If you’re considering some home improvement endeavors to kick start the New Year in the best of moods, perhaps installing a unique-looking fire pit in your backyard would be a good idea. Fire pits are a great private gathering spot where your family and friends can spend leisurely afternoons BBQing, sipping drinks and having fun al fresco and they’re usually highly affordable. So, if the idea of a fine backyard fire pit has caught your attention, we have several suggestions to help you choose the perfect one for your yard.

Stone fire pits – Safe, handsome and cozy backyard spots

If you’re even mildly concerned about the safety of your backyard when it comes to risks of fire spreading from your pit to the rest of the yard, perhaps getting a stone fire pit would be a good idea. Unlike regular metal pits, stone fire pits contain the heat so there will be no danger of dry grass catching fire even on hottest of summer days. To build a quality stone pit, you’ll need to decide on the size, location and depth of the pit, get some premixed cement, fire bricks, mortar and palletized stone (a variety of pre-sorted premium stone) and do a bit of manual labor. In case you’re not confident about your DIY skills, you can always hire professional help to do the work for you. Whatever size, spot and stone you opt for, make sure the hole of your pit is 100% isolated from the rest of the ground to prevent any potential fire hazards.

Portable fire pits – elegant and convenient

In case you’re not a fan of digging, cementing and building works, you can always get a portable fire pit. These can also be great if you simply cannot decide where to build one and would rather bring it out whenever there’s a gathering. When choosing a portable fire pit, you will be presented with many materials: from elegant polished metal, to very rough but equally luxurious ones, such as Robert Plumb’s fire pits. Be careful though, as some of them may not be suitable for an extended outdoor exposure and you may be required to put them away during rainy seasons. Read the label carefully and you will find all the information you need in terms of materials used and how to treat them.

Prefabricated pits – Easy to install and super-safe to use

If you’re not willing to forgo the safety of a built-in fire pit but are reluctant to endure extra construction works in your freshly landscaped yard, you can always try prefabricated fire pits for a good measure. On top of their custom built-in appearance, prefab fire pits have another handy feature as they come in a finished state so you need not tinker around with complicated setup or building procedures. Most prefab pits are available in a number of customizable facings and cap options like stucco, brick stone and tile designs, so you can easily match the looks of your fire pit to your personal landscaping preferences and needs. Once delivered, prefabricated pits will be connected to an existing gas source by your contractor and they should be all set and ready for use in a few hours’ time, so these are the most undemanding and hassle-free pit solutions for folks who like to keep things as neat, simple and tidy as possible.

So, are you ready to build your fires this year? You’d better be, because there’s no finer way to end a day than sitting by some cozy flames, laughing and telling stories in the company of your loved ones. With a drink in one hand and some grilled meat in another, you’ll certainly admit that your new backyard fire pit was the best home improvement idea ever.