Fireplace Design Ideas

Practical fireplace ideas and beautiful fireplace styles to help you choose the right look for your home....

A fireplace is the perfect focal point for your living room...

...on a practical level it can provide much needed heat for a home - but a fireplace is also much more than that!

The fireplace is an attractive focal point, and a wonderful gathering point for the whole family to get together.

If you have a working chimney you can enjoy a real fire:

• open fire
• woodburning stove

If you aren't lucky enough to have a chimney, you can fit attractive reproduction fires in electric or gas.

These give you all the look, heat and feel of a real fire, but without the hassle!

Pictures of Fireplaces - Fireplace Gallery

Whichever fireplace styles you choose, safety does come first, so check out the practicalities before you start...

Safety Comes First - Fireplace Ideas

• A real fire needs a working chimney - get yours professionally checked before you start, to make sure it is safe and in full working order.
• A gas fire needs a proper flue and ventilation - again get yours professionally fitted or checked before you start.
• Do you live in a 'Smoke Control Area'? If so, you cannot burn smoke producing fuel. Instead:
  • Choose a reproduction gas or electric fire
  • Burn smokeless coal
  • Choose an approved clean burning stove
  • Choose a gel-fire that doesn't require a flue or ventilation
• Do you have a hearth? For open fires you will need a large, thick hearth of non-combustible material.
• Fires can be dangerous - especially to children. Take care around fires, even enclosed stoves can get very hot.
  • Consider an enclosed, wood-burning stove
  • Consider a fire guard for in front of the fire
  • Keep clothes, fabrics, books, papers etc at a safe distance from the fire
  • Watch out as sparks can leap out of an open fire and burn or damage carpets - this is another reason why a fire guard is a good idea.









• Have your chimney swept regularly by a professional to prevent build-up that may cause a chimney fire.
• Keep a close look out for :
  • build up of tar on the inside of your fire
  • smoke coming into the room rather than up the chimney
  • poor burning flames

  ...these may indicate tar deposits building up inside your chimney, which may lead to a fire inside the chimney.

• Fit:
  • smoke detectors
  • carbon monoxide detectors
  • fire extinguishers

Fireplace Design Ideas Choices

Once you've decided to fit or renovate a fireplace, there are many fireplace styles to consider...

Open Fire

• This is an attractive look, and can be quite simple to fit into your fireplace - all you need is a working chimney, a fire-grate or log basket.
• It can be dirty though, and can require a lot of effort and cleaning to light and maintain.
• Burn coal, wood or smokeless fuel
• A lot of heat is lost up the chimney
• Nothing beats a real flame though!

Woodburning Stove

• This is an enclosed, real fire. You can actually burn wood or coal in them, or smokeless fuel.
• Attractive, and a traditional look.
• Gets very hot - and very heat efficient - up to 85% of heat goes into the room.
• If you don't have a suitable chimney, you can get gas or electric reproductions.

Gas Fire

• Get the look of a real fire, but with less hassle
• Usually requires a flue - get it professionally installed and maintained for safety!
• Very efficient and levels of heat are easily controlled.
• Comes in many different traditional fireplace styles, or more contemporary fireplace design ideas.

Electric Fire

• Get the look of a real fire, but with less hassle
• Doesn't need a chimney or flue - you can put it anywhere.
• Levels of heat are easily controlled.
• Can be expensive to provide heat
• Many different fireplace styles and designs are available.

Gel Fires

• A bioethanol gel fire - usually in a bowl or basket.
• Gives you a real flame but you don't need a chimney
• Attractive look and can be use anywhere
• Becoming cheaper as they become more popular and widespread.

Also look at fireplace styles...

Fireplace Styles

Choose from:

• marble
• cast iron (often Victorian fireplace styles)
• wood
• ceramic tiles
• slate
• stone

...in traditional or contemporary styles.

Traditional Fireplace Styles

• Traditional fireplace design ideas can be used with all the fireplace types above
• Choose an original period fireplace surround, or a reproduction.
• Install (by a professional) a gas or electric fire into the opening, or fit a fire-grate or fire basket for an open fire.

Modern Fireplace Styles

• Choose a modern fireplace style surround in any material.









• You might decide that your fireplace design ideas don't require a surround.
• Many modern gas or electric fires come as a 'whole' and don't need a separate suround.
• 'Hole in the wall' designs are a very popular trend right now, and give an attractive, streamlined, minimal look.
• Wall hung fireplaces are another very contemporary look for fireplace design ideas, and are again very popular. Gas fires and electric fires are available.
• Freestanding stoves look good, and are an interesting, modern twist on the traditionally styled wood burning stove.
• Open plan fires - another great idea - especially for large or open plan rooms.

  The fire can sometimes be built into a fireplace open from 2 (or more) sides, or as a striking suspended style.

• Empty Fireplace - non-operational fireplaces can still be an attractive focal feature.

  Put in a plant, candelabra - or just picture lots of lit candles flickering in a grate, giving the impression of a fire, without all the hassle!

Once you have decided on the fireplace design ideas you'd like to try out in your own home, get advice from a professional on its installation, and whether you have a suitable chimney or flue.

Then shop around to find the perfect fireplace design and style for you...

Take a look on eBay for unusual and bargain fireplace design ideas - a great place to look for fireplace inspiration and fantastic deals...

This is a live feed from eBay, and is constantly updated. Simply click on a product to find out more information, or to buy…

If any of these recommended eBay auction products interest you, please support my website by using the links on this page to buy. The price to you is always the same, but I will earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to provide you with the information on this website, all for free.

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Now look at more Pictures of Fireplaces - Fireplace Gallery

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