Just because the weather turns cold, it shouldn’t mean you have to spend every last minute curled up on the sofa and buried in hundreds of blankets. An outdoor fireplace or fire pit lounge set is the perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors without having to sacrifice the sensation in your fingers and toes. And if you’re going to have one, you may as well make a statement. To help you out, we’ve compiled some of the best outdoor fireplace ideas and designs.

Add some character

On its own, an outdoor fireplace won’t always look all that inviting — you’re essentially putting down a chunk of concrete, brick, or stone in your backyard. But you can soon change this by adding some character to the area and making it your own.

Why not add a decorative rug to the patio or some cushions to the seating? By choosing items that suit your personality and taste — whether that’s geometric patterns or cat pillows — it doesn’t take much to really shape the vibe. 

Cultured stone exterior

One of my favorite looks for a fireplace is the cultured stone exterior as shown in example below. The Cal Flame FRP 909-2 with the Autumn Pro-Fit finish really carries an earthy, grounded vibe that creates a fun juxtaposition with the surrounding softness of outdoor decor. 

Make use of greenery

Just because your backyard now has an outdoor fireplace — and probably a decking area too — it doesn’t mean that you have to forgo the type of greenery you’d normally expect to see in a backyard. It can add texture and warmth to place plants and flowers in pots around your checking area. If you have vines growing already, letting them run wild around your outdoor fireplace can certainly result in an interesting look.

Maybe just make sure you don’t put anything flammable right next to an open fire unless you want to live on the wild side.

Add extra amenities

Even if “adding an outdoor fireplace” was genuinely the last thing on your backyard to-do list, we can practically guarantee that you’ll start thinking of more things to add once it’s there.

Why not add further amenities and entertainment, such as a grill or TV? The only problem is that your friends and relatives may not ever want to leave your property the next time they come around for a hangout!

Make your visions a reality

It’s fun to browse Pinterest for inspiration, but you know what’s even better? Putting your ideas into action. The first step to that is buying the missing pieces.

At Backyard Sprawl, we sell a range of outdoor furniture, decor, and fire pits — so whether you need to buy the fireplace itself or you’re looking for the final touches, chances are that we’ll have something to your liking.