This DIY Fire Pit Turned an Empty Backyard Into Everyone’s Favorite Spot

Originally, Bre wanted a large stone fire pit and surrounding area because there was a lot of outdoor space. But after pricing all the necessary materials, it just wasn’t realistic within Bre’s $2,000 budget. 

Instead, Bre used “gravel as the main base with stone accents around the fire pit and seating area.” She also called local stone quarries and asked if they had any damaged materials that they wanted to clear out of inventory. “Most places do, and a lot of them are willing to negotiate,” Bre explains. 

The damaged stones didn’t discourage Bre — in fact, their imperfections “added character and made the space feel more natural,” especially for a project like the garden path and fire pit. 

“That compromise ended up giving me the look and character I wanted while keeping costs manageable,” Bre notes. 

Throughout the project, Bre became incredibly resourceful — using leftover mulch and sand from other parts of the yard, relocating plants and small trees from the front yard to the back, and stretching her budget as much as possible. 

“The entire project became a lesson in creativity and problem-solving,” Bre shares. “I learned that a little scrappiness can go a long way, and that thoughtful design matters far more than having an unlimited budget.” 

Bre knew she would have to do a lot of prep work, so she spent a huge amount of time digging and preparing the area before the stones arrived. However, “once the materials were delivered, I realized the pathway needed to line up more intentionally with the lawn so it could be easily mowed over,” Bre says. 

Which meant Bre had to rework parts of the layout that she’d already created. With the heavy clay soil in the backyard, “every extra inch felt like a battle” to dig up. Bre shares how she underestimated how deep she actually needed to dig to properly fit the stone base so that the end result would be flush with the grass. 

Even when the project felt discouraging, Bre continued to solve each problem she encountered — including the stones themselves. 

“I had envisioned a soft, curved pathway, but the stones I ordered were much straighter and more uniform than I expected,” Bre says. Since she had spent all of that time digging, prepping, and digging some more, “it took a lot of extra puzzle-like work to make everything fit naturally.”

But after each problem, Bre thinks the adjustments and design pivots actually gave the patio more character and expanded her creative thinking. 

“The biggest thing I learned during this project is that sometimes the biggest barrier to doing something yourself isn’t skill,” Bre says. “It’s simply being willing to be uncomfortable for a little while.”

With Bre’s Instagram presence (@house_of_folkman), she’s used to sharing her journey and projects with others. So when she shared her patio and fire pit transformation, “a lot of people commented that projects like this ‘cost your time,’ and that’s why you should just hire professionals.” 

While that might be the right fit for many people — especially since this project took roughly 60 hours outside of Bre’s normal 9 to 5 job and life as a mom — this transformation reminded Bre that there’s real value in doing hard things yourself sometimes. 

Instead of going to the gym or spending time getting ready in the mornings, Bre chose to dig. Since she worked from home, she was in the yard during lunch, after school activities, late into the evenings, and every weekend. 

“For about two weeks, I was exhausted, sore, dirty, and constantly questioning whether I had taken on too much,” Bre says. “But that temporary discomfort created something our family will enjoy for years to come.”

Now it’s a spot that can grow with Bre’s family — she’s even started planting seasonal flowers and landscaping around the fire pit, calling it “the heart” of their backyard. Looking back, Bre shares on her Instagram that she understands why it costs $15,000, but that she’s proud of the work she did and can say she completely DIYed. 

Inspired? Submit your own project here.

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