Our Outdoor Fireplace at Christmas

Hello, friends! How is everyone holding up?! Between Thanksgiving prep and trying to keep up with all of the Black Friday Week deals, my head is spinning. While we’ve only started to decorate for Christmas, I wanted to share a sneak peek of one area I’ve got all ready to go! Just in time to host our first Thanksgiving in our new home. Since it’s going to be 75 and sunny, we plan to seat some of our family outside for dinner. I guess they’ll have to be okay with eating their turkey by the glow of Christmas lights and the sight of poinsettias. Here is Our Outdoor Fireplace all ready for Christmas!

Today, I’m joining Krista of The Happy Housie in the Seasonal Simplicity Christmas series where a group of bloggers are all sharing their mantels decorated for the holidays!

And since I no longer have a traditional fireplace & mantel, I thought it would be fun to spruce up our outdoor fireplace area to be able to enjoy all season long. With the hot Fall temperatures, it’s just cooled down enough to finally enjoy a fire outside.

I’ll do a full Fireplace Reveal after the New Year, but for now I thought I’d share a peek at our Outdoor Fireplace at Christmas!

OUR OUTDOOR FIREPLACE AT CHRISTMAS

When we moved to Arizona this Summer [you can see our Empty House Tour here], I knew I’d be giving up our traditional indoor fireplace, but gaining a gorgeous outdoor space. A pool, hot tub, fireplace, covered patio and the cutest baby palm trees are now an extension of our home.

The outdoor fireplace area was a unique feature we were excited about from the moment we first saw the listing online. It’s positioned on the West side of the backyard so is the perfect spot to enjoy a beautiful sunset.

We had it painted in October, which was a simple but major update! We also have plans for some interior tile work and new patio furniture at some point. For now, I’m borrowing a few chairs from my parent’s firepit table so we have a place to sit!

I grabbed these small white tables at the Goodwill for $5 each and they served as makeshift cocktail tables for Ted’s 40th birthday party. That night was the very first time we used the outdoor fireplace. It was still fairly hot out, but I wanted the ambiance 😉

I wanted a few pops of red against the new lighter fireplace, so I grabbed these red flowers & 2 potted poinsettias to add to the space.

They are so beautiful in the daylight as well as by the glow of the fire.

For on top of the mantel, I wanted something super simple and nothing too big & bulky. The wood logs can produce a lot of heat & smoke, so I contemplated nothing on top at all. Then I remembered I no longer had a use for my old staircase garlands [see how to hang garland on your staircase here], so I decided to try them out on the outdoor mantel.

I ended up layering / staggering 3 garlands to give it a simple, but classic look.

I love that they’re pre-lit and on a timer. Plus, I have them set to go on at 4 pm and they’ll stay on for 8 hours. Plenty long enough to sit outside and enjoy a fire!

In order to give the poolside fireplace a more earthy holiday feel, I also grabbed these Pine trees and added them to my black planters on either side of the benches. It’s hard to see, but they have the prettiest subtle touch of glitter.

We had a gas burning fireplace in our last 2 homes, but I’ve always wanted a log holder as décor.

Now that we actually need to use firewood, I picked up this round log holder at Target. It feels very official now to have a proper home for the logs.

Now we just need to find a place that sells firewood for less than a bundle at Lowes!A couple throw pillows, 4 borrowed chairs and a stack of firewood later, our space was ready to go!

 We’re so looking forward to gathering family & friends out here. I still pinch myself that we’re able to be outside and enjoy the backyard this time of year.

Now be sure to stop by the mantels below for more decorating inspiration!

As I mentioned, today I’m joining some of my talented blogging friends who are also sharing their Christmas Mantel Decor Ideas with you as well. Be sure to visit their posts by clicking on the links below the images.

Snowy Natural Rustic Christmas Mantel Decor at The Happy Housie

Asymmetrical Christmas Mantel Garland at Maison de Pax

How to Create a Gorgeous Full Christmas Mantel Garland at Maison de Cinq

How to Design an Elegant Christmas Mantel at Grace in My Space

Festive Farmhouse Holiday Mantel Decor at She Gave it a Go

Colorful Holiday Bedroom Mantel at Tatertots and Jello

Classic Burgundy and Silver Mantel at Deeply Southern Home

A Traditional Red and Silver Christmas Mantel at Sincerely, Marie Designs

Elegant Holiday Mantel with Candlesticks at Modern Glam

Console Table Holiday Mantel at Rooms for Rent

How to Decorate a Rustic Christmas Mantel at The Tattered Pew

Neutral Christmas Mantel with Green Garland at Taryn Whiteaker Designs

Red and White Modern Holiday Mantel at This is Simplicite

Winter Wonderland Christmas Mantel Ideas at Clean and Scentsible

Asymmetrical Christmas Mantel Ideas at Life is a Party

Our Outdoor Fireplace at Christmas at This is Our Bliss

A Christmas Village Mantel at A Pretty Life in the Suburbs

An Elegant Christmas Mantel at Rambling Renovators

Green and Gold Neutral Holiday Mantel at Joanna Anastasia

Warm and Elegant Holiday Mantel at Life is Better at Home

 For more posts in the Seasonal Simplicity Christmas series go here and for all of my Christmas ideas – including home tours, recipes, outfits and more, be sure to head to my full Christmas Gallery.

And in the meantime, have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow! I’ll be sharing Black Friday deals on Facebook and IG stories if you need an escape and want to sneak in some quick shopping!

My gift guides can always be found here, too!

see you back here soon 😉

xx,