Backyard Fire Pit Landscape Design Ideas: Low-Cost DIY Inspiration for Your Home

There are few hardscape features that add as much value and intrigue to your property as fire pits. Many homeowners envision a cozy scene with their family gathered around the fire pit and enjoying a warm summer night–but you may stop in your tracks when you start to think about the cost and all the steps you’ll need to take to design and install it. 

Luckily, you’ve come to the right place–we’ll tell you everything you need to know about how to design outdoor fire pit for your backyard landscape design. 

Take a look below as we provide you with some fire pit landscape design ideas that will help you create the backyard oasis that you’ve always dreamed of!

Why Learn How to Design an Outdoor Fire Pit For Your Backyard?

You probably don’t have to wonder why you’d want to learn how to design outdoor fire pit for your property. But, here are some great reasons to keep in mind as you’re considering a low cost fire pit landscape design. 

It’s a Stunning Addition to Any Home

So why would you want to learn how to design outdoor fire pit? First of all, it looks amazing and is a great addition to practically any property. It can help with your landscape lighting layout too, as it can put off a cozy and ambient glow whenever it’s turned on. 

There are countless backyard fire pit ideas landscaping that you can choose from, meaning you can create a fire pit area that fits the landscape design you already have in place. Aesthetics-wise, backyard fire pits are a no-brainer–they look fantastic and will certainly be the eye-catching statement piece in your yard. 

Allows You to Enjoy Your Yard During Cooler Months

A backyard fire pit design also plays a functional role on your property–it can keep you warm year-round! Even if your winters are pretty mild, it still tends to get pretty chilly in the nighttime to the point where you won’t want to enjoy your beautiful backyard!

So, when you have a nice low cost fire pit landscape design installed, you’ll be able to enjoy your property no matter what time of year it is! 

A Space to Create Memories With Loved Ones

A backyard fire pit landscape design also helps you curate a cozy and welcoming space on your property where you can create cherished memories with your friends and family. 

Everyone will gravitate to the lit fire pit in your yard, helping you create a spot where everyone can gather and enjoy the amazing feature by roasting marshmallows, sharing stories, and everything in between. 

9 Backyard Fire Pit Landscape Design Ideas

So if you want to know how to design outdoor fire pit that will really transform your property, take a look at some of the following backyard fire pit ideas landscaping to try out for yourself!

Rustic Fire Pit Designs

A rustic fire pit design plays on the more natural side of things, giving off an authentic and rugged feel. 

If you want to feel like you’re right in the wilderness in your own backyard, think about installing a rustic fire pit with irregular rocks or boulders as the border, and with wooden chairs surrounding the area. 

Modern Fire Pit Designs

If you have a more modern or contemporary aesthetic to your backyard landscape design, a modern fire pit design would be very fitting. These types of fire pits look more sleek and minimal in design and aren’t very ornate or decorative. 

Think of clean lines and monochromatic metal designs that match a more modern yard and home. 

Fire Pits with Built-in Seating

This is a very practical design for a backyard fire pit, as you will likely be gathering around the fire to sit anyway! So, a fire pit design with a bench or chairs built-in to it will save you space and give off a cohesive look to the whole area. 

Natural Stone Fire Pits

Another idea on the more natural side is to use natural stones that blend into the surroundings as opposed to using metals or other non-natural materials. This gives off a sleek and cohesive look to your landscaping, and allows you to play with the stones and rocks that are natural to your area for a more authentic look. 

Gas Fire Pits

Gas fire pits are much easier to maintain and use than wood-burning fire pits. It doesn’t cause smoke or leave ash and embers for you to worry about. Plus, you can easily turn it on and off with a simple switch–making it simpler to use and safer, too!

If you don’t want to fuss over gathering wood and starting a fire from scratch, a streamlined gas fire pit may be the right option for you. They come in many different styles and designs so you can find the right match for your yard’s design, and they’re not too difficult to install, either. 

Multi-functional Fire Pits (e.g., fire pit table)

There are other options out there for fire pits that have functional features, like a fire pit table. This is a great idea if you don’t have a ton of space to work with and need a multi-functional fire pit so you can enjoy the dining space plus the gentle glow of the lit fire. 

Portable Fire Pits

A portable fire pit can be a great option if you are working with limited space, or are just trying out the design. You can move a portable fire pit all around your yard, so you’re not just set to one location. 

This also means you can stow away your fire pit when not in use, and these tend to come in many different materials and styles so you can find the one that perfectly fits your yard’s aesthetic. 

Fire Pits with Water Features

You can get the best of both worlds with a fire pit that has a water feature. This adds a dramatic look to your yard, and will truly turn heads for anyone who steps onto your property. 

Not only does this look amazing visually, but it also sounds very calming with the flow of the water alongside the crackle of the blazing fire. 

Fire Pits Incorporated into Outdoor Kitchens

If you already have a functioning outdoor kitchen, adding a fire pit to this area will only enhance it. You’ll likely already have family and guests gathered in the area, so a fire pit adds another intriguing element, as well as keeping everyone warm as you enjoy your evening dining and entertaining outside. 

How to Design Outdoor Fire Pit: Tips for Bringing Your DIY Backyard Fire Pit Design to Life

Once you settle in on a low cost fire pit landscape design, there are some additional questions you’ll need to answer to make sure it’s the right choice for your property–and so you install it correctly. 

What Size Fire Pit for Landscaping Your Yard Makes Sense?

The first thing to consider is what size of a fire pit will fit in your landscaping. If you are working with a smaller area, this will limit the types of fire pits you could add to your space for safety and practicality reasons. 

Plus, if you have a larger yard and plan on entertaining large groups of people, a small portable fire pit may not be the right choice either. 

Make sure you know where in your yard you plan on placing the fire pit and create some parameters around the size of the fire pit that make the most sense for your circumstances. 

Where Should You Not Put a Fire Pit?

Next, it’s important to think about where you should avoid facing a fire pit in your yard for safety reasons. You don’t want to place a fire pit directly under a low-hanging tree, near a structure like a fence or your home, or on the side of the hill which could be a safety hazard. 

So, think of the existing landscaping and hardscaping features of your yard to brainstorm where you should avoid placing your new fire pit. 

What is the Best Surface Around a Fire Pit?

Both for practical and safety reasons, you need to think about the surface of the ground surrounding your firepit. You want something that’s stable and flat so people can freely walk around it without tripping. Plus, you’ll want a surface that’s not flammable and could cause potential fires. 

Pavers, gravel, and other stone make for good fire pit surroundings. So, keep in mind that you’ll need to add these if your yard doesn’t already have a flat and secure area to place a fire pit. 

Choosing the Materials for the Fire Pit Itself

Depending on the style of fire pit design you opt for, it’s time to select the materials for the actual fire pit. The style you choose can be your starting point here, but you may be limited based on what’s available, your budget, and what’s practical for your needs. 

If you’re worried about the cost of landscape design and adding a fire pit, you may want to steer clear of certain stones and metals. But, there are certainly low cost options that can fit into anyone’s budget–you’ll just need to shop around to find the best fit for you. 

Building the Firepit

Now comes the exciting part–actually putting your fire pit together! If you are going for a wood-powered fire pit, this will be pretty straightforward. But, if you purchased a gas-powered fire pit, you’ll need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure you do it properly. 

Carefully think through the dimensions of your fire pit, as you don’t want it to be too small that the flames jump out and escape the pit creating a fire hazard, but you also don’t want to create one that’s ginormous and hard to utilize. 

You’ll want to refer to the residential building codes in your city to make sure your fire pit meets its standards and requirements and is legal. The last thing you want to do is create a fire pit that is against code and make it so all your hard work was for naught. 

Enhancing the Landscaping Around the Fire Pit

Once you have your fire pit in place, you can enhance the landscape that surrounds it to make the whole area more inviting and put-together. This can include some additional hardscapes that we mentioned earlier like stones and pavers. 

Or, you may want to place potted plants and flowers around the fire pit area for some added depth and texture. If you also know how to design landscape beds, you can take the time to create flower beds that border your fire pit area to really complete the look!

Incorporating Fire Pit Seating

Make your fire pit functional and inviting by adding seating around the area. You can choose chairs or benches in a coordinating style with your fire pit design for a well-designed look. 

Consider the number of people you plan on entertaining, and try to get the right number of seats accordingly so no one is left standing around or needing to sit on the ground. 

Accessorizing Your Fire Pit

You can add some finishing touches to your fire pit area to make it really come to life. Think of adding accessories like marshmallow roasting sticks, seat cushions, blankets, side tables, and more to make the area feel curated and well thought out. 

Maintaining the Fire Pit

Lastly, you’ll need to think about how you’ll maintain your fire pit so it stays in good condition and looks amazing all year long. 

If you have a gas fire pit, this will look a little different than if you have a wood fire pit. But, consider some of the general upkeep and maintenance you’ll need to perform like clearing out the ashes and embers, sweeping the surrounding area from fallen ash, and making sure you always have enough wood chopped and prepared so it’s ready to go at all times. 

Let Michaelangelo’s Help You Bring Your Backyard Fire Pit Ideas Landscaping to Life!

If you want to bring your fire pit landscape design ideas to life, you can make all this possible without even lifting a finger by working with Michaelangelo’s, your go-to Alpharetta landscape design provider. 

After reading through all the steps you’ll need to take to install a fire pit on your property, you may want to hire a landscape designer vs DIY the project for yourself. Why go through all the hassle and hard work when our team can do it for you in no time? 

Our team has decades of experience and knowledge to help you get the job done right, and help your landscaping dreams come to life. If you’ve never designed a fire pit area before, or you simply need help knowing the difference between landscaping vs hardscaping–we’ve got you covered. Going with the pros will give you the peace of mind that your fire pit was installed correctly, allowing you to just enjoy your fire pit with your loved ones. 

We take care of all things landscape design, from the actual design process to the installation, and even ongoing landscaping maintenance! So no matter the size of your property, we have the right service for you, including our commercial landscaping maintenance and residential landscaping maintenance, and our well-designed drainage solutions to prevent erosion and keep your property well-maintained!

Final Thoughts on Backyard Fire Pit Design

Installing a backyard fire pit is a wonderful way to add value to your property while giving your family a lovely place to gather and make memories for the years to come. Plus, when you hire professionals like Michaelangelo’s, you don’t have to sweat the hard work and planning that comes with adding a fire pit to your property–just leave it to us!

From fire pit design to drought-tolerant landscape design ideas and modern swimming pool landscape design ideas, we can do it all. So when you’re in need of landscaping in Alpharetta, GA, think of us at Michaelangelo’s.