A cozy backyard scene at night, featuring a stone fire pit surrounded by four Adirondack chairs on a gravel surface. String lights hang overhead, and a wooden fence encloses the area. A bottle of wine and glasses rest on the ground near a chair.
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DIY Backyard Fire Pit Landscaping with Pea Gravel

ByLisa
4 Comments

When I first discovered Pinterest one of the very first things I stumbled upon was a giant pergola/porch swing around a fire pit and I thought to myself, “Holy cow! That’s Awesome!” I immediately saved it and dreamt of adding a DIY fire pit with a seating area. As I thought about how badly I wanted this monstrous adult jungle gym, the reality sank in. This would take up our ENTIRE back yard! The one time I think it would be cool to live on a farm. 

Outdoor seating area with two Adirondack chairs, each with a colorful patterned cushion. A stone fire pit filled with rocks is in between. A wooden fence and plants, including orange flowers, are in the background, and the ground is covered with gravel.

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While that particular large pergola group swing was out of the question, I was convinced I could have a reduced version of this. So I came up with a plan and pitched it to Barry. It went a little something like this….. Lisa: “Hey honey. I was thinking…..” Barry: “Oh no!…..” He knows those words usually mean I have added another project to the list 🙂

After some measuring and a long time pondering, I landed on a fire pit area that would include a singular porch swing, fire pit, and some Adirondack chairs. Easy enough. If you have been reading along,  you know we just finished the backyard landscape edging with only a week to spare prior to a planned vacation.

Usually I like a good week to prep for vacation. I am not a light packer so I tend to over pack the first time and then have to re-pack when I realize I have exceed the TSA 50lb requirement. True Story. This time I was feeling less stressed about being prepared for vacation and more stressed about the backyard not being finished as we were hosting a party two weeks after our trip.

And I really had my heart set on this fire pit area being complete for that. I begged and pleaded with Barry to do it before our trip. The compromise, we would carve out the fire pit area and fill it, but we would have to table the swing until next year. Deal!

The Backyard Before

This is what the area looked like before we added the fire pit area.

A backyard with a wooden fence, green grass, and a small garden along the fence with some plants. Trees and part of a house are visible in the background.

In case you missed the landscaping project or the new fence post, this is what our backyard looked like when we bought our dated 70s house. Our outdoor space left A LOT to be desired. 

A backyard with a brown storage shed centered against a wooden fence. The ground is partially covered with snow and dry grass. Bare trees and neighboring houses are visible under a blue sky with some clouds.

Planning the Fire Pit Area

We got to work right away! Before we decided on a size, we purchased these lightweight Adirondack chairs to help us gauge the space we needed. We arranged them in the space and marked where our fire pit would go with bricks. Barry loves these chairs!

One practical thing I kept in mind while figuring out the layout was safety. It’s generally a good idea to keep a fire pit at least 10 feet away from your house, fence, or any other structure, with 15-20 feet being even better if you have the room for it. Especially if you are adding a real wood fire pit with no off switch. Our spot gave us plenty of breathing room from both the house and the shed before we ever broke ground, which made the whole thing feel a lot less like a gamble.

A man is sitting on an outdoor chair in a grassy backyard surrounded by a wooden fence. There are several empty chairs nearby, and a small shed is in the corner under large trees. The sky is partially visible with hints of a sunset.

We purchased the actual fire pit a few years back and previously used it on our patio. This is the propane fire pit we chose. Because of the ease of turning it on and off at will, we decided propane would be the best fit for us.

A sunny backyard with a green lawn and a wooden fence, featuring a small garden shed with a dark roof in the corner. There is a simple stone path creating a rectangle on the grass. Trees provide some shade along the fence line.

We chose to fill the fire pit area with pea gravel and edge the perimeter with bricks. The bricks were originally used as a border for the rock around our patio, but they just didn’t stay put. So we replaced them with these more substantial stones and used the bricks for the fire pit area.

A label for SplitRock Edger - Pecan is attached to a metal rack, displaying specifications: 168 stones per pallet, 11.4 lbs each. Price is $243, identified as RumbleStone Edger Greystone. Some stacked stones are visible below.

For the fire pit perimeter we would lay the bricks flat to avoid our original problem. I felt anything higher might also create a trip hazard. The before of the other edging using the bricks looked like this.

A landscaped garden border with small stones and solar lights runs alongside a beige house. A wooden fence encloses the area. A green lawn is adjacent to the stone edging.

And the after with us swapping out the bricks for the new edging.

A sunny backyard with a green lawn bordered by rocks. A black backpack and a red bucket are on the grass. A small garden with orange flowers is visible in the foreground, near the house with cream siding. A wooden fence encloses the yard.

Digging and Installing the Edging

With our truckload of pea gravel scheduled for delivery, we measured out the fire pit area and marked it with some spray paint we already had. Then we started to dig out the perimeter.

A sunny backyard with a section of grass marked off by black string and stakes. Red bricks are scattered within the marked area. A wooden fence surrounds the yard, and a shed is in the corner. Tulips bloom along the fence.

The digging got underway.

A grassy backyard being prepared for landscaping. A trench runs diagonally through the grass, with soil piled on the side. Garden tools and a lawn mower are visible. A wooden fence and a small shed are in the background.

And the fire pit area started to take shape.

A backyard garden with a freshly tilled rectangular patch of soil. A wooden fence borders the yard, and there is a small shed on the right. A few trees are in the background.

We spent a good amount of time digging out the fire pit area and moving the sprinkler line that was of course in the way.

A garden scene with a freshly dug trench containing a black irrigation pipe along a brick-bordered flower bed. Soil is piled next to the trench, and garden tools and a bag are visible. A wooden fence and greenery are in the background.

Then we started laying the border.

A garden area with a row of bricks separating soil from grass. Two bags of paver sand are on the soil. Nearby, a red-handle tool, black knee pads, and a shovel are on the ground.

And the border continued around the rest of the space.

A backyard with a rectangular patch of tilled soil, bordered by bricks. The rest of the yard is grassy with trees and a wooden fence. In the distance, there is a patio with furniture and potted plants.

Then we added the landscape fabric weed barrier to keep the pea gravel as plant free as possible.

A backyard with weed barrier laid out on the grass, bordered by bricks. A wooden fence surrounds the yard, and a small shed is in the corner. Bright orange flowers grow near the fence.

Adding the Pea Gravel

Once all the edging was in place, we added the pea gravel rock.

Quick tip if you’re planning your own. A good rule of thumb is about 2 to 2.5 inches of pea gravel depth, and you can use that along with your square footage to figure out roughly how many cubic yards to order. I would always rather have a little extra leftover than come up short in the middle of a project. Its amazing the folks at Home Depot don’t know me by name, haha! 

A top view of a garden path featuring a border of rectangular bricks. On one side, there is green grass, and on the other side, pea gravel.

And here’s the chairs arranged in their new spot.

A small outdoor seating area features four black Adirondack chairs arranged in a circle on a gravel surface. The area is surrounded by a wooden fence and bordered by a narrow strip of grass. A few plants grow near the fence.

Then we brought in the fire pit and added some accessories.

A backyard scene featuring a stone fire pit surrounded by four black Adirondack chairs with colorful patterned cushions. The area is covered in gravel and bordered by a wooden fence and green grass. A small shed is in the background under a tree.

A closer look at one of the chairs.

A brown Adirondack chair with a colorful polka dot pillow sits on a gravel area in a backyard with green grass and a wooden fence. Trees provide shade in the background.

The Finished Fire Pit Area

I really had to fight for this project, but I love the way it turned out! It took us about two days to complete, but we have use it often. Years later this area became a stock tank pool with a deck and the firepit got a modern makeover.

A backyard features a circular stone fire pit surrounded by four Adirondack chairs with colorful cushions. The area is covered in gravel, with concrete blocks as side tables. A small gray and white shed is visible in the background, enclosed by a wooden fence.

It is the perfect spot to cozy up and drink some wine on chilly Colorado summer and fall nights.

A cozy backyard at night featuring a large chair with a colorful polka dot pillow, a bottle of wine, and two glasses on a concrete side table. String lights and a seating area with a fire pit add warmth to the scene.

And what it looks like once the fire’s going.

A cozy backyard scene at night, featuring a stone fire pit surrounded by four Adirondack chairs on a gravel surface. String lights hang overhead, and a wooden fence encloses the area. A bottle of wine and glasses rest on the ground near a chair.

We hope to add the swing next year so stay tuned!

Two wine glasses with the letter "F" are placed on a table near a glowing fire pit. The scene is set against a dark evening backdrop with a softly lit building and string lights visible in the distance.

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Top image shows a plain backyard with a shed and bare ground. Bottom image shows a transformed backyard with a cozy fire pit, Adirondack chairs, cushions, and a surrounding fence. Text reads, "How We Added A Cozy Fire Pit Area."

This post, DIY Backyard Fire Pit Landscaping with Pea Gravel, appeared first on Garrison Street Design Studio.

4 Comments

    1. Hi Danielle! Thanks for reading! The entire gravel area is 14×14 feet. You could totally get away with a smaller area but I am saving room for a swing someday 🙂

      Reply

    1. We did not glue the cinder blocks to the paver tops, however, if you have children I highly recommend that you do so there are no accidents 😉

      Reply

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