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Small Outdoor Kitchen & Firepit Landscaping Ideas
Guest post by Quinten O'Dea of Q&A Landscaping. Q&A completes quality landscaping & hardscaping projects in the Pittsburgh area.
Stuck on ideas for your outdoor kitchen or firepit? No worries—we’ve got you. Here are a few designs to spark some inspiration, whether you’re starting from scratch or just need a final touch.
General Setup and Layout
When designing your layout, position TVs at comfortable viewing heights & distances from both cooking & seating areas. Integrate grills into counter spaces with adequate ventilation, and place refrigerators within easy reach but shielded from direct sun.
Grill Island & Refrigerator
Time to install some appliances outside. It’s 2025, we’re done running back and forth to the indoor kitchen and getting stuck in a conversation. With an outdoor grill island, all your seasonings & tools are within arm’s reach. Focus on less yapping & not burning your steak or sausages.
Outdoor Televisions
Every year people are incorporating more & more electronics outside. Outdoor TV’s speak for themselves, but placement is key to avoid craning everyone’s necks. Consider installing them nestled under a covered porch and/or with a sturdy cover to prevent weather damage.
Another popular location for an outdoor tv is mounting it above your exterior fireplace! This combines your entertainment center with a central gathering spot.
Outdoor Sink
For maximum convenience, place an outdoor sink close to your grill & garbage can so you don’t drip raw chicken juice across half your patio when moving stations.
To limit plumbing nightmares, put your sink near existing water lines to minimize installation costs. Choose durable, weather-resistant materials like stainless steel, stone composites, or copper to withstand outdoor conditions year-round.
Outdoor Fireplace & Firepit Landscaping Ideas
Fire features are everything. They bring warmth, draw people in, and give you a place to unwind.
Just like with your outdoor kitchen setup, the layout here is crucial—position your fireplace where people naturally gather, with seating that lets everyone feel the heat. Buy some quality, matching chairs to encircle the fire.
Pro tip: Do not choose the wrong seat. If the wind chooses you, you’re getting smoke-blasted for the rest of the night.
Fireside Seating
For seating arrangements, consider designing them to face both the fire and the TV area. That way, when someone brings up politics for the fifteenth time, you can casually nod & shift your attention to the game without anyone noticing.
Boulders as Natural Accents or Seating
If the traditional patio chairs don’t impress you, consider using flat-topped boulders as comfortable seats to relax and enjoy the warmth of the fire. You can also add some to your landscape beds or place them along the side of the fireplace for a beautiful, natural depth and texture.
Gas Burners: S'mores Meet Sophistication
If you want something outside the box, that is shaped like a box, this one is for you. A custom gas-burning fire + table setup can put out some serious warmth for however long you need it. Whether you want fake logs or fancy stones, there are lots of details to match your preferences.
Perfect for those who love the ambiance of a fire but hate smelling like smoke afterward, these units offer clean burning with negligible ash cleanup. Many models come with adjustable flame control and can burn either wood or gas.
Smokeless fire pits are a game-changer for patio entertaining. These use a double-wall construction that creates a secondary combustion process, virtually eliminating smoke.
Sitting Wall
A sitting wall does double duty — holding back earth while adding extra seating and visual interest. Plus, it bounces heat from the fire for a cozier feel and defines the edge of the space.
Conclusion
We've put together these ideas so you won’t have to start from scratch when planning your outdoor kitchen and fire pit. From grill islands to smokeless fire pits, there are many options to match every taste and lifestyle.
And the best part? You don’t have to do it alone. Between Voss TV & Q&A Landscaping, we’re here to help you install the perfect outside setup that blends the beauty, comfort, and function you are dreaming for.
