Author: Beckers

Sit and Relax

If you’re going to relax on the patio you’ve got to have something to relax on, right? Yes.  And what you sit on to relax on your patio will depend on your taste, budget, and creativity. So let’s talk patio furniture. 

What’s Your Criteria?

Bear in mind, this blog post is about creating a comfortable outdoor living space that you are happy with and proud of, so you might be the person who prefers everything to match. Nothing wrong with that. There was a time in my life, as a professional graphic designer, that continuity of elements was very important in creating an attractive design. So furnishing the patio to match or meld well is OK — if you have the budget to buy a line of outdoor furniture that meets with your design sense. One main focus of this blog, however, is creating a cool outdoor living space without breaking the bank. For me, as a retired professional graphic designer, I have to expand my design sense to match my budget. And I have to get involved in a little DIY. 

What’s Eclectic?

Now, a certain eclectic look can work well for your outdoor space, generate a lot of fun, and net some interesting stories along the way. What’s eclectic, you might ask? Here’s a definition: deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources. So let me tell you about our furnishing the patio adventure . . . to-date — how we came about what we have, why we think it works, and how you can do the same with your patio.

When Should You Start Furnishing the Patio?

If you are in the position to buy all new patio furniture, the winter months will offer you the best deals. Yes, you’ll have to wait until Spring/Summer to enjoy what you’ve bought (unless you are somewhere close to the equator), but the winter months make it a buyer’s market. You’ll cut your best deals when a retailer has little business because of the weather — out of season.

When Should You Take the Eclectic Approach to Patio Furniture?

Anytime! Here are some opportunities:

• You have a friend that is moving long distance and they have too much stuff. You can offer to take some of their furniture off their hands that you think will work on your patio. You can offer to buy it from them or, offer to help them diminish their load by putting the furniture in your car, hugging them to wish them a safe move, and driving away.

• You are walking your neighborhood for exercise and you see one of your neighbors has put some furniture at the curb for trash day. You assess the item and decide that your DIY skills can improve this furniture and that it will work just fine on your patio. Go get your car!

• You have a friend that manages a local coffee shop or eatery which offers outdoor patio seating. Make sure your friend knows that you are searching for cool patio furniture and if/when their establishment might upgrade their outdoor furniture that you would be interested in their old furniture even if you have to dig it out of the dumpster behind the establishment.

• You are at the funky local grocery store that has decided to offer unusual household items as a draw to get customers in their store. They might have patio furniture at a discounted price because the grocery store is just using these items as a hook to get you in to buy food. Bite on their hook and score yourself some nice patio furniture at a steal of a price — because who buys patio furniture at the grocery store? You do.

• You have friends who are extremely talented in producing things and they offer you a gift because they are excited about your passion for creating a cool outdoor living space. And, you enjoy spending time with them on the patio. They become family. Be gracious and accept their superlative gift. And invite them over often to enjoy their company on the patio. Alway be well stocked with adult beverages to offer hospitality. And let then sit back and relax in the chairs they’ve made for you as a heartfelt gift.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t go to a patio furniture store and order what you want. But none of the opportunities I described above involved going to a retailer to furnish the patio. And every opportunity mentioned above was an opportunity that we experienced personally and ended up with some cool patio furniture that we are happy with and proud of.

Our Patio Furniture Stories:

Friend Moving #1
We have a friend, an only child, who ended up with her mother’s house when her mom passed at an old age. She spent some time cleaning out the house and getting it ready for sale. All the while, a set of iron furniture was parked on the front porch — two chairs, a loveseat, and a plant stand. When we enquired about the set she said it had been setting in that spot for 40 years. It had some surface rust on it and was faded, but it was quality furniture from an earlier era. We offered her $200 for the set and she accepted. 

I used a wire brush on my drill to knock off most of the rust. Next, I applied a primer specifically engineered for rusty metal as a base. Then I used a black semi-gloss spray paint designed for outdoor metals. 

The chairs are very comfortable and look like new. They stay out on the patio year-round. We couldn’t be happier. And a search online for similar furniture netted one similar chair for $160. I estimate to replace this set at current retail would cost around $800 to $1,000. The photos above are the chairs and loveseat (the round tables we purchased from Lowes at $30 a piece). 

Friend Moving #2

OK, this is a DIY project in-progress. We had an older friend who was moving out of state to be with her son who was going to lovingly tend to his mother in her golden years. Her husband had passed and much of what she had was of no use to her where she was moving. She offered a number of items to us for free. One was a dynamic rope hammock — check out our blog post Hammocks Are Essential for Living on the Patio for more information about this unique piece of patio furniture. She also offered us these cool 1930’s style steel chairs. We wanted some chairs dedicated to our fire pit that would hold up in the winter weather as well as the heat of summer. Sometime this Fall we’ll sand them down and repaint with the same rust primer and metal outdoor paint we used on the iron set. We’re thinking bright red would be cool. Stand by for finished photos. Total estimated cost: a couple of cans of spray paint and a twelve pack of beer. 

Update:
This DIY project was “in-progress” for at least a season (OK, I was lazy). But I finally wire-brushed and sanded them to get them ready for new paint. Now, I won’t say this is my best prep and paint job. These chairs have many miles on them. So it wasn’t worth going overboard trying to make them look brand new. However, they serve a purpose on the grill deck as a seating option to enjoy a cocktail while monitoring whatever is on the grill. And the color looks really cool! But the project did, in fact, require a twelve pack.

Walking Your Neighborhood on Trash Day
Julie was walking the neighborhood for exercise and noticed a concrete bird bath at the curb for the trash guys. She came back home and told me she wanted it. I was NOT happy. But I love my wife and wanted to please her. So, begrudgingly, I agreed. We have a “boxy” SUV so it fit into the back with space to spare. But, it weighed tons! (I’m not exaggerating.) We barely could lift the two pieces ourselves to get it into the car. I had to use a furniture dolly to wheel both pieces, separately, into the back yard. The bath basin was cracked so I caulked it and repainted the interior of the bath basin. But the outside was stunning — green moss and weathered concrete. It looked like something you’d see in a patio area of a vineyard in France or Italy. Great character. For free! To purchase it new would cost around $100.00

Friend Manages a Local Coffee Shop/Eatery Offering Outdoor Patio Seating

So, we had a friend who was a manager for a local store of a noted world-wide chain of coffee shops — you can figure that out, right? One afternoon she called and said that her store was changing their entire compliment of outdoor seating furniture — that night! While corporate policy prevented her from giving us the furniture, corporate instructed her to put the old furniture next to the trash dumpster in the alley behind the store — around 10 p.m. that night! You’re keeping up with me, right? We borrowed another friend’s truck and scored this metal bistro table and two plastic wicker chairs. All we did was paint the tabletop. Several days a week we eat our lunch and dinner at this table. This set stays on the patio year-round so when the winter cool air meets the warmth of the winter sun we relax at the table on the patio. To replace this set we’d probably pay around $250 or more retail.

The Funky Local Grocery Store

Where we lived in Florida there was a small grocery store chain that was kinda funky in terms of the groceries they offered — many European brands — offbeat foodstuffs. But the food was tasty and less expensive than the big-chain grocer in the community. To get people in the door they’d offer home items for sale that were very out-of-the-ordinary for a grocery store. But it was quality merchandise. One day we got a flyer from the store and Julie noticed these “gravity chairs” — like a chaise lounge. They were inexpensive but well-made. They’ve lasted over five years. They were $30 a piece —  about half what the current retail market price is for these chairs (we added the pillows).

Friends Who Are Extremely Talented
There are many talented people in the world. We happen to be friends with a couple and the husband is a retired master carpenter. He renovated our kitchen and I have never walked into it and said, “I wish we had done this or done that.” Preston’s work is stunning craftsmanship. 

Before we started building our patio we used to sit out in our car port at the end of our car. We only had the black table and wicker chairs I talked about earlier. The space was functional but lacked any aesthetic appeal. One day, out of the blue, never having made a request or even hinting about the beautiful Adirondack chairs Preston builds by hand, he showed up with two — one for Julie and one for me.

His wife Pam came along and we celebrated their fabulous gift in our carport with adult beverages. In part, Preston and Pam’s gift of the Adirondack chairs was inspiration to start this blog, Living on the Patio. Truly these chairs are a work of art and wonderfully comfortable. Yes, you can buy a cheap plastic knockoff from the big box stores for $89.00. But they have no heart, no class. 

So, if you have a friend who has great talent in whatever, tap into that resource. Pay them their fair market price for whatever they do and revel in having something handmade with great expertise and crafted with love. You won’t regret it or second guess your decision. This is one of the reasons why life happens on the patio.

Important Tip

One design secret we learned in furnishing the patio is to always have two matching of whatever. We’ve placed them so that each style of furniture denotes its own area on the patio. There’s never an odd-duck, single chair — unless every chair is different and then that’s a cool design idea.

Seasonal Shifts

Everything on the patio stays out year round except the gravity chairs. They go in the garden shed till spring. 

• We have covers for the Adirondack chairs that we leave on through the snowy parts of winter. Check out these two suppliers from whom we have bought several covers for items such as our grilling table, fire pit, and Adirondack chairs: National Covers and The Cover Store.
• As added protection, we usually spray our covers with a coat of Scotchgard™. They offer Outdoor Water & Sun Shield or Scotchgard™ Heavy Duty Water Shield.
• Julie oils the Adirondack chairs at least twice a year to keep them looking new and helping them stay water resistant.

How Much Should You Spend on New Patio Furniture?

Now you know how we were able to furnish our patio with limited expense, unique creativity, and lots of elbow grease. And we’re happy with what we have. 

An online search turned up this question along with the answer provided. 
Question: How much should you spend on patio furniture?
Answer: It can be tricky to figure it all out. Generally speaking, a quality cushioned chair will cost between $800 and $2,000. A quality sofa will cost $1,800 to $3,000. Look for dining tables between $900 and $2,000 or more.

We decided to take the eclectic route and put our dollars into other elements of our outdoor living space. It’s all about what’s important to you. Just don’t discourage yourself from having fun patio furniture because your budget won’t allow you to buy brand new. As you can see, we think we’ve done alright for a small dollar investment and have had fun being creative along the way. So sit and relax. And always remember, every day is Friday on the patio.

Please Leave a Comment: Patio Furniture

Leave a comment below and tell us if this information was of value to you or tell us what we missed and can add to this post. And tell us what direction you’ve gone in when furnishing your patio. Add a picture so we can see where you sit and relax!

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When most people hear the words “fire pit” they think of chilly weather with mittens and hot chocolate. And yes, fire pits are great for getting outdoors in the winter months. But really, a fire pit creates a year-round backyard event. Consider a fire pit in your backyard in terms of an “urban campfire”: a reason to congregate outdoors during all seasons — including summer — to watch the stars and roast marsh mellows. Yes, we consider a fire pit to be an essential element of our patio environment.

What Kind of Fire Pit Should You Have?

Initially I thought I wanted a huge pit for a crowd of friends to enjoy. Go big or go home, right? I researched one of those corrugated metal rings around which I could encase in stone or pavers . . . the kind you get your feet up on to keep your toes toasty in the cooler air. But that was more involved than I wanted a fire pit to be. And I had some other criteria that my fire pit needed to meet.

My Fire Pit Wishlist:

• Our backyard is sloped so I didn’t want to have to re-grade a large portion of my yard to build a level seating area around the pit. I needed a smaller fire pit that was movable in case I wanted to relocate it in my yard at a later date. A smaller pit meant more intimate fires with fewer friends each time but that’s OK.
• I wanted a fire pit with a mesh or screen over the flames to keep any sparks or embers in-check to prevent fire where it wasn’t wanted. When looking at a larger, custom fire pit, I would have had to go to a metal shop and have a mesh cover fabricated. That added several hundred dollars to the cost — not budget friendly. 
• I also wanted a solid metal cover so when I was done enjoying my patio fire pit and was ready to head inside for the night, I could confidently cover any remaining embers knowing nothing would get out of control as the fire burned itself out. Again, a custom fabrication was required for more dollars then I was willing to spend. I did find some pre-fab options online, but their cost was equal to what I would spend locally plus the cost of shipping. 
• I wanted a fire pit that would hold up in the weather. Stainless steel was my initial choice. 
• And I like things that are well made — beefy. 

And So the Search Began . . .

I looked at many options online and read hundreds of reviews. (I am a faithful reviewer when I buy a product because I rely on reviews so much when I am making a purchase.) I read about wear and tear, early rust, lack of amenities such as the mesh cover I wanted. But I also heard people say how much they and their families enjoyed the time they spent around the fire pit they selected. My search was fruitful because I finally found one option that met all of my wants and needs at the price point I was willing to pay. We bought the Smokeless Wood Fire Pit from Sam’s Club for about $250. For an alternative, click here for another option from Yaheetech.

This pit is stainless steel and double-walled to help cut down on the smoke. It has both a mesh dome to cover the fire while it’s burning to check embers as well as a solid steel cover to close it off when you’re ready for bed. It is big enough/small enough for four to six people to comfortably saddle-up to the fire, winter or summer.  

Can You Put a Fire Pit in Your Backyard?

OK, normally I am anal retentive in terms of details and cover all my bases in the correct order. Not this time (but it worked out OK). After getting the fire pit and putting it all together (it is beefy — yay!), I decided to take some photos of the pit and email the guy in our town who handles code issues. He forwarded my email to the county fire chief. Here’s what the chief said:

• The device pictured would be legal. (Sending a photo was a good idea.)
• Ensure that it is located at least 15 feet from anything that could burn.
• The fire should be attended at all times and extinguished when done.
• Burn only dry, seasoned wood to diminish the amount of smoke the fire may create.
• Locally there are outdoor burning restrictions during certain hours of the day and months of the year due to dry conditions and high winds.

I was very happy that I took the time to check the regulations and get the fire chief’s approval to make sure I was in compliance and we could enjoy our fire pit to the max!

Fire Pit Prep:

Initially, my fire pit area was grass covered and I knew the heat from the fire would scorch the grass so I did dig up the sod and laid in some pavers I had knocking around. This gave me a level spot for the pit and the pavers acted as a heat barrier. However, I have added an update below to show you how we’ve greatly upgraded our back yard fire pit. Check it out!

Despite the pit being stainless steel, I did buy a fabric cover that fit perfectly. It was weather proof but I sprayed a coat of Scotch Guard on it anyway. 

How to Build a Fire

The website rei.com has a fabulous post about building a fire and all that’s involved. See the post here.

To burn a successful fire, you’ll need three types fuel: tinder, kindling, and firewood.

• Tinder includes small twigs, dry leaves, needles or forest duff. Or, you could use livingonthepatio.com Fire Starter Pouches as your tinder.
• Kindling consists of small sticks, typically less than one inch around.
• Firewood is any larger piece of wood and is what will keep your fire going long into the night.

Are Fire Pits a Good Idea?

Absolutely! We have found it is one of the best ways to spark conversation (no pun intended) and spend an hour or two with people who willingly do not check their cell phones for any reason — the fire is that engaging. And it offers a chance for you to get creative:

• When you’re around the fire and it’s chilly outside, wrap your hands around one of Julie’s Hot Toddys. 
• When you’re around the fire on a balmy summer night, grab a cold beer and enjoy some sausage wontons or homemade pizza. 
• Finally, you can explore various aromas the burning wood creates. Our favorite, after spending several decades living in and traveling around Colorado and New Mexico, is the smell of Pinyon wood from the Pinyon pine trees that grow in the southwestern U.S. It is truly a unique and enticing aroma. Search for it online to find local suppliers. 

Fire Pit UPDATE

OK, it’s been about 3 years (2022) since our original fire pit post. We’ve created a number of new “zones” in our outdoor living space and one of those zones is a substantial fire pit area. So, fast forward to the summer of 2025 and check out how we have seriously upgraded our outdoor fire pit area.

Upgraded Fire Pit Surface Area

We researched a number of surface area materials for the fire pit base:

Wood Deck
A “floating” wood deck was an option because it would be relatively easy for a carpenter novice like myself to build. After all, I did build my grilling deck and a fire pit deck would be very similar. Plus, the materials would be budget friendly. But since our yard is on about a six degree downhill grade I would have to deal with support posts on the downhill side, most likely mounted in post holes (dug in the hard Virginia clay soil) and filled with Quickrete. And then there is the yearly maintenance of cleaning and resealing the wood surface. More trouble than I wanted.

Gravel
Next I researched building a wood frame outlining the perimeter of the fire pit area. I’d lay down a pervious ground cover to let the water from rain and snow drain away but impede weed growth, and then fill the frame with granite gravel. It would have been an inexpensive option but a tremendous amount of sweat equity. And comments made on YouTube by others who had built similar patio area surfaces complained about the loose gravel making a mess as well as the non-solid surface making sitting in chairs on the gravel an uncomfortable experience. This option got crossed off the list.

Concrete Pad
We are happy with our original concrete patio which is 12 feet wide and 36 feet long. It is a clean, hard surface, low maintenance, easy to remove snow from it in the winter time, and comfortable for sitting. Since we had another space we were developing that also needed a hard surface in addition to our fire pit area, we decided to get some concrete quotes. I was surprised that the cost was much lower than anticipated and we moved forward with two ten foot square concrete pads in our outdoor living space. 

The pads were laid in one day and we let the concrete cure for 28 days before sealing it and setting up our fire pit. We are very happy with this option and it has worked beautifully. Here’s how the two pads looked while they were curing.

Fire Pit Seating

We had four wrought iron chairs that we had been using on the big patio that we moved to the fire pit are and then searched for two more so we could seat six people around our fire pit on the concrete pad. There is more room for camp chairs on the grass around the pit area. We love the wrought iron look and durability — easy to leave out all seasons as they hold up very well and are comfortable around the fire.

Fire Pit Tables

Of course, what’s a outdoor fire pit experience, whether it’s summer or winter, without some sort of beverages and snacks. And that requires small tables for mugs and/or glasses filled with hot toddys, hot chocolate, margaritas, ice tea, a cosmopolitan . . . and snack plates. 

In the true sense of re-purposing materials available, I used some stool seats that Julie had retrieved from the curb on trash day and built some tables using hardware that had been part of a now defunct pergola we had replaced with a metal gazebo on our big patio. Here are some photos:

Fire-Wood Caddy

Finally, we needed a structure to store our fire wood and keep it dry as best we could so our wood fuel would be fire-ready whenever we wanted to enjoy a back yard fire. Now, let me again state that I am in no way a carpenter. I am a hacker. And I love to design items around re-useable material that we already have to keep the cost reasonable. 

I had two eight foot 4x4s, again from the now defunct pergola, so I cut them both in to making the height of my wood caddy four feet. The width was determined by two factors. First, most pieces of fire wood are cut to about 16 inches long (I measured various fire-wood bundles at my local big box hardware store). And second, I had a piece of corrugated steel left over from the roof I put on my grilling deck that I wanted to use for the top of the wood caddy. Finally, I had some scrap 2x4s that were chemically treated for outdoor, weather-exposed use. I used those to build a beefy platform on which to stack my firewood knowing that, when filled, it would amount to substantial weight. Not fancy, but not ugly. Worthy of an outdoor living space fire pit.

And that’s it!

Get Started

I hope this update will help you either get started with your fire pit area or improve what you already have at minimal cost and effort. Comfortable seating around a safe fire can be the catalyst for a fun evening, initiate stimulating conversation, and offer the enjoyment of the company of great friends. If you haven’t already built a fire pit area in your outdoor living space we encourage you to make it happen. Have fun and remember, every day is Friday on the patio!

Fire Pit FAQs

What are the benefits of having a fire pit?

Having a fire pit offers benefits like extending outdoor living into cooler months, creating a cozy ambiance for socializing, serving as a focal point for gatherings, providing warmth and light, potentially increasing home value, offering cooking versatility, and even reducing stress through the calming effect of fire.

Can I put a fire pit in my backyard?

Yes, you can usually have a fire pit in your backyard, but you must check local city/county ordinances for rules (permits, burn bans, distance from structures/property lines) and follow safety guidelines, like keeping it away from combustibles, having water/extinguisher nearby, never leaving it unattended, and avoiding burning on windy days or during poor air quality alerts.

How far should a fire pit be away from a house?

You should place a fire pit at least 10 to 25 feet away from your house, structures, and flammable materials, with 25 feet being a safer recommendation, and always ensure it’s on a non-combustible surface with clearance from overhead branches and power lines, checking local codes first.

Do and don’ts of fire pit?

Don’t wear flammable clothing (like nylon) or any loose-fitting clothing. Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the fire. Avoid using soft woods like pine or cedar because they can pop and throw sparks. Keep a fire extinguisher, garden hose or bucket of water nearby.

Do fire pits increase home value?

Adding a fire pit to your outdoor space can do more than simply offer warmth — it transforms your backyard into a cozy, inviting atmosphere that promotes social connection and boosts your home’s property value.  

Please Leave a Comment

Was this information helpful? Leave a comment below and tell us if this information was of value to you or tell us what we missed and can add to this post. Do you have a fire pit area? How often do you use it? Do you use it all seasons? What’s your favorite thing about being around your fire pit? If you don’t have a fire pit and you want one, what do you need to make it happen? Please share your thoughts and impressions. And tell your locale — we’re in Roanoke, Virginia, USA. Where are you?

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