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Many people are using an ancient oriental practice, called Feng Shui, to incorporate the elements of wood, water, fire, metal and earth into the the designs of their living spaces and homes to have a magical blend of vitality and energy. Adding a fire pit into your living space is an excellent way to bring one of the major elements of feng shui into your home, office or vacation getaway.

Usually fire is considered a masculine element, and should be included in rooms where you want to make yourself feel more powerful and passionate. Fire elements are also considered an aid to digestion, so they are commonly found in dining rooms and kitchen areas as well.

Because of ventilation fire pits are usually erected outside the home, but modern designs use a flue-less fuels source like alcohol based bio-gels, and the corn product denatured ethanol. You can find cleverly designed fire pits that are shaped as coffee tables, sculptures and even television sets.

If you’ve opted with putting your fire pit outside, the best design you can choose for the surrounding patio is a semicircle – that way everyone can enjoy the view and feel the warmth of the fire. Another step to really enhance the overall effect is to choose a fire pit that’s made of copper, or other material that’s bright and will reflect those flickering flames. If you can, try to make your fire patio visible from inside via a large window or glass doors, that way if you feel like staying in you can still enjoy your fire pit.

When you begin decorating the area around your fire pit, don’t leave out the other elements – you want the area to be balanced. Add living plants and natural stone patios to enhance the earth and wood energy. If you have a pool, fountain or are near a waterway, try and locate your pit where it will reflect into the water. Add some wind chimes to get some air elements going in your area, or even consider putting up flags that can wave in the breeze.

Picking suitable colors to complement the feng shui elements in your room or patio is something you want to keep in mind from the start. To contrast the colors represented by fire avoid red, pink and maroon. Remember that forest colors, muted earth tones, shades of blue, and even black will instill the elements of wood, earth and water. You’ll find just a little bit of creativity can help you create a cozy, safe feng shui fire pit area.

Many people enjoy having a deck or patio attached to their home. Many home owners do not take advantage of the large open space they have available. There are a number of improvements that can be made to decks and patios, and you can undertake these improvements whenever it is convenient for you, and you may even find that the projects that you choose, will not cost you anything. A fire pit is an excellent way to take these outdoor areas to the next level.

Everyone enjoys a fire outside at any time of the year. A fire such as this can provide a mood that reminds people of a simpler time when life was slower. If you live in a country setting, you will likely be able to gaze at the stars and moon on an especially dark evening. You can burn small twigs and branches that break from your surrounding trees and even a little bit of clippings from the yard in your fire pit. For others, their objective is to keep the fire burning for as long as they can, therefore, they choose only the choicest logs to add to their fire.

Weeding will also help you maintain your outdoor patio or deck area. There are people who get so busy with their lives that they let their yard turn into a jungle. Most homeowners want to have their yard looking well kept and trimmed. Simply allotting one hour each month for the task of weeding your patio, deck, and yard, will go a long way in keeping your property and home looking it’s best. The majority of fire pits permit the burning of weeds, so once you have collected them, you can add them to the fire. However, you will want to find out the laws in your area prior to burning anything in the fire pit.

You may have shopped at a local nursery for flowers for your yard and found this to be cost prohibitive. Perhaps you have a friend with a green thumb who would be willing to let your transplant some of their flowers to your deck and patio area. In most cases, such flowers can be had at no charge and they are just as gorgeous as the store bought variety. You will want to make sure you water your flowers correctly during the growing season and provide them with the right amount of sunlight.

Choosing to include a fire pit in your deck or patio set up is an easy choice. You will be able to find a fire pit that suits your taste and style, as there are a wide variety of styles, sizes, and colors to choose from. Make sure you have plenty of room to allow embers to move around without hitting the wall of your home. When positioning your fire pit, it should be free and clear from any structures or walls. Be sure to monitor the fire carefully, and be sure to put the fire out completely when you are done.