There’s something timeless about gathering around a fire. Whether it’s a quiet evening at home, dinner with friends, or a weekend spent entertaining outdoors, a well-designed fire feature can completely transform a backyard.
For Los Angeles homeowners, outdoor fire features have become an increasingly popular part of landscape design. From sleek built-in fire pits to dramatic outdoor fireplaces, these features can add warmth, ambiance, architectural interest, and functionality to an outdoor living space. At PictureBuild, we believe a fire feature should be more than an addition to your backyard—it should feel like a natural part of the overall landscape design.
What Is a Fire Feature?
A fire feature is any designed landscape element that incorporates fire into an outdoor space. While the traditional fire pit is probably the first thing that comes to mind, there are countless ways to incorporate fire into a Los Angeles landscape.
Some popular options include:
- Built-in gas fire pits
- Outdoor fireplaces
- Fire bowls
- Linear fire features
- Fire tables
- Fire-and-water features
- Fireplace walls
- Fire features incorporated into outdoor kitchens
- Custom fire elements integrated into patios and seating areas
The right option depends on your home’s architecture, the size and layout of your yard, how you plan to use the space, and the overall aesthetic you’re trying to create.
Fire Pits: The Classic Backyard Fire Feature
Fire pits are one of the most versatile fire features for a backyard.
A custom fire pit can become the centerpiece of a seating area, creating a natural gathering place for family and guests. They can be built into patios, surrounded by stone or concrete, or incorporated into a larger landscape design.
For a contemporary Los Angeles home, a simple geometric fire pit can provide a clean architectural element. For a more organic landscape, natural stone or textured materials can create a warmer, more relaxed appearance.
Gas fire pits are particularly popular because they can provide an easy-to-control flame without the smoke, ash, and cleanup associated with traditional wood-burning fires.
Outdoor Fireplaces
If you’re looking to make a bigger architectural statement, an outdoor fireplace may be the perfect choice.
An outdoor fireplace can anchor an entire outdoor living area while creating a strong focal point. It can also be incorporated into a covered patio, outdoor kitchen, or entertainment area. Materials such as natural stone, stucco, brick, concrete, and porcelain can be used to create everything from a rustic fireplace to an ultra-modern architectural installation.
For Los Angeles homes, an outdoor fireplace can also help blur the line between indoor and outdoor living—something that works especially well with California’s climate.
Fire Bowls and Linear Fire Features
Not every fire feature needs to be large. Fire bowls are a great way to introduce fire into a landscape without overwhelming the space. They can be positioned around a pool, along a patio, beside a staircase, or at the entrance to an outdoor entertaining area.
Linear fire features offer another modern option. Long, narrow flames can be incorporated into retaining walls, outdoor bars, pool surrounds, or architectural walls. These designs work particularly well in contemporary Los Angeles landscape designs where clean lines and minimal forms are important.
Choosing the Right Location for Your Fire Feature
Where you place your fire feature is just as important as the feature itself. A good landscape designer will consider:
How the Space Will Be Used
Do you want the fire feature to create an intimate seating area? Will it be used while entertaining? Should it be visible from inside the home. Understanding how you use your backyard helps determine the ideal placement.
Views From Inside the Home
A fire feature doesn’t have to be enjoyed only when you’re sitting outside. When thoughtfully positioned, a fireplace or fire bowl can become a visual focal point from the living room, kitchen, bedroom, or other interior spaces.
Relationship to the Pool
Poolside fire features are especially popular in Los Angeles. Fire bowls, fireplaces, and linear flames can frame a pool and make the entire backyard feel more intentional.
Outdoor Kitchens and Dining Areas
Fire features can also be integrated into outdoor kitchens, bars, dining areas, and patios to create a cohesive outdoor living environment. Instead of treating each element as a separate project, thoughtful landscape design connects them together.
Gas vs. Wood-Burning Fire Features
One of the first decisions homeowners need to make is what type of fuel they want to use.
Gas Fire Features
Gas is a popular choice for modern outdoor spaces because it offers:
- Easy ignition
- Adjustable flames
- Less smoke
- Minimal cleanup
- A clean, contemporary appearance
Gas fire features can also be designed in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.
Wood-Burning Fire Features
Wood-burning fireplaces and fire pits provide a traditional campfire experience, complete with crackling wood and natural smoke. However, they also require more maintenance and consideration of local regulations, location, smoke, and surrounding materials. For either option, homeowners should verify applicable local building and fire-code requirements before construction.
How Much Does a Fire Feature Cost?
The cost of an outdoor fire feature can vary significantly depending on the size, materials, fuel source, complexity, and surrounding construction. A simple fire bowl may be relatively straightforward, while a custom outdoor fireplace integrated into a larger hardscape or outdoor living project can become a much more substantial investment.
Other factors that can affect cost include:
- Site preparation
- Gas or utility connections
- Masonry or stonework
- Custom fabrication
- Seating walls
- Patio construction
- Pool integration
- Permitting
- Landscaping
- Lighting
- Drainage and grading
Rather than choosing a fire feature based solely on price, it’s worth considering the entire outdoor space and how the feature will function within it.
Why Work With a Professional Landscape Designer?
A great fire feature requires more than choosing a beautiful design. It needs to work with the surrounding architecture, hardscape, planting, lighting, circulation, and outdoor living areas. That’s where professional landscape design can make a significant difference.
At PictureBuild, we approach outdoor spaces as complete environments. Rather than simply installing a fire pit, we consider how the fire feature fits into the entire landscape, from the patio and pool to the planting and outdoor kitchen.
Our goal is to create outdoor spaces that feel cohesive, functional, and uniquely suited to each home.
Create Your Ideal Los Angeles Outdoor Space
Whether you’re envisioning a modern fire pit, a dramatic outdoor fireplace, a poolside fire bowl, or a completely custom fire-and-water feature, the possibilities are almost endless. For Los Angeles homeowners, a thoughtfully designed fire feature can turn an ordinary backyard into a place you’ll want to spend more time in—especially when it’s integrated into a larger outdoor living and landscape design.
If you’re considering a fire feature for your Los Angeles home, PictureBuild can help you design an outdoor space where every element works together.
Ready to transform your backyard? Contact PictureBuild to start planning your Los Angeles landscape design project.