Warm Up Your Outdoor Space: Exploring Patio Heating Options

Enjoying Outdoor Space Year-Round

Colder weather doesn’t mean that you can’t still enjoy your outdoor spaces. Finding the right heating source for your patio or yard can help you enjoy time outside year-round. With the wide range of outdoor heating sources available, it can be difficult to determine what will work best for your space. Whether your space is big or small, this will help you find the perfect solution to keeping the cold weather from putting a damper on your outdoor fun.

Types of Patio Heating Options

The first step in determining what type of heater you need is to know what choices are available. Options can vary greatly in size, cost, heating power, and aesthetic.

Outdoor Fireplaces

Most likely the most eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing option is an outdoor fireplace or permanent fire pit. Not only can these be used as a way to improve the look of your outdoor space, they create a cozy living room like atmosphere that can’t be replicated with other heating options. In addition, they can help give a sense of permanence to your space, and won’t require you to store them elsewhere during the warmer months.

No matter if you build it yourself or have one built for you, they can be made with a variety of materials, such as metal, stone, brick, or concrete, which can be further customized with a variety of colors and stamps. You can also choose to fuel it with wood or gas.

Portable Fire Pits

A great option if you are looking to move your heating source around or take it places away from your house are portable fire pits. Due to their low cost and easy portability, these have become a popular option. Many of these use fire, but there has been an increase in gas options. While portable fire pits may not be as aesthetically appealing as their permanent cousins, their look can be easily improved with a concrete edge liner or form liner.

Propane Patio Heaters

A common choice for restaurants or commercial areas, propane patio heaters can be used during the colder seasons and stored once the weather warms up. Possibly the most convenient of the heating options, they can be easily moved around to fit your space, but they are often less weatherproof and aesthetically appealing than the alternatives. Since these use propane, you will need to make sure you have a refill on hand for when they run out. They also may not last as long as the previous options on this list.

Electric Heaters

If you are looking to heat a small space or don’t like the idea of flames, electric heat lamps may be the best option. Like propane patio heaters, these can be easily ported around your space and stored when not needed. However, if you are wanting to provide enough heat for more than a person or two, you may find that these lack the required heating power. Like propane patio heaters, they aren’t very weatherproof and likely won’t last as long as fire pits and fireplaces.

Choosing the Right Option for Your Space

When considering what heating source is right for your space, there are a few things to consider. First being what kind of fuel you want to use. If you don’t like the idea of flames, then you will want to go with an electric option, but otherwise you can decide between gas or wood. Fire pits and fireplaces can be fueled with either option, and if you want a permanent installation you can even elect to use natural gas instead of propane if your residence is equipped to do so.

The next thing to consider is the size of your space. Other than electric, any option should be capable of heating a large space, but the size and power of the heating source will dictate how far away someone can be and still feel comfortable. Before selecting a heating source it’s important to take measurements of your space and read any specifications on a heating source to make sure your whole space will be heated.

Get started today

As the weather continues to get colder, now is the time to begin heating your outdoor space. No matter what solution you choose, we are here to help with a variety of products that can transform your space or make your new fireplace or fire pit one-of-a-kind.

Want some inspiration before you begin your search? Check out our Pinterest board for ideas on how to make your space a haven during the cold months.

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