Fire Pits are a must-have feature for Nashville hardscapes

There’s something magical about relaxing by a fire – the glow from the embers and the way the flames dance around, the crackling sounds, the warmth, and the distinctive smell. This multi-sensory experience brings people together, so it’s no wonder that fire pits are taking over as the must-have feature for Nashville hardscapes. 

A word of caution about fire pits though. Building a backyard fire pit is more complicated than it seems. Taking an afternoon to dig out an area and lay down some stones is not going to cut it. There are essential safety and design decisions that must be made to customize the fire pit to the backyard and surrounding areas. 

That’s why Greathouse has partnered with hundreds of Nashville homeowners to create custom fire pits designs for their backyard spaces. We have the expertise to bring your fire pit vision to life in a way that will enhance the value of your home rather than detract from it. Here we share some important tips for enhancing your Nashville outdoor living space with a fire pit. 

Make it Beautiful 

Each backyard is a unique space, so each fire pit design should be customized as well. Greathouse prides ourselves on approaching every Nashville hardscape project as a partnership with the homeowner to create a personalized plan that meets their needs and works with their space. 

A fire pit should enhance the design aesthetics of your property and the natural features of your yard. With options ranging from a smooth and modern concrete firepit to a rustic stacked stone firepit, we can help you design a fire pit to magnify the beauty of your space.  

Make it Safe

Just as importantly, your specific backyard space impacts where we can safely locate a fire pit. You will need an open area of level ground, ideally 15 feet away from your residence and other buildings, and 10 feet away from property lines. The location of other landscaping like bushes, flower gardens, and trees are also important to consider when locating a fire pit. Our Nashville hardscape designers will consider all these details to determine the ideal location for your backyard fire pit. We can also partner with you to design a full landscape and hardscape plan for your space, which will include your new backyard fire pit. 

Make it Functional 

With so many options for fire pits, it’s important to think about how your family will use this outdoor living feature. Some homeowners want a fire pit for aesthetics only. Others want a fire pit for relaxation and warmth on cool evenings, and still, others want a fully functional fire feature that can be used for outdoor cooking. 

Before working together on your Nashville hardscape design, we’ll need to determine how you’ll use the fire feature to ensure we create the perfect fire pit for your lifestyle. For instance, we can help you make decisions like choosing between wood or natural gas burning, based on how you intend to use the outdoor living space. 

Make it Cozy 

The nature of a backyard fire makes us want to stay outside and relax for a while, so it’s important to design great seating around your fire pit. Think about both the aesthetics of the hardscape and how your family will use the space to determine the best way to bring that cozy feeling to your backyard. We’ve seen beautiful and comfortable spaces with everything from rustic log benches to cozy Adirondack chairs to glamorous outdoor couches. Another way to make the area cozy is through thoughtful design details like strings of delicate overhead lights, painted accent tiles, and a fully stocked drink cart nearby. 

Safety Reminders 

We can’t finish an article with advice for Nashville fire pit designs without these important safety reminders. The most fun backyard fire is the safe one! 

  • Check wind speed and direction before lighting a fire. Avoid using your fire pit with gusting winds and when the winds are blowing toward your home. 
  • Don’t use lighter fluid or other flammable liquids to light or relight your fire. Instead, use a commercial fire starter log.
  • Never leave the fire unattended, and carefully watch children and pets. 
  • Always have a fire extinguisher, fire blanket, a hose, or bucket of water nearby in case of emergency. 
  • Extinguish your fire thoroughly with water. Stir the ashes and embers to ensure it is completely out.