13 Cool Outdoor Fireplace Ideas

Fireplaces are a real crowd-pleaser. After all, who doesn’t like lounging by a roaring fire and enjoying the embrace of the warm glow? Even the coldest, greyest, and windiest days can be made brighter and happier with a nice fireplace. However, while it is perfectly possible to just get a basic fireplace installed and leave it at that, it is worthwhile to consider the various different outdoor fireplace ideas or styles that exist out there for you to choose from.

You can always build a simple outdoor fireplace with the fireproof masonry and a bit of DIY experience, but a good looking purpose-built fireplace can also have some practical design elements that make it safer and more usable, so it’s a good idea to spend time looking at your options and choosing the best thing you can find for your money. There are also some affordable options for outdoor fireplaces, the very basic fire pits that can be bought from any big box home improvement store.

1. Firepits and Affordable Options

These firepits aren’t all that big or powerful but they are easy to install and can be had for as little as $90, making them perfect if you don’t want to do a major project to install a whole fireplace. It is also possible to build your own firepit with some basic DIY skills and firebricks. If you clicked on this article, though, chances are you are ready for something more involved, and the next best option, as far as fireplace installation cost goes, is the fireplace kit.

These can be bought for $1,600 or less and are typically standalone units that must be assembled and placed correctly. However, these do not typically need to be built in, making them far easier to install. Some of the options below can be bought as kits, but a more ‘classic’ brick and mortar fireplace design will likely require a professional to finish the job.

2. How Effective Are Outdoor Fireplaces? 

Firepits are a simpler and more affordable option well worth considering.

Fireplaces are quite a nice feature to have as part of your outdoor space for several reasons. There is of course the heat, which is always welcome, especially on colder days, but outdoor fireplaces can also be quite effective at adding light and ambiance, setting the feel of your porch or patio, and brightening things up. This is quite crucial as some outdoor spaces may be rather dark at night, making a fireplace a pretty effective investment with some major returns.

3. Classic Brick

You can’t go wrong with a tried and true option like this.

Not everyone likes experimental stuff. Sometimes we just want to stick with what is known, and in those cases, the classic outdoor fireplace is the best option. This is just a simple outdoor wood-fired fireplace with some plain yet pretty red masonry and wrought iron fireplace implements. For some extra style, deck out the brick mantelpiece (the flat part over the top of the fire with some handcrafted wooden knick-knacks.

4. Beachside 

Creating the seaside feeling can be done easily.

We can’t all have a house by the beach, but that doesn’t mean we can’t bring the beach to us. A beachside outdoor fireplace decorated with bright neutral whites and grays helps to reflect the bright sunny aesthetic of the seaside. Combine this fireplace stone and patio with mahogany furniture, wicker chairs, and some decorative items that evoke the ocean (like seashells) for the ultimate beachside effect.   

5. Tudor Style 

Capture the charm of 1700s English domestic architecture.

The Tudor design style originated in the US in the mid-19th century and grew in popularity quite quickly prior to WWII. It was inspired by a move to revive English domestic architecture from the 1600 and 1700s in modernized form. It is pretty easy to spot a Tudor-style house, and it is also easy to implement it. The main thing to focus on is solid materials such as masonry, elaborate patterns formed with decorative half-timbering, and a stucco or stone filling. 

6. Southwestern Style 

The Southwestern design is a tasteful melange of Spanish and Indigenous architectural inspirations.

The Southwest has long been a place where many cultures intersect, making for a unique aesthetic that is vibrant, colorful, and unique even today. An outdoor fireplace built in the southwestern style will make use of regional materials such as chopped stone and be decorated with distinct items such as colorful knick-knacks and sturdy shelving made of oak. Colorful fabrics can also be used to decorate the environs of the outdoor space, as long as they are kept away from the fire, of course.

7. Mountain Cabin Style 

Keep things simple and functional with this style.

Mountainous parts of America such as upstate New York or the Appalachian region are defined by a unique design style that makes use of lots of natural materials and a relatively simple design that emphasizes practicality and functionality. For an outdoor fireplace idea, this translates to a simple structure made of natural stone with practical amenities such as a place to hold the firewood, and minimal decorative items.  

8. A Spot For The Whole Family

Making a spot for the whole family to hang out makes things that much better.

This patio fireplace idea focuses more on the area around the fireplace. The goal is to create a space around the modern fireplace outdoors that is designed perfectly for a family to use and enjoy in comfort. To achieve this, we need plenty of nice plushy seating with removable cushions for easy cleaning and maintenance of the fireplace. Additional amenities such as a playhouse or little play area can be perfect for younger children.

9. Warmth and Luxury

Sleekness and modernity communicate a luxurious vibe.

Why go to Vegas when you can recreate the glitzy Vegas aesthetic right in your backyard? A glowing fireplace surrounded by plush seating and a nice covered patio can really set the stage for a cozy space perfect for luxurious nights outside. To really capture the aesthetic the best thing to do is make the fireplace blend in with other elements of your hardscaping. For example, a backyard with white concrete hardscaping is a perfect place for a modern outdoor fireplace. 

10. Green Harmony 

Diligent planning means that open fire and plantlife can work harmoniously for a truly serene aesthetic.

At first blush it doesn’t seem like a fireplace and greenery are going to get along all that well, but it can actually be done with good planning and nary a plant burnt. The key to creating a design in which a fireplace and plant life coexist harmoniously is to be cognizant of the hotspots your fireplace creates. Most fireplaces are designed so that their outer walls keep the heat from seeping out, so as long as you keep plants away from the opening where the fire sits, your greenery should be fine.  

11. Mediterranean Style 

Natural materials and spots of color are the key ingredients for a Mediterranean space.

One of the things that makes the Mediterranean style so neat is that it's a confluence of so many amazing cultures from a very colorful and beautiful part of the world. Plus, it is quite easy to make a backyard fireplace ‘fit in’ in a Mediterranean space. This outdoor fireplace idea involves focusing on a lightly colored design with natural materials such as ceramics, wood, and cotton for decor.

12. Two Awesome Things at Once (Hot Tub)

The only thing cooler than two cool things is putting them together.

What better way to make your outdoor space warm and fun than by including two warm things in it? A fireplace and a hot tub mean you have two ways to heat things up on a cool day. There are few more luxurious fireplace setups than this one and for good reason. Just imagine lounging in a hot tub with the glow of a fireplace complementing the warmth of the tub, and you’ll get the picture.

13. Keep it Private

This unique setup makes for a more private and intimate space.

This is a more unusual setup, and it may not be possible for everyone to build it, but it is a perfect way to make your outdoor space more private. Instead of building the fireplace as a standalone unit, build it into the outer wall of your house. This backyard fireplace idea not only makes for a sleek setup but also allows you to keep the fireplace in the shade and more closed off so you can lounge in privacy.