Each summer, Spencer residents flock outdoors to enjoy the warm weather, whether walking through one of the town’s many parks or sitting in a backyard.
If you’re looking to spend more time outdoors this summer – most Americans spend about 90% of their time inside – updating your backyard can be the perfect incentive. There are countless directions you can go with your backyard landscaping, to the point that it can almost become overwhelming.
As Spencer’s resident backyard experts, we feel uniquely qualified to help you navigate your backyard renovation. Today, we’ll give you a few backyard landscape ideas with fire pits.
Fire pits give you a place to entertain guests, but also a place to have a quiet moment alone in your backyard. Keep reading and you’ll be inspired to create the backyard oasis you’ve always wanted.
1. Secluded Pathways
You can make your fire pit the part of your backyard where you can escape your home and feel like you’re in the wilderness. In Iowa, we have nice warm summers and cold, snowy winters. You will want to make sure the fire pit area is accessible all year round.
The best way to do this is to create a stone pathway leading from your home out to the fire pit area. Not only does this make it safe and easy to get to and from the fire pit when there’s snow, but it creates a sense of exclusivity to the area itself.
This is an especially great move when you have a larger backyard. By placing the fire pit in the back of your yard, you can segment it and make the yard feel like it’s got multiple components.
2. Hidden by Flora
Exclusivity is going to be a bit of a theme with these outdoor design tips. Whether you live on a larger property or you’ve got neighbors surrounding you, enhancing the privacy around your fire pit can give it a bit more gravitas.
You don’t have to put up a brick wall around the area to enjoy your privacy. Instead, you can plant a few shrubs, flowers, and trees around the fire pit to create a sense of wilderness right in your backyard.
The types of plants you choose will dictate the vibe your fire pit gives you. For example, you can plant palm trees, orchids, and begonias to give the area a colorful, almost tropical aura. To make it feel more like Iowa, plant native species, like yarrow, bluebells, and irises.
3. Hardscape Surroundings
Planting things around your fire pit will give it lush surroundings. You can also go in the opposite direction and do some hardscaping around the pit to create a stronger motif.
This works really well with an elevated stone fire pit. You can match the hardscaping and seating around the fire pit to create a cohesive look that everyone will love.
Your hardscape could be a small wall surrounding the fire pit or a nice circular patio for the fire pit to sit on. Whatever hardscape garden pit fire ideas you come up with, we can help you bring them to fruition.
4. A Sunken Space
If you’re going to spend a lot of time around your fire pit, you’ll want to highlight it in your backyard. You can give the area a bit of extra gravitas by creating a raised platform for the fire pit or turning it into a sunken space.
The sunken fire pit will give you a bit of extra privacy and make your lounge area more inconspicuous. When you have larger gatherings, this will also make it easier to fit people around the firepit using tiered seating.
5. Your Outdoor Kitchen Centerpiece
One of the greatest things you can add to your backyard is an outdoor kitchen. While fire pits typically don’t have a practical purpose, yours can pull double-duty and become the centerpiece of your outdoor kitchen, as well as your outdoor lounge centerpiece.
All you really need to do is add a grill to the firepit, along with some prep space and seating for your guests. In this scenario, you’ll want to keep your fire pit a bit closer to your home so you can make full use of the outdoor kitchen.
6. Prepare for All Weather
If you enjoy spending time outdoors, rain, shine, or snow, then you’ll want to prepare your fire pit space accordingly. One of the best ways to experience the best of all worlds is to erect a covered pergola above your fire pit.
When it’s nice and sunny out, you can leave your pergola uncovered around the fire pit to allow the sun to filter through while getting a bit of shade. When it’s raining or snowing and you need to cover the fire, place a cover over the pergola and enjoy sitting by the fire in all kinds of weather.
7. Poolside Fire Circle
Nothing gives your home better summertime vibes than a pool. It’s a big investment, but one that pays off with each swim. What will take it to a completely new level is placing a fire pit directly beside your pool.
Think about those temperate summer nights when you’ll be able to go for a swim as the sun goes down, and then dry yourself off by the warmth of the fire afterwards. This is an ideal setup for summertime gatherings with people of all ages.
8. Something From the Stone Age
Humans have been sitting around the fire for millennia. You don’t have to do much to create that timeless feeling right in your backyard. Create a circular stone fire pit and place some stone seating around it to create that “Stone Age” look.
Creating Your Own Backyard Landscaping Ideas With Fire Pits
These are just a few backyard landscaping ideas with fire pits to give you some inspiration for your backyard design. As Spencer’s top choice for landscaping, hardscaping, and garden design, we’ve helped countless homeowners create backyards that they feel more happy and comfortable in.
Since 1967, Del’s has been committed to making Northwest Iowa’s homes more beautiful with nature. To talk to one of our representatives about DIY fire pit landscaping and other patio decor inspiration, contact us today.