With more than 40 options to choose from, picking out your perfect Outdoor GreatRoom Company fire pit can be an intimidating task! Lucky for you, we've put together this blog and accompanying quiz to walk you through the different things to consider in your decision process that will hopefully lead you to your perfect match!
There are 5 main features of a gas fire pit to consider when making your decision: color, shape/size, materials, price, and overall aesthetic. If you can pinpoint each one of these things, you can narrow down your options more easily! Let's dive into each one of these features in a bit more detail and then we'll get to the quiz!
Color
Color is a key component to your perfect fire pit. Whether you're starting a new outdoor space from scratch or adding a fire feature to an existing outdoor space, you likely have a theme, colors, and an aesthetic in mind for that space. Knowing what this theme is can help you decide what color fire pit fits best - maybe you want to match everything you have, maybe you want something that pops a bit more and stands out, or maybe it's somewhere in between.
Another big influence on the color of your fire pit can be the exterior color of your home! Tan home? Tan fire pit. Grey home? Grey fire pit. You get the idea.
Colors can also be influenced by your geographic location. Lighter tans and browns as well as white tend to be more popular in Coastal areas. Greys and Blacks have found their niche in Northern climates. We've seen browns and earth tones surging all across North America. But these colors are by no means limited to these areas!
Shape/Size
Next up is the shape and size of your fire table. While there are a few outliers in the industry, most fire pits settle into four main shapes: Square, Round, Rectangular, and Linear. Square and Round are pretty straightforward. Rectangular and Linear are both rectangle shaped fire pits, but Linear tables are a bit bigger and tend to have their longer sides over 54".
Shape has a big impact on your fire pit. When picking out which shape is best, consider how you want to use it. Larger round and square tables are great for being the center piece of a seating area while rectangular tables may find their place with a sectional or outdoor sofa. Linear or dining fire tables can provide a place to eat a meal or enjoy a drink around the fire.
Bowl-shaped fire pits like those in our Cove collection are great for those who like to sit in deep-seated chairs while around their fire pit.
The size can matter as well. Smaller fire pits may find their niche in tighter spaces and function more as a coffee table between two chairs where larger fire pits invite people to gather around and is the focal point of the space.
Materials
Materials have a big impact on the durability, look, and maintenance required for your fire pit. Materials within the OGC family of products include aluminum, poly wood, composite/faux wood, metal, Supercast™ concrete, Everblend™ concrete, granite tile, glass and stainless steel.
Aluminum is an extremely durable and lightweight metal that can withstand the harshest of weather conditions including wind, rain, snow, and coastal air. Unlike other metals, aluminum is less prone to rusting and breaking down from salt in the air from the ocean, making it ideal for coastal areas.
Poly wood, composite, and faux wood are materials are often made from recycled plastics or other materials, but are designed to imitate the look of wood. They're all great options for those who like a wood look without having to worry as much about maintenance.
Supercast™ concrete is a proprietary blend of fiberglass and concrete that provides exceptional durability and strength while weighing less than traditional concrete. Supercast™ is designed to handle any climate and requires just a small amount of occasional maintenance to maintain the day 1 look.
Everblend™ is a process and material engineered exclusively at The Outdoor GreatRoom Company that features a weather-resistant concrete finish over a fiber cement and steel structure. It’s half the weight of concrete, extra durable, and handcrafted creating unique coloring, texture, and natural variation on each top. Similar to Supercast™, Everblend™ holds up well to the elements and requires occasional maintenance to keep it looking fresh.
Wood, granite tile, glass, wicker and stainless steel are the remaining materials you'll see used in OGC fire pit tables. All these materials are outdoor rated and designed to last, but may require occasional maintenance from general wear and tear.
Price
We know that price is always going to be at the top of your mind when it comes to making any sort of large purchase, whether it's a new car, appliance upgrades, renovations, and yes, even your fire pit!
That said, like with new appliances or a new car, the price is (most often) indicative of the quality, durability, and functionality of the product. Outdoor GreatRoom Company fire pits are a premium fire pit option, so they are bit more expensive than the fire pits you might find at your local Target or Home Depot, but that's because they're designed to be the focal point of your outdoor space and feature materials and designs that can hold up to every day wear and tear, last a long time, and deliver a high-quality outdoor fire experience.
Overall Aesthetic
The final piece, or maybe even your first bit of consideration, is the overall aesthetic of your outdoor space. We recently published a blog that covered mood boards for various aesthetics of outdoor spaces. These aesthetics include Coastal, Eclectic, Industrial, Minimalist, and Traditional. While these aren't the only aesthetics for outdoor spaces, they are some of the most popular and can provide a great starting point for deciding all aspects of your outdoor space.
Quiz Time!
No, no, no. Not that type of quiz. This quiz has no wrong answers! Instead it's one where you select all the attributes you want in your fire pit table and then based on those answers, it will recommend the OGC fire pits that best fit your needs and wants! It only takes a few minutes to complete, so feel free to check that out here: Which Fire Pit is Best for Me?
