A Landscape Designer Shares the Best Outdoor Fire Features for Idaho Falls Backyards

Nothing brings people together outdoors like the cozy flickering flames of a fire pit.

The evening seems luxuriously longer. Chill? What chill?

But if you’re imagining a pile of wood surrounded by a circle of stones, you haven’t seen fire pits lately.

Fire pits are fancy now.

Jump to Section

• What Are the Best Modern Fire Pit Designs?
  • Fire Tables
  • Linear Burners
  • Powder-Coated Steel
  • Corten Steel
  • Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Bowls
• Modern Outdoor Fire Pit Technology
• Are Permanent Fire Pits Better Than Portable Ones?
• Use a Cozy Idaho Falls Fire Pit In Your Backyard Wellness Area
• Who Should Install Your Idaho Falls Fire Pit? A Full-Service Landscaping Company
• Ready to Boost Your Outdoor Experience with the Best Outdoor Fire Features? Trust Outback

What are the best modern fire pit designs? Versatile fire tables. Sleek powder-coated steel designs in dark matte finishes. Contemporary concrete fire bowls. Built-in stone seating walls that match your hardscape. Maybe even a cozy fire pit in a luxurious backyard wellness retreat, between the sauna and the plunge pool.

Outback Landscape designer Kim Rubert shares the latest trends in Idaho Falls fire pits and her design strategy for incorporating them into knockout backyard escapes you’ll love.

What Are the Best Modern Fire Pit Designs?

While some homeowners prefer the rustic feel of a wood-burning fire pit, gas-fueled fire pits are king, Rubert says.

“Clean, low-maintenance fire is still the big driver, so gas fire pits are very popular,” she says, “especially for clients who want ‘flip a switch’ convenience.”

Fueled by natural gas or propane, gas fire pits burn cleanly without smoke and can be turned on with a simple click on your smartphone.

If your Idaho Falls fire pit is close to your house, a gas-fueled model ensures you don't get smoke blowing in the windows and doors, Rubert says.

Some clients opt for a gas fire pit near their house and install a more rustic wood-burning fire pit in a more remote corner of their property if they love building a fire and hearing the traditional pops and crackles, she says.

What outdoor fire pit ideas are popular? Rubert shares the latest options for your perfect outdoor space:

Fire Tables

Part cozy fire pit, part sleek table, fire tables have been growing in popularity, Rubert says.

“Linear burners and rectangular fire tables keep gaining ground because they look sleek and pair well with modern patios and outdoor kitchens,” Rubert says. Linear burners? More on those in a minute.

Using clean-burning fuels like propane, natural gas or bioethanol, fire tables combine a handy surface for snacks and drinks with the mesmerizing flicker of flames.

Their versatility is a big plus. A fire table is a perfect gathering spot, serving as a coffee table or dining surface when the fire isn't in use.

Choose your height — fire tables are available in coffee table, dining table or bar height.

Linear Burners

This is the trendy fire feature you see in high-end apartments and sleek patios on TV and in movies. It seems like all the cool people have them.

A single straight row of gas jets produces a continuous wall of flames.

They’re often used in modern, narrow rectangular fire pits or outdoor fireplaces where you want a dramatic, impressive display. Their sleek, linear look works great if you want a contemporary or minimalist vibe.

Powder-Coated Steel Fire Pits

“Powder-coated steel is still a strong trend,” Rubert says, “especially in darker matte finishes. It fits modern designs and holds up well when it’s a quality product.”

Offering a contemporary look with clean, crisp edges, these powder-coated aluminum fire features are strong and lightweight, making them among the best outdoor fire features.

The powder coating is durable and allows for a wide range of color and texture combinations. While darker, earthy colors like black, gray, or bronze are popular, you can add a cheerful pop of color with red, orange, aqua, lime green, or bright blue.

Corten Steel Fire Pits

Corten steel, also called weathering steel, offers a rustic orange patina some homeowners love.

The name comes from a combination of its two main properties: corrosion resistance and tensile strength.

This rustic steel consists of copper, chromium, nickel and phosphorus, among other elements. When exposed to rain and humidity, these elements react to form a dense, reddish-brown oxide layer, similar to rust, over a period of around nine months.

This patina acts as a barrier, allowing the steel to last for decades — ideal for outdoor fire pits.

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Bowls

A fire bowl can pack a big design statement, and Rubert is using more of these fun fire features. 

Glass fiber reinforced concrete is 50 percent lighter than traditional concrete but significantly stronger due to the built-in glass fibers.

Durable and lightweight, these bowls are great for modern, high-end outdoor fire feature ideas. While they're popular as fire bowls, they’re also used as water bowl fountains near swimming pools and as planters.

You can even combine water and fire in one bowl, with water cascading over the sides as the flame flickers for an impressive design element.

Modern Outdoor Fire Pit Technology

While the allure of a crackling fire is ancient, technology is making the fire pit experience super modern.

Control your flickering flames with an app, use auto-shutoff features and temperature monitoring for safety, and even ask Alexa to get the fire going for you.

You’ll still have to assemble your own s’mores.

Are Permanent Fire Pits Better Than Portable Ones?

Portable smokeless pits like Solo stoves are increasingly popular for homeowners who want to try out a fire pit to see if they like it, Rubert says. They’re handy for flexibility if you want to gather around a cozy flame at different locations on your property.

Portable fire pits are convenient, too, if you want to tote your flickering flames to your cabin or beach vacation. Lightweight and compact, they’re ready to tag along.

“But built-in fire pits are still very popular when the goal is a finished, cohesive backyard,” Rubert says. “Most homeowners still prefer a permanent feature if they’re investing in the full outdoor space.

“We design fire features as part of a complete outdoor living ‘zone’, not a standalone add-on,” Rupert says.

Imagine a full outdoor room, she says, with a patio, seating, lighting, pathways and planting.

“A common ‘Outback’ approach is building the fire feature into the hardscape with seat walls, built-in benches, or a sunken conversation area so it becomes the natural gathering spot,” Rubert says. “It feels intentional and easy to use.”

What’s the best material for a permanent outdoor fire pit? Brick, natural stone and concrete blocks are all popular options for built-in fire pits. Match the stone or block of your Idaho Falls fire pit to the surrounding hardscape, Rubert suggests, for a cohesive, built-in look.

Use a Cozy Idaho Falls Fire Pit In a Relaxing Backyard Wellness Area

Backyard wellness retreats are hot, and not just because they include rejuvenating saunas.

Rubert is designing more and more of these popular wellness escapes for clients who want a spa-like experience just steps from their house.

They might include outdoor saunas, temperature-controlled plunge pools, covered decks for yoga or meditation, outdoor speakers for music, and plants for privacy and aromatherapy. And fire features.

“Fire absolutely fits the backyard wellness trend,” Rubert says.

She designs what she calls “reset spaces” for relaxation that offer a multisensory experience with water features for soothing sound, privacy plantings, soft lighting, and comfortable, cozy seating.

The warmth and flicker of a mesmerizing fire fit perfectly, she says.

“Fire extends the season, slows the pace, and makes the backyard feel like a true retreat,” she says.

You’re relaxed just thinking about this, right?

Who Should Install Your Idaho Falls Fire Pit? A Full-Service Landscaping Company

Fire table? Linear burner? Built-in seating? Outdoor spa? There’s a lot to ponder.

But your first decision is who you’ll partner with to design and build your fire pit. You don’t want to miss out on any great outdoor fire feature ideas from creative landscape designers. Rubert knows all the good stuff.

Choose an experienced, full-service landscaping company skilled at hardscaping, outdoor living and fire pits in Idaho Falls.

Sure, you’re excited to add the warmth and comfort of flickering flames to your outdoor space, but that’s often just the beginning.

Chances are, you’ll want some seating out there. Maybe some landscape lighting for safety and extra glow. Pretty plants to soften the surroundings. And that backyard wellness area idea sounds pretty intriguing, right?

A full-service landscaping company with skilled designers can handle everything, making the process easier.

Before hiring a landscaping company to install your Idaho Falls fire pit, look at some of their past fire pit projects. Do you love them? Do you see innovative ideas that hadn’t even occurred to you? Bingo.

Ready to Boost Your Outdoor Experience with the Best Outdoor Fire Features? Trust Outback

Here in Idaho Falls, we love fire pits. Our chilly fall and winter temperatures are perfect for gathering around warm, flickering flames.

At Outback Landscape, we specialize in hardscaping, outdoor living and fire pits in Idaho Falls. We’ll start by discussing how you’ll use your fire pit and entertainment area to determine the best style and design for your lifestyle.

Once you approve the design, we’ll move ahead with expert installation.

You’ll be toasting marshmallows in no time.

We serve residential and commercial properties in Idaho Falls, Rexburg and Pocatello, Idaho, & Bonneville, Madison and Bannock counties, as well as in Jackson Hole, WY. Call us at 208-656-3220 or schedule a no-obligation meeting with one of our landscape designers.