Sitting around an open fire is an incomparable outdoor experience. With a fire pit table, you can create a cozy environment with an authentic flame that is safe and striking. Fire pit tables offer illumination and warmth year-round, and are a unique decorative element in any outdoor space. With a wide assortment of fire pit tables available, LuxeDecor offers a guide that helps you select the best fire pit table for your outdoor space.
While fire pit tables come in a variety of materials and shapes, there are three main fire pit table styles to consider when selecting a fire pit table.
Mantel, or table-style fire pits, are the most common style fire pit tables available. Their size make them a hybrid between a coffee table and dining table with their mid-height profile. Mantel fire pit tables are available in a number of shapes, from round to rectangular, and offer a surface area for eating and drinking.
As the name suggests, these fire pit tables are round and shaped like a bowl. The cauldron-style fire bowl typically displays a ground-level, low profile, useful for radiating 360 degrees of warmth. Fire bowl tables are great for communal gatherings, and usually burn wood.
A chiminea is a freestanding front-loading fireplace with a unique shape. Tall in profile, a chiminea usually displays a bulbous body with a chimney-style stack on top.
Selecting the right material will help determine the aesthetic and function of your fire pit table. The following outlines the most common fire pit table construction materials, which each display their own unique benefits.
Stainless steel fire pits are a more expensive option that come in various shapes, and offer a contemporary industrial style that is minimalist and sleek. If it is not made from stainless steel, make sure the steel used is powder coated to prevent rusting.
Aluminum is a common material used for outdoors because of its resiliency and light weight. Aluminum is ideal for fire pits because it does not reabsorb heat from the fire.
Cast aluminum offers a timeless, elegant look, with often intricate and ornate detailing. Unlike aluminum (which is hollow), cast aluminum is solid which means it is considerably more heavy than aluminum.
A bronze fire pit table offers a unique aesthetic with its distinct orange-brown coloration. Most bronze and copper will develop a patina when exposed to outdoor weather conditions.
Wicker fire pit tables possess a unique organic look with their woven, natural fibers. Constructed from metal frames such as aluminum and steel, wicker is used as a decorative element within the body of the fire pit table.
Fiberglass is a type of fiber-reinforced plastic that is reinforced by glass fibers. It is a strong, lightweight material that is often produced to look like polished stone.
Faux stone fire pit tables are usually made from polyresin material that is molded to emulate the aesthetic of natural stone. These types of fire pit tables offer authentic detailing, while also being durable against outdoor conditions.
Fire pit tables that are fueled by propane are one of the most common types of way to power a fire pit table. Propane fed fire pits have tanks attached, which make these types of tables portable. Propane fueled tables can outperform other fuel types, but can prove expensive when replenishing tanks regularly.
Natural gas is used for fire pit tables that are built-in. Built-in fire pit tables connect to a natural gas line which means you’ll never have to replace propane tanks to fuel a fire pit table. Natural gas is significantly less expensive than other fuel types, but requires a professional to be installed which can prove costly.
Wood can be more cost-effective than buying propane. Depending on the size of your fire pit, different sized logs and kindling will be appropriate.
Charcoal is an easy method in fueling a fire pit table that produces a controlled, even heat with a small flame.
Bio-ethanol is a clean-burning efficient fuel type that emits no smoke, ash, and embers. This is an environmentally friendly fuel source that is safe and ideal for families.
Gel is another fuel alternative that does not emit smoke or odors.
Finding a fire pit table that fits your outdoor space can prove difficult. Make sure to consider the size and scale of both the space you will be installing a fire pit table in, as well as, the furniture that will accompany the fire pit table. Fire pit tables can range in size from 20-inches to 45-inches in diameter. Petite fire pit tables, suitable for small spaces such as compact decks and patios, usually measure between 20-25 inches. Larger fire pit tables measure between 40-45 inches, and are a striking centerpiece in an outdoor lounge space.
