You didn't stop using your patio. It stopped giving you a reason to stay.
It's dark by 5:30. A 68° afternoon turns into a 50° evening. And the space you furnished, lit and paid for sits empty until spring. Here's why that happens, and the simple thing that changes it.
It doesn't happen all at once. It happens one evening at a time.
Nobody decides to stop going outside. It just slips away, in moments like these:
5:30
You get home and the yard is already dark.
The sun set while you were still driving. You look outside, see nothing but the reflection of your kitchen, and the evening decides itself.
7:15
"Let's sit outside" lasts about twenty minutes.
It's a nice 60-something degrees. Then someone goes for a hoodie, someone else goes for a blanket, and soon everyone just goes in.
8:00
Everyone's in a different room, on a different screen.
Dinner ends and there's no reason to stay at the table. The family scatters, and the best part of the day is over before it started.
Sat.
You looked into a "real" outdoor fireplace.
Masonry, a gas line, a contractor, maybe a permit, and a quote that made the idea go away for another year.
Any
And the patio heater? It's in the garage.
Or worse, it's standing in the middle of the patio: a tall steel post with a lampshade on top, the first thing anyone sees.
If you recognized two or more of these, it isn't you. Your outdoor space is missing something every room inside your house already has after dark.
What it quietly costs
Half the year, your best room is closed.
Think about what you put into the backyard: the furniture, the plants, the lights, the weekends. Then think about how many evenings you actually spent out there since the clocks changed.
182evenings between October 1 and March 31
5:20 pmaround the earliest sunset in Dallas, Houston and Phoenix
20–30°a typical drop from afternoon high to night low in a Sun Belt January
Sunset: NOAA solar calculator, early December. Temperatures: NOAA 1991–2020 January normals (e.g. Houston 64°/46°, Phoenix 68°/46°, Tampa 71°/53°).
These are the months with fewer bugs, no heat and less humidity. In much of the South they should be the best patio months of the year. Instead, they're the ones you spend inside.
Why it happens
After dark, people stay where there's light, warmth and a center. Your patio has none of the three.
Inside, every room gives you all three without you thinking about it: lamps, heating, a TV or a table everyone faces. Outside, the moment the sun goes, all three disappear together. So people drift back to where they are.
1
Light that feels like evening
Not a floodlight. Warm, low, moving light that makes a dark yard feel like a room instead of a void you look into.
2
Warmth you can feel
You don't need a warm yard. You need warmth where you're sitting: the kind you feel on your hands and face.
3
A center to gather around
Every good evening has a focal point. Without one, chairs face nowhere and conversations end early.
Why the usual fixes don't solve it
String lights give you light, but no warmth and no center.
A mushroom patio heater gives you heat from above, and it looks like a gas station at night.
A wood fire pit has all three, plus smoke in your clothes, ash, and 40 minutes of effort, so it's a Saturday thing at best.
A built-in fireplace has all three, after a contractor, a gas line and a long wait.
One thing gives you all three at once, in about ten seconds: a real flame. It's the oldest reason humans have ever stayed outside after dark.
The part most people never think about
Why 60° feels so much colder at night
On a clear evening, the air might be a pleasant 60°. But your body isn't only trading heat with the air. It's also radiating heat up into the open sky, and a clear night sky gives almost nothing back.
That's why you reach for a hoodie at a temperature that felt perfect at 3 pm, and why heating "the air" around a patio feels like so little.
What helps is a source of radiant warmth and light right next to where you sit. You feel it on your hands and face, the way you feel the sun. A real flame behind glass does exactly that, a few feet from your chair.
Designed and made in Poland by Planika
The Planika Faro: a real flame that belongs on your patio.
A slim black column, almost 5 ft tall, with a real 360° flame behind tempered glass. It's light, warmth and a center in one piece, and it looks like design, not equipment.
A flame every seat can seeGlass on all four sides, so nobody sits on "the back side."
Warmth where you sitAdjustable 17,100–27,300 BTU/h, felt about 2–4 ft away. It warms the people around it, not the whole yard.
No tank on show, no gas lineA standard 20 lb grill tank hides inside the base. About 18–23 hours per tank.
No constructionAbout 10 minutes: attach the casters and glass, connect the tank, press to light.
Moves with youFour locking casters. Roll it to the dinner table, the pool or the garage.
Real flame on lava rockStandard 20 lb tank, hiddenLocking casters
It stands where a heater would, and looks like it was chosen with the furniture.
Straight talk
What the Faro is, and what it isn't.
We'd rather you buy the right thing than the wrong one.
It's made for
Cool evenings when you want to stay out longer
A focal point for a lounge corner, dining table or pool deck
Patios, decks, rooftops and partly covered spaces with good airflow
People who care how their outdoor space looks
It's not
A heater for freezing nights. The warmth is felt up close.
Something to heat a whole yard or a large group
For indoor or fully enclosed rooms
Picture a Tuesday in January
The same evening, with a reason to stay.
6:05
You roll it out of the corner.
No wood, no matches, no plan. Just push the knob.
6:06
The yard turns into a room.
A soft, moving light on the glass, on the cushions, on faces. The dark beyond it suddenly looks like a backdrop instead of a wall.
7:30
Nobody has gone inside.
Chairs drift closer to the flame. Phones stay in pockets because there's something better to look at.
9:40
"Should we go in?" "Five more minutes."
You turn the knob off and the evening ends when you decide it does, not when the sun does.
See how FARO looks in real outdoor spaces and what verified owners say about it.
4.9/ 5
31 Ceneo reviews
What verified FARO owners say
Customer-shared FARO photo
5.0
Great product. It gives off strong heat, and the build quality is excellent.
Customer-shared FARO photo
4.0
Very good build quality. On our covered patio with open sides, the heat feels limited, but the flame is beautiful. Overall, we’re happy with it.
Customer-shared FARO photo
5.0
Great outdoor fireplace. It provides warmth and looks very classy.
4.5
It really improves the look of the space. The heat output is a little lower than we expected.
5.0
A great addition to the backyard for relaxing outside in the evening.
Customer-shared FARO photo
4.5
Solidly built with a beautiful finish.
1 / of 6
Before you decide
Questions people ask first
Will it actually keep me warm?
On a cool evening, yes, if you sit close: the warmth is felt about 2–4 ft away (17,100–27,300 BTU/h, adjustable). It's not meant to heat a whole yard or a freezing night. Most people buy it for the flame and the look, and enjoy the warmth as a bonus.
Do I need a gas line, an installer or a permit?
No gas line and no installer. It runs on a standard 20 lb propane tank that fits inside the base, and setup takes about 10 minutes. Local rules for propane appliances vary, so check with your HOA if you have one.
How long does a tank last?
About 18–23 hours per 20 lb tank, depending on the flame setting. Wind and temperature also play a role.
Can I use it on a covered patio?
It's made for outdoor use, including partly covered outdoor spaces with good airflow. Never use it indoors or in a fully enclosed space.
How fast does it arrive, and what does shipping cost?
Shipping is free to the lower 48 states. It ships from New Jersey within 1–2 business days, and most orders arrive about 3–7 business days after dispatch.
What if something is wrong with it?
Every Faro has a 2-year limited warranty, and our US team handles your claim. You can add a third year at checkout. Questions before ordering? Call +1 (570) 813-8570 or email mike@chichomedeco.com.
Your patio, after dark
The sun will keep setting at 5:30. You don't have to go in when it does.
One real flame gives your outdoor space what it's been missing: light, warmth and a reason to stay.
$469delivered · Planika Faro, black
Free shipping to the lower 48, with no freight fees
Ships from New Jersey in 1–2 business days
Protective cover included
2-year warranty, with an optional 3rd year for $39
We started Chic Home Deco to help people enjoy their free time and their big moments at home. We bring in quality American and European pieces that add comfort and class to everyday living.
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Mike — Chic Home Deco
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Chic Home Deco LLC · Authorized dealer · US lower 48
