What Goes into Choosing the Right Look for an Outdoor Fireplace and Nearby Retaining Wall in the Reno, NV Area

What Goes into Choosing the Right Look for an Outdoor Fireplace and Nearby Retaining Wall in the Reno, NV Area

Deciding the look and style of your Reno, NV Area outdoor fireplace and nearby retaining wall can be tricky—after all, this is a permanent addition to your backyard. Knowing what goes into choosing the right look for your unique landscape can help you select the details that create an amazing space.

Related: Matching Verticals For a Cohesive Landscape Design: Matching an Outdoor Fireplace and Retaining Wall in Carson City NV

Materials for Outdoor Fireplace and Retaining Wall

The materials for outdoor fireplaces and retaining walls are durable and long-lasting, ensuring that your outdoor features look great from the beginning until you decide to change your landscape once more. Here are some materials to consider:

Brick: When you want a material that works with any home and landscape style, think about brick. One of the advantages of brick can be that it never goes out of style because of the classic look and size. 

When choosing brick, your landscape professional can assist your selection of the size to create a different brick fireplace design. They can change the pattern with a shift of the laying position so that your outdoor fireplace has a central pattern the is bordered by a straightforward soldier pattern. 

Stone: Wall stone can be another choice that is also durable and attractive. The color choices for wall stone are varied, offering the option to mix and match for a unique outdoor fireplace and wall combination. 

Wall stone offers multiple sizes and oversized shapes for a custom design. Of course, you could also combine brick and wall stone for a one-of-a-kind fireplace look and size.

Concrete: Concrete is another popular selection, especially for a more urban-leaning home and landscape aesthetic. Concrete can be combined with brick and wall stone to bring a custom outdoor fireplace and wall to the backyard. 

Outdoor Fireplace and Retaining Wall Ideas

Often a retaining wall and outdoor fireplace can be planned as a semi-circle, but you could choose to place them in a square patio or a custom-shaped space. One of the main advantages to combining these two outdoor features can be that the retaining wall provides more casual seating space and a spot to hold additional dry firewood. 

A retaining wall can encompass the whole perimeter of the outdoor fireplace area or only span one or two sides. When you add the retaining wall to the fireplace, the whole outdoor space can feel more secluded and intimate. 

An outdoor fireplace can have an arched appearance or strong geometric look of square firebox with a square chimney. You might consider using aged cooper or steel for the top of the fireplace for a fresh aesthetic. 

Some outdoor fireplaces have a wide, deep hearth for guests to sit right by the fire while other fireplaces have no hearth but instead a prominent mantle. Your landscape professional can listen to your preferences for an outdoor fireplace and retaining wall plan that fits your outdoor space and gives you the ambient, pretty glow that can only come from a fire. 

There might be no other outdoor feature like a custom fireplace for its size and contribution to a relaxing, beautiful outdoor area. When combined with a low stone retaining wall, this pairing can deliver beauty and function in a unique way to become the place where you gravitate often.

Related: How a Retaining Wall Can Serve as Additional Seating Near an Outdoor Fireplace in Carson City, NV