Turning a Trampoline Eyesore into a Cozy Gathering Spot

A few years ago, I gave multiple examples of how to make your own DIY fire pit, but now that we have more space, I’m going to share the steps for creating the fire pit area around the actual fire pit. This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. See my full disclosure policy.

When we moved into this home, we gave up a huge backyard for a smaller, half-wooded private oasis. While we have a small, flat-ish green space, we tried to cram all of our old yard toys into a much smaller space. The trampoline was the biggest eyesore, but it was so handy during the quarantine times. Fair trade, I say!

We recently got a new dog, and now that we’re out in the yard more often, we not only wanted it to be prettier, but we also wanted to make it work better for our family. Since the new puppy arrived, it was easy to talk our girls into letting go of the trampoline. Yay! For years, we’ve said that once the trampoline was gone, we would sod the yard and make the grass really nice and lush.

But as soon as we hauled off the trampoline, we realized it gave us the perfect spot for a fire pit area. We were already using our Solo Stove in the yard, so why not make it a true fire pit space for our family to enjoy? Here’s how we created the perfect s’more-making spot in our backyard. This is such an easy DIY project with such a huge benefit for family enjoyment.

Choosing the Perfect Spot

The first step is to pick a spot in your yard that is flat, level, and away from any structures or trees. Make sure it’s large enough to accommodate the size of your fire pit and seating area. To mark the area, place a stake in the middle, tie a string that is half the distance of your desired circumference to the stake, and then tie the string to a can of spray paint. Spray paint a ring around your perimeter to create a perfect circle.

If you have any grass or weeds in the area, you’ll need to remove them either by scalping the ground or using a tiller. This will help keep grass from growing in your fire pit area. We didn’t have to do much for this since we had a bald spot in our yard from the trampoline, but we did kill some of the grass around the edges.

You’ll want to make sure your area is mostly level or else it will be difficult to enjoy sitting around the fire. We didn’t change our space even though it isn’t perfectly level because we don’t want to mess with the drainage scope of our yard. But it is level enough for us, and we tested it before continuing the project.

Preparing the Ground

Add a protective barrier between the ground and the fire pit area by installing landscaping fabric. Use small landscaping stakes to secure the fabric to the ground. This will help prevent weeds from growing and keep the area looking tidy.

Next, you’ll need to either build a fire pit or place a pre-made one, like the Solo Stove, in the middle of the circle. Follow all the instructions for making a fire pit, including placing gravel or sand down under or inside the fire pit. Please follow all safety requirements.

Containing the Fire Pit

You will need some type of raised border around the outside edge of the fire pit circle. This will keep your pea gravel contained. We used these flagstone rocks to create a border and used construction adhesive in a caulk gun to keep them together. You could use any type of stone you like or a metal landscaping edge.

We bought a ton of pea gravel from the local garden center and wheeled it in and raked it around the fire pit area. It’s about 3 inches deep. I love the look of pea gravel and how it coordinates well with our fence and brick house. You could use a variety of seating options, but I prefer an Adirondack chair. If you’re on a tight budget, you could make a bench or two.

Finishing Touches

We added 4 Adirondack chairs, but we’ll be adding at least 2 more very soon. We also added string lights above the space, and it adds so much to the ambiance at night. Just make sure you don’t have them directly over the fire.

Add outdoor pillows, potted plants, and a side table to make it feel even more comfortable. We absolutely love how the space turned out. We sit out there while we’re spending time with the dog, and it feels like we’ve gained another room at our house.

It’s going to be so much fun to use this space this fall and winter. Not to mention, it’s a blast to host friends around the fire and cook s’mores any time of the year. Do you have a backyard fire pit area at your home? If not, would you create one for your space?

Remember, you can always visit Today’s Gardens for more inspiration and tips on how to transform your outdoor living space into a cozy, inviting oasis.