The fire pit is the essential element of any cozy evening spent outside. Roast marshmallows, make s’mores or go healthy with incredible baked apples. Whether you just want to watch the flames dance against the darkness of night or plan on cooking a meal, you can build one the entire family will enjoy. Here are a few ideas for you to enjoy.

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The Recessed Fire Pit

With a little planning, you can work a recessed fire pit into your new patio design. Leave an opening in the middle of your wood deck or tiled area for the fire bowl to rest in. Provide plenty of support underneath to hold the pit, and make sure you choose the right location. It should be out of the way from traffic patterns for everyone’s safety.

Retaining Blocks

Your homemade fire pit doesn’t have to be a complicated project. Possible materials include simple retaining blocks. With versatile materials like stone or blocks, you can also customize the shape. Make a long rectangle, so you can have a roaring fire on one side for warmth and a smaller one next to it for cooking. Choose a basic circle for gathering with friends. Customize the size to suit your needs and accommodate all the people you might invite over. Top the ring with a smooth row of concrete for an unbroken surface, or leave the blocks for a rugged look. If you want more air to flow in through the fire, then leave a little space between retaining blocks.

The Combined Look

If you have a fire pit bowl that you love but wish it was larger, you can alter the look with bricks, stones or retaining blocks. Build a surround that you can rest the bowl in. You will have the attractive look of a heavy brick pit along with the convenience of a fire bowl. One benefit of this construction is that you can life the bowl out when it’s time to empty ashes. The size of these pits will naturally stay small, but you can also find larger bowls if you want bigger fires.

A Grate for Cooking

If you like the idea of cooking a meal or some snacks over the fire, then have a grate ready. A large grate can be laid over the top of your fire pit to hold the snacks while they cook. You can either remove the grate and set it to the side when you want a larger fire, or you can have it mounted on hinges and just flip it to the side when you won’t use it.

You will never regret your decision to add a fire pit to the patio area. Whether you build a modern structure that’s recessed into the deck or go for a basic square made of retaining blocks, you will love gathering around the fire with your kids. Stock up on apples, graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows because it’s time to enjoy a fire pit.

Blooms Landcare is a landscaping company specializing in lawn care, irrigation, outdoor lighting, and landscape design in Fort Worth, TX.