A Guide for Fireplace Accessories

A fireplace was once considered the heart of every home, but in recent decades there has been the decline in their usage – a lot of homes don’t have a fireplace. Those who do have one get to enjoy a nice part of the home where family and visitors can congregate. As well as a fireplace though there will also usually be a few fireplace accessories and we will be examining a few of the more popular tools in this guide. These accessories provide a number of functions including improving safety, providing a decorative function, and increasing fuel economy. Here are just some of the most common fireplace accessories you are likely to find.

Fireplace Screens

The main purpose of fireplace screens is to make it possible for people to sit a bit closer to the fire; they block some of the direct heat. It also makes it safer to leave the fire unattended and should mean that the fire burns more slowly – thus saving money. As well as having a practical purpose these fireplace screens are also sought after because they are just so decorative. The amount you pay for such a screen will vary greatly from very cheap to extremely expensive. They can be made from metal or leaded glass and come in a range of styles.

A Grate

A grate is only really required for solid fuel burning fires but they may be used on other fires as a decorative addition. The main purpose of the grate is to keep items like logs in place as they burn and to prevent them from rolling out of the fire. Another purpose of the grate is that it allows air to reach the fire to keep it alight.

A Fireplace Set

Most fireplaces will have a fireplace set at the side. This contains all those tools that are needed for stoking the fire, cleaning the fireplace area, and getting rid of the remains of a burnt out fire. This set will usually contain a small broom, a poker, and an ash shovel; all the items will be kept together with a stand. A fireplace set is only really of practical value with a solid fuel fire but even those with gas fueled fires may choose to have a set because they serve a nice decorative function. It is possible to pick up a fireplace set without spending a lot of money, but if you want something fancy you can expect to pay a bit more.

A Fireplace Blower

Fireplace blowers have become very popular in recent years because they can help save home owners a lot of money. The purpose of a fireplace blower is to help warm air from a fire to circulate to the rest of the room; or even the rest of the house. There are currently many different models of fireplace blower but they will usually work by attaching to the fireplace and using a small motor to circulate the warm air.

A Fireplace Insert

A fireplace insert is a good option if you want to convert your old wood burning fireplace into a gas fireplace. It means that you can still enjoy your old fireplace while getting the benefits of gas. Using your previous fireplace also means that you can take advantage of the existing chimney for ventilation.

Hearth Rug

When most of us picture a fireplace there will be a hearth rug in front; this is a traditional addition. These rugs are not only there for decoration but they should also be fire resistant and so able to protect our furnishings. This is another item where you could spend a lot of money or very little money at all – a lot will depend on how fancy you want your rug to be.

There are many fireplace accessories and tools available to buy and what you choose will depend on the design you're trying to achieve, and the necessity of such items. We go further into details about all types of accessories in this section of our site.