Chiminea Christmas Decorations: Festive Ideas That Stay Safe

A chiminea corner decorates for Christmas like any other patio, with one extra rule: nothing that burns goes on or next to the chiminea. String lights, lanterns, greenery and ribbons go around it, at a distance, on the fence, the railing, the chairs or the table, and the clay itself and the pavers under it stay bare. That’s how you get the decorations and the fire on the same night.

People start searching for chiminea Christmas decorations earlier every year. Here are ideas that work well near a fire, and a few we’d leave out.

The ground rule: keep the fire zone clear

In December a chiminea needs exactly what it needs in July: a non-combustible base of pavers, stone or brick, 6-10 ft (2-3 m) from walls, wooden fences and fabric furniture, and open sky above the chimney. Decorations go outside that circle. Nothing goes on the chiminea itself, no garland, no lights, no bow: the clay gets hot enough to burn, and the chimney sends up hot air and, now and then, a spark.

String lights

• Outdoor-rated only. The package says whether they’re made for outdoor use; indoor sets don’t handle damp.
• LED. They stay cool and use little power.
• On the fence, the shrubs or the railing, not on the chiminea and not on branches above the chimney.
• Cords along the edges, not across the path to the fire, where someone carrying wood can trip.

Lanterns and candles

A lantern hung on the fence or set on the patio steps gives the kind of warm light that suits a fire. For lanterns in the seating area, battery LED candles are the safe choice. If you want real candles, keep them in closed lanterns, out of the wind and away from kids, blankets and greenery, and put them out before you go inside.

Greenery, pine cones and branches

Fresh-cut evergreen boughs, pine cones and dry twigs look great at Christmas and burn fast. Use them on the gate wreath, the table or the fence, not inside the fire circle. On a side table between the chairs, a few pine cones and an LED candle are plenty.

And the question that comes up every January: don’t burn the Christmas tree in the chiminea. Softwoods pop, throw sparks and leave resin deposits, and a tree can hide tinsel or wire. A few dry, clean twigs are fine as kindling. What to burn instead is in what to burn in a chiminea.

Chairs, blankets and the table

Plaid wool blankets, red cushions and mugs of cocoa are half the winter look. Set the chairs in a half circle facing the opening, at a distance where the heat feels pleasant. Don’t leave blankets draped over the arm of the chair closest to the fire, and never dry anything on the chiminea. The small table between the chairs is the right place for a lantern, a wreath laid flat and the mugs. More layout ideas are in chiminea patio ideas.

The unlit chiminea as daytime decor

By day, a clay chiminea with relief ornaments is a decoration on its own: cream with light red or light blue, it goes well with evergreen and warm light. Leave it as it is, with the lid on the chimney while it’s cold. If it snows, brush the snow off the lid and keep the clay dry. Cold isn’t the problem for clay; water freezing inside it is.

A Christmas fire

If you want to light it over the holidays, first make sure the chiminea is dry and not frozen, then start small and build the fire up gradually. The cold-weather rules are in can you use a chiminea in winter.

Our chiminea, in short

Sparkle Stone chimineas are handmade from 100% natural clay, stand 34 in (87 cm) tall on the included tripod stand and come with a protective lid. See our clay chimineas or the red ornamented version. They are currently sold out in the US, so the product pages are there for specs and reference prices.

Can you put Christmas lights on a chiminea?

No. The clay and the chimney get hot, and the chimney sends up hot air and sparks. Put the lights on the fence, shrubs or railing, outside the fire zone.

Can you burn a Christmas tree in a chiminea?

No. Softwood pops and throws sparks, and a tree can hide tinsel or wire. A few dry, clean twigs are fine as kindling.

Can you use a chiminea on Christmas Eve if it snowed?

Yes, if the chiminea is dry and not frozen. Brush the snow off, start with a small fire and build it up slowly.

What decorations are safe near a chiminea?

Next to it, nothing that burns. Around the fire zone: lanterns with LED candles, outdoor-rated lights on the fence and greenery on the table or gate.