Pick the Perfect Fireplace

Almost nothing expresses the comforts of home like a fireplace—the perfect cozy spot to retreat to after coming indoors from a chilly night.

Such a feature allows you to set a romantic ambience, enjoy treasured gatherings with your family, and savor the natural glow of a flame flickering safely in its hearth. If you’re looking to install one in your home, the following tips can help you select and style a truly heartwarming centerpiece.

Figure out the fuel

You’ll first need to decide which basic fireplace type to install. Each one is designed to consume a specific fuel source and may vary in price, visual potential, and maintenance needs. Here are the most common options:

Wood-burning

Pros: Excellent scent and classic charm

Cons: Necessitates replenishing its firewood often, demands more extensive maintenance due to the debris it creates, and utilizes a broad chimney, which may be complicated and expensive to add to an existing home

Gas

Pros: Quick to install, especially if you opt for a ventless model, and more efficient than a wood-burning fireplace

Cons: Requires a potentially risky gas connection and may be costly to set up if your chosen model needs a ventilation system

Electric

Pros: Simple to install, doesn’t require ventilation features—which makes it extremely energy efficient—and is available in built-in or portable models

Cons: Doesn’t burn a pleasantly authentic flame and cannot provide much-needed heat during a power outage

Ethanol

Pros: Offers the same advantages as electric, plus produces a smokeless flame due to the fuel type

Cons: Generates less heat than the prior options, uses somewhat pricey bioethanol fuel, and is potentially less safe than gas and electric

If you’re unsure of which to choose, contact a fireplace contractor to go over the various models and finishing features available; they can also give you a better estimate of the total price based on factors like materials and dimensions. Per the home-improvement site Angi, the average installation price is about $2,500, so to mitigate your costs, you may want to build the surround (the frame encircling the fireplace opening) out of simple brick or go with a more affordable prefabricated model.

In addition, be mindful that some states have banned certain models, such as ventless fireplaces, due to air-quality concerns. To be safe, discuss your planned upgrade with your local zoning department before you decide on a structure.

Seek inspiration

Once you choose a fireplace, you can then design the decorative elements for enclosing it, including the mantel and hearth. For a seamless style, take inspiration from the surrounding room, pulling from a single motif—such as contemporary clean lines or traditionally ornate woodwork—that would complement it nicely. For example, while an intricate wooden surround and mantel with ornate trim beckons thoughts of fine estates, such pieces would appear out of place in a midcentury modern home.

To enhance visual impact, select a quality material like flagstone or brick for the fireplace surround, hearth, and chimney breast (the structure around and above a fireplace that projects into the room). You can even affix a ventless fireplace into the latter for an old-fashioned look. Further, installing a prominent mantel can set the stage for displaying goods like holiday decor or electronics above the firebox. Making these thoughtful style considerations will help you create a truly stunning centerpiece.

Heed advice

Working closely with a fireplace contractor is ultimately the key to devising an attractive yet practical model that suits your tastes. Just as important, they can provide ongoing maintenance advice about cleaning debris, inspecting the fuel source often, and more based on the variety you choose. Stay on top of these tasks, and you and your loved ones can bask in the welcoming glow of a fireplace for years to come.