outdoor fire pit

During the summer months, your backyard space can be a place for family and friends to convene to enjoy the warm weather and one another’s company. Making sure that your backyard space is properly furnished is the challenge, however.

It is important to make sure that there is enough seating to accommodate guests and family and it also helps to have a focal point for everyone to gather around. This is where a backyard fire pit can really be beneficial in terms of maximizing your outdoor time and providing that natural gathering spot for when the sun sets and the hours after it.

Knowing not only what kind of fire pit to get but what to do to it to make the most use of it is of the utmost importance. It might seem self-explanatory, but making certain that you have your fire pit positioned properly can make all of the difference in the world.

Here are a few ideas for what to do with your outdoor fire pit and how to make the best use of it to enhance your outdoor experience and make it so that your backyard is the place to be for friends and family alike.

Make sure to choose a multipurpose fire pit

Fire Pit

While a fire pit is meant to do what its namesake says – mainly, house fire – choosing the right outdoor fireplace means finding one that can actually serve multiple purposes can really stretch your dollar further than ever and make it a better overall purchase. 

Having a space where friends and family can sit and enjoy one another’s company is all fine and good, but imagine if you could get even more use out of your buy?

That is why finding a multipurpose fire pit is so important. There are some, for instance, that have things like a wooden top that can be added to the fire pit when the flame is out. This turns it into a table where friends and family can gather around and enjoy a late meal or a few drinks when the weather suits.

Not only does a multipurpose fire pit serve multiple functions, but it can feature a different design aesthetic that you might find to be a nice change of pace. In the instance of the fire pit with the wooden tabletop, it can tie the space together in a way that the open fire pit might not be able to.

Stretch your dollar a little bit further by giving more purpose and function to the fire pit that you purchase. It can really make more of your outdoor space. Find out if a propane or wood-burning fire pit is for you with this guide.

Make sure that every seat has access to the fire pit

One of the most important things about having a fire pit in your yard is to ensure that everyone has easy access to it. That is kind of the purpose, after all. If you have a fire pit that can’t accommodate everyone in the space, you have guests that are left out and it creates a funky kind of space.

Take into consideration the shape of your backyard space. When you purchase a fire pit for your yard, you want it to fit in with the shape of the space. For instance, if you had a square space, you might want a square fire pit to mimic the shape of the space.

The goal here is to ensure that everyone sitting near the fire can have access to the fire pit. If you have a fire pit that is not in the right shape, you might keep someone away from the fire pit and leave it as a less-than-enjoyable experience.

These things might seem like small items, but they can make a world of difference when it comes to the ambiance of the space and how it appeals to your guests.

Make the pit the centerpiece

Outdoor Fire Pit

There is a bit of a misconception that your fire pit would have to be at the very center of your patio space to make the best use of it, but that’s not necessarily true. If you put it directly in the middle of everything, it might feel in the way and change the overall orientation of the entire space. The key is to find the perfect way to design around your outdoor fireplace.

It might be best to create a designated space for the fireplace. Think about implementing gravel into a certain area of the patio to create a focal point for the fire pit. This creates a seating area for everyone to gather around and keeps the overall flow of the backyard space open and yet designated at the same time.

This allows you to turn towards other areas of the yard and yet keeps the fire pit from feeling like it is in the way. This also helps you to keep designated “areas” on the patio that keep everything in its place without feeling constricted. 

Focus on the compliments

No, I’m not talking about the compliments friends and family will have for you concerning your outdoor space. Instead, focus on the complementary materials that will make space come together. You can make the outdoor space feel like an extension of your interior design by using materials that are similar and complementary in terms of the palette.

When you harken to the interior palette, you bring a sense of warmth and comfort into play and make it feel as though your guests are resting on a couch in your living room instead of being outside. Having the right furniture – a bench or outdoor couch, maybe a few chairs with padding or pillows – can really make the space feel welcoming to your guests.

Finding the right fire pit takes far more thought than one might think and it is about far more than just the fire aspect. Making sure that you get a multi-functional piece that ties together with the rest of your design aesthetic can make your outdoor space feel as warm and welcoming as your indoor space.

Friends and family will be clamoring to come over to your house to sit around your fire pit and enjoy the outdoors.

If you still want to know more about finding the perfect outdoor fireplace check out our Outdoor Fireplace Guidebook to learn which kind works best for you, how to install it, and the advantages of the different varieties.

Outdoor fire pit ideasPatio fire pit ideas