The magic of summer nights helps you create long-lasting memories with family and friends, but the heat is sometimes fleeting. While the daytime heat lasts for weeks or months longer, sometimes the cold air sweeps in once the sun sets, potentially cutting the magic short. You can always count on an outdoor fireplace for providing a sense of community as well as the crucial warmth to keep everyone outside longer. Here’s how an outdoor fireplace can warm up a chilly summer night - and the view - in the Wescosville and Reiffton, PA areas.
Related: How to Incorporate an Outdoor Fireplace Into Your Outdoor Kitchen Plans in Reading, PA
Admiring the Beauty of Masonry
Masonry is a time-honored craft that brings beauty and a sense of permanence to a landscape. Adding a fire feature created with natural stones, bricks, or concrete wall units to your outdoor living area will help make a space feel cozy - and a well-built masonry feature is a joy to look at. Even when the outdoor fireplace isn’t being used, the idea of its warmth tells friends and family that their presence is welcome and they can always come to sit by the fire.
Heating Up the Night
Outdoor fireplaces put out a fair amount of heat, though of course, it’s always adjustable. Whether you choose to install an outdoor fireplace that uses wood or propane as fuel, you’ll always be able to create the amount of heat you want to suit the air temperature. To ensure everyone has equal access to the warmth, it’s important to use a semi-circle or a square as a theme for space. Incorporating an outdoor fireplace into a retaining wall helps create a cozy outdoor living room that also helps hold the heat in on those nights when an extra sweater would come in handy.
Enjoying All Seasons
Using your outdoor living space only during the warmer months means you’re not getting the biggest return on your investment. Being able to enjoy your patio in the colder months requires heat, and unlike patio heaters, an outdoor fireplace is not only a great heat source but beautiful to look at. Outdoor fireplaces slowly radiate heat as the masonry warms up. Huddle up in blankets with your loved ones and enjoy some hot chocolate by the fire as you watch the snowfall.
Settling Into Comfort
The seating area of your fireside area makes all the difference when enjoying your outdoor fireplace. For permanent seating, you could construct a semi-circle of high-backed seat walls with the same design theme as your fire feature. Not only do these permanent seats provide a wonderful place to sit for plenty of people, but they also block harsh winds and help trap heat in the fire area.
Bathing in the Light
Outdoor fireplaces produce a wonderfully soft yet dynamic glow that washes over the surrounding landscape. This nighttime glow with flickering flames will create a welcoming ambience for any outdoor gathering. Just the gentle glow alone sends a wave of relaxation to your guests and invites everyone to linger. Take advantage of this ambient light by setting dimmer switches in the immediate area so light sources aren’t competing with the dancing flames. Installing built-in landscape lighting keeps the area well lit even when there’s no crackling fire.
Anchoring Your Outdoor Living Area
An outdoor fireplace will quickly become one of your favorite features: a hub of activity much like a pool or an outdoor kitchen. This focal point is crucial for the enhancement of your outdoor lifestyle.
Related: 5 Paver Patio Design Ideas That Complement a South Whitehall, PA, Outdoor Fireplace
