Adding a fire element to your backyard automatically warms and enhances the space, adding light and texture and even a little bit of intrigue to every gathering. What homeowners need to decide when starting from scratch is exactly how they want this special addition to look, what ways it will be used, and where it is best positioned for optimum use.
Select the Location
There are homes with very large yards with room to spread out your additions and others with more intimate settings that require features to work together. A fire element can work in any outdoor living environment and deliver in both appearance and function, whether you’re looking for warmth, tranquility, practicality, or a combination of these senses:
- Standalone in the corner or back of a yard, surrounded by chairs.
- Reached by a brick or concrete paver walkway.
- Incorporated into an existing patio.
- Blended with a built-in seating wall.
- Positioned out in the open for all-season usage.
- Situated near decorative water walls or fountains.
- Paired alongside a bar and grilling station.
Settle on a Shape
Whether you choose a fireplace or fire pit for your backyard, the shape of the structure influences how it is used, how it looks and feels aesthetically, and how you have curated the atmosphere to complement the way you and your favorite people gather.
- Circular. A round firepit lends itself to lounging, walking around, sitting, or standing alongside the fire.
- Square. If your outdoor living space is mostly rounded, a square firepit adds a sturdy element to all the soft edges for a sophisticated blend of shapes.
- Tall. When you plan to cook, heat, and enjoy a fire for warmth, the vertical space of a tall fireplace delivers on ambiance and functionality.
Choose Your Material
Fire elements combined with natural materials deliver on the beautiful contrast of hard and soft, hot and cold. Fireplaces and firepits can be structured as rock, brick, stone, or even a combination of different elements.
The design of a fire element can be intricate and sophisticated or straightforward and rustic. Your vision, aesthetic, and space will be the ultimate deciding factors. Existing factors also influence the right material choice since, depending on its location, you want your firepit or fireplace to mesh well with decorative pavers, seating walls, or other hardscape materials.
The addition of softscape materials is complementary to a fire element too. Any tree, shrub, flower, or other type of vegetation can be used through landscaping tenets to make a fire element look natural while adding privacy and shade and softening a hard space.
How Will You Use a Fire Element in Your Outdoor Space?
You know best how you will use your outdoor space and any fire element within it. Whether you entertain regularly or want an intimate spot for you and your immediate family, there is a way to incorporate a firepit or fireplace into your backyard. Contact Visionary Landscaping in Shelby Township, MI, to schedule a consultation and clarify your vision.
