When researching fire pit seating ideas it is important to balance creating a comfortable seating arrangement with your style needs.
This article is the ultimate guide for fire pit seating ideas.
While building my family’s new fire pit, I researched and researched many different fire pit ideas before settling on the right one. Below are answers to the top questions when I come to determining the ideal sitting situation for your fire pit and examples of top fire pit seating ideas that are found across the web.
How do you build a seating area around a fire pit?
When building your fire pit seating there are four key considerations: Safety, style, ease of creating, and price.
#1 Safety – How far should the seating be from the fire pit?
Three to four feet of distance should be left between the seating area and the fire pit. This amount of space balances the need to not be too close to the fire pit yet close enough to feel the heat of the fire pit while providing some room for someone to pass between you and the fire pit.
#2 Style – What seating styles are right for my fire pit and backyard?
This one is a tough one because the answer is that it truly depends.
First look at the aesthetics of your background. Then consider how your fire pit will be used. Do you care about trying to pair your fire pit so that it blends into the environment of your backyard?
How comfortable do you want the seating options to be? Sitting on a wooden log is fine for a bit, but is uncomfortable in the long run. The examples that are provided below will help inspire you to make the style choice that is right for your backyard.
#3 Ease to create – How much effort are you willing to put into creating your fire pit seating?
You can spend as little and as much time as you want creating your fire pit seating. If spending little time is your jam, I suggest just buying four or five outdoor chairs and moving onto enjoying your fire pit.
However, if you want to go the do-it-yourself route, there are plenty of options for you to consider, ranging from simple to intense. Whatever path you choose, there are several examples that are provided below.
#4 Price – How much are you willing to spend to create your seating?
When it comes to choosing the seating for your fire pit, you should factor in how much you will need to spend in order to make your idea into reality.
Some options such as creating concrete benches and Adirondack chairs can cost a few hundred (and sometimes more thousand) dollars. While more budget options, such as simple tree logs and outdoor chairs are available.
In the examples provided below, I have broken down the typical costs for the suggested options so that you will not have sticker shock in the middle of executing your vision.
8 Amazing Fire Pit Seating Ideas
#1 – Adirondack Chairs
- Safety: Adirondack chairs are great from a safety point of view. Chairs made out of plastic or composite materials tend to be fire resistant. Plus, they are movable so you can ensure that they are not too close to the fire.
- Style: A classic style that never goes out of style. Perfect for
- Ease to Create: Super easy. Just take out your credit card.
- Average Price: $$ to $$$$ (per chair)
- Chairs to consider:
#2 – Wooden Bench for Circular Seating
- Safety: Due to the stone circle that surrounds the actual fire, this design is on the safer side despite the circular wooden bench. Use fire resistance stain on the wood in order to further protect the bench from any flyaway embers.
- Style: This design will work well in most backyards. If desired, you can stain the wood and swap out the stones to better fit the aesthetics of your backyard.
- Ease to Create: Two days’ worth of effort.
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- The bench in the picture is from Instructables.com. Instructions to build this bench can be found here
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- Average Price: $$ to $$$$ (Materials to construct bench)
#3 – Driftwood Bench
- Safety: Slightly increased risk for fire. However, you can minimize the risk by sanding and treating your driftwood.
- Style: Dirftwood seating works incredibly well with backyards that have a rustic or woodsy feel to them. If your outdoor oasis is more modern, driftwood seating will most likely disrupt the overall look of your backyard. Also, depending on the number of benches that you set up, this design can provide ample seating options for your guests.
- Ease to Create: Two days’ worth of effort.
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- The bench in the picture is from Instructables.com. Instructions to build this bench can be found here
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- Average Price: $$ to $$$$ (Materials to construct bench)
#4 – Driftwood Stool
- Safety: If the material for the stool is wood there is a slightly increased risk for fire. However, the stool pictured is made out of Polystone (a faux stone made out of polyurethane resin combined with powdered stone).
- Style: Dirtwood seating works incredibly well with backyards that have a rustic or woodsy feel to them. If your outdoor oasis is more modern, driftwood seating will most likely disrupt the overall look of your backyard. Also, depending on the number of benches that you set up, this design can provide ample seating options for your guests.
- Ease to Create: If you go the Polystone route, getting this stool is as easy as pulling out your created card.
- Average Price: $$ to $$$$ (Materials to construct bench)
- Chairs to consider:
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- Amazon: Patio Sense Elyse Round Rustic Garden Stool
- Bed Bath and Beyond: Studio 3B™ Faux Wood Outdoor Stool
#5 – DIY Concrete Bench
- Safety: This bench has top safety benefits. The finished bench will be movable and the cement is fire resistant.
- Style: Cement outdoor furniture fits in well to many backyard settings. You should have very little trouble finding a design that meets your style needs.
- Ease to Create: Seven days to 10 days worth of effort
- The time seems long; however, it is mostly a lot of waiting while you wait for the cement to cure. Typically cement reaches about 90% strength in about a week.
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- The bench in the picture is from a YouTube video. Instructions to build this bench can be found here
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- Average Price: $$ to $$$$ (Materials for cement and wood to construct the bench)
#6 – Sectional Sofa Outdoor Furniture
- Safety: Highly dependent on the brand that you buy and the materials that make up the outdoor furniture. Highly recommend that you look for fire and weather-resistant tags on furniture seating, pillows, and materials.
- Style: The world is your oyster when it comes to outdoor furniture. There are hundreds if not thousands of brands that you can choose from. For example, Tropitone, Yardbird, Outer, and Harmonia Living are some popular brands. And there are hundreds more no-name brands that are out there. Some even come with propane outdoor fire pits! I suggest stopping by your local outdoor or hardware store and trying out the brands that they have. You will be able to gain a sense of a style and comfort level that will fit into your backyard and home decor.
- Ease to Create: Super easy. Just take out your credit card. However, be prepared for sticker shock with some brands.
- Average Price: $$ to $$$$
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- Sectional to consider (Starting with $$ examples to $$$$):
#7 – Outdoor Patio Chairs
- Safety: On the safer side due to these chairs typically being composed with metal.
- Style: Tends work better with backyards with more modern designs. That being said, patio chairs will not provide a fire pit design where the fire pit and the seating around it have a seamless aesthetic. That being said, you will find a lot of style options with patio chairs so with some patience you should be able to create a fire pit seating area that offers the flexibility of movable chairs, the safety of metal, and reasonable comfort.
- Ease to Create: Just take out your credit card and wait for them to be delivered.
- Average Price: $ to $$$
- Chairs to consider:
- $$$ Option (Amazon): LOKATSE HOME 4 Piece Outdoor Patio Metal Wrought Iron Dining Chair Set
- Chairs to consider:
#8 – Cinder Block Bench
- Safety: The safety of this bench is mixed. While it is helped by the cinder block and the fact that it is technically movable (it will be heavy). However, the actual seating set is made out of wood. Treat the wood with a fire-resistant stain to prevent any flare-ups.
- Style: Cement outdoor furniture fits in well to many backyard settings. You should have very little trouble finding a design that meets your style needs.
- Ease to Create: One afternoon’s worth of effort
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- The bench in the picture is from a YouTube video. Instructions to build this bench can be found here
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- Average Price: $$ to $$$$ (Materials for cinder blocks and wood to construct the bench)
Whether your style is rustic, modern, or if you like to go the do-it-yourself route, the above seating ideas to surround your fire pit will make for an excellent outdoor living space.
