Planning a Custom Fire Pit in Chantilly, VA

A fire pit is one of the most used things you can add to a back yard, as long as it is planned as part of the space and not dropped onto the lawn as an afterthought.

Place it before you design it

Keep it well clear of the house, fences, sheds and overhanging branches. Fairfax County and many HOAs have rules on distance from structures and on open burning, so check those first.

Size the space around the chairs

The pit itself is small. What takes room is the ring of chairs and the space to walk behind them. Mark it out with a hose and some chairs before anything is built.

Choose the surface underneath

Stamped concrete, flagstone and pavers all work well. Gravel is a simple, good-looking option for a fire pit set away from the main patio.

Add a seat wall

A low curved wall on one side gives permanent seating, blocks wind and makes the area feel finished.

Finish with planting and light

Planting that frames the space without crowding it, and low lighting on the path back to the house, are what make it somewhere you use on a weeknight.