Chiminea Patio Ideas: How to Set Up a Backyard Fire Corner

A good chiminea patio starts with the spot, not the furniture: a non-combustible base of concrete slabs, stone or brick, at least 6-10 ft (2-3 m) from walls, wooden fences and fabric furniture, with open sky above the chimney. Then come the seats, in a half circle facing the front opening, warm low lighting, the right plants and a dry place for firewood that sparks can’t reach.

These ideas are written for a chiminea, a closed wood-burning fireplace with its own chimney. Many of them work for an open fire pit too, though the clearances grow. They’re in the order you’ll decide them when you lay out a patio or a backyard fire area.

Where should the fire corner go?

Pick the spot before anything else. The best spots share a few things:

• Open sky above the chimney: no eaves, pergola beams, awning or low branches.
• Clearance from anything that burns: at least 6-10 ft (2-3 m) from walls, wooden fences, sheds and fabric furniture.
• Visible from the house, so you can see the fire from a window if you step away for a few minutes.
• Back to the wind: a chiminea works best with its back to the prevailing wind, which also keeps smoke away from your windows.
• Level ground, so the stand sits square and the body doesn’t tilt.

The full safety rules, including decks and covered porches, are in where to place a chiminea.

What should the fire area be made of?

The base matters most, and it also shapes the whole corner. Concrete slabs, stone paving and brick are the safest choices. On a wooden or composite deck, build a safety zone of slabs or pavers, roughly 3 x 4 ft (1 x 1.2 m), and set the chiminea on it. That pad can become the centerpiece of the layout: a square of stone or brick in the middle of the deck, chairs around it, looks planned rather than improvised.

In the yard, a round of pavers set into gravel does the same job and is a popular way to build a fire pit area on a budget. Keep dry grass and fallen leaves away from its edges.

How do you arrange seating around a chiminea?

A chiminea throws most of its warmth out of the front opening. So seats go in a half circle in front of and beside the opening, not all the way around as with an open fire pit. The back of the chiminea stays clear, facing the wind.

• Leave a walkway between the chairs and the chiminea; nobody should have to squeeze past hot clay.
• Cushions and throws stay farther back than the chairs: sparks are rare from a closed fire, but not impossible.
• Heavier wood or metal chairs hold up outside better than light ones the wind pushes around.
• A low side table at the edge saves trips back to the kitchen.

What lighting works around an outdoor fire?

The fire gives warm light, so the rest only needs to not drown it out. A few solar path lights, a string of warm bulbs hung well away from the chimney or a lantern on the table is plenty. Bright white floodlights kill the mood and dazzle you when you look out into the dark. Keep cables and extension cords out of the fire area.

Which plants work near a fire corner?

Plants make the corner feel like a garden, as long as they stay in their place. Shrubs and tall grasses keep their distance from the chimney and the opening, with no branches hanging overhead. Clear dry grass, fallen leaves and dead hedge growth from around the base before each season. Herbs in beds or boxes at the edge of the paved area add scent and color without getting in the fire’s way.

Where should the firewood go?

The main woodpile stays away from the fire, covered on top and open to the air on the sides. Near the corner, keep only what you need for one evening, in a basket or a box a few steps from the chiminea, not right against it. That way dry wood is within reach and no spark gets near your supply.

A chiminea is decor in daylight, too

A handmade clay chiminea still looks good unlit. In the daytime it is a piece of garden pottery; in the evening it is where everyone ends up. Ours has a cream body with raised ornaments in light red or light blue, so you can match the patio: red goes with brick and warm wood, blue with stone and greenery.

Both versions stand 34 in (87 cm) tall on the included tripod stand, weigh 38-44 lbs and come with a protective lid. See our clay chimineas, in red or blue. They are currently sold out in the US, so the product pages are there for specs and reference prices. Still deciding between a closed fire and an open one? Read chiminea vs fire pit.

How much space do you need for a chiminea area?

More for clearance than for the chiminea itself. Plan on 6-10 ft (2-3 m) free from walls, wooden fences and fabric furniture, plus room for seats in front of the opening and a walkway.

Can you set up a chiminea under a covered patio?

Not under the roof. A chiminea needs open sky above the chimney. On a covered patio, move the fire out beyond the roofline onto pavers, and keep the table and daytime seating under cover.

Where should firewood go in a fire corner?

Only one evening’s worth near the chiminea, in a basket or box a few steps away. The main pile stays at a distance, covered on top and open on the sides.