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Choosing the Best Artisan Fireplace for Outdoor Living

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Just like fireplaces can completely change the way you see and interact with the interior of your home, fire pits can be a revolutionary addition to your backyard.

From providing warmth to cooking up something good barbecue style or to just boosting a cozy aesthetic, fire pits can do everything fireplaces can do (and maybe even better!).

Of course, as with anything else, a fire pit should be carefully considered as an investment. The sheer amount of options available can overwhelm the most seasoned of home designers, but fear not!

Before you start shopping around for fire pits, come to a rough agreement with your family about the size, style, and function you are looking for in a fire pit. Here are the most vital choices you will have to make in your search for the perfect artisan fire pit.

Size

To determine the best size for your fire pit, you will first need to identify its intended purpose. Are you a party animal that hosts the entire neighborhood for a weekly barbecue? Or maybe it is just you and your spouse that are looking to cozy up and relax.

Your intended use of the fire pit should inform the size you purchase. Some materials and designs will be bulkier than others. An elliptical fire pit will naturally be slimmer than something built into the structure of your patio or porch, like a stone fire pit might be.

Aesthetic

There is a fire pit style to fit the aesthetic of every backyard imaginable—you just need to find it! When considering a fire pit, imagine it sitting squarely in the middle of your backyard or patio. Does it look out of place in your mind’s eye? Does it look right at home, or will it require some rearranging?

If you have a traditional mid-century patio, a stone facade would be perfect. Brass coloring or metal can be a great accent in a setup that boasts rustic, woodsy vibes.

Also consider the type of statement you want your fire pit to make. Is it a center piece or just an accent? Busy designs like stone, masonry, or patterns will be more eye catching than sleek, monochrome metal.

Space

Before taking the plunge into outdoor fireplace arena, carefully consider the placement of your fire pit, available seating arrangements, and fuel sources.

If you opt to fuel your outdoor fireplace with wood, then it stands to reason you will need a place to store all that lumber! You will want to choose a place that is easily accessible while also aesthetically appealing, while remaining far enough away from the fire that it is not liable to catch flame via errant sparks.

The shape of the firepit yourself is equally important. A circular firepit will generally accommodate less people sitting around it, but heat will be distributed amongst your guests more easily.

On the other hand, a square or rectangular firepit is a less common shape in wood burning pits, so you will likely have to opt for a gas sourced fire pit. These shapes also tend to take up more space, so this is something to consider when dreaming up your perfect pit.

Fuel Source

The most popular options for fueling an outdoor fireplace are gel canisters, gas, and wood burning. Each have their own merits and demerits, so consider carefully which is right for you.

Gel canisters and gas both provide exceptional flame control, which is just not possible when dealing with burning wood. Therefore, gas and gel canisters are generally considered safer options. Over time, gas and gel canisters are more expensive than lumber.

If you are ready to get down and dirty with your fire pit and hope to make some good ol’ fashioned barbecue, skip the gel canisters and gas as potential fuel sources which are not considered food safe.

Those looking for a fire pit as a source of warmth should opt for a wood burning fire pit. Gel and canisters cannot compete with the heat generated by burning wood.

If you opt to burn wood as your fuel source, you should factor in the cost of sourcing good quality, dry wood when purchasing your firepit (or you will just have a useless, pretty planter sitting in the center of your patio!).

Stay away from soft woods, such as cedar and pine, which tend to carry more moisture. Moisture in firewood can lead to errant sparks as well as build up on the inner walls of your pit. As an extra precaution, make sure that your lumber has been “seasoned” for at least a year before burning, so that you have more control over the duration and strength of the fire and sparks.