Transforming your backyard into a luxurious retreat doesn’t stop at a custom pool or stylish patio.
In Chandler, AZ, where evenings are cooler and outdoor living is a year-round experience, integrating a well-designed outdoor fireplace adds warmth, sophistication and undeniable charm to your space.
Whether you’re looking to entertain guests, enjoy quiet evenings under the stars, or enhance the value of your home, an outdoor fireplace is a high-impact upgrade.
At Unique Companies, we specialize in creating complete outdoor living spaces, from custom pools and spas to fire features that elevate your backyard into a five-star escape.
Let’s explore the top 10 outdoor fireplace ideas that are heating up backyards across Chandler!
1. Modern Gas Fireplaces
If you’re after convenience, without sacrificing style, a modern gas fireplace is your answer.
Clean, Safe and Stylish
Gas fireplaces ignite with the flip of a switch. No chopping wood, no smoke, no mess. They’re available in sleek, linear formats that pair well with metal, glass or concrete design elements, making them perfect for contemporary patios.
Efficient and Flexible
Powered by natural gas or propane, these fireplaces can be wall-mounted, built into seating walls, or freestanding. Many Chandler residents prefer outdoor linear gas fireplaces because of their minimalist design and efficient heating capabilities.
A Designer’s Dream
Unique Companies integrates these fireplaces with full outdoor kitchens, water features and poolscapes, ensuring your fireplace complements your entire outdoor environment.
2. Rustic Stone Fireplaces
Want to infuse your backyard with organic textures and earthy tones? A rustic stone fireplace offers enduring beauty and warmth.
Blends with the Arizona Desert Aesthetic
Using local materials like flagstone, slate or lava rock, these fireplaces naturally blend into desert landscapes. Their textured surfaces contrast beautifully against smooth stucco or tile flooring.
Multi-Functional and Cozy
These fireplaces often feature built-in benches, wood storage areas or recessed lighting to enhance nighttime ambiance. They double as windbreakers during breezy evenings, making them ideal for year-round use.
Design Flexibility
You can customize the hearth, chimney shape, and even include a cooking shelf or pizza oven insert for added function. Pair it with stone pavers and earth-toned furniture for a unified design.
3. Freestanding Chimeneas
For those who love the quirky charm of a more traditional design, chimeneas offer both portability and personality.
Small Footprint, Big Personality
Typically made from clay, cast iron or copper, these freestanding fireplaces are ideal for smaller patios or cozy corners in the backyard. They emit directional heat, keeping the warmth where you want it.
Southwest Vibes
Chimeneas blend well with desert-themed landscapes and are available in a variety of finishes and colors. They’re especially popular in Chandler for their low-maintenance and mobile design.
Safety First
Place your chimenea on non-combustible surfaces like tile, pavers or a cement pad. For families, metal-screened versions add an extra layer of safety.
4. Dual-Purpose Fire Pit Tables
Why choose between warmth and entertainment, when you can have both?
Dine and Unwind
Fire pit tables serve as both dining spaces and fire features. They’re a modern favorite for those who love al fresco dinners, late-night chats, or game nights under the stars.
Design Options
Choose from propane, natural gas or even bioethanol fuel models. Materials like granite, tempered glass and stainless steel elevate these fire tables into focal points for your outdoor room.
Our team can install fire pit tables flush with custom paver patios or in tandem with outdoor seating walls for a polished, luxury look.
5. Adobe-Style Fireplaces
These fireplaces reflect the rich cultural heritage of the Southwest and bring an earthy authenticity to your landscape.
Adobe fireplaces, also called “kiva” fireplaces, are characterized by their rounded form, smooth stucco finish and warm earth tones. They make a bold architectural statement and blend seamlessly with surrounding masonry, tile and stucco walls.
Features like banquette seating, mosaic tile inlays and decorative smoke hoods allow for deep customization. This style works particularly well in courtyards or garden walls.
6. Poolside Fire Features
Why not add a little fire to your water features?
Fire Meets Water
Combining outdoor fireplaces with your pool area creates a stunning contrast and sets a luxurious resort vibe. Picture glowing flames reflecting in the water as you soak in the spa or entertain guests.
Safety and Comfort
We ensure the use of non-slip pavers, proper wind protection and flame controls to keep your poolside fireplace both stylish and safe.
Fire Bowls and Fire Walls
Consider fire bowls on your pool’s edge or a linear fire wall behind your lounge chairs. These features transform ordinary pools into breathtaking nightscapes.
7. Outdoor Fireplace Walls
Use fire to define the structure of your space.
Fireplace walls act as visual and physical barriers, helping to divide your outdoor area into living, dining and relaxation zones. They add privacy and can shield you from desert breezes.
Our team often adds built-in niches for firewood, outdoor TVs or art pieces. Combine with low-maintenance cement or steel benches for added utility.
8. Eco-Friendly Bioethanol Fireplaces
Go green without compromising on comfort.
Clean Burning and Odor-Free
Bioethanol fireplaces produce real flames without soot or ash. They don’t need a chimney, making them perfect for urban or smaller properties in Chandler.
Tabletop or Built-In
From tabletop models to sleek wall-mounted options, bioethanol fireplaces offer the ultimate flexibility for renters or minimalist homeowners.
9. Customized Fire Features by Unique Companies
Why settle for standard, when you can build something entirely unique?
At Unique Companies, we design and build custom fire features that align with your lifestyle, architecture and outdoor vision. Whether you want a full-scale fireplace, compact chiminea or multi-use fire pit table, we can make it happen.
From concept to construction, we handle every phase in-house. No outside contractors, no communication breakdowns. Just expert design, quality materials and a smooth process that brings your dream to life.
10. Traditional Wood-Burning Fireplaces
Nothing evokes timeless coziness like a wood-burning fireplace. The sound of crackling logs and the scent of burning wood create an atmosphere that’s both nostalgic and comforting.
It’s important to note that Chandler and many areas in Pheonix do not allow wood-burning fireplaces due to smog. While traditional wood-burning fireplaces are an option, most cities in Maricopa County do not allow them as a design option.
Why Chandler Homeowners Love It
Traditional fireplaces often feature a masonry firebox, brick or stone veneer, and a tall chimney that anchors your backyard with rustic elegance. They’re ideal for homes with classic or Southwestern architecture and work beautifully as a central gathering spot in your outdoor space.
What to Consider
Before installation, be sure to check Chandler’s fire regulations. Due to air quality ordinances, some neighborhoods may restrict wood-burning fireplaces unless they meet smoke-reduction standards. Fortunately, Unique Companies specializes in code-compliant designs that blend aesthetic appeal with safety.
Enhancing the Design
You can choose tile accents, built-in seating using cement or pavers, and even include a wood storage niche that blends seamlessly into your outdoor hardscape. Pair this style with rustic garden furniture to complete the look.
FAQs About Outdoor Fireplaces in Chandler, AZ
1. Do I need a permit to build an outdoor fireplace in Chandler?
Yes, most permanent outdoor fireplaces require a permit. Our team handles the permitting process as part of our turnkey service.
2. Can an outdoor fireplace be added to an existing backyard layout?
Absolutely. We specialize in integrating fire features into existing patios, poolscapes and outdoor kitchens.
3. What’s the best fuel type for Arizona homes?
It depends on your priorities. Natural gas is efficient and cost-effective, while wood-burning provides authentic ambiance. We help you choose the best fit.
4. Are smokeless fire pits truly smoke-free?
While not 100% smoke-free, modern smokeless fire pits significantly reduce smoke output by improving airflow and combustion efficiency
5. What materials work best for long-lasting outdoor fireplaces?
Stone veneer, stucco, concrete, and stainless steel are all popular options for their durability and ability to withstand Arizona’s climate.
Ready to Fire Up Your Backyard in Chandler, AZ?
At Unique Companies, we do more than build pools – we build entire outdoor living experiences. With expert craftsmanship, seamless in-house construction and award-winning design, your outdoor fireplace will be a lasting investment in comfort, beauty and value.
Schedule your free design consultation today and let’s bring your dream backyard to life – warmth, firelight and all.
Visit our website or call us today to get started.
