enabling them to know whenever anybody is attempting to gain entry into the yard.
Anyone with central air can hang a set of wind chimes directly over a vent so that they'll know whenever the AC or the heat is on. Anyone with a cat can use a set of wind chimes as a toy (a lot of cats love to paw and listen to the sound). According to research, any parent with a toddler can use a set of wind chimes to help the child develop cognitive listening skills. Wind chimes are even considered to be a percussion instrument, which could come in handy if you're in a band, or you're simply into making tunes.
A Brief History of The Wind Chime
Wind chimes were created by the Ancient Romans, who referred to these chimes as tintinnabulum (i.e., a collection of bells). Tintinnabulum were generally comprised of several tea-cup-sized bells which were hung from a larger bronze sculpture. The Romans believed that the breeze running through these bells would help them ward off evil spirits. As such, they tended to place these sculptures in outdoor gardens and over porticos.
Of course, wind chimes are primarily used for ornamental purposes.
The Chinese improved upon the wind chime during the 10th century B.C.E. Chinese artisans experimented with thinner metals to create a more harmonious sound. As the sound of wind chimes became more soothing, these instruments went from being hung in gardens to being used during religious ceremonies. Wind chimes became an integral part of feng shui, a Chinese philosophy that explored each human's spirituality in relation to the cosmos and the earth.
The Japanese introduced the idea of glass chimes, and this, in turn, led to an even greater emphasis on the soothing quality of a wind chime's noise. Eastern cultures were the first to start experimenting with wind chimes as a percussion instrument. To this day, wind chimes continue to be featured in everything from orchestral music to progressive rock n' roll.
Today, wind chimes continue to be used for any number of purposes, including meteorology (i.e., detecting changes in air patterns) and seismology (i.e., detecting vibrations from the ground). Of course, wind chimes are primarily used for ornamental purposes. And while it's unclear whether a wind chime is actually capable of warding off evil spirits, it can certainly add some ambiance to any patio or porch.