» Fireplace Guide Ideas

Nothing brings warmth and comfort into a home more than having a fireplace, which often serves as the focal point of a well designed room décor.

Whether you already have a fireplace or are looking to add or update one, this complete fireplace guide shows you how to design a fireplace, what type of fuels are used, hearth and mantel designs, fireplace maintenance and more!

So gather round the fire (or LCD monitor as the case may be) and read on to learn how to make your fireplace a cornerstone design element in your home; one that captures the imagination and draws you right into its warmth on a chilly day.

Types of Fuel for Home Fireplaces

To start with, it is important to know the various types of fireplaces appropriate to your home and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Deciding the fireplace fuel type is the first decision to consider; the type of fuel your fireplace burns is a key element in how it will look and feel in your home and how much care and feeding will be required. Fireplace fuel options include:

Wood - Although regulations in some areas in the U.S. have changed to disallow wood-burning fireplaces, nothing feels as natural and inviting as a real wood fireplace! Aside from the visual impact and warmth a wood fire provides, the sound of wood crackling and hissing adds a dimension that other fireplace fuels simply cannot match. If in doubt, check your local building codes to check if a wood-burning fireplace is an allowable option. And if your existing home already has one, unless you can not readily find wood in you area, you would be well advised not to convert your fireplace to another fuel source as real wood fireplaces are becoming a highly desirable feature in resale homes since so many new homes do not have one! Burn oak or pine for best results in most wood-burning fireplaces.

Gas - If wood is not an option, gas offers the natural feel of a real fire, but with a more even and consistent flame that is easily adjusted to alter the height and intensity. Installed with ceramic log sets that emulate the look of red hot embers, some of the better gas fireplaces can look amazingly realistic and are definitely more practical than real wood burning fireplaces to maintain. If you do not have a natural gas connection to your home, you can also find products that use liquid propane instead.

Pellet - Another good alternative to wood, pellet products deliver real flames and dense heat and yet the flames are consistent and give a nice glow. Be sure the pellets for your pellet-burning fireplace are readily available in your area. Also, as with wood-burning fireplaces, local codes in some areas now prohibit installing pellet fireplaces or wood stoves.

Electric - An electric fireplace uses projected light to simulate fire burning in a fireplace. While not as realistic as other alternatives, an electric fireplace is very low maintenance and adds a nice design touch to your home décor! This will be a great alternative in a smaller condo or apartment where other fireplace fuels may not always be viable.

Once you have selected the type of fuel your fireplace will burn, its time to get started on your fireplace project. Since some of you will be designing a new fireplace completely, while others may be updating or redecorating a fireplace hearth and mantle, we have broken this fireplace guide into sections in order to make it easier for you to research the specific topic(s) as needed: