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. That's why it's of course even more important to make the fireplace as cozy as possible.
How can I design a fire pit in the garden myself?
To design your own fire pit, choose between fire bowls, fire baskets or barbecue areas, plan suitable seating, a roof with a smoke vent and obtain the necessary approval from the public order office.
Different types of fire pits
Fire pits can look very different: from a simple campfire, where you just pile up a few logs over the removed turf (which can then be put back on) to an elaborately paved and covered barbecue area, anything you like is possible. However, you must always remember that open fires in the sense of a campfire always require official approval. So before you start planning your fireplace, first obtain one from your local public order office.
Fire pits for terraces and balconies
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 fireplaces for terraces and balconies (€124.00 on Amazon) with which you can also conjure up a campfire feeling - and which can often be used as a fireplace at the same time.
Seating
It is also important to include seating in the planning of 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 seating: How about, for example, a jacked-up tree trunk, sawn-off tree stumps used as a stool or, if you want something more elegant, a brick bench that doubles as a staircase leading down to the fireplace sunk into the ground?
Roofing
A roof over the fireplace is also useful if you want it to be able to be used even when it rains, for example. For this purpose, you can build a simple pavilion, but the roof must always have an outlet for smoke and heat - otherwise a large-scale fire could quickly occur.
Tip
Some grills can also be used as a fire pit, for example so-called swivel grills. Conversely, you can also transform a fire basket or fire bowl with a grill grate into a grill in no time.
