A Patio Design with a Fire Pit: Warmth and Light for All Seasons

One of the most delightful backyard outdoor living features of all time is the fire pit. This simple feature has the ability to transport people to more simple and carefree times in their lives. The flickering flames captivate the senses, bring warmth to the outdoor living space, and anytime you’ve got a fire going, your favorite people will start to gather around.

Even if you’ve got a small outdoor living space, you can still count on the wonderful benefits of a fire pit to bring creature comforts to your backyard and unlock some of the best experiences in backyard outdoor living. In this article, we’ll cover the ways you make a patio design with a fire pit, especially the considerations, sizes and shapes, material choices, and more.

Where Can You Put a Fire Pit on a Patio?

The biggest consideration for the placement of a fire pit is space. The specific placement of your fire pit on the patio is primarily a safety consideration. A wood fire pit needs to be a safe distance away from combustible materials, while natural gas or propane fire pits can be closer - and even located under a pergola or pavilion.  

Whether you’re choosing a traditional wood-fueled fire pit or a natural gas or propane fire pit, you’ll also need space around it for seating and walking. Include a minimum of 7 feet around your fire pit which can dictate where the fire pit will be. We’ll get into some great space-saving options shortly that will make any patio, no matter its size, a perfect candidate for a fire pit.

A well-designed fire pit area won’t take up an entire patio. Masonry fire pits are the most common permanent fire features because they harmonize aesthetically with the rest of the patio. But don’t despair, if your patio is on the petite side, some creative placement and a smaller fire pit won’t hog the space yet still give people plenty of space to comfortably sit and walk around the fire pit.

If you’re looking to make your fire pit one of the centers of your outdoor living space, you can almost guarantee that the majority of your guests will flock around it during a get-together. If you entertain often or just prefer a more lively atmosphere on the patio, go ahead and put your fire pit in a prominent central location.

You can also put your fire pit in a corner of your patio to create a peaceful and intimate experience for a few of your favorite people that’s out of the flow of traffic.

Image source: Unilock

What Are the Best Fire Pit Materials?

Masonry fire pits are most often made either from decorative concrete blocks made to look like weathered quarry stone; natural stone; or concrete blocks clad with a veneer. The beauty of masonry materials is that you get to play around with shapes and sizes: you can add a layer to make the fire pit more coffee table height than campfire height. You can tweak the size by adding materials. And, you can include a generous capstone that will give you a place to warm your feet or rest a drink.

Which masonry material you choose will depend on the existing patio if you’re adding a fire pit after the fact, and your budget. Natural stone is the most difficult to work with, so even though you’ll get a one-of-a-kind result it will come with a higher labor cost. Concrete blocks are uniformly sized and designed to fit together closely and installation is relatively straightforward, so they’re a popular option. Veneers offer some amazing design options, but the systems can be more costly.

Masonry fire pits are also available as kits which can be installed by the homeowner or a contractor (we recommend professional installation, especially if you’re opting for a natural gas or propane fire pit). Or, you can go full-custom if you have a specific size or shape in mind, and want to include features like integrated lighting or an especially large capstone.

Premade portable fire pits are typically some sort of metal (stainless steel or Corten steel that’s designed to take on a rusty patina), or cast concrete. Portable fire pits can’t be customized, but they do give you the option of clearing space for other activities should the need arise. They are also typically much smaller than masonry fire pits. If you’re looking to entertain often or improve the resale value of your home, a masonry fire pit is the way to go.

What’s the Best Fire Pit Shape?

The typical shape of a fire pit is a circle as this allows the most even and efficient dispersal of heat and the highest number of people sitting comfortably around it. Some fire pits are designed as squares or rectangles to match the aesthetic of the home and patio. You can also find fire pits in chic, modern oval shapes. Most homeowners will choose a round fire pit, but if your design calls for one of these alternative shapes, they can be a big hit!

To warm up the largest number of people without creating a bonfire effect, opt for a long rectangular shape. Just be sure you have the patio space for a large feature like this.

How Can You Fit a Fire Pit on a Small Patio?

Placing a fire pit in the corner of the patio and adding a sitting wall along the patio perimeter is the best way to save space while providing plenty of seating for larger groups of people. This way, several people can lounge in comfort on patio furniture while the sitting wall simply defines the space and creates a buffer between the patio and the landscape. 

Then, when you’re hosting a larger group, chairs can be moved out of the way, giving people the option of sitting on the wall or standing. For most parties, people are happy to stand around the fire, especially on cold nights when it’s most efficient to stand next to the fire to warm up.

If you want a fire pit located more centrally on a small patio, consider using benches for seating. These can be moved out of the way when needed, and will provide cozy seating for a large number of people than individual chairs.

Is a Fire Pit a Good Investment?

Absolutely! Think of it this way: you already pay for the patio, whether you use it or not. So it makes sense to add features like a fire pit, that extend the amount of time you can comfortably spend outdoors. Besides, who can resist the magnetic allure of dancing flames? A fire pit is a hit whether you want a quiet evening with your special someone or hosting a block party.