A quick guide to outdoor lighting fire pots, firepits, fire bowls and outdoor fireplaces.

Outdoor lighting fire pots and fireplaces are becoming more and more popular as a means of providing warmth and light in outdoor spaces at night. There’s really nothing quite as cozy and romantic as a natural flame from an outdoor lighting fire pot, and the light from a natural flame has a beautiful ambient quality no electric outdoor light can match.

There’s a huge range of outdoor fireplaces, firepots and fire bowls to choose from, in every shape, size and style you can imagine.

Four types of outdoor fireplace:

Fire bowls, fire pits and outdoor fireplaces are used to burn natural wood, so they’re like having a real campfire on the patio. They come in natural or synthetic stone, copper, cast iron and stainless steel. Some come with a cooking grill, for a real wood fire barbecue, and most have a wire mesh screen to protect you from flying embers.

Chiminea fire pits are also designed to contain natural wood fires. A chimney structure over the fire vents the smoke and embers upwards. Chimineas come in a variety of shapes and sizes, in copper or stone.

Gas burning terracotta fire pots are very safe to use, and light in minutes. Many feature attractive ceramic logs or lava rocks for an authentic campfire look. Gas burning firepots are perfect for creating a gentle warmth around a small outdoor area.

Oil burning firepots are designed to be used as small natural lighting fixtures around the patio or on the patio table. They come in all kinds of attractive designs, in cast iron, brass, copper, stainless steel and ceramic materials, and they burn citronella oil or kerosene.

For more information on fireplaces for your deck or patio, please read this article on outdoor gas fireplaces.