Fire pits: 5 tips for choosing the right one for your backyard (2024)

Outdoor entertaining is a quintessential part of Australian living, and there’s nothing better than gathering in the backyard with friends and family around the cosy fire pit. To help inspire you, here are 5 essential tips for choosing the right fire pit for your backyard.

Whether you’re planning to extend your entertaining season well into winter or simply want a dedicated space to roast marshmallows with the family, a fire pit will be a versatile addition to your garden or outdoor entertaining area that’s guaranteed to improve the ambience.

Available in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and finishes, fire pits can easily become a dramatic sculptural feature in any backyard.

Ensure your fire pit space becomes a beloved hangout by pairing it with comfortable outdoor furniture, and you’ll be sure to look forward to winter for many years to come.

Here are our top 5 tips for choosing the right fire pit for your backyard…

size

Gone are the days of concrete blocks and rusty drums for outdoor heat. The new breed of fire pit adds atmosphere as well as warmth to a garden, can create a focal point in an alfresco space, and allow you to spend more time outside in cooler weather.

“Adding a fire pit area to your backyard can totally transform the overall look and feel of it, and make the space feel welcoming, regardless of its size,” says Sydney-based landscape designer Adam Robinson. “And don’t forget, the fire pit can also be a cool way to cook outdoors.”

design

The fire pit you need depends on the space you have available. Big backyards can of course accommodate built-in stone or brick fire pits, freestanding pits and fire bowls.

Smaller spaces, such as courtyards, should stick to fire bowls, portable fire pits, table-top pits or chimineas.

When it comes to balconies, the best option is a tabletop fire pit or small fire bowl.

“A simple bowl in an interesting, robust material makes the most classic and sophisticated fire pit, and never goes out of style,” says Adam.

fuel choice

While timber is the most obvious fuel option for a fire pit, you can also use clean-burning ethanol/bioethanol products, gels (with a base of isopropyl alcohol or methanol), and faux logs (as in the ornamental logs used in outdoor gas fireplaces, which are less like fire pits and more like fireplaces).

Timber alternatives can be used in both small and large spaces, but wood should only be burned where there’s no risk of embers landing on flammable plant life or built structures.

“Whatever you go for, it’s important to consider safety requirements and environmental concerns,” says Adam. “Bioethanol is by far the most environmentally friendly option as the fumes emitted are the cleanest, followed by natural gas.

A great alternative to wood is biofuel logs. The flammable briquettes made by Melbourne company Zero Impact contain recycled coffee grounds. They are meant to burn better than wood, and are a cleaner source of energy than coal.”

If you do choose wood, Matthew Hoffmann, the national barbecue and outdoor heating buyer for Bunnings, has the following advice: “Any dry hardwoods, such as red gum or jarrah, burn for longer and are cleaner. Softwoods, such as pine, tend to burn quickly, so you will need more wood to keep the fire going and more smoke to manage,” he says. And remember, you can only burn natural, untreated timbers.

safety

Before you get excited and race to the nearest fire-pit retailer, it’s important to read the local council regulations about fire pits and open fires.

And if you live in an apartment and the building has a body corporate, you’ll need to check the regulations to make sure they allow fire pits.

When you install the fire pit, it should be positioned on gravel or a paved area, with plenty of room for movement around the pit when it’s lit. Avoid tight, secluded or high-traffic areas.

“Only use a fire pit on a balcony if it is on a non-combustible surface,” says Matthew. “If not, a gas heater is a great alternative.”

ambience

Once you’re all set, you can further enhance your fire-pit experience by burning naturally scented products.

For a festive olfactory punch, light up cinnamon sticks at Christmas, dried citrus such as orange in winter, and sage and rosemary when the bugs are about, which should ensure a fragrant – and hopefully mosquito-free – experience at any time of the year.

top tips

• Size The scale of your alfresco area should inform the fire pit’s size.

• Design A bowl is more portable and won’t get too hot.

• Fuel choice Make sure your timber is dry and untreated.

• Safety Set your fire pit on a non-combustible surface.

• Ambience Burn herbs or dried fruit to enhance the experience.