Although the patio you build for your fire pit should be separate, it will look misplaced if you don't relate it to the house with the materials you choose. The tie-in can be direct, such as using the same brick as your house's foundation, or subtle—say, using stucco in a color that echoes your siding or trim.

If your fire pit will be built into the patio, you can use almost any building material for the decorative coping (the cap on top where people will either sit or prop their feet up). "Stucco, brick, poured concrete, and flagstone are all good options," Kalamian says.

For a rustic look, consider a ground-level fire pit surrounded by an irregular, free-form stone, such as flagstone; you don't have to mortar the stones, Kalamian says, but it does make a cleaner look and is more structurally sound. If you're going for a sleeker style, you're likely choosing a gas pit, which can be filled with different materials. "Sometimes we use glass rocks, which are contemporary and sophisticated," Kalamian says. "We've also used silica sand—it's really spectacular to see flames dancing in soft, fine white sand." To complement this kind of look, use a grid pattern for the patio in a more formal tile, such as porcelain, ceramic, or slate.