More people than ever are staying home now — or at least I hope you are. This means people are turning their eyes to their homes and how they can extend outdoor living longer. A cozy fire pit is a perfect option to make the chilly autumn and winter a little warmer and to make the outdoors a little more tolerable for longer. As fall descends upon us, people are wondering what kind of fire pit will work for their lives, and how they can make their fire pit area functional and pretty at the same time. Enjoy these fire pit ideas and use bits and pieces to create your perfect fire pit. Don't wait too long, many fire pits are selling out quickly due to high demand.
I got the fire pit pictured in the video, a sort of modern but not too much gas burning fire pit with a propane tank cover. I haven't yet, but I think I am going to get teal fire pit glass to make it look even cooler. Fun colors of fire pit glass is another benefit of going with a gas burning fire pit, but I have many more compelling reasons below.
Should I get a gas burning fire pit or a wood burning fire pit?
This is entirely up to your preferences and the local fire ordinances in your area. My personal preference was exclusively for a gas fire pit for the following reasons:
- Allergies - I am extremely allergic to wood and smoke particulates that come from it. In order to enjoy the fire pit, gas was the only option. If you or your family and friends have allergies or lung conditions, go gas.
- Fuel supply - Wood burning fire pits require piles of wood. Piles of wood are heavy and attract bugs, two things I didn't want to deal with. Propane tanks, while still kind of heavy, have a handle, and only need to be refilled infrequently.
- Ease of stopping - You can cut off a gas fire pit. You have to let a wood burning fire pit smolder out, which on a windy night, can keep you up longer than you want tending to the fire.
- Maintenance and safety - Again, you have to constantly work on keeping a wood burning fire going. A gas one can be turned on and off with a flick of the wrist. If the wind kicks up, you can adjust the fire on a gas pit. Wood burning fire pits cannot be adjusted and are subject to a variety of uncontrollable factors.
- The environment - Those particles that burn your sinuses hurt the Earth and the ozone too.
The pros of a wood burning fire pit
- Removing Yard Debris - This is the only plus for a wood burning fire pit, in my opinion. You can easily dispose of sticks, branches, and other yard waste in a wood pit. You cannot do this in a gas burning pit and will have to find other ways to get rid of your yard refuse.
Where to put a fire pit
Check your local ordinances and homeowner association rules first. They may have a lot more restrictions than you are aware of. But other than that, make sure your fire pit area is clear 360 degrees around, and up. Do not place the fire pit directly under overhanging trees, branches, building eaves, power lines, or anything else. Keep it 10 feet away, MINIMUM, from any structure or combustible objects.
Some fire pits can only be placed on non-combustible surfaces, as in, not on your wooden deck without proper precautions. See what you need to keep in mind when placing a fire pit on a wooden deck. You'll need several additional accessories, like a fire pit pad and a spark screen, for sure. I still would advise against this 100 percent, but I'm terrified of fire. Proceed at your own risk level with proper precautions.
Fire pit designs
There are so many cool fire pit design options these days! You can get ones that look like they are made out of real rocks, to match your patio even.
Or you can get super mod, sleek fire pit tables, that give you space to set your drink down on the table top, or prop your feet up if you like. This looks like something on one of those fancy LA houses on Selling Sunset, but way less expensive, because if you're anything like me, four figures is too much to spend on a fire pit.
Fire pit accessories
What's an area to relax in without some accessories? You may need a fire pit pad, and if you go wood burning, you'll want a spark screen and some ember poking tools.
Seating is another must! Bench seating is a great option for a fire pit. Or Adirondack chairs, so you can move them around to suit social distancing needs, especially useful during ~these pandemic times~.
You can totally roast marshmallows over a gas burning fire pit, so you'll want some roasting sticks. Just be a little more careful to not drop marshmallows into the flames here or it'll be a gooey mess until it all burns off.
So are you convinced yet that a fire pit is your next biggest desire to keep you snuggly warm in the outdoors this autumn and winter?