Imagine a cool autumn evening, when your garden still looks beautiful but the air is crisp and too cold to enjoy. What if you had a crackling fire to sit next to as you sipped a glass of wine or a hot cider? A garden fireplace is all you need to enjoy this idyllic scene.
Why Install a Fireplace in the Garden?
If the scene above doesn’t entice you to build a backyard fireplace, what will? Certainly, this is a luxury and not a necessity for a yard or garden, but it’s a nice addition that will provide you with more usable outdoor living space. A fireplace can extend time you are able to enjoy being out in the garden you have worked so hard on, including going out earlier in the spring and later in the fall. A fireplace can be useful in providing more livable space outdoors, but it can also be a good design element. Landscape designers are using fireplaces more often these days, situating them as focal points in a yard or patio. Of course, the social opportunities presented by a patio or garden fireplace are numerous. You can create the perfect space around it for hosting friends, families, and parties.
Creative Outdoor Fireplace Ideas
When installing an outdoor fireplace, you’re facing a big job, so you may want to turn to a professional to build it for you. That doesn’t mean you can’t design your perfect garden fireplace. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Build your fireplace into an existing wall. If you have a stone wall, consider using the structure to insert a fireplace that blends into what you already have.
- Create a standalone, multi-side fireplace. A fireplace built of stone or brick that has openings on three or four sides and one that is more centered in your garden gives you a great space for parties and socializing, as more people can gather around it.
- Build a fireplace under a roof. If you have a large patio space with a roof, you might want to build the fireplace into that structure. This will give you the chance to use your fireplace even when it’s raining.
- Consider unusual materials. Fireplaces don’t have to be brick or stone. Make a statement with a poured concrete, adobe, tile, or plaster fireplace.
- Keep it simple. If you’re not ready for major construction, you can try a simple, portable fire pit. These metal containers can be moved around the yard and even come in sizes small enough to be used on table tops.
As you design your backyard fireplace, don’t neglect practicalities, and remember to design it as an element of the garden. There should be adequate seating and it should work well with your existing garden design and plantings.