Eons ago, fire was one of humankind’s most life-altering discoveries, so it’s no wonder that even today, we find comfort around the warm glow of a fire.

Getting an invitation to come over for a fire or host one yourself is a trend that’s been growing in popularity. And if the selection of outdoor furniture and accessories for backyard fires is any indication, his delightful pastime isn’t going anywhere.

I think I speak for everyone when I say we’re okay with that.

Ten years ago, you would have been hard-pressed to find a fire pit in a store. These days you have plenty of choices in nearly every big box, home goods store.

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There are even plenty of DIY fire pits out there, like this sturdy one made by cutting the top off of an old home propane tank and welding feet to it.

And what’s more, the fire pit gathering place is one of the most common backyard DIY projects.

Folks are planning permanent outdoor spaces to gather around the fire all year long. Once you add in a beautiful water feature, why would you want to leave your backyard at all?

If a backyard fire space is your next big project, we’ve got some great ideas for you to check out; whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring a professional landscaper. Any one of these beautiful spaces is perfect for s’mores, wienie roasts, book clubs and birthday parties, or an evening by yourself gazing into the flames.

1. Ready In a Weekend

Keep it simple.

For the do-it-yourselfer who doesn’t want to mess around with a long and drawn-out project, consider a simple setup based around the supplies most commonly available at your local landscape supply retailer.

Landscaping sand, pea gravel, pavers, fire pit bricks and a few of those popular Adirondack-style chairs that pop up every summer are all you need for an outdoor fire area that’s ready to use in a weekend. Pick up your supplies Friday after work, and you could be enjoying a fire in your new fire pit by Sunday evening.

2. Tabletop Gas Fire Pit

Fire night just got so much easier.

Gas fire pits are an increasingly popular option. Having an open flame in the backyard becomes much safer when you can turn your fire pit on and off with the twist of a nob. You don’t have to worry about flyaway sparks or embers either.

Many gas fire pits are incorporated into outdoor furniture pieces, serving double duty. Consider a space that offers a table for drinks or food, as well as a nice gas fire.

3. The Chiminea

A charming southwestern option.

These beautiful southwest stoves are an excellent option if you’ve already got a great backyard setup and you’re just lacking the fire. Traditionally, a chiminea is made of clay, but these days you can find them in both clay and metal. And they come in a vast array of sizes to suit your space needs. This charming chubby fire pit is a great alternative to the open pits you see so often.

A chiminea can easily be stored away if you won’t be using it in the colder months.

4. Ready, Set, Relax

Easy-peasy!

Not everyone has the time to devote to building an entire outdoor space for a fire. Or maybe you’re not particularly handy. That’s okay!

Because of the popularity of outdoor fire pits, you can easily purchase everything you need for the perfect gathering spot without building a thing. This entire setup came from one of those big-box home improvement stores. And the hardest part was arranging the furniture. Even the gas fire pit is ready to go once you hook up the propane tank

5.The Rugged Naturalist

Welcome to the outdoors!

If you’ve got access to natural stone, consider a fire pit that seamlessly rises from a stone patio into a rugged fire ring. This is a great option if you want an area that fits in with your backyard rather than something more modern that’s meant to contrast. It gives the area a more cohesive and natural feel.

6. The Modern Minimalist

If you’ve got an eye for design, you’ll love the look of this layout.

If you prefer clean lines and open space, why not plan something with bold geometric lines. A circular patio made with red pavers and large boulders to form your fire pit creates the perfect centerpiece in your backyard. This bold and dramatic look will instantly draw the eye, beckoning you to come and sit by the fire.

7. The Retreat

If you plan it right, your fire pit can feel like a vacation.

A patio built around the fire pit and surrounded by chairs, placed away from the house, creates privacy and makes this social space a destination unto itself. A wood boardwalk leading to the patio not only provides sure footing but also builds a bit of excitement as you walk from the house to the patio, a bag of marshmallows in hand.

8. A Pop of Color

Yellow not your color? Try red or turquoise.

A simple layout can easily be dressed up with a pop of color. Consider placing brightly colored chairs around the fire pit. This is also a great way to refresh an older backyard space that could use a little TLC; instead of redoing the entire space, power wash those old chairs and give them a fresh coat of paint in a cheery color. You’ll save money, and you may find yourself enjoying an evening by the fire more often.

9. Grill-Top Fire Pit

A grill-top fire pit? Friday night firelight just got even better.

Food and fire go hand in hand. If you rarely have a fire without cooking or toasting something over it, consider a kettle-style fire pit with a built-in grill top. You’ll make it that much easier to incorporate these two favorites.

Suddenly, this space becomes even more versatile; forget just having fires in the evening; am I the only one wondering how many pancakes you could fit on that thing?

10. Outdoor Fireplace

Practical and beautiful, an outdoor fireplace is a great option.

Although it’s a serious undertaking, the classic look of a fireplace is always infinitely more welcoming when it’s built outdoors. And a fireplace offers a serious advantage to many open-pit options – the smoke goes up the chimney.

Many an evening has been ruined by playing musical chairs around the fire, trying to get away from the smoke. A fireplace is not only practical but has a timeless look to it that never goes out of style.

11. Free-Spirit Fire Pit

With so many great options, it’s hard to tell which is the best seat in the house.

This boho-inspired backyard incorporates a fire pit dug into the ground and plenty of fun seating options. Adirondack chairs, hammock swings, even stumps that double as tables, there’s plenty of seating for everyone. The variety of the seating is all tied together with the blue color scheme. And the pea gravel keeps embers and sparks from becoming a fire hazard.

12. The Classic

We’ve all sat around one of these before. It’s hard to beat a classic.

There’s a reason this classic setup has lasted for so long – simplicity. At the end of the day, you can’t beat the traditional rustic setup of log stumps and a rock fire ring. If you’re short on space, time or cash, the raw materials can usually be found with a quick trip to the woods. If you burn wood to heat your home, I’ll bet you’ve got everything you need already.

I hope we’ve given you plenty of ideas to build your dream backyard fire pit. Don’t forget to invite us over when it’s finished!

Sit around the fire in style.

An outdoor fire pit is the perfect outdoor entertaining centerpiece, but it’s incomplete without any accompanying chairs. Make sure your whole household can take advantage of the warming beauty of your fire pit by pairing it with the right seating arrangement. In this guide, we make it easy with 15 ideas for fire pit seating.

1. Opt for Classic Adirondacks

There’s nothing quite like sitting around an outdoor fire pit in an Adirondack chair. Adirondack chairs’ tall, reclined backs and angled seats make them perfect for relaxing comfortably or enjoying engaging conversation. Because their wide, sturdy armrests can hold multiple beverages at a time, you can fit several Adirondack chairs closely together around for fire pit seating that doesn’t need any side tables.

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2. Cozy-Up On the Sofa

Smaller than a sectional but more accommodating than individual chairs, a plush patio sofa is the perfect seating if you want to maximize comfort without overwhelming your backyard space. Placed near a crackling fire, a sofa will make your patio space feel like home.

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3. … Or Try an L-Shaped Sectional

Nestling a fire pit in the crook of an L-shaped patio sectional creates the coziest corner seating imaginable. A sectional is an easy alternative to buying several individual chairs; they can seat anywhere from just one person to more than six people comfortably. Outdoor sectionals are amazing for entertaining in the backyard or enjoying a night by the fire with the family.

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4. Make Room for a Classy Conversation Set

Torn between an outdoor sofa and individual chairs? With this idea for fire pit seating you get the best of both worlds. Choose a patio conversation set for the variety of seating options you deserve. Complete with a sofa and matching chairs, an outdoor conversation set is the best fire pit seating choice if you want to create a unified space that can also accommodate several guests.

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5. Use Benches for a Laidback Vibe

Use picnic benches to create the perfect relaxed vibe for s’mores-making and fireside storytelling. The backless picnic benches above help to create an open, airy vibe from which to admire the surrounding outdoors, while the benches’ curved configurations help maintain an element of warmth and coziness. Want the look of a picnic bench with more comfort and support? There are plenty of outdoor benches with back-rests and cushions to fulfill your seating needs.

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6. Swap-In Rocking Chairs

Nothing says relaxation like sitting back in a rocking chair as the fire crackles! Swap out stationary fire pit seating with rocking chairs to achieve the ultimate outdoor retreat. The best part is that outdoor rocking chairs come in a variety of styles to accommodate your aesthetic. Not sure you have enough room for rocking chairs around your fire pit? Opt for those with a glider configuration. Glider chairs don’t require the same amount of space to achieve a rocking motion.

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7. … Or Try Out a Hanging Swing Chair

Add some intrigue to your outdoor setup by hanging a gorgeous swing chair by your fire pit. Cushioned with plush throw pillows and blankets, a hanging swing chair will instantly become the best seat in the backyard. Swing chairs can typically seat only one or two people at a time, but there are other options available if you’d like a more accommodating hammock.

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8. Round Things Out

Create a cozy setting for fireside drinks with ideas for fire pit seating that embrace curved seating arrangements. The curved sectional pictured above helps make the fire pit look all the more warm and inviting. Make sure to add plenty of outdoor throw pillows, cushions, and blankets for the ultimate outdoor living experience.

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9. Pull Up a Cushioned Armchair

Who said the armchair was reserved for the living room corner? They also shine positioned around the fire pit. These types of club chairs give you a place to rest your arms, while the elongated seat design allows you to sit with your legs tucked up in a blanket on cool nights.

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10. Embrace Matching Pairs

Bring a sense of order and harmony to your fire pit with matching fire pit seating. The matching sectionals and end tables are placed opposite each other for a fun take on symmetry with the fire pit as the centerpiece. You can easily recreate this look with matching chairs if you don’t have the amount of space for sectionals or sofas.

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11. Swap Chairs for Loungers

Though they are commonly placed poolside, backyard lounge chairs can also be the perfect partner for a fire pit. Adjustable, reclining lounge chairs are ultimate in outdoor relaxation. Prop them up to enjoy quiet conversation beside a roaring fire or recline them all the way to rest comfortably as the embers die down.

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12. Add Traditional Wicker Chairs

Enhance your fire pit’s outdoorsy vibe by pairing it with rustic, traditional wicker chairs. These lightweight yet sturdy chairs will make your patio seating area feel like it’s up in the mountains. Plus, there’s no better perch from which to make s’mores. If rustic isn’t your favorite backyard fire pit feel, cozy patio club seating (ultra-comfortable armchairs) are available in a wide variety of materials and styles.

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13. Mix & Match

Your choices for fire pit seating don’t have to match perfectly to look great in your space. For an eclectic overall look, choose chairs in different materials or of different shapes. In the fire pit seating idea above, the rocking chair pairs beautifully with the loveseat. Similar cushions and throw pillows tie the chairs together despite them being from different seating categories.

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14. Frame the Seating Area With a Pergola

Elevate your fire pit and your seating arrangement with a pergola to frame the entire display. Pair your fireside pergola with a streamlined sofa to complete the look. Depending on the size and length of the pergola, you may even be able to fit an outdoor sectional beneath it. Just make sure the fire pit is not placed beneath the pergola itself. The set-up above keeps the fire pit in the center, out from under the pergola’s canopy.

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15. Make it Modern

Complement a modern outdoor fire pit with cool papasan chairs like the ones pictured above. Their round seats help keep you comfortable and warm as you sit around the fire. Papasan chairs can take on a variety of styles, weave patterns, sizes, so you’re bound to find some that fit your taste.