They may be more associated with medieval banqueting halls, Hogwarts common rooms and, once in a while, Santa Claus, but the traditional fireplace has been having a distinctly modern makeover of late – so what are the different types of fireplace and what are the best fireplaces to buy today?

More than mere sources of heat, fireplaces provide a visual focus for a room with a mixture of light, colour and movement. Cosy has always been the classic fire feeling, but many contemporary flames boast bolder, more artistic designs that fit well with contemporary interiors. And whether you’re looking for an ultra-modern fireplace or just an updated twist on an old-fashioned one, there’s a diverse range of products and heating methods out there to indulge your fiery fancies.

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What are the different types of fireplace guide

Fireplace fuel options

Wood burning fireplaces

Wood burning fireplaces
Log fires: Cosy but not without their drawbacks (Thinkstock/PA)

All but a sliver of human history has been dominated by one kind of fuel: Wood. Wrought out of stone or brick, a classic wood fire is dreamy, romantic – and a right pain in the behind to clean and maintain. Soot clogs the lungs, ash scorches the brickwork, and a good portion of heat is lost up the chimney.

Would-be lumberjacks aside, you’ll also have to buy your own logs and then go through the unenviable task of igniting them. Throw in a smattering of environmental concerns, and it’s no wonder that modern homes may be moving away from wood-burners.

A cosy fireplace is always at the heart of the home
(Thinkstock/PA)

Most domestic fireplaces now tend towards one of three fuels: Gas, electricity, or ethanol.

Gas fireplaces

Gas fireplaces have long been the market-leader – an instant, authentic flame that’s cleaner than a sooty real fire – but generally require expert installation, annual check-ups and a fixed flue.

Electric fireplaces

In the 1980s, electric fires became a la mode, as cheap, easy-to-install alternatives to gas. They can’t hold a candle to gas for raw heat, but won points for convenience and cleanliness. Their biggest drawback is simple: It’s not a real fire.

Ethanol fireplaces

A relatively new entrant, ethanol fireplaces are ventless units that run on denatured alcohol, producing no pollutants beside negligible quantities of CO2. “The UK market has been around for the last decade or so,” says a spokesperson from biofire company, Imaginfires, “but it’s only really got going over the last couple of years.”

How do ethanol fireplaces work?

Ethanol fireplaces can’t lay claim to the warmest blaze – and are sold as a secondary heat source only – but they burn with superb energy-efficiency and have a flair for the dramatic. Ethanol doesn’t roar or crackle like a wood fire on a cold winter evening, but the flames dance and flicker attractively, sustained by biofuel poured straight into the burner.

What are the best fireplaces to buy?

With the substance sorted, you can now turn your attention to style when understanding what are the different types of fireplace. Once a stationary object, confined to a square metre or so below the chimney, fireplaces have now found their way into almost every part of your living room.

Some protrude from the wall; some rise up through the floor; some hang precariously from the ceiling. There are even fireplaces that can be controlled remotely through an app on your smartphone, and that can change the colour of their flames at will.

A small flame contained within a white sculpture (Imaginfires/PA)
A small flame contained within a white sculpture (Imaginfires/PA)

Though they may not pack the most punch, ethanol fireplaces lead the pack in flexibility when it comes to styling a room. Needing neither chimney nor plug socket, freestanding units can be re-positioned at will, while the initial installation takes around 10-15 minutes. Weather-permitting, they can even be taken outside, providing light, heat and atmosphere for an evening on the patio.

What are the different types of fireplace - A television and fireplace, both wall mounted (Imaginfires/PA)
A television and fireplace, both wall-mounted (Imaginfires/PA)

For those wishing to channel a wood burner’s old-world charm, ethanol fireplaces can fit snugly into the hearth of any country house, or be made up as traditional, standalone stoves. As Imaginfires notes: “A lot of our fireplaces look like wood-burners and they’re free-standing too, so they’re easy to set up and move around if needed.”

For the more modern-minded, fireplaces can now be accommodated into all kinds of cubist structures, while a popular option involves inserting your fireplace into a frame hanging on the wall. Fireplace or wall-mounted television – from a distance, it can be impossible to tell.

New twists on gas fireplaces

Not to be outdone, the usually chimney-bound gas fire has been working overtime to keep up with modern trends. Consumers who know where to look can now purchase ‘ventless’ gas fires, units with low emissions that can burn in any corner of your home.

Ventless gas fires can work well for those hunting a heat-centric unit with a more traditional aesthetic, but the low-level emissions they do release flow straight into your living room. Designs are strictly regulated – but make sure your carbon monoxide alarm is in good order, just in case.

Ordinary gas fires have been evolving too: “We recently launched The Elemental Range,” says Paul Chesney, managing director of leading fireplace supplier, Chesneys. “We’ve taken five of our most popular designs, reduced the size and altered the design to make them appeal to those with less space.” They don’t come cheap, but many Chesneys fireplaces are made with luxurious limestone or marble.

(Chesneys/PA)
(Chesneys/PA)

Even wood burners are returning to the fold, with the Ecodesign Ready initiative laying down a new set of regulations that should limit environmental impact, which means that by 2022 all wood-burning stoves must adhere to a European directive on air pollution and particulate emissions known as Ecodesign. “Wood-burning stoves remain popular,” says Chesney, “and can be highly effective barbecues, with capacity for grilling, roasting, baking, wok-frying and steaming.”

Looking to buy ecodesign stoves? The scheme, which is led by the Stove Industry Alliance (SIA), has already been embraced by many manufacturers that are now producing stoves that are exceeding the directive by as much as 75%.

At Direct Stoves you can shop a great range of Ecodesign stoves from leading brands including ACR, Arada, Charnwood, Stovax and many more.

What are the different types of fireplace for different budgets?

Imaginfires sells their ethanol units for £120-£700, while limestone models from Chesneys start at around £1600 – but for customers seeking the very finest flames, this is the tip of a swiftly melting iceberg. Direct Stoves sell Ecodesign stoves starting from around £400.

Those looking for more from their fire can buy a ‘multimedia’ fireplace – an electric fire built into an entertainment unit that can include anything from a CD rack to a widescreen TV and BOSE sound system. And at the very pinnacle of high-end, you will find the experimental designs of American company Heat & Glo. The ‘infinity flame’ design on their Solaris Fireplace is more art installation than hearth: It uses lighting effects to create a thin line of fire that hangs suspended in mid-air, before retreating back into the wall.

They also briefly marketed the ground-breaking, if wildly overpriced, Aqueon Fireplace, which, for a cool $50,000, produced a sustainable flame by separating hydrogen – quite literally making fire from water.

Filled with increasingly inventive designs, and facing down pending environmental regulation, the fireplace industry will surely be trailblazing for some time to come.

Read our wood-bring stove guide – the eternal appeal of a roaring fire.

Best-selling fireplaces

Stuck for inspiration? Check out our list of best-selling Amazon products!

Bestseller No. 1
Warmlite WL45037W Ealing Electric Fireplace Suite with Adjustable Thermostat Control, 2 Heat...
  • 2 HEAT SETTINGS: Offering high-performance two heat settings of 900W and 1800W, the impressive power outputs effectively heat up rooms quickly and efficiently, meaning you will feel the warming...
  • REALISTIC LED FLAME EFFECT: Making as a beautiful focal feature in any styled living, the realistic look and feel of the LED flame effect creates a calming atmosphere for you to relax, Put your feet...
  • ADJUSTABLE THERMOSTAT:Finding the ideal temperature to suit the climate is easier than ever, Simply turn the manual dial and feel its warming effects
Bestseller No. 2
FlameKo Savannah Fireplace with 39" surround and Realistic Flame Effect Heater Grey Bronx Oak...
  • Made of particleboard, white or an oak veneer finish
  • 100% LED lighting with a realistic flame effect, can be used with or without heater
  • Remote control and digital display on the firebox, so there is no need to leave your seat.
SaleBestseller No. 3
Warmlite WL45045 Newcastle Electric Fireplace Suite, Adjustable Thermostat and LED Flame Effect,...
  • POWERFUL FIREPLACE SUITE: Complementing all styles of living room from vintage to contemporary, this fireplace provides homes with a heating solution with white surround and black cast iron effect
  • 2 HEAT SETTINGS: Providing intense power output’s, the two high-performance heat settings of 950W and 1850W ensures your living space is effectively heated up in moments
  • REALISTIC LED FLAME EFFECT: Enjoy the look of the realistic LED flame effect, creating a lush, calm environment and soothing ambience for you to relax after a busy day
Bestseller No. 4
Electric Fire with Surround 50inch White Free Standing Electric Fireplace and Surround Heating...
  • 【Electric Electric Fire Size】: 50inch,Surround Size:120x80x29cm(WxDxH); Core Fire: 86.5x39.2x21cm Fire Surround Size:279x1000x825mm(10.98x39.37x32.5inch); Please measure the size of TV stand if...
  • 【Freestanding electric fire and Surround】:The electric fireplace with surround, we will ship it out with two package but it is easy to put together, we needn’t worry about these steps.Please...
  • 【Remote Control】: The electric fireplace with remote controlled is easily operate and the fan heater is quite, we could control the temperature and lighting at home. And the electric fire will be...

Last update on 2024-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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