The IKEA Serving Bowl Hack That Creates A Stunning Outdoor Fire Pit

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Adding a fire pit to your outdoor area is one of the best ways to decorate your home for a warm and inviting vibe. For those with smaller patios, a large, built-in fire pit isn't always an option. Now you can ditch the FOMO because the GOKVÄLLÅ Serving Bowl with Lid from IKEA is perfect for a DIY tabletop fire pit.

To make one for your patio, you'll need one large GOKVÄLLÅ serving bowl, as well as a smaller stainless steel bowl, such as the IKEA GRILLTIDER Bowl for Dip, to use as the burner. Paint the outside of the serving bowl halves with heat-resistant spray paint. Once the paint is dry, fill the bottom half with white stones. Create a small hollow in the center and position the dip bowl securely within it. Then, to keep it in place, add a few stones to the bottom of the dip bowl. Fill the dip bowl with bioethanol oil for fire pits (Bio Ethanol Fireplace Fuel is a popular choice on Amazon), and it's ready for use. The lid serves to keep the insides of your tabletop fire pit dust-free but is also useful for extinguishing the flames at the end of the evening.

This smart use of a regular serving bowl will give you one of the best smokeless fire pits for a toasty backyard patio. As they're budget-friendly, beautiful, and easy to make, why not make more than one to spread the warmth? Due to their size, they are portable and can be easily packed away when not in use.

Along with being portable, it's much easier to make your fire pit blend in with the aesthetic of your patio than it is with a large free-standing one. You can change up the look and location of your serving dish DIY as often as you want, whereas a large fire pit is a one-time decision that dictates the feel of the area.

For instance, spray paint the outside of the serving bowl black, adding to the warm look and feel of your patio by leaving the metallic sheen of the serving bowl unpainted. Metallic surfaces are sought after as they reflect light and create a cosy glow. Add drama by swapping out the white stones for fire glass pebbles, like Skyflame Fire Glass Beads. The glass pebbles are treated so that they don't melt, explode, or create soot when exposed to flames. Choose from different shades of blue, gold, bronze, black, red, green, or crystal. You can find fire glass rock with reflective and non-reflective surfaces, as well as smooth or natural shapes.

Creating your own tabletop fire pit is a cheap and clever way to perk up your patio. As bioethanol fires don't give off any smoke, or create soot, or ash, they are easier to maintain and clean. When the stones look grubby, wash them and let them dry. Wipe out the insides of the serving dish, the lid, and the homemade burner before reassembling all the pieces, and your fire pit will be ready for use.