As the nights draw in and the daylight hours decrease, you can still enjoy spending time in your backyard gathering with family and friends around a cozy fire pit. Whether you are looking for modern style, rustic charm, or a simple DIY project, these fire pit ideas will spark inspiration for your outdoor space. From compact portable designs to built-in features that maximize limited square footage, there’s something here for every backyard setup.
A fire pit doesn’t require a sprawling yard—it just takes clever design. The ideas that we have gathered for you below prove that even the smallest outdoor spaces can become warm, inviting retreats.
Tell Us: Which one of these fire pit ideas do you find most inspiring? Let us know in the Comments below!
1. Make It A S’mores Night.
Gather your family and friends around your fire pit on a cool evening and put together a delicious spread of s’mores on a platter or roast some marshmallows. The gravel around the fire pit is stone dust, compacted. (via Designs by Marshall)
2. A Garden Fire Pit.
Create an intimate backyard escape in your garden with a fire pit. Add a bench seat with some cushions or a pair of chairs to enjoy your fire feature. When the weather cools, add a basket with some throws for extra warmth. (via Alderwood Landscape Architecture)
3. Beach-Themed Backyard Fire Pit.
If you don’t live at the beach, you can still create a beachy backyard paradise. Purchase some beach-like sand from places like Home Depot and pour it around your fire pit (this one was made by importing real beach sand). A gathering area can be made with a custom-built flagstone bench (or just a wooden bench) and large flagstone slabs for the fire pit. The interior is filled with sea glass, aggregate, and fossil shells. Beneath the surface, a Fire Pit Ring Burner Kit is hidden, so when lit, the flames dance through the glass and shells—appearing as if they’re rising straight from the sand. (via Grace Design Associates)
4. Circular Stone Fire Pit.
This rocky fire pit area of a fenced-in backyard in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is permeable, allowing for natural airflow and ensuring the area remains dry after rainfall. A small stacked stone circle fire pit blends seamlessly into the landscape of this cozy backyard. Wood stumps provide a casual vibe and additional seating. (via CA Yardscape)
5. Add Built-In Seating.
Rock outcroppings make a striking background for a lounge area in this compact Los Angeles hillside garden. Working with the attributes of the site, native plants drape over the stone, and a hollowed stone planter from Asian Ceramics was converted into a fire pit. Built-in seating around the fire pit creates a relaxing space, while dramatic lighting makes it come alive at night. (via June Scott Design)
6. Portable Metal Fire Bowl.
Easy to move and store, a simple fire bowl works perfectly for small backyard patios. The backyard of a home in the Irving Park section of Chicago, Illinois, features a fire pit from Fire Pits Atlanta. The chairs are from Restoration Hardware. The stone pavers are Thermal Pennsylvania bluestone. (via K.D. Landscaping)
7. Sunken Fire Pit Nook.
This recessed, wood-burning fire pit of a small backyard in Dallas, Texas, is a great destination to hang out with friends and family on a cool fall evening. Modern Adirondack chairs provide comfortable seating. (via AquaTerra Outdoors)
8. Tabletop Fire Pit.
A small backyard patio of a home in San Francisco, California, features privacy fencing for an intimate backyard escape. A trio of Adirondack chairs encicle a round concrete fire pit table, a compact option that brings ambiance without taking up floor space. A similar fire table is the Venice 34 in. x 34 in. Outdoor Fire Pit Propane Table Backyard Patio Heater – Elementi. (via LANDIBLE | landscape architecture)
9. Built-In Patio Corner Pit.
Maximize space by nestling a fire pit into a patio corner with built-in seating. This impeccably designed backyard of a home in Sammamish, Washington, features a crescent of plush seating encircling a roaring firepit, set beneath the stars and framed by up-lit white birch trees that create an enchanting, resort-like ambiance. (via London Design Build)
10. Outdoor Living Room.
This lively, welcoming outdoor space in Denver, Colorado, is perfect for family and friends to experience, entertain in, and enjoy. The custom-formed fire pit has built-in ventilation and sleeving. The portable patio furniture provides options for dining and enjoying the fire in the outdoor living space. Custom-created shade sails provide compression and intimacy. (via TLC Gardens)
11. Cozy Backyard Retreat.
This arbored lounge area with a fire pit is a “go-to” hangout area for a Hanchet Park couple and their friends and neighbors. The clay pigs were purchased from Living Green in San Francisco, California.
12. Fire Pit with String Lights.
Pair a small fire pit with overhead string lights for ultimate backyard ambiance. A sectional sofa is wrapped around a Solo Stove 27-in W Stainless Steel Wood-Burning Fire Pit for the perfect conversation area for a small backyard of a modern farmhouse home in Santa Barbara, California. (via Bildsten Architecture and Planning)
13. Intimate Patio and Pergola.
The outdoor living and entertaining space can accommodate individuals and small groups in relative privacy. At the same time, the style and design of the landscape reduce the feeling of a small space through harmonious interaction with the house, which is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (via Southview Design)
14. Raised Brick Fire Pit.
Durable and budget-friendly, brick fire pits can be customized in shape and size. This cozy backyard features a patio seating area with a gas fire pit and seatwall, providing plenty of functional space for extra guests by the fire pit. (via Susan Cohan Gardens)
15. Natural Stone Firepit.
The owners love to spend time in their compact yard with family and friends. They are an avid gardener and a handyman. They continuously embellish their yard with pots and annuals, holiday decorations, and vegetables. What was once a completely unusable, small yard was transformed into this cozy fire pit sitting area with a rose-covered entranceway. (via Just in Thyme Landscape Design)
16. Concrete With Glass Rocks.
This poured-in-place concrete firepit of a small backyard patio in Los Angeles, California, is surrounded by a variety of seating options. A similar Adirondack rocking chair can be found on Amazon. Inside the fire pit, reflective fire glass adds to the ambiance. (via Botanica Landscape Inc.)
17. Firepit Focal Point.
For this backyard of a home in Richmond, Virginia, the landscape architect created a cozy outdoor family room feel. Adirondack chairs with plush pillows encircle a stone fire pit. This type of fire pit gives your patio a more finished look that is durable and aesthetically pleasing. If you have stones in other areas of your yard, be sure to use the same material for a more cohesive look. (via Outdoor Dreams)
18. Natural Boulder Firepit.
This small New Berlin, Wisconsin backyard features a Bluestone patio with Germantown paver border, a spacious firepit using Winnebago boulders, and is nestled among existing Austrian Pines. The patio is framed with ornamental grasses, Japanese Maples, and Winnebago outcropping boulders to create seating stones. (via Breckenridge Landscape Design)
19. Built-In Stone Firepit.
A modern farmhouse in Texas Hill Country features this fire pit surrounded by peaceful landscaping. This cozy fire pit is perfect for small yards, as it enables you to have just enough space for a few chairs, creating an inviting spot to gather and unwind. (via B. Jane Gardens)
20. Fire Pit Table.
This fire pit table complements this compact patio space of a home in Santa Barbara by blending in, not being too noisy or obtrusive. The grey powder-coat color leaves an opportunity for a bright accent piece, colorful flora, furniture, and lighting to play a larger role in visually defining this space. (via COOKE Furniture)
21. DIY A Budget-Friendly Fire Pit.
This budget-friendly backyard oasis features a metal fire ring as its focal point. A circular patio space is defined by gravel, creating a rustic feel to this compact space. Add ambiance when the sun goes down with overhead string lights. Modern Adirondack chairs will provide comfortable seating for family and friends. (via John Stoffer for Better Homes & Gardens)
22. Cozy Backyard Deck.
This concrete fire bowl perfectly complements the deck and surroundings of a beachfront home in Southern California. Wicker chairs offer ample seating options around this warm and inviting focal point. (via Flagg Coastal Homes)
23. Campfire-Inspired Backyard Firepit.
This DIY fire pit is simple to build and will give hours of endless pleasure with family and friends. Place some chairs around, with warm and cozy throws and blankets, along with pillows for added comfort. Add a picnic table with warm drinks like hot cocoa and a s’mores station. (via Jennifer Koper Interior Design)
24. Add Playful Pops of Color.
A backyard in Austin, Texas, offers a private outdoor area to relax with family and friends. The fence is painted in a bright, happy color. Lounge chairs, a fire pit, café lights, and a grill finish the space, making it party-ready. Colorful metal art and décor add pops of color and interest. (via Terri Becker Designs)
25. Add Some Lanterns.
If you are looking for a little extra glow to your evening ambiance, add some lanterns around your fire pit. As summer transitions to fall, you can still spend time outdoors, but be sure to add some throws to keep your guests extra warm around the fire. Serve a delicious cup of hot cocoa or apple cider and enjoy some s’mores. Get some fall party ideas. (via Dana Gallagher for Better Homes & Gardens)
26. Campfire-Inspired Firepit.
If you love campfires, create one in your backyard with a small gravel area, some large rocks, and firewood. Add some natural log seating for a rustic backyard gathering. (via Serenity Designs)
27. Build A Wrap-Around Bench.
A backyard deck in Austin, Texas, features rich ipe wood, complete with a built-in bench that wraps around a wood-burning fire pit. Add some comfortable pillows and even some cozy throws for when the weather gets cooler. String lights overhead bring a magical ambiance, creating the perfect space for gathering. (via B. Jane Gardens)
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