Fire has fascinated us humans for at least as long as we have figured out how to light it. An evening around the campfire, perhaps with a stick sausage over the fire, has something archaic and invites friends and family to get together and tell stories. Therefore, it is of course all the more important to make the fireplace as cozy as possible.
Seating is a must for any comfortable backyard fire pit
Different types of fireplaces
Fireplaces can look very different: from a simple campfire, where you only stack a few logs over the removed turf (which can then be put back on) to the elaborately paved and covered barbecue area, anything you like is possible. You must always remember, however, that an open fire in the sense of a campfire always requires official approval. So before you start planning your fireplace, first of all get one from your local public order office.
Fire pits for terrace and balcony
Exceptions apply in many places for so-called fire bowls or fire baskets, at least if they are less than one meter in diameter. These fire pits are also ideal for a cozy fire on the terrace or even the balcony - provided your neighbors are not bothered by smoke or fumes. There are also special chimneys for the terrace and balcony, which you can use to conjure up a campfire feeling - and which can often be used as a chimney at the same time.
seating
It is also important to include seating when planning the fireplace from the outset. Position them so that neither people nor objects can be harmed by flames or flying sparks. Be creative when choosing the seating: How about a tree trunk on a trestle, sawn off tree stumps used as a stool or, if you want it to be more elegant, a brick bench that also serves as a staircase leading down to the fireplace that is sunken into the ground?
canopy
A roof over the fireplace is also useful if you want to be able to use it when it rains, for example. You can build a simple gazebo for this purpose, but the roof must always have a smoke and heat vent - otherwise a large-scale fire could quickly break out.
tips
Many a grill can also be used as a fireplace, for example so-called swivel grills. Conversely, you can also turn a fire basket or fire bowl with a grill grate into a grill in no time at all.