16 Beautiful Fire Pit Ideas To Inspire You

Photo Credit: Natasha Baluta | @balutanatasha

In its truest form, a firepit is exactly that—a pit intended to keep a fire in its designated spot. If you’re hoping to add a more traditional, rustic fire pit to your backyard, then this simple but effective design is the way to go. You need a metal drum to bury into the ground to contain the fire itself and some form of sand or gravel to help contain the heat.

The addition of rough-hewn stone pavers around the metal drum is another great way to keep the heat at bay and create a more elevated look. As you can imagine, this style of fireplace works best for a more traditional wood-burning design.

Photo Courtesy: Heather Hebert | @heathersandyhebert
Photographer: Art Gray
Architecture: Pfau Long Architecture
Landscape Design: Lutsko Associates

When deciding on whether or not to incorporate a firepit into your yard, it’s important to consider how you prefer to gather. Do you cuddle up amongst the plush cushions of an outdoor sofa? Lounge in a wooden adirondack chair? Or do you prefer the ease of a built-in seating area?

Taking the time to consider how and when you gather will help to ensure that your firepit design is tailored perfectly to your needs and your space.

Photo Credit: @ourcozycasa

This firepit design is a classic with a simple stone surround and gravel bed that keeps all flammable objects perfectly out of reach. The overhead string lights also add a festive and romantic touch that will keep your space feeling like summer all year round.

A firepit cover also ensures that your firepit can do double duty as a central table so you can put it to use no matter the weather or time of year.

Photo Credit: @blackwoodnorfolk

If you prefer a sleek design, then a leggy metal fire pit design may be a perfect fit for you. To really play up the modern angles, think about the furniture you deploy like these gray chairs whose organic forms differ greatly from the more traditional wood chairs you see framing a fire pit.

A considered gravel surround really rounds out the design for a finished product that is both sophisticated and deceptively simple.

Photo Credit: Ashore Hotel | @ashorehotel

Rustic doesn’t have to be synonymous with unconsidered, as exemplified by this firepit from Ashore Hotel. A stone enclosure feels rough and tumble enough to be casual while still executed in a way that feels sophisticated.

Overall, the design is simple but considered, with plenty of seating and a sense of privacy provided by the high-backed benches, a particularly handy feature if your space is easily visible from other areas.

Photo Credit: @littlehouseonchestnut

The dug pit look gets an elevated take with this inspiring design, incorporating both weathered rocks to act as a natural barrier and a rough-hewn paved surround. The addition of a cozy sofa and classic adirondack chairs creates a finished product that perfectly toes the line between rustic charm and elevated elegance.

Photo Courtesy: Heather Hebert | @heathersandyhebert
Photographer: Eileen Roche
Landscape Architecture: Roche + Roche | @rocheandroche

When deciding where to site your firepit, think about where in your outdoor space you’d enjoy sitting and what views are at your disposal. Utilize your fire pit as a focal point to draw the eye to your space’s best features. The symmetrical path and circular seating for this elegant fire pit design point your eye straight to the stunning mountain view.

Playing to your strengths guarantees and elevated experience.

Photo Credit: @sarahellenrandall
In Collaboration with Blue Sky Outdoor Living

If you find yourself with more concrete than grass in your yard, never fear. Portable fire pits are a great alternative to more cumbersome designs and provide for more design flexibility for your outdoor space. Set them up for an evening spent roasting marshmallows with friends and store them away when not in use.

An added bonus for portable fire pits is the opportunity to opt for smokefree designs like this firepit by Blue Sky Outdoor Living.

Photo Credit: @_myinteriorhome

While the metal drums and rough and tumble stone pits provide a certain charm, sometimes you want something that feels both sturdy and sculptural. Portable concrete fire pits are a great option if you want something that feels a bit more permanent without being built into your space.

This example has the added feature of an elegant spark screen to help protect the surrounding plush furniture from any stray embers.

Photo Credit: @ourhomeonthefold

While it isn’t recommended to put a fire pit indoors, it can still be nice to have a bit of overhead coverage. Incorporate a trellis or other open shade structure to add that cozy feeling without creating a smoky hazard. This rustic wood structure and surrounding greenery bring a soft coziness, while the contrasting pattern of the cushions and sleek firepit design keep things modern and sophisticated.

Photo Credit: @completehomeconcepts
Manufacturer: Outdoor Greatroom Company | @outdoorrooms

The wood-burning firepit is a tried and true design, but if you’re looking to go the extra mile with your landscaping, then a gas fire pit is a great option for ease of use. This firepit example feels almost like a fireplace, seamlessly tied into the raised beds and setting the perfect backdrop for an outdoor lounge experience.

Photo Credit: @calco_partners

An often overlooked element of designing a firepit area is lighting. Of course, the firepit is its own beacon of light, but what happens when the last embers have died down? While overhead string lights and lanterns are a romantic choice, integrating foot lights and uplights into the surrounding landscaping will go far to illuminate your path without distracting from the firepit focal point.

Photo Credit: @jasonosterbergerdesigns

Fire and water don’t always mix, but in the case of fire pits and pools, the two can create a harmonious pairing. After all, after a slightly chilly swim, where better to dry off and warm up than next a cozy fire? This particular example layers the firepit in a sunken seating area that makes it the perfect hangout for swimmers and non-swimmers alike.

Photo Credit: @fire.features

Who said a fire pit has to be practical? This corten steel stunner is anything but plain. Don’t be afraid to experiment with interesting forms and luxurious materials for your firepit. Let your flickering flames and their sculptural vessel be a dramatic focal point that draws the eye and sets your space apart.

Photo Credit: Kate Van Amringe | katevanamringe.com
Table Top Fire Pit by Form + Root | @formandroot

Not every yard, deck and patio is equipped to handle a fire pit, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still incorporate a bit of flame in your space. This delightful little tabletop firepit by Form + Root is the perfect answer for your small-space marshmallow roasting needs.

Photo Courtesy: Heather Hebert | @heathersandyhebert
Photographer: Eileen Roche
Landscape Architecture: Roche + Roche | @rocheandroche

Just because the firepit is often seen as a gathering place, doesn’t mean it has to fit all of your friends and family around it. In fact, a beautiful secluded spot to quietly lounge may be the perfect design for your firepit.

This well-executed retaining wall acts as both built-in bench and subtle screen to create a zone that is perfectly tucked away.