The 2016 American backyard isn’t perfect without a fire pit. Today, fire pits are favored living design trends. Capable of adding a fun, unique and relaxing atmosphere to any outdoor space, a fire pit offers a variety of options while adding a calm, reflective ambiance. Understandably, there are many designs for outdoor fire pits. To find the right one, you’ll need to determine your backyard’s overall “feel” with the help of a landscape designer. Your fire pit should reflect your home’s vibe, mesh with your personality and—of course—still offer a warming, welcome place to sit.
Propane vs. Natural Gas
Before choosing a design, you’ll need to determine your fire pit’s fuel source. Both propane and natural gas can create enough warmth to power your pit, but both fuel sources are different. Propane, purchased in tanks, can be “attached” to a fire pit. So, if you want a portable experience, you should stick with propane.
Natural gas, meanwhile, is useful for homeowners intending to make a stationary focal point from their fire pit. Fed to a fire pit via gas line, natural gas is the perfect fuel source for a built-in, brick fireplace. Natural gas additionally costs one-sixth of what propane does, and it’s often considered to be more convenient. Unless you favor portability greatly, natural gas is your best option.
3 Designs for Outdoor Fire Pits
The Sunken Fire Pit
The sunken fire pit, exclusive to natural gas, offers a traditional landscape design while creating less smoke than alternative designs. A sunken fire pit offers great warmth, and it can create a cool-air ambiance for those not intent upon getting a regular fireplace’s full blast. A sunken fire pit holds heat well, and it’s useful for creating long-burning wood fires.
The Stacked Stone Fire Pit
If you want to get fancy, consider installing a stacked stone fire pit. While propane is a fuel option, many stacked stone fire pits are powered by natural gas. If you’re set on stacked stone, you’ll need to conduct a bit of research before selecting the style of stone used. Stacked stone fire pits mostly utilize fire brick to get the job done, however, which will create a nice, warm and cozy atmosphere. A stacked stone fire pit is an excellent wintertime warmer—capable of reaching high temperatures to warm plenty of people.
The Contemporary Fire Pit
The world’s most present fire pit design includes plenty of polished marble, Lucite and even stainless steel details. Commonly, contemporary fire pit designs have embedded features. Also crafted from plastic, chrome and plaster, contemporary fire pits offer quite a lot of variation while remaining accessible to most. Both propane and natural gas are fuel options, and both should be accommodated for by contemporary design options. Often seen as high-end installations in the fire pit world, contemporary fire pits can include unusual colors, linear burners, sleek lines and reflective surfaces.
It’s important to select the option which is most suitable to your backyard. Remember: A fire pit should complement your household, not combat it. Find a style able to “mesh” with your backyard inclusions, and don’t be afraid to get a little creative! If you need something simple, the sunken fire pit might be your best option. That said, a contemporary fire pit will outclass all other options if designed appropriately, so don’t hesitate to ask your installation provider about different options.
Don’t hesitate to customize your fire pit with clean, asymmetrical lines, either, as outdoor accessory options have come a long way. Today’s options are endless, and homeowners have become incredibly creative with their fire pit designs. Whether you’re looking for something economic, innovative or an in-between option, you have a lot of flexibility before installation begins. Good luck, stay warm and have fun!