Who can resist the cozy allure of a fire on a chilly starlight night? A fire pit can add so much to your outdoor living area and make it a more enjoyable space; and speaking of outdoor living areas, a patio is a game-changer when it comes to design flexibility and durability. Here’s why a fire pit is the essential addition to your outdoor living space in the South Whitehall and Exeter Township, PA, areas.
Related: Making a Fire Pit the Centerpiece of your Berks County Backyard
Let’s start with the big picture: your patio. Or, in essence, your outdoor living room.
Modern landscaping trends favor spaces that mirror indoor living, with outdoor rooms that allow for distinct activity zones and creature comforts you would find indoors.
Today, you can expect a patio to feature a pergola, wood-fired pizza oven, hot tub, landscape lighting integrated into masonry, an outdoor kitchen and of course, fire. In other words: all the comforts of home, under the open sky.
Above all other amenities, a fire pit is where people want to gather. It’s a more exotic hangout than a kitchen bar, and it’s one that encourages great conversation that lasts well into the night.
There’s no denying that a fire pit is a great addition to your outdoor living space. However, where you position it is just as important.
Where you situate a fire pit is a critical detail that should be thought out very carefully. For example, placing a fire pit in the center of the patio may look visually stunning, but it does take up significantly more space than you might think. It’s not only the fire pit itself but the space around it that’s needed for seating. If you’re a fan of comfortable lounge chairs or Adirondack chairs, this can easily mean a 7-10’ radius around the fire pit. This is a significant chunk of space that cannot be used for any other purpose.
There are several solutions when it comes to fire pits that still make the rest of the patio usable: the first is to locate the fire pit in a corner of the patio. This corner should not be windy, and it should be out of the way of traffic. Partially encircling the fire pit with seat walls can take care of some of the seating challenges (you’d only need 2-4 chairs for everyday fireside use, and make use of the seat wall for larger parties).
The second solution is to create a separate “wing” - an attached patio peninsula that is dedicated to the fire pit. This can also feature high-backed masonry seating for a cozy experience; or, it can be a sunken fire pit area (this works better if the fire pit is fueled by natural gas, because there won’t be an issue with rising smoke).
The third solution is to create a remote fire pit, for example an area tucked into a corner of the backyard that is relatively far from the patio and accessed by a paving stone walkway. Having a fire pit as a separate location makes it a destination and keeps the smoke and firewood mess away from the patio (if you are using wood).
These three solutions create cozy fireside spaces that make your fire pit into a focal point and a destination dedicated to the enjoyment of a warm fire and good conversation with family and friends.
Related: Landscape Contractor's Tips for Creating a Beautiful Outdoor Fire Pit Area in Berks County, PA
