Follow PatioHeatandShade on Social Media
When family and friends enter your backyard, what’s their destination? If you’ve got a lit fire pit, there’s no doubt that the fire pit is their primary destination – it’s a natural draw for kids from 8 to 80. There’s something about a fire that beckons to you, asking you to bask in its warmth, stare into the depths of its flames and get closer, both physically and emotionally, with the ones you love.
We tapped the brainiacs here at Patio Heat and Shade (the best patio experts in the business) and asked them to show us a range of fire pits that would be sure to inspire our customers to create their own gathering place… ready for toddler’s marshmallows (s’mores anyone?) or an adult evening of fantastic wine and stories by the roaring fire. Let’s take a look…
We’d like to take a moment to sing the praises of portable fire bowls – natural wood fire bowls that are compact and lightweight, making them perfect for situations where a central placement isn’t ideal. Sure, typically we’d like to gather around the fire pit area… but what if it’s game night and we’d like the fire closer to us to keep us warm? Perhaps you need to be in the backyard to watch the amazing fireworks display, but there’s a chill in the air? Portable fire pit to the rescue! Small spaces or decks are also ideal for portable fire pits, as they can be center stage when needed and put away (or off to the side) when not. A wood fire pit, like the Fire Sense Roman fire pit feeds your senses with the smell of burning wood and the sounds of hissing and crackling that only an open wood fire can bring. This fire pit keeps safety at the forefront with a one-piece mesh fire screen with high temperature paint (along with a screen lift tool and wood grate), to help keep your fire contained.
What a wood fire has in titillating a few extra senses, a gas fire pit (either liquid propane or natural gas) trumps with convenience. In a matter of seconds, you can go from nothing to a full fire, and put out that fire just as quickly with absolutely no ash or logs to clean up. One of our favorite fire pits, the Fire Sense Yorke Square makes full use of the 20 lb. propane canister hidden in the base, providing an output of 55,000 BTUs to create the beauty and light you expect from a top quality fire pit. Crafted from aluminum, this fire pit sports a woodgrain-and-beadboard motif with a round base covered in an Antique Bronze Brushed Finish. When the fire is not required, top the fire pit with the included fire bowl lid (with flush-mounted handle) and you’ve got a cozy dining table ready for your next culinary masterpiece.
When designing your backyard patio space, developing a sunken space for a fire pit retreat will help to create a “room” specifically for fire gazing and good times, separating the space from the rest of your patio. The resulting effect is to create a cozy and intimate atmosphere while still maintaining all of the glory that the great outdoors has to offer. A centerpiece to any patio, the Athena Fire Tables Olympus gas (either propane or natural gas) fire pit table is huge (at 5’ long by 30” wide) and sports over 10” of tabletop space all around, perfect for drinks or plates of BBQ goodness. Created from Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete with angled sides, the Olympus is a statement pieced designed to make your backyard the go-to location in your neighborhood.
When developing your patio plans, the integration of a fire pit is a necessity. With fall just around the corner, we love the idea of a wood burning fire pit that is also aesthetically pleasing. This copper fire pit will patina with age and always be a classic finish to accentuate your patio space. Make sure to create seating for your guests while they remain mesmerized by the roaring fire. Fire pit seating walls can also be created from more standard furniture materials (like wood), building in the seating to create a permanent rest. For a small, intimate fire pit seating area we recommend a removable fire pit, like the Fire Sense Palermo copper fire pit; we love how the copper patinas over time.
Safety is always on our minds, and fire pit safety should be on yours. Let’s hit some high points:
We can’t get enough of the look of the Fire Pit Art Emperor wood burning fire pit bowl, constructed with heavy duty quarter-inch thick mild carbon steel (the most durable steel fire pit around), it’s as strong as it is beautiful. Remember that wood fire pits are not recommended for combustible areas (like wooden decks) … but if you use one there you should use a heat resistant material like concrete pavers, brick or stone between the fire pit and the surface.
BBQ Pitmasters love nothing more than cooking over an open flame and relish the chance to mix their favorite woods to create the perfect fire pit cookout. Whether you use high heat reverse searing or prefer the classic low-n’-slow method, you can get amazing results that you can only get with a real woodburning fire. Start with the right fire pit; the thick carbon American steel in the Ohio Flame Patriot fire pit will develop a natural iron oxide patina and gradually darken over time. No maintenance is required on this burning beauty (it’s designed to withstand the elements and even has a substantial rain drain to allow for water drainage). Allow your outdoor fire pit to feed your body as the flames feed your soul.
For overall safety, we prefer propane fire pits like one of our top 10 favorites, the Fire Sense Parsons aluminum oval fire pit which uses standard 20 lb. propane tanks, and can be covered with the included fire bowl lid to make a beautiful outdoor table for dinner or drinks.
Outdoor fire pits have an undeniable allure, transforming ordinary patios into enchanting evening conversation pits. Once the flames are lit your guests will invariably wander over, gazing into their pasts and futures simultaneously as they settle in, mesmerized by the dancing flames. Set the theme of coziness to go with your fire pit by adding throw blankets for those with a slight chill and set the patio lighting down low so everyone can get the best view of the night sky. A substantial fire pit, like the Athena Fire Tables Olympus round fire pit table deepens the sense of calmness with its massive fiber reinforced concrete frame and dramatically sloped sides. Your guests will love the 10” of space all around the dancing flames, plenty of space for drinks and plates of mouth-watering BBQ.
We’ve done our part by showing you nine captivating outdoor fire pit ideas… now it’s time for you to do your part. Which of these ideas resonates with you most… which really hits home? Think about that idea and how this one addition will totally change your outdoor patio enjoyment. Your friends will be thrilled to be gathered around the fire, swapping war stories (whether true or not) and just enjoying time being with each other.
If you’re not sure which fire pit would be best for you, you’re in luck. We’ve got the best patio specialists in the business working right here at Patio Heat and Shade, and they’ll be thrilled to help you select the perfect fire pit for your space. Call us – we promise to treat you like family.