Comparing the Best Outdoor Fire Features for Northern Virginia Landscapes

Outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, and other fire features can be an exciting addition to your outdoor living area. They’re an excellent way to get even more use and enjoyment out of your space.

In fact, professional outdoor fire features can transform how you use your yard. Not only do they become spectacular focal points, but they also add a beneficial social element that truly makes your yard the place to be!

Jump to Section

• What Are the Best Fire Features for Patios?
• What’s The Difference Between an Outdoor Fire Pit and an Outdoor Fireplace?
• What Are the Best Fuel Types for Outdoor Fire Features?
• Choosing Landscape Design & Installation in Northern VA

Whether you’re someone who likes to entertain or prefer spending time with your immediate family, there are fire features that work for everyone.

Here are some of the best fire features for patios to help you have the hottest backyard on the block.

What Are the Best Fire Features for Patios?

When it comes to heating up your patio, there are plenty of modern outdoor fire elements to choose from. Figuring out what’s best for you will really depend on considering your wants, needs, and budget.

We’ll talk about everything from smaller, portable fire features to professional outdoor fire features that require installation, so you can weigh your options.

Portable Fire Pits

Portable fire pits have come a really long way, with specific name-brand options becoming increasingly popular.

There are certainly some advantages to portable fire pits, including the ability to relocate them as needed. Some homeowners keep them on their patio, but then move them to a driveway or other location for different needs. They are also a budget-friendly option in many cases.

A portable fire pit can be a good option for a smaller yard or for homeowners who need the flexibility. They can still help you to enjoy your outdoor living space more fully.

Permanent Fire Pits

When considering permanent vs portable fire pits, there are reasons you might choose the professionally installed permanent option. For one, it’s more of a high-end focal point that brings your outdoor living area together. It can really make your patio more of a “destination” and an “experience.”

We know sometimes homeowners worry they won’t get enough use out of a permanent structure, but one way that we do find homeowners get more use out of a permanent fire pit is when it can serve double duty.

For instance, turning a permanent structure into a fire pit table with a cover that lets you set down drinks or a plate can let you get a lot more use out of it, even if you don’t have a fire going. In this sense, it does double duty as an outdoor coffee table.

With a professionally designed and installed fire pit, you can customize the design to suit your patio perfectly. You can also have a gas fire pit tied into your home’s gas. This allows you to have a fire at the push of a button!

Outdoor Fireplaces

An outdoor fireplace is another option for your patio. These can be elegant additions that really enhance your time outdoors.

Some of the circumstances where a fireplace might be the better option over a fire pit are when space is at a premium (you can incorporate a fireplace on the edge of a patio, and you don’t sit around it like you do with a fire pit) or if you have a windy property.

Fireplaces can be stand-alone structures or include wood storage boxes or additional seating. There are many ways to make your outdoor fireplace unique to you and your property.

Fire Bowls, Torches & Other Fire Features

Of course, modern outdoor fire elements also include much smaller options, such as bowls or torches.

For instance, we designed a client project that included a propane-powered fire bowl, a really unique and fun addition to the outdoor living design. The fire feature does not have to be the main show; it can be just one element of the overall design.

What’s The Difference Between an Outdoor Fire Pit and an Outdoor Fireplace?

Both outdoor fire pits and outdoor fireplaces are modern outdoor fire elements that would make a nice addition to your Northern Virginia property. But what is the difference between these two popular options?

An outdoor fire pit is a low, round or square structure that is open and where people can gather. An outdoor fireplace is a vertical structure with a chimney, much like an indoor fireplace.

Deciding which is right for your property is mainly a matter of personal preference, though there may be factors that sway you one way or another.

If you have a windy property, for instance, you might want more of an enclosed fire with a chimney (as with a fireplace) than an open fire (like that of a fire pit). An outdoor fireplace will direct the smoke upwards.

Outdoor fireplaces have a bit more of an elegant or formal feel, and that’s just the right choice for a lot of homeowners.

Of course, some people really love the social and “open” feel of gathering around a fire pit.

Whether it’s you and the kids or maybe it’s a bunch of your kids’ friends, adding a fire pit to your backyard can create the opportunity to have memorable gatherings. Cozy up, roast some marshmallows, tell stories, have some good laughs, and just share some special time.

What Are the Best Fuel Types for Outdoor Fire Features?

Choosing between gas and wood is another big decision when selecting a fire feature for your home.

There are definitely pros and cons of each, and it often boils down to personal preference. Of course, sometimes, the choice is made for you. Some HOAs only allow gas-burning fire features.

Here are a few additional considerations.

Pros Of Gas Fire Pits & Fireplaces

Convenience: A gas fire pit or fireplace is all about convenience. At the push of the button, your fire comes on. There is no time or effort involved in gathering wood or building a fire, and you don’t have to “tend to it” to keep it going.

Customization: If you already have gas service at your home, we can run a dedicated line to your fire pit or fireplace so you never have to lug propane tanks or refill them. There is also some ability to get a bit more “creative” with a gas fire pit design.

You could, for instance, have a large ceramic fire bowl filled with decorative stone or colored stained glass.

Cons Of Gas Fire Pits & Fireplaces

Lack of experience or ambiance: a gas-powered fire can never fully replicate the smell, sound, or overall experience of a wood-burning fire feature. For some people, that might be a deal-breaker. It feels like they’ll lose some of the ambiance, and perhaps why they envisioned having a fire pit in the first place. Some homeowners have told us that the smell and the sound are nostalgic for them.

Pros of Wood-Burning Fire Pits & Fireplaces

Ambiance: For many homeowners, a wood fire pit is all about a campfire-style fire feature that delivers the smell and sound of real-burning wood.

Experience: Some homeowners say that building a fire with their children or grandchildren is part of the fun.

Cons of Wood-Burning Fire Pits & Fireplaces

Needing & storing firewood: You’ll always need to have wood on hand. This means gathering it or buying it ahead of using your fire pit or fireplace. If you want to store wood, you’ll also need to think about a place to keep it (and keep it dry).

Smoke production: There is also smoke to think about. With a wood-burning fire pit or fireplace, there is going to be smoke. It’s what helps create that distinct aroma, but if you have a windy property, it could be a frustration.

Choosing Landscape Design & Installation in Northern VA

When it comes to bringing your fire feature dreams to life, you’ll want to look for the right landscape design and installation company to complete the work.

Choosing the right landscape contractor to bring your vision to life will be important. The truth is, some landscape contractors are just going to steer you toward the fire feature that they’re most comfortable building without taking your personal wants and needs into account.

But what you really want is something custom. You want a fire feature that takes the ways you envision using it (and your outdoor living area) and makes them a true reality, with a design that’s just right for you.

At the end of the day, that’s going to come down to design. You don’t have to get stuck with a fire feature that you don’t love.

By choosing the right landscape design company to walk you through the process, you can ensure that you’ll end up with a fire feature that you’ll not only love but will allow you to enjoy time outdoors to the fullest.

If you’d like some guidance on adding a fire feature, request a consultation, get your customized plan, and get ready for the royal treatment.