Thinking about sprucing up our backyard space and can't decide—would you rather chill on a patio, lounge on a deck, or gather around a cozy fire pit? Curious what everyone's vibe is for outdoor hangouts these days...
"would you rather chill on a patio, lounge on a deck, or gather around a cozy fire pit?"
Honestly, if budget is a factor (and when isn't it?), I'd say go with the fire pit. We built ours last summer using affordable materials from the hardware store, and it's been worth every penny. There's just something about gathering around a fire at night, roasting marshmallows or sharing stories...it creates memories. Plus, you can always add patio furniture later when there's room in the budget.
We went with a deck ourselves, mostly because our yard slopes a bit and it was easier to level things out that way. But I gotta admit, sometimes I envy the fire pit crowd. My brother-in-law built one last year, and every time we're over there, we end up outside around the fire, chatting way later than planned. It's funny how something as simple as a fire pit can draw everyone together...definitely a good investment if you're leaning that direction.
We had a similar issue with our yard slope, and I ended up going with a tiered patio setup. Took a bit more planning upfront—grading, retaining walls, drainage solutions—but it turned out pretty nice. Still, I totally get the fire pit envy...there's something about gathering around a fire that's hard to beat. Did your brother-in-law go with a built-in pit or one of those portable metal ones? Curious if anyone has thoughts on pros and cons there.
We faced a similar slope issue and opted for a deck instead—less excavation and easier to manage drainage. Agree on the fire pit appeal though, portable pits are nice for flexibility but built-ins look cleaner long-term.
