Enhance Your Living Room with a New Fireplace - By: Gareth Hoyle1

When you are redesigning your living room it is important to consider not just the furniture and décor but also the fireplace. Fireplaces can grow tired and outdated over the years. This can really let down a room no matter how much money you spend on redecorating. There are a number of different fireplaces available these days so you will have plenty of choice when it comes to updating your room. You can choose from replica Victorian fireplaces through to modern minimalist designs. These can provide a focal point to your room and enhance the overall style.

Fireplace Renovation

The first step to renovating your fireplace is to look at what is currently in place. If the main fire is still in good working order then you could save some money and just update the fire surround and mantel shelf. If you have a gas or electric fire and want an open fireplace then this could involve a lot more work and expensive. If you do not have chimneys or they are non-functional then you can buy gas and electric fires that replicate open fires. This can be a good option and will save you a lot of expense whilst still giving you a warm, open feel to your room.

If you want a gas fire then this will need to be fitted by a professional gas engineer. This will ensure that the fire is operating to strict safety standards and has been fitted correctly. If you have gas to your property but have never had a gas fire before then additional pipe work will need to be installed. This will ensure you can ‘plumb in’ the new fire to your main gas supply. You should get your gas fire checked every year to make sure it is still in good working order.

Decoration

Fireplaces can be attractive features and can be enhanced further with decorative finishes such as scroll work and patterned tile fire surrounds. A pattern finish is a lovely feature for any room and ceramic tiles are hardwearing and easy to keep clean. If you would like a decorative element to your fire surround then you can buy authentic period style tiles from reclamation yards or choose some from the vast modern range of tiles available.

The mantel shelf is the ideal place to display decorative items. This can be a key feature in your home so it is important to consider what mantel shelf you want. These are typically made from wood and provide a place to put photos, cards and knick-knacks. Mantel shelves do need to fit into the overall design of the fire surround so if you are replacing the rest of your fireplace update this section as well. Mantel shelves can often have their own special features such as carving and scroll work.

About the Author

Direct Fires online are UK retailers of Gas Fires and Victorian Fireplaces . From inset gas fires to limestone and cast iron fires, we have them all on our website. Why not take a look today.

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