Fire Pit Ideas for Any Outdoor Space

Nothing makes an outdoor space more inviting than a fire pit! It instantly ups the ambiance and makes the area feel cozy and relaxing. I love that you can enjoy a fire pit all year– they warm outdoor spaces up in the cool months, and the flames help keep bugs away in the summer (not to mention you can roast marshmallows). Whether you want to make a DIY fire pit or buy one, these are the best fire pit ideas out there!

A back deck with teak rockers and fire columns on either side of the sun umbrella. "Designer trapped" is written in the lower right corner.

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Our new house has a gorgeous screened-in porch with a fireplace that we take full advantage of all year. We have a TV, comfy couches, cushions, and pillows, and we spend tons of time out there. We've even sat by our outdoor fireplace on Christmas!

As wonderful as our screened-in porch is, I still miss evenings spent on our old back deck, watching the girls play in the yard in the sprinklers and on the DIY swing we made for them! We worked hard renovating that deck. We built a deck bar and also redid the backyard landscaping. But one of my favorite things we added that really took our enjoyment of the deck to the next level was the two fire pit columns (these propane fire pit columns are similar).

Fire columns on colorful backyard deck next to rockers and colorful checkered pillows.

Of course, before we made the final decision to purchase the fire columns at our old house, I perused a million different backyard fire pit ideas! I wanted to share the best of the best that I found either to build yourself or buy if home improvement projects aren't in the cards for you right now.

Outdoor Fire Pit Ideas (That You Can Make Yourself)

DIY Fire Pit Table

When finished, this fantastic DIY fire table gives you a versatile, modern fire pit table! Tabletop fire pits may be a lot to tackle if you are a beginner, but the tutorial is thorough with step-by-step instructions, budget-friendly, and the finished product is amazing. This would be perfect if you don't have a great place in your yard or a patio for a traditional fire pit.

A back porch with a green outdoor rug and a simple planked coffee table with a built-in miniature fire pit. — source: Pine and Poplar

DIY Concrete Fire Bowl

This natural gas concrete fire bowl from Man Made DIY is so unique. The bowl shape makes this more of a modern concrete fire pit, which I like.

A DIY concrete bowl fire pit sits on gravel in a backyard with a wooden fence. — source: Man Made DIY

Traditional DIY Fire Pit

If you are looking for fire pit seating ideas, you will find both here! I love this DIY fire pit and comfortable seating area by Lauren at Bless'er House. The classic shape of the fire pit ring, the circular seating area filled with pea gravel, and the classic Adirondack chairs are so inviting! A circular fire pit allows for conversation and relaxation.

A pea gravel walkway leads to a brick fire pit and black Adirondack chairs and a S'mores station. — source: Bless'er House

Square Modern Fire Pit

This square, solid concrete fire pit is sleek and cool! It has nice, wide sides, which I really like, and is a fresh take on the conventional round fire pit. Though simple, this fire pit is labor-intensive, with several steps in the video tutorial. There aren't as many square fire pit ideas out there, which makes this one even more special. It enhances your fire pit's look and can be a good idea for a smaller fire pit area.

A square fire pit sits in the center of a backyard with square pavers leading from the white porch to the fire pit. — source: Welcome to the Woods Blog

Quick DIY Fire Pit

The easy 4-step DIY fire pit is perfect for anyone looking for a plan with easy steps that yield a great new fire pit quickly! The results are beautiful, and the process is simple. Made from concrete landscaping stones and a metal fire ring and filled with gravel, all it takes is some elbow grease. When your outdoor living space is this cute and comfy, you'll find yourself spending time enjoying it with your family.

The best fire pit ideas are as easy as this DIY fire pit made from landscaping stones, circled by white benches and yellow, pink, and black and white pillows. — source: A Beautiful Mess

In-Ground Fire Pit with Seating

Looking for in-ground fire pit ideas? This plan is amazing, and it includes the bench. I love that it has a patio of concrete pavers, a fire pit in the middle, AND a seating area. This brick fire pit is an excellent option if you have a larger fire pit location. What a fantastic place to gather, roast marshmallows, and hang out! This DIY project will leave you with an outdoor space you can enjoy as a family and with guests all year (and keep your wood organized, which gives it bonus points!).

A simple, in-ground DIY fire pit with bench and a neat pile of firewood underneath the seating area. The firepit is framed by circles of landscaping stones. — source: Instructables

Classic Stacked Stone Fire Pit

This stacked stone fire pit on Houzz is beautiful and has a classic look that I love. The homeowners planned and designed this easy DIY cozy fire pit idea, and they built it from scratch using stone pavers, cement, and paver sand/gravel. The tutorial is thorough and simple to follow, and the end result looks great.

Fire pit ideas like this use the usual stacked stone fire pit design, with seating and plenty of backyard landscaping. — source: Houzz

Metal and Glass Tabletop Fire Pit

A totally different twist on simple fire pit ideas, this tabletop metal and glass fire pit is perfect for a small space. Made to sit on top of a table, it is ideal for a smaller deck or a cozy sitting space. I love that it is a metal fire pit, which makes it look modern and more like a centerpiece or decor! This is my favorite tabletop fire pit idea and an excellent choice for any space.

A glass and metal DIY tabletop fire pit next to a blue lounge chair is an example of smaller fire pit ideas. — source: The Art of Doing Stuff

DIY Fire Pit with Gravel

This DIY fire pit is made from a fire pit kit and is surrounded by retaining wall blocks, creating a border. You can often find fire pit kits at big-box and hardware stores. I love how it runs right up to the patio (stenciled to look like concrete tile), and the string lights are the perfect added touch!

A fire pit off of the patio with a border of retaining wall blocks, blank chairs, and poles with lights. — source: Jenna Sue Design Co.

Paver Patio and Fire Pit

Pavers and astroturf make an amazing patio and the perfect spot for a fire pit. They did an awesome job creating the perfect grid and then using a fire pit kit and liquid nails to finish their dream outdoor space. Square and rectangular blocks are excellent materials for creating a simple patio or outdoor gathering place.

This fire pit idea uses pavers with astroturf in between and fire pit in middle, behind the house. — source: Life on Shady Lane

DIY Fire Pit in a Floating Deck

Jake dug out this flat deck and built the fire pit from a galvanized steel ring. I love the pergola above it with the lights! This is an excellent use of an outdoor area.

A DIY fire pit idea includes a floating deck uses galvanized steel and a pergola covered with lights. — source: Catz in the Kitchen

Lazy DIY Smokeless Fire Pit

I love this white gravel fire pit in the woods! Kate used a special vented fire ring to reduce the smoke and finished her DIY fire pit with pavers and gravel. The stumps she added to the fire pit seating area make the space! In a wooded area, trim back low-hanging limbs to keep them safe.

A white gravel firepit in the southern woods with a smokeless fire pit, twin black lanterns, and wicker seating. — source: House Mix

Aren't these fantastic, simple DIY fire pit ideas? I can't believe how easy some of them are. The most important thing is good planning and hard work! Want more ideas that take a little less elbow grease? I have some great options to purchase.

Fire Pits to Buy

Is a DIY fire pit something you don't want to tackle? There are tons of great backyard fire pit ideas out there that you can buy! We found both traditional and modern fire pits, fire pit tables, and more. Keep in mind that with most options for a propane fire pit, there is a tank. We chose fire columns for our last home because the propane tank sits inside the column.

A blue graphic with various examples of buyable fire pits, and text in the center that reads, "Fire pit ideas for a dreamy outdoor space."

Round Metal Fire Column
Gas Fire Pit
Concrete Fire Pit (sold out–similar option linked here)
Tabletop Fire Pit with Stand
Tabletop Fireplace
Minimalist Wood Burning Fire Pit
Golden Brushed Steel with Lid Fire Pit
Concrete Fire Pit Table
Wood Grain Finish Fire Pit (sold out–similar option linked here)
Concrete with Black Top Fire Pit
Black Metal Column
Steel Wood-burning Fire Pit

SO many fire pits to choose from! If you’ve been on the fence about whether to add one or not, this is your sign! You will get so much use out of it; it will only help you enjoy your outdoor spaces more.