21 Brilliant Outdoor Fireplace Ideas You Need to See
Just how many outdoor fireplace ideas do you need for your set-up? Well, we have 21 (and 11 with high-quality photos and everything!)
It can be difficult to narrow down which trend and style will suit you best, particularly when you take into account material types and landscaping.
If you need some quick places to start, below are a few functional and stylish outdoor fireplace ideas:
- Consider mixing and matching your aesthetics instead of a unified look
- Purchase some original outdoor art to create a one-of-a-kind set-up
- Try a portable outdoor fireplace first to figure out if you like the look
- Combine outdoor fireplace ideas with an outdoor kitchen
- Add a sitting-level hearth to a modern outdoor fireplace
- Mix modern and traditional knick-knacks to enjoy a timeless feel
- Buy a handmade outdoor rug to add a vintage appeal
- Switch up your chairs and tables to enjoy a new perspective
- Frame your outdoor fireplace with nearby plants (not too close!)
- Add accent lights over the mantel of an outdoor fireplace
Below are 11 more outdoor fireplace ideas with photos. From modern to rustic, you’ll definitely find something that suits your unique tastes.
Make Your Modern Outdoor Fireplace Stand Out With Color
This patio is an amazing modern space – the mix of wood, stone, and tile creates an inviting outdoor living room with a fireplace the focal point.
Placed in front of the black wall and finished with cream tiles, it stands out both by its placement and its color contrast. At the same time, it ties the space together since the facade tiles are used for the floor finish, too. All in all, it’s a simple and bold design move.
How do you enhance a modern style with a fireplace? To design a modern fireplace, two factors need to be taken into consideration: color and shape.
As you can see in the picture above, the fireplace stands out with its very bright orange color. This warm hue also makes its geometrical shape more visible, as it pops out from the black wall.
Additionally, there are are plenty of vertical lines made by prep counter. Geometry is key to creating outdoor fireplace ideas — and strong exterior design in general — where everything neatly falls into place.
Add Décor to an Outdoor Fireplace With An Overmantel
This patio is a simply amazing outdoor living space, offering up a blend of cooking, dining, and relaxing sections. The lines are clean and correspond well with the view.
The neutral color palette puts visual stress on the landscape, a key factor of the patio.
What’s particularly interesting about these outdoor fireplace ideas are the colors used in the recessed ceiling and the floor. The floor color resembles the beach, connecting the space with the rest of the kitchen. It is a pragmatic move, too, as any sand tracked in won’t make the floor look dirty.
The pattern of the ceiling makes this patio longer, too, but the fireplace makes it higher. The mantel is on the level of a vertical patio line. The most visible part of the fireplace is in the intersection of vertical and horizontal lines. Working with lines is key to creating amazing modern spaces.
Even still, the fireplace is truly the focal point of the patio. It’s the only vertical addition to a space that’s on eye level. The flower décor enhances the effect, while the stone finish’s earthy tones wrap up the aesthetic.
Just imagine long, quiet nights on this patio with the sounds of the sea by the firelight.
Add a Traditional Twist to a Modern Outdoor Fireplace
These homeowners must have had plenty of fun designing this outdoor fireplace. The patio area is a mix of modern (monochromatic and geometrical) and traditional elements (beams and lighting).
The fireplace brings it to whole ‘nother level.
Usually, outdoor fireplace ideas put the focus on a firebox opening, but the overmantel is interesting, too. It resembles the shape of a traditional fireplace in the facade, but at the same time, the shape of the whole structure is contemporary.
Modern is all about geometry, so the TV’s width remains the same as the firebox opening’s width.
Save Patio Space With an In-wall Insert
Don’t have the space and budget for a custom-built fireplace? An insert is not only inexpensive, but it works well for an outdoor kitchen on a deck.
To me, portable solutions on wooden decks are not nearly safe enough.
A wall-insert fireplace is an out-of-the-box option, so how did they make it work? Since the house is modern, there’s plenty of geometry to correspond well with the design. There are rectangular windows and doors: this matches nicely with the fireplace.
Notice how the insert is framed exactly the way windows and doors are. Additionally, the color of the doors and fireplace add a little extra fun.
The outdoor furniture makes this space coherent – its shape resembles a house, but the color still corresponds with the fireplace.
Add a Sitting-level Hearth to a Modern Outdoor Fireplace
If what you want for your backyard is an “indoor-outdoor experience,” you can get a lot of inspiration from this project. The patio sitting area really looks like part of the living room, doesn’t it?
What ties the spaces together is not only the lighting, but the style and focal points. Outdoor fireplace ideas work better when you try to link everything together with a similar detail, such as the same color or same aesthetic theme.
To me, creating twin focal points is a really interesting idea. The inside wall is finished with the same stone used for the fireplace on the patio. This design idea just really ties the space together.
Adding a sitting-level hearth to the fireplace makes the outdoor sitting area feel extra cozy. If you feel like getting warmer, you can put a pillow on the hearth and make yourself super comfortable.
Use an Outdoor Fireplace to Illuminate the Pool
This backyard is an incredible space. Even before the fireplace installation, it was a breathtaking sight.
These outdoor fireplace ideas transform the focal point and take this area to another level (especially after sunset).
So this fireplace is undoubtedly a focal point, but it also frames the space and divides the garden’s relaxed space. After the sunset, it helps with orientation, as it’s a source of light (look at how the fire reflects the water).
What is crucial for a project of this type is maintaining the proper distance of a fireplace from the water. Take a closer look at the second picture – it is more than double what a regular path wood be.
This distance adds safety, convenience, and extra space for chairs or a table.
Enhance the Natural Patio Look With a Stacked Stone Outdoor Fireplace
If you’re dreaming about transforming your patio into an outdoor living room, this project is a must-have source of inspiration. This picture was taken before the decorations were placed, so there’s no rug under the table or décor on the overmantel.
What I like a lot is the wooden ceiling with recessed lights. It adds so much color! In the backyard, wood and stone usually mix well.
The space for a fireplace was chosen carefully to add a lot of privacy. It hides the neighbors’ house from the view and opens the patio to a pleasant view of the trees.
It’s worth noticing how well the stone’s color corresponds with the paint on the building facade, too. All in all, a job well done for one of the most minimalist outdoor fireplace ideas!
Mix Modern and Traditional Ideas to Get a Timeless Look
I enjoy this area a lot. It’s simple, warm, and elegant, showing off a massive fireplace covered with stone.
A similar color stone was used on the floor, but what differs them a lot is the texture. Doesn’t it look great? This is a real wood-burning fireplace, so while it requires more work, it also adds an old charm.
The fireplace is the true king of these outdoor fireplace ideas. Its position is stressed by lighting – just look at what they did with a recessed light installed in the ceiling. The light shows where the focal point of the area is, then exaggerates the stone’s texture.
Use a Contrasting Material for an Outdoor Fireplace
Natural materials often go well with each other in outdoor fireplace ideas. Above is a stone fireplace adding to the wooden finishes of the house.
It’s placed at the center of the patio and faces the backyard. Such a set-up is a bit unusual, but it has its advantages. The main benefits is adding to the houses’ curb appeal alongside your roof and front door style.
This fireplace is pretty low and symmetrical. The house is visible behind it and looks grander since the fireplace style is much longer than it has to be. The patio floor finish resembles the stone finish of the fireplace. The bench is finished with the same stone as a fireplace, too.
Notice how the fireplace is finished with two types of stone and bricks. The mix of finishes makes it so much more interesting at closer look!
As the fireplace is often used after sunset, it’s important to illuminate a path leading to the home entrance. The goal is to make guests comfortable go back inside without tripping or getting lost. With the set-up in the pictures above, it’s done with wall lights, which are already in place!
If you’re looking for a guide about outdoor lighting, check out my in-depth guide on outdoor lighting fundamentals.
Add a TV on an Overmantel of an Outdoor Fireplace
This outdoor fireplace is so massive, finding a place for a TV on the overmantel was no doubt a piece of a cake. It’s worth knowing that it takes the focal point from the fireplace away a little, though sometimes function comes first.
It can be a complex task to mount a TV at a comfortable height on a fireplace. It has to be far enough from the firebox and low enough for comfortable viewing. The best height to hang a TV depends on its size and couch distance.
For example, for a 42″ TV, the ideal distance from the TV is around 76″, while the the optimal mounting height is 56″ to the TV center.
| Outdoor TV size | Viewing distance | Mounting height (floor to the TV center) |
|---|---|---|
| 42″ | 76″ | 56″ |
| 55″ | 100″ | 61″ |
| 65″ | 118″ | 65″ |
| 70″ | 127″ | 67″ |
As you can see in the picture above, the TV is a little too high. It may be hard to mount the TV at a comfortable height on an over-mantel. When musing over your outdoor fireplace ideas, make sure you don’t prioritize style over substance.
To get other ideas, check out this video by Lisa Holt Design.
Add as Many Wood Boxes to a Wood-burning Outdoor Fireplace As Needed
If you’re looking for a grand patio focal point, this fireplace is epic inspiration. Achieving this traditional look starts with function: this is one fireplace meant for large gatherings and long nights.
Why so much storage for this fireplace? The owners clearly use it frequently and know that firewood needs to be dry to create reliable fire. If you know you’re going to use the fireplace daily, adding not one but two wood boxes is a good idea.
Using vertical lines also applies to these outdoor fireplace ideas. The multilevel lines made by the hearth, mantel, tops of storage units, and the fireplace make the construction more structural and majestic.
Place an Outdoor Fireplace on an Accent Wall
Want to create an outdoor patio with the feel of a living room? Take a look at your outdoor materials as your first step.
Check out this incredible accent stone wall with the fireplace. It’s tough to find material that screams outdoors more than good, old-fashioned stone.
The most interesting part of the design is the finish between the firebox and the mantel. The stone there has a different texture and shape. It’s amazing how such small décor adds so much to this space.
If you’re wondering how to add detail to your outdoor fireplace ideas, but space is already pretty busy, choosing a different texture or shape might be a better idea than picking a different material.
Make your Outdoor Fireplace Stand Out With Unusual Finishes
The stone finish on an outdoor fireplace is really amazing! It looks natural, but has so much character at the same time!
If you’re into nonstandard finishes, this could be the one true inspiration for you.
Using a non-standard solution like this one is a great idea if you want your fireplace to become a focal point of the patio. It usually fits spaces that use natural materials, like stone or wood, but can still work pretty well with concrete, too.
The fireplaces’ finish in the picture above resembles the house’s exterior, so it’s meant to blend in. Notice how this stone finish composes with the wood, too. This really is one of the most extraordinary outdoor fireplace ideas.
Add a Pergola to an Outdoor Fireplace
Making an outdoor sitting area with a fireplace and a pergola is an interesting idea. If your idea of a perfect evening is sitting by the fireplace, drinking wine, and listening to music, this room will be an amazing spot.
There are some details worth paying attention to. First of all, the firebox height and size is perfect for viewing it from the outdoor sofas. Second of all, even though these outdoor fireplace ideas are well-designed, it’s not overdone or too sweet.
The color accent made by the pillows and coffee tables is a nice final touch.
Mounting outdoor speakers on the pergola is an excellent idea, too. It makes using the space even when the fireplace is not on much easier.
Notice how the pergola is covered with an acrylic roof, making the space possible to use during rainy weather. The speaker is also more likely to last longer.
Enhance the Florida Room with an Outdoor Fireplace
Florida rooms are such a popular addition to the house! As they’re more covered than a regular patio or a deck, it’s easier to use them year-round, even where the climate is not mild.
Adding an outdoor fireplace to a Florida room is an excellent idea. Without it, using a Florida room after sunset won’t be nearly as illuminating or classy.
There are so many types of fireplaces that you can use, from inserts to wood-fired traditional fireplaces. If you design your Florida Room with a fireplace from the very beginning, you can choose the type you enjoy most. Later on, it is usually much easier to install inserts.
To make your outdoor fireplace ideas an instant focal point after sunset, no matter if the fire is on or not, add proper lighting. For a brick outdoor fireplace, like above, it’s worth installing recessed lights above that will show off the finish’s structure.
If you’re still debating how to install an outdoor kitchen space, don’t miss our in-depth guide on outdoor kitchen businesses in Florida.
Create a Rustic Outdoor Fireplace with Natural Materials
If rustic is the style you enjoy the most, a fireplace made out of a mix of bricks and stone is an excellent idea. Extruded mortar joints make the construction look ageless. It looks so effortless, as it was there for decades!
I enjoy the irregularity of the hearth. These outdoor fireplace ideas mix well with the concrete fence it’s attached to. It’s incredible how well the rustic look works in the garden, as it blends right in with the green plants.
An important thing regarding more distant outdoor fireplaces areas is illuminating a pathway to the house and stairs. Check out my blog post if you need more outdoor lighting tips.
Use a Chiminea (Portable Clay Outdoor Fireplace)
A chiminea is a great solution for anybody lacking space or budget, making these one of the most accessible outdoor fireplace ideas. The price is relatively low and it doesn’t require installation.
You can store it in the garage when not in use, so you can get even more style out of it. Clay looks incredible with other natural materials, like wood or stone, but it blends well with concrete, too. While choosing a chiminea for your patio, don’t forget to choose a contrasting color temperature.
Chiminea is also an excellent way to check if an outdoor fireplace is your cup of tea in the first place. Instead of spending thousands on a structure you’re unsure you’re going to use, you can purchase a clay chiminea for $40 or so!
A Portable Iron Cast Outdoor Fireplace is a Great Choice for a Deck
An iron cast portable outdoor fireplace is one of the excellent outdoor fireplace ideas. It’s easier to add a portable chiminea to the finished space than building an outdoor fireplace from scratch and ruining some of the previously added finishes.
Iron cast fireplaces look fantastic with any outdoor furniture with metal elements. The color of the furniture and the fireplace may differ in the photo above, but it’s another example of making the design less matchy-matchy.
In my opinion, this is a pretty classy design achieved with a moderate budget, as iron cast outdoor fireplaces cost about $200.
Since decks can get really heavy in the wintertime (from the snow load), this area’s portable outdoor fireplace is a clever solution. When the load needs to stay limited, you can hide this steel chiminea in the garage. Its weight is usually under 100 lbs.
Add Color and Texture to the Patio Area with an Outdoor Fireplace
This fireplace is as traditional as it can be, both in structure and material. The patio looks modern and interesting for two reasons: alongside the monochromatic color scheme, the second neat detail is how they used different materials!
Wood, concrete, glass, brick, and clay all in one area. As it turns out, less isn’t always more for outdoor fireplace ideas.
The outdoor fireplace is placed in the central position and is the only permanent space with intense color. The variety of brick shades makes this design simply lovely. I enjoy playing with styles and colors a lot, so this is a particularly wonderful idea.
The warm lights under this gazebo roof make the space extra inviting. With outdoor furniture, it needs to be both beautiful to look at and functional.
Notice all the little details that make the space coherent: clay flowerpots and a wicker basket. These accessories tie the space with color and texture. Sometimes so little can so much when it comes to outdoor fireplace ideas!
A Steel Outdoor Fireplace Works Well with a Metal Pergola
A steel outdoor fireplace is an amazing addition to a deck, especially in a coastal-style house. A pergola with an awning protects well from the sun, whilst the fireplace makes the space inviting when it is colder, after the sunset.
I enjoy how the orange on the fireplace correspond with the elevation of the house and the plants.
Adding additional lighting would make the space more charming. As this fireplace is not particularly big or spacious, building up a little visual drama with accent lighting would illuminate the fireplace and plants.
Decorate the Mantel and Hearth of an Outdoor Fireplace with Accessories
An outdoor fireplace can be just as stylized as an indoor one. This Spanish-style fireplace has accessories on both the hearth and mantel.
Candlesticks, vases, and sculptures can add a lot to an outdoor fireplace ideas. Just make sure you pick the proper materials and colors as well as place items non-symmetrically. It just makes the space look effortless.
Another popular decorating item is an outdoor rug. It frames the space so well! This space’s design must have taken a lot of work, but it doesn’t look overdecorated. It’s very calm and inviting.
I like an accent light on the side, too. Warm light accentuates plants, their color, and structure, making the space even more interesting.
Make an Outdoor Fireplace Stand Out With Color
I really enjoy the patio in the picture above. It’s low-key and everything can be folded and hidden after the season.
The fireplace’s color really pops out against the green trees and cool gray house. Even though it’s made out of steel, it’s covered with a white coat and becomes the focal point of the area.
This space is a delightful place to spend the time at (and spend the rest in the hammock).
Ready To Try Out Your Outdoor Fireplace Ideas?
I hope you found inspiration for the outdoor fireplace you’re looking for. This simple touch is a functional way to stay warm while adding a little extra atmosphere to the outdoor experience.
Need even more ideas as you put together an outdoor kitchen? You’ll love the following inspiration lists:
![26 Epic Tips For an Outdoor Kitchen Patio [Ideas + Pictures]](https://outdoorkitcheninsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/outdoor-kitchen-patio-tips-small.jpg)
