A Guide to Choosing the Best Fireplace for Your Needs

On a cold and wintry night, there’s nothing better than relaxing in front of a cosy fireplace while watching TV or just hanging out with your family and friends. A fireplace in your home makes a natural focal point as well as being a gathering point for everyone to enjoy spending time together. If you want to reap the benefits of a fireplace, choose wisely – the right fireplace for your needs is a highly individual decision. Choose the right design and also the fireplace with the best function. You don’t have to restrict yourself to the living room – fireplaces also make great additions to the bedroom, the dining room, or even the kitchen. Fireplaces look beautiful and inviting, and they also serve a function. That’s why it is important to choose the right design so that it acts as an attractive addition to your room, not as an eyesore. There are plenty of different fireplaces to choose from, so you are sure to find something to meet your needs. If you are unsure of where to start, consider these ideas.

Firstly, you need to decide what function the fireplace will have in your home. Will it be purely decorative? Is it important that the fireplace is easy to use, clean, and maintain? Do you have a preference when it comes to choice of fuel? For example, do you want electric, wood-burning, or gas? Gas fireplaces are affordable, both to install and to run. You also do not need to worry about regular maintenance, aside from safety checks. Gas fireplaces provide a flame without the inconvenience of wood, and there is a wide range of choices available in terms of style and design – from modern surrounds to traditional looks. Electric fireplaces don’t give you the same cosy feel as a wood-burning fireplace, but they are very easy to fit and can provide a good source of heat for a room. Wood-burning fireplaces are the traditional choice for warmth and style. If you want a wood-burning fireplace, you have to make a choice between a great variety of materials – for example, between brick and stone. You can find fireplace surrounds in limestone, slate, ceramic tile, brick, and marble from www.firesandfireplaces.co.uk. Think about what colour you want the fireplace to be – light colours are normally more difficult to maintain and keep clean, but they can prove to be striking in a contemporary setting. Once you have chosen a surround, then you can also accessorise with a mantle – this makes a great addition to the room, as you can decorate it to suit your taste and to tie in with the theme of the room. Another aspect to consider is the price of the fireplace. Fireplaces are available in all price ranges, so you shouldn’t assume that you cannot afford a new fireplace just because you have only a small amount to spend.

Louise Carr is a freelance writer. She creates content for home, garden, and interiors blogs and websites, including articles about providers like www.firesandfireplaces.co.uk.

Louise Carr writes for home and garden blogs and websites, including articles about services like http://bbsplumbandheat.com. She is a freelance writer based in Buenos Aires.