Warm Up Your Wheaton, IL Brick Patio With a Traditional Fire Pit
As winter bears down on the Midwest, spending time outdoors can be pretty unbearable; and yet, it’s nice to get outside for some fresh air on milder days. During even the coldest days, a fire pit can be your ticket to keeping your outdoor living space alive. These wonderful structures built from long-lasting brick allow for one of the most primal of human experiences: gathering around a fire and sharing conversation with loved ones. Brick structures will be around for generations as is intended, so it’s time to warm up your Wheaton, IL brick patio with a traditional fire pit.
Finding the Warmth
The location of your fire pit should be in the least windy part of your patio. In the unfortunate case of a patio that is consistently battered by wind, a privacy wall will do the trick of blocking frosty breezes. You also want to consider how large to make your fire pit space, as best defined by how many people with whom you want to gather. Placing a fire pit directly in the center of a patio might hinder how people move about the space, so slightly off-center in a low-traffic area would be the best bet. Once a location is determined, it’s time to plan the size and the style.
Sinking Into Comfort
Stay out of the cold wind and create a cozy haven by setting the fire pit a few feet lower than the grade of the rest of the patio. This is especially advantageous if the patio sits on a flat area with a downward slope on one side, where you can create a cozy little area that allows gatherings to feel even more warm and intimate.
The Right Presence
Even the most minuscule fire pits can become a focal point of your brick patio. Matching its style to the aesthetic of your home is important and can be achieved by choosing either a round fire pit or a square one. Round fire pits provide a relaxed “campfire” atmosphere, while square fire pits offer a touch of more refined elegance.
Sturdy Design
Another great addition to your brick patio and the fire pit is the high-backed seat wall. It’s an excellent source of seating and storage. This sturdy masonry feature provides a physical barrier between the fire and the wind. However, it’s important to remain a little versatile in planning permanent seats. Some guests may prefer to stand instead of sit, so it’s a good idea to leave an opening, for example, a half- or quarter-circle around the fire pit, where folks can stand or sit as they wish. Then, it’s important to plan the seats to cover the direction of the wind in order to keep the most amount of warmth in the fire pit as possible.
Additional Features
Your fire pit is simplistic in nature but it can be adorned with various other features to your heart’s desire. Adding built-in landscape lighting to the fire pit itself, or to any permanent seating, can be a wonderful strategy to add ambiance. Hanging string lights around the fire area encourages a more festive atmosphere. A small cocktail bar may be built into the brick structure next to the high-backed seat walls, eliminating the need to go back and forth and keep the drinks coming. The more you customize, the more personal and cherished your fire pit will become.
