If you haven’t already thought about entertaining guests in your backyard this summer, now is the time. Retailers are practically giving outdoor amenities away for seasonal sales and with the months only getting warmer, there’s no reason not to invest in a firepit for making your friends and family get the most out of the breezy summer nights ahead. Far from splurging on an enclosed patio or above-ground pool, a sturdy pit will provide just as many hours of entertainment for a fraction of the cost and maintenance.

There’s a wide range of options available for sprucing up your drab concrete deck, from gas fire pits to chimineas. If you want to simply have a functional, freestanding compliment to your yard, a basic fire pit will do the trick. Copper makes an otherwise basic utility look a little plusher and gives it a nice patina. Plus the metal is so durable that it can sustain temperatures as high as 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on the size of the bowl, a copper unit can run you anywhere from $100 to $300, though for any patio less than 15 or 20 square feet, a simple 36-inch pit should do the job.

If you’re looking for a little more than just a basic outdoor fire pit, a chiminea adds both ambiance and functionality to your back deck. It’s basically an outdoor wood oven that has an upright exhaust, a firebox and a base where you load and light the wood. You can cook with chimineas or use them to generate even more warmth than a normal pit would provide. It’s a great conversation piece, especially when you throw in a few kabobs and let the chiminea take care of the rest.

You can also explore the option of a propane-powered model. These are on the more expensive end of the scale, but if you’re looking to integrate fire into the existing material on your deck, say in an ornate rock garden or amidst a granite centerpiece in your deck, propane is a perfect solution for concealing the base of the fire and providing an enrapturing flame to tie the whole décor of your patio together. Professionals install most propane pits since you’ll need to be certain everything is safe and up to code.

After your grilling has sated the palates of your guests, let the fire pit come in for an encore performance sure to make for a memorable evening.