25 Outdoor Fireplace Ideas That Are Warm and Cozy

Heat Up in Style with a Fire Feature

By
Lisa Hallett Taylor
photo of writer Lisa Hallett Taylor
Lisa Hallett Taylor
Lisa Hallett Taylor is an expert in architecture and landscape design who has written more than 1,000 articles about pool, patio, garden, and home improvement over 12 years. She has a bachelor's degree in Environmental Design and is certified in fine and decorative arts appraisal.
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Updated on 08/10/21
Back Stone Patio Porch of large Home with an outdoor fireplace
ucpage / Getty Images

A fireplace is the perfect feature to extend the use of an outdoor living space from summer into all four seasons. Unlike a fire pit, an outdoor fireplace defines your patio or deck as a focal point and destination–a place to gather, create leisure activities, entertain, and make memories. Fireplaces range from inexpensive chimineas and portable metal models to do-it-yourself kit projects by homeowners to beautiful fire features that are part of an outdoor room designed by landscape architects and built by contractors.

Outdoor fireplaces are constructed much like indoor ones: with a flue to direct smoke up the chimney rather than out into the seating area or yard. They can be as simple as a chimenea, elaborate extensions of an outdoor kitchen with spits, grates, and rotisseries, or with materials and structures that resemble the primary residence.

  • 01 of 25

    Mid-Century Massachusetts

    outdoor fireplace ideas
    Ethan Gordon Photography

    Located on the fringes of a forested nature preserve in Newton, Massachusetts, this Mid-century modern home was remodeled by Mark Lawton Architecture to maximize its left-intact natural surroundings. The new outdoor living area includes a curving patio with a built-in fireplace and bench seating. Inspired by the surrounding landscape, bluestone was chosen to build the wood-burning fireplace. The fireplace surround and top cap are made of customized steel, while the bluestone seating is topped with ipe wood slats. 

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  • 02 of 25

    Modfire in LA

    modfire in yard
    Brandon Shigeta

    A small shared backyard for a five-unit apartment in Hollywood was carefully designed by OverArch to make smart use of every square foot. Olive and citrus trees grow in a cast-in-place planter while matching hardwood benches face a black Modfire outdoor fireplace. Standing 4 feet tall, Modfire outdoor fireplaces are new designs inspired by Mid-century modern models and are easy to transport.

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  • 03 of 25

    Westchester Warmth

    outdoor fireplace
    LDAW

    A large yard for a New York residence features an outdoor fireplace set at the edge of an expansive patio. Designed by LDAW, the fireplace unit features built-in seating and firewood storage units on either side. The mantle and hearth are built of Connecticut fieldstone.

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  • 04 of 25

    Chiminea for a Craftsman

    chimenea

    Amy Gardner

    A 1920s Washington, D.C.-area Craftsman bungalow was lovingly restored and received sustainable additions by Gardner Architects LLC, including a teahouse-style outdoor room and a yard update. That charming chimenea adds a rustic touch of warmth for chilly evenings.

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  • 05 of 25

    Carmel Stone

    outdoor fireplaces
    Culbertson Durst

    A gas-burning outdoor fireplace at a home in the stunning seaside town of Carmel, California was appropriately made with local Carmel stone. Culbertson Durst designed the fireplace with a slight curve to fit the small space.

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  • 06 of 25

    Land Plus

    outdoor fireplaces
    Land Plus

    An English-inspired transitional estate in Atlanta's Buckhead community features a dramatic outdoor fireplace designed by Land Plus Associates to mask a 16-foot-high retaining wall. The fire feature is built with split-ace Lueders limestone and surrounded by hydrangeas.

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  • 07 of 25

    Ontario Getaway

    outdoor fireplace ideas
    McNiell Photography

    A low, custom-built outdoor fireplace by Cedar Springs Landscape Group in Toronto, Canada, is designed to not block views of the landscape. The fireplace is located near the natural pool, spa, and outdoor dining set.

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  • 08 of 25

    Old World

    stone outdoor fireplace
    Connecticut Stone

    Stonemason Mike Nusdeo of Ridgeview Stone built a rustic-looking outdoor fireplace for a young couple in upstate New York who wanted a feature that reminded them of old fireplaces they had seen during their international travels. Nusdeo used Byram Black stone from Connecticut Stone.

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  • 09 of 25

    Fireplace With Private Hot Tub

    outdoor fireplace

    Greg Heinze

    Nordby Design Studio, Architecture & Interiors LLC completely redesigned the backyard for this Portland, Oregon, home, which includes an outdoor living room with a double-sided wood-burning fireplace. A private hot tub was built on the other side of the fireplace, which is nestled into the back corner of the yard for privacy. 

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  • 10 of 25

    Waterfront Living

    outdoor fireplace designs
    Shuler Architects

    This waterfront home on Mercer Island, Washington, was a fire reconstruction project for Shuler Architecture and a team of forensic contractors. In the reconstruction, both levels were opened up to take in the views. The wraparound deck includes a kitchen, living room, stone veneer fireplace, and TV for comfortable outdoor living.

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  • 11 of 25

    Mediterranean Patio

    chiminea on patio

    Cynthia Montgomery

    John Montgomery Landscape Architects transformed a sloping backyard into a private courtyard with an oversized entry door, saltillo tile patio, custom water feature, and a pool and spa. With limited space, a chimenea is perfect for the Spanish style patio.

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  • 12 of 25

    Historical D.C.

    outdoor fireplace
    Cahill Design Build

    A historical Washington, D.C. area home redesign and restoration by Cahill Design Build included a wood-burning outdoor fireplace that was constructed with mortar-set Carter-rock stone

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  • 13 of 25

    Mod Deck in Silverlake

    modern outdoor fireplace
    Madison Modern

    A Red Ember Alto Steel Chiminea saves space and gives a mid-century modern look to this deck in Los Angeles' Silverlake district, designed by Madison Modern Home.

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  • 14 of 25

    Scot Eckley

    patio pavers

    Alex Hayden

    A gas-burning Majestic fireplace was designed as part of a vertical garden by Scot Eckley for a backyard in Seattle. The Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) is pruned often to keep it from wandering near the fireplace, where it can get crispy.

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  • 15 of 25

    Lodge Look

    outdoor fireplace
    Centre Sky

    A rustic mountain cabin look is achieved by Montana- and Colorado-based Centre Sky Architecture with a masonry wood fireplace covered in fieldstone. The caps and mantle are frontier stone.   

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  • 16 of 25

    Vegas Escape

    outdoor fireplace ideas
    Troy Silva

    An elegant white fireplace with a smooth surface blends well with other hardscape elements in this Las Vegas backyard, like the retaining walls, Arto pavers, and the planter edging designed by Troy Silva Design Group.

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  • 17 of 25

    Shapiro Didway

    outdoor fireplace
    Papazianphoto.com

    A complete outdoor living space was created by Shapiro Didway for a Portland, Oregon, yard to include a dining set and living room with a large fireplace made of basalt stone. The surrounding trees are Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green.'

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  • 18 of 25

    Family Outdoor Space

    outdoor fireplace
    TriVistaUSA

    Considering a family's requests, TriVistaUSA included a children's playhouse, outdoor living room, and custom fireplace into their design for a Washington, D.C. client. The fireplace's surfaces are made of random, rectilinear-cut Pennsylvania bluestone.

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  • 19 of 25

    Private Patio

    Back Stone Patio Porch of large Home with an outdoor fireplace
    ucpage / Getty Images

    A limestone fireplace is located on a private patio just off the primary suite of an Oklahoma City home. While the homeowners are outdoors, they can enjoy a spa, outdoor kitchen, a fishing dock, and a fire pit. 

    About This Term: Primary Suite

    Many real estate associations, including the National Association of Home Builders, have classified the term "Master Bedroom" (or "Master Suite") as discriminatory. "Primary Bedroom" is the name now widely used among the real estate community and better reflects the purpose of the room.


    Read more about our Diversity and Inclusion Pledge to make The Spruce a site where all feel welcome.

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  • 20 of 25

    Adirondack Style Outdoor Space

    outdoor fireplace
    A.J. Miller

    When the homeowners of this upstate New York property entertain, they head for their outdoor living room at the edge of the woods. There, they relax near the fireplace custom designed by A.J. Miller Landscape Architecture of Syracuse, New York. Built with South Bay quartzite and Thousand Island pink granite, the wood-burning fireplace is equipped with log storage compartments.

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  • 21 of 25

    Tudor in Westchester

    outdoor fireplace
    Significant Homes

    What looks like a charming Tudor-style cottage is actually a two-car garage with an upstairs suite that doubles as a guest cottage or poolhouse with dressing rooms on the side. Designed by Significant Homes, the cottage's wood-burning fireplace is built with fieldstone from O&G Industries. 

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  • 22 of 25

    Beach View

    outdoor fireplace
    A. McGraw

    A low fireplace is incorporated into the outdoor kitchen of this custom-built unit designed by architect Robert A. McGraw. Heights are kept low to take in views of Laguna Beach canyons and the coast.

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  • 23 of 25

    Southwest Living

    outdoor fireplace
    Jason Wallace Photography

    A gas-burning outdoor fireplace is the focal point when viewed from the living room of a Bartlesville, Oklahoma home designed by ​DRM Design Group. The surface is a custom blend of chopped stone. 

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  • 24 of 25

    Grapevine Arbor and Fireplalce

    outdoor fireplace

    Peter Wodarz

    An Illinois backyard features a wood-burning fireplace with Eden Rockfaced Dimensional Veneer for vertical surfaces. Coping is covered with Rockfaced Bluestone to complement the home's flatwork.

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  • 25 of 25

    Old Brick

    old brick outdoor fireplace
    Lisa Hallett Taylor

    An old brick fireplace on a small patio is decorated with candles and assorted yard knicknacks.