Which to choose: Seating Area with fire pit or Eating area on Patio

[MusicMum80s]

Mumsnetters as part of redoing our garden we are trying to decide what to include on our patio. Based on the design, it won't be possible to include both a dining area and a seating area on the patio near the house. The patio is right off the kitchen- diner (which will also have a sofa). If you could only choose one, which of these do you think you'd use more / prefer?

I should add that the patio will be pretty shady though most of the garden is sunny if that makes a difference.

A dining area. There's nothing like eating outside.

However could your chairs be dining/sitting and the table be a folding or extending one?

Maybe you can have both?

Don't have a fire pit near the kitchen-diner (i'm imagining french doors out etc.) the potential for smoke inside your house is huge.

Or near a neighbours fence , barbecues are bad enough without inflicting fire pits on your neighbour .

Dining area.

You don't want a smoke pit near your house.

I would go for a seating/outdoor sofa area with one of the coffee tables that raise up so you can use it to comfortably eat. Kettler is one brand that makes them.

I spend the majority of nice summer days laying outside reading so that would be priority for me.

We’ve got a dining set that consists of a sofa and two armchairs plus a table that’s the right height for eating rather than coffee table height, if we have guests to eat with us we have some folding chairs that we can pull up to the other long side of the table. We eat outdoors at every opportunity, as we have patio doors from the kitchen it is easy. I agree with not having a firepit near the house, I suspect it’s one of those things where the novelty wears off very quickly.

Dining area. I think you’d get more use out if it.

The fire pit would be gas so no smoke.

Interesting feedback!

I'd consider a smokeless firepit option close to the house - like the solo stove and then I'd consider another seating area that didn't need a hard surface - gardens are all about sitting in - we have as many options sprinkled through the garden as we can fit