A DIY fire pit area is a wonderful way to add a cozy, inviting outdoor space to your home. Follow this easy tutorial to get started!
A few years ago, I shared several examples of how to build your own DIY fire pit, but now that we have more space, I’m going to walk you through the steps for building the area around the actual fire pit!
We didn’t end up building a fire pit that year. But we fell in love with the best smokeless fire pit: the Solo Stove. We set it up in our backyard and simply pulled out our camping chairs whenever we wanted a fire.
We’ve owned the Yukon-size Solo Stove for several years, and we love that we don’t smell like smoke after a night of making s’mores around the fire! (The design has special technology that limits the smoke coming off the fire.)
When we moved into this home, we traded a huge backyard for a smaller, half-wooded, private one. While we have a small, fairly flat green space, we tried to squeeze all of our old yard toys into it. The trampoline was the biggest eyesore, but it was so handy during quarantine. So, fair trade.
We recently got a dog, and now that we’re out in the yard more often, we wanted it to look prettier and work better for our family. Once the new puppy arrived, it was easy to talk our girls into letting go of the trampoline. Yay!
For years, we’ve said that once the trampoline was gone, we would sod the yard and make the grass really nice and lush.
But as soon as we hauled off the trampoline, we realized it had left us the perfect spot for a fire pit area!! We were already using our Solo Stove in the yard, so why not make it a true fire pit space for our family to enjoy?
Here’s how we created the perfect s’more-making space in our backyard. It’s such an easy DIY project with a huge payoff for family fun!
Supplies You’ll Need for a Fire Pit Area
- Weed eater & weed killer
- Landscaping fabric and stakes
- Stake and string
- Spray paint (in a light color)
- Pavers or other border material for the exterior edge. (We used these flagstone blocks.)
- Construction adhesive
- Pea Gravel
- Rake or shovel
- Wheelbarrow, optional, but nice to have
- Fire Pit – either a Solo Stove, portable fire pit, or fire pit kit
- Adirondack Chairs
- Optional: string lights and other decor!
Things to Consider Before Starting the Project
- Decide how large the area will be and what kind of seating you want. Our fire pit area is 16 feet in diameter and fits 6-8 Adirondack chairs comfortably. I like that it’s plenty big, since there’s room to move the chairs around.
- Decide on the type of fire pit you want. Will you buy a ready-made one or build your own? You can also build one from bricks, stones or concrete blocks.
- Make sure the fire pit is at least 10 feet from the house, for your safety and your home insurance requirements. Check with your home insurance company, just to be safe!
- Keep an eye out for trees overhead and other overhanging obstacles.
- Choose a flat or nearly flat surface, or consider having the area leveled.
- Research your materials, like your border stones and gravel. We found a local garden center that sold pea gravel by the ton for much less than a big box store charged.
RELATED: Solo Stove Review: The Smokeless Fire Pit Solution
How to Make a Fire Pit Area
1. Choose & Mark the Location
Pick a spot in your yard that is flat, level and away from any structures or trees. Make sure it’s large enough for your fire pit and seating area.
Mark the area by placing a stake in the middle and tying a string to it that measures half the distance of your circumference. Then tie the other end to a can of spray paint. Spray a ring around the perimeter to create a perfect circle.
2. Remove Grass, Weeds, Plants or Large Rocks
If there is any grass or weeds in the area, you’ll need to remove them by scalping the ground or using a tiller. This helps keep grass from growing up through your fire pit area.
We didn’t have to do much for this, since we already had a bald spot in our yard from the trampoline. But we did kill some of the grass around the edges.
3. Level the Ground
You’ll want the area to be mostly level, or it will be difficult to enjoy sitting around the fire.
We didn’t change our space, even though it isn’t perfectly level, because we didn’t want to mess with the drainage slope of our yard. But it’s level enough for us, and we tested it before continuing the project.
4. Install Landscaping Fabric
Add a protective barrier between the ground and the fire pit area by installing landscaping fabric. Use small landscaping stakes to secure the fabric to the ground.
5. Add the Fire Pit to the Middle of the Pit Area or Patio
Either build a fire pit or place the Solo Stove in the middle of the circle.
Follow all of the instructions for making a fire pit, including whether you need to place gravel or sand underneath or inside it. Please follow all safety requirements.
6. Create a Raised Border around the Perimeter
You’ll need some type of raised border around the outer edge of the fire pit circle. This keeps your pea gravel contained. We used these flagstone rocks as a border and construction adhesive from a caulk gun to hold them together.
You could use any type of stone you like, or metal landscaping edging.
7. Fill in the fire pit with pea gravel, or other rock
We bought a ton of pea gravel from the local garden center, wheeled it over, and raked it around the fire pit area. It’s about 3 inches deep.
I love the look of pea gravel and how well it coordinates with our fence and brick house.
8. Add Seating and Decorate the Area
You could choose from a variety of seating options, but I prefer Adirondack chairs. If you’re on a tight budget, you could make a bench or two. We added 4 Adirondack chairs, and we’ll be adding at least 2 more very soon!
We also hung string lights above the space, and they add so much ambiance at night! Just make sure they aren’t directly over the fire.
Add outdoor pillows, potted plants and a side table to make it feel even more comfortable!
Final Thoughts
We absolutely LOVE how the space turned out. We sit out there while we spend time with the dog. Having another place to hang out and chat outside has been such a good thing! It feels like we’ve gained another room in our house.
It’s going to be so fun to use it this fall and winter! Not to mention it’s a blast to host friends around the fire and make s’mores any time of year.
Do you have a backyard fire pit area at your home? If not, would you create one for your space?
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