Sitting beside a roaring bonfire is one of the most memorable ways to spend a summer night, or to get cozy on a cool fall evening. And when a bonfire isn't an option, or when you've graduated beyond the camp fire days, an outdoor fireplace will get the job done in style. We found twenty five outdoor hearths to inspire you. Read on for stylish outdoor fireplace decorating ideas to get your backyard or patio in tip-top shape before summer arrives.
1
Warm Up Al Fresco Dining
Jenn Feldman Design
Make al fresco meals a little cozier by installing an outdoor fireplace near the dining area and then give a sense of intimacy with a pagoda. Designer Jenn Feldman also added pillows to the benches flanking the fireplace for added comfort and color.
2
Bring in a Midcentury Mood
Commune Design
This Commune Design patio boasts a fun contemporary feel while also highlighting the home's midcentury roots. The gorgeous outdoor fireplace makes a timeless statement with artful details.
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3
Showcase Multiple Materials
Robson Rak
This sleek patio designed by Robson Rak spotlights so many striking materials, from the cool marble tiles to the pale brick walls and terrazzo stool. For an understated design, use the same materials for your flooring, seating, and fireplace.
4
Separate Your Spaces
Studio Lifestyle
To make the fireplace hangout zone feel like its own intimate nook within a larger patio, lay down some patterned tiles that help it stand out. We're also loving the modern sconces flanking the bougainvillia-draped fireplace in this Studio Lifestyle-designed space.
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5
Deck Out Your Chimney
Nicole Franzen
Keep your outdoor area intimate by angling to cozy chairs toward the fireplace. Then hang some string lights to amp up the romance even more. If your fireplace has a tall chimney, spruce it up with wall decor that can brave the elements, like a wooden brutalist sculpture.
6
Choose Colorful Tiles
Nicole Franzen
An eye-catching tile on the patio can make all the difference, especially if you choose a whimsical pattern with bright colors. Use timeless, neutral furniture that won't overwhelm the eye to make sure the focus stays on the tiles. As for the fireplace, opt for a subtle screen to keep the flame from overheating a smaller outdoor space.
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7
Infuse Some Spanish Flair
Commune Design
This Spanish-style villa in Los Feliz is the perfect setting for a summer party. Commune Design chose colorful cushions to reflect the pretty tiles adorning the fireplace chimney, and there's plenty of comfortable seating.
8
Make a Modern Rooftop
Studio DB
Don't have a backyard? Bring it to the rooftop. Design firm Studio DB chose minimalist furniture to frame the modern fireplace, while the neutral fabrics echo the interiors.
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9
Introduce an Eclectic Fire Pit
Regan Baker Design
No outdoor fire place? No problem—a fire pit will add just as much charm. Surrounded by comfy, eclectic seating, this fire pit area designed by Regan Baker Design is the perfect backyard retreat. Add a rocking chair (in a bright color if you're feeling bold!) and floor cushions for extra seating. For another fire pit option that strikes the balance between bohemian and formal, try a hammered copper fire pit.
10
Mix Modern and Rustic
Erin Kunkel
There are so many things to love about this patio by Alison Pickart, we're not even sure what to call out first. From the grass-jointed diamond-shaped tiles to the chic houndstooth throw pillows to the industrial light, each element compliments the rustic stone fireplace.
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11
Close Things Up
Nicole Franzen
This semi-enclosed space makes great use of the building's architectural bones. The string lights soften up the industrial exposed beams while the imposing fireplace warms the seating area.
12
Less is More
Amy Neunsinger
Simplicity can be key to your backyard escape. At a Japanese-inspired home by Pamela Shamshiri for Commune Design, Blackman Cruz chairs face a simple but sculptural fireplace.
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13
Build a Rustic Fire Pit
Francesco Lagnese
This fire pit serves as a gathering place at Bonnie Edelman's Connecticut property. Logs are stacked under the benches, and speakers blend into the walls of local stone.
14
Create an Outdoor Living Room
Thomas Loof
When the Nashville weather gets too hot for fires, ceiling fans cool off a handsome porch designed by Markham Roberts. A teak sofa and armchairs by Restoration Hardware face the flames for cozy evenings by the fire.
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15
Paint it Black
Melanie Acevedo
The main attraction of this upstate New York roof deck? The jet-black fireplace, course. "We've hosted many great parties up there," says architect and homeowner Gray Davis.
16
Bring the Indoors Out
Tim Street-Porter
"I wanted it to look like indoor furniture had been dragged outside," says Martyn Lawrence Bullard of this Los Angeles patio. He covered roll-arm sofas and chairs in Perennials fabrics, and then arranged the luxe pieces around an elegant mantel.
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17
Keep it Classic
Victoria Pearson
An eight-foot antique Dalle de Bourgogne stone table hosts an outdoor buffet at this Los Angeles home. Peter Dunham designed the neoclassical iron furniture by the traditional brick fireplace and an enormous banquette branches out from the hearth for additional seating.
18
Embellish with Art & Antiques
Annie Schlechter
An outdoor fireplace made the screened porch a vacation home's most popular room. Designer Jane Hawkins Hoke chose Benjamin Moore's Army Green for the door and flooring, but it's the reproduction dovecote above the firebox that grabs the eye.
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19
Heat Up a Small Space
Victoria Pearson
Even tiny backyards can feature some flickering flames. At an Ojai getaway designed by Frances Merrill of Reath Design, the family spends cool evenings around the patio's fire bowl.
20
Entertain Al Fresco
Victoria Pearson
A SoCal bachelor pad by Parrish Chilcoat and Joe Lucas brings the game to the loggia thanks to a TV above the mantel. Guests can take it all in on the Provence love seat and St. Barts teak lounge chairs, both from Restoration Hardware.