3 Fire Pits You Can Make Using Stuff You Basically Already Own

A firepit isn’t like other yard goals (a new deck, a hot tub, a perimeter full of privacy-lending trees), because all you need to add one is a tiny yard and a little motivation. You can usually even find materials for building one around your house, and constructing one takes about as much strategy, strength, and skill as a game of bocce. Or doing laundry while baking a cake. Or biking while wearing a backpack. You get the point. 

Before you fully dive into your fiery new home project, Home Depot recommends reviewing your local building codes to make sure there aren’t any restrictions, and picking a spot for your firepit that’s a safe distance from buildings, other structures, and low trees.

Ready? Here are three firepits that you (yes, you!) can throw together easily.

When you use one of these firepits, the light from the fire kind of sparkles and spreads around. It’s amazing, and I know because I used to have one in my backyard when I lived in Austin. I got mine off of Craigslist for $25 from a guy who made them, but you can also DIY one yourself, especially if you’re about to replace your old fireplace.

Creating a more permanent firepit structure in your yard goes like this: You either dig a hole and line it with some kind of rock, or you use that same kind of rock to construct an above-ground firepit. Either way, it’s easy to build (and tear down). 

Raise your hand if you have a strange concrete patch in your backyard. (I have my hand up.) For such an objectively odd thing, they’re pretty common. This home tour provides a great idea for what to do with it: Turn it into your firepit area, either by building one from scratch or opting for a super affordable pit from a store like Target.