Home & Garden Club

To have an outstanding fireplace, you must be able to incorporate the total design with a great fireplace surround design. Although it might seem easy to choose one that fits the entire theme of your fireplace, you still have to consider some important pointers before even getting started in remodeling your fireplace.

1. The first thing you have to consider is the functionality of your fireplace. You have to know whether the fireplace you have in mind will be there for decorative purposes only or will be used to provide warmth for the home. If you plan to have fire burning in it, then you have to think of the way on how to ventilate it. Clearance requirements must also be met when a functional fireplace is to be constructed.

2. Once you figure out what exactly your fireplace will do, you must take into consideration the amount of money you have to shell out for its maintenance. A fireplace requires maintenance so if you plan to save on maintenance cost then be sure that you will only use the fireplace for special occasions only. Otherwise, you will have to continue maintaining it which can be very demanding since it is a pain to keep and clean a fireplace.

3. Although a fireplace may simply be a box that holds fire, it can even be made more beautiful with an elegant fireplace surround. Not only will a fireplace surround add beauty to the room, it will even give the room its much needed character and personality especially if you have it customized according to your preferences.

When picking out the right fireplace surround designs, it should be something that will complement the other exterior design pieces like the mantel and the trim. The mantel and the trim affects the overall appearance of the fireplace, thus, it is recommended that you match your surround with these elements. It is worth mentioning that mantels and trims can be expensive so when choosing, you have to keep within your budget. Choosing between contemporary or traditional design of elements is also necessary for you to identify the type of surround style you will incorporate in your design.

There are various materials that can be used for the surround including wood, plaster, cast iron, limestone, marble and resin. You must not limit your design to only one of these materials. In fact, you can mix and match these materials to create a more personal design.

The surround is the most commonly forgotten aspect of the entire fireplace design but this should not be so. Sure, you have to consider things like the type of fireplace and the type of fuel to be used to run it, but in the end, people will not notice these things. What will bring their attention to your fireplace is not the color of the flame burning. Instead, it is what frames the flames that will catch their eye. Thus, having a well-designed surround is important if you want to give a lasting impression to your guests.