A thoughtfully designed fire pit can serve as the heart of your landscape—drawing people together and extending the use of your outdoor areas well beyond summer. Whether you’re entertaining friends or relaxing solo, it creates a natural gathering space that works in every season.
Here are just a few reasons why homeowners love incorporating fire pit ideas into their outdoor design:
- Create a focal point in your landscape. With the right fire pit, you will turn your yard into an inviting, elegant space built for gathering.
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Extending your outdoor season. Enjoy spring evenings, chilly fall nights, and even mild winter weekends with the warmth of a custom fire feature.
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Increasing your home’s value. A professionally designed fire pit is one of the most desirable outdoor upgrades for today’s homebuyers.
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Effortless outdoor entertaining. Whether you’re roasting marshmallows or sipping wine, it’s a functional, beautiful way to entertain year-round.
So, you might be thinking:
“Great—now I need to research some fire pit ideas to ask Van Zelst… but where do I even start?”
You’re not alone. Sites like HGTV’s 30 Cool Fire Pit Ideas and Martha Stewart’s Fire Pit Tips can offer inspiration—whether you’re curious about a raised fire pit, a bluestone fire pit, or a fully integrated flagstone patio with fire pit at its center.
There are endless fire pit ideas out there—but which one is right for your yard, your home, and your lifestyle?
Let the expert landscape and hardscape architects at Van Zelst help. We’ll create a fire pit that adds beauty and value to your home. Check out some of our recent fire pit projects below, then contact us for a complimentary consultation.
Whether you’re still exploring fire pit ideas or ready to install one tailored to your space, we’ll guide you every step of the way.
Firepits We’ve Designed
More inspiration: Ideas we’ve collected from around the web
Modern Design Fire Pit
Firepits can be designed to complement your home’s style, whether it is ultra-rustic or ultra-modern. Everything in this contemporary backyard — from the patio furniture and landscaping to the firepit — features clean lines, creating a comfortable yet cohesive look. The firepit seating area serves as one of the space’s multiple outdoor living spaces.
All of the Elements
Looking for a truly dramatic way to add a firepit to your space? Consider mixing two elements—fire and water—into one cohesive feature. This project combines a Tuscan lap pool with a firepit that also serves as a fountain, providing a water feature and a heat source at the same time. The top of the firepit is large enough to act as additional seating, or can serve as a table on which to place appetizers and beverages.
Small Spaces with Big Drama
You don’t have to have a big space to create big drama in your backyard! This trendy brownstone garden features bluestone pavers with intentional gaps that highlight smaller stones. The horizontal wood wall and built-in benches lend visual warmth and depth to the area, while the contemporary firepit creates an elegant focal point.
Organic Design
If you’re working with a large backyard space, the sky’s the limit when it comes to your options. This backyard patio features stone pavers interspersed with lush grass, creating a visually interesting area that echoes the organic shapes of the home’s flowerbeds and landscaping. The sunken firepit allows the homeowner and friends to enjoy a cozy evening together, sharing laughter and stories.
Customize Your Space
Make the most of your backyard space by adding custom touches to your existing hardscape materials. Here, the homeowners integrated their plain, gray patio floor in a high-end, elegant design. The matching firepit cap and stone-colored patio seating complement both the brick and the cement, making the area feel upscale without feeling too formal or sterile.
Low Maintenance, High Style
Drought-prone areas can still have welcoming, attractive outdoor living spaces. The backyard space for this French transitional home features multiple seating areas where the homeowners can enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning or an impromptu dinner with friends in the evening. A mixture of textures—stone, pavers, and wood—create visual interest. And the sunken firepit area with built-in seating is the perfect place for enjoying an after dinner glass of brandy or a single malt Scotch, relaxing and looking up at the stars.
A Magical Place
There’s nothing like a firepit for creating a sense of magic in your outdoor living space. Here, the homeowners opted for a slightly sunken stone firepit area that mirrors the stone used in other areas of the yard. Built-in circular seating provides a place to sit and enjoy the fire and the view of the yard. Container plantings add a pop of color, while the hedges and trees add privacy without making the space feel too closed in.