Making Your Outdoor Fireplace the Focal Point of Your Outdoor Living Space

With summer just around the corner, it's the time of year when you want to be outside much more than indoors. One of the hallmarks of summer is the atmosphere of sitting around a flickering campfire. An outdoor fireplace can create a cozy focal point in your yard where everyone will want to congregate to enjoy light and warmth late into the summer evenings.

If you plan to landscape or hardscape your outdoor living space this year, an outdoor fireplace may be the finishing touch you are looking for. They create a glowing ambiance not only in the summer months but also in autumn and winter. Enjoy more evenings outdoors year-round with an outdoor fireplace as the focal point.

What Type of Outdoor Fireplace is Best for Your Backyard?

When choosing an outdoor fireplace, you will want to consider the available space and how often you plan to use it. There are a few different options when it comes to outdoor fireplaces:

• Built-in Fireplace
  If you plan to entertain often throughout the summer, and perhaps during the colder months as well, then a large, built-in fireplace will make an incredible focal point. Outdoor built-in fireplaces generally use natural gas or propane but look like a wood fireplace and emit heat. You can choose from single-sided or see-through models.

• Portable Fireplace
  A portable fireplace is an excellent option if you want a natural gas model but have a smaller space or want more flexibility. You can quickly move these models from one area to another.

• Firepit
  The classic firepit gives a more relaxed feeling like sitting around a campfire but is also portable. They are available as gas-burning models, but if you choose a wood-burning fire pit, you can enjoy roasting hot dogs, marshmallows, and campfire fun!

• Firepot
  A firepot is a small table-top fireplace that is perfect for intimate gatherings and small patios. They provide the ambiance of a larger gas or wood fireplace without taking up a lot of space.

Make Sure Wood is Stored Safely

If you opt for a wood-burning fireplace, you could choose to buy firewood, but that can get costly very quickly. Instead, you can choose to chop and store your own firewood. If you decide to go that route, there are a few things you'll need to do to ensure that your firewood is stored safely:

• Choose a safe location
  You will want to find a place away from the house and any areas where children and pets will play to prevent potential fire hazards or other accidents. Try to find a place with good sun exposure so that the wood will dry throughout the summer and burn well.

• Stack logs level
  The way logs are stacked is as important as their location. They need to be level, or you'll risk the entire pile falling over. They should also be loosely stacked so that air can circulate and they dry faster. You can cover the pile with a tarp or invest in a wood rack or wood shed so that the wood stays off the ground and air circulates more freely.

• Wear closed-toed footwear
  Your safety is most important, so ensure you take precautions while chopping and stacking firewood. This can include wearing closed-toed shoes with steel toe protection if that is an option. Wear work gloves to protect your hands from splinters and slivers.

Arrange Your Yard to Make the Fireplace the Focal Point

Once you have chosen your outdoor fireplace and installed it, it is time to decorate your yard around it. There are many ways you could arrange your yard – the options are endless!

Whether you build a patio around your fireplace, plant a garden close by, or enjoy ample green space for the kids and pets, your fireplace will remain the luxurious finishing touch to your backyard. Adding an outdoor fireplace is like extending your home, creating an extra space to live outdoors in the summer months and even into the cooler months, thanks to its heat.

An outdoor fireplace is a great focal point to have in your yard. You can create memories that will last forever around your fireplace with the right model. Let Napoleon help you make your yard look incredible with one of our outdoor fireplaces.