How to Design a Fireplace

Everyone wants to sit beside a warm cozy fire on cold winter nights, playing a board game like pictionary or reading the latest paperback best seller. It would be perfect if there were a cozy fireplace in each of our homes. So if you already have a fireplace or don't, this article should help with some fireplace design ideas.

Getting Started...

Before you start off with your design ideas, you need to know what kind of fireplace you want. The most common type is the traditional brick fireplace, which adds warmth and comfort to any home. But worry not; there are other options as well. Ask yourself these questions before you decide about a particular fireplace design.

• According to the style of your home, what kind of design will complement your home? If you have a contemporary home, then a brick fireplace is going to look out of place. At the same time if your home is a quaint one then a contemporary design is going to be not very flattering.
• Do you want a wood-burning fireplace or will a gar fireplace suffice? This decision depends on a lot of factors. If you have pets or small children in the home, then a wood-burning fireplace can be dangerous, at the same time you need to consider the advantages or disadvantages of a gar fireplace.
• Do you want an electric fireplace? This depends on the kind of electric consumption you have and what kind of fireplace would be most suitable to your home.

Once you answer these questions, you will get the right idea as to what kind of design you want and what kind will suit your home.

Important Things to Know...

There are three integral components of any design. We will discuss each of these components so that your design can be crystal clear.

• Hearths - there are different styles in hearths, they can be joined to the floor, raised or sunk lower into the floor. These are the different styles for hearths, but there can be designs without hearths, this is when the firebox needs to be placed a couple of inches above the floor to protect the flooring from the heat. You can also design your fireplace in a manner where there are hearth seats, which are quite simply put, seating blocks on either side of the firebox. This style is perfect for those family nights or that special moment with your loved ones by the firelight.
• Fireboxes - there are different styles of fireboxes as well and these vary according to their height to the floor and hearth. There are flush fireboxes and dropped fireboxes.
• Fireplace openings - this is the rectangular opening of the fireplace which is the most visible part of the fireplace. There are different arch shapes to fireplace openings. You can find flat arch top openings and even full arch fireplace openings. One can also opt for corner fireplace opening or the U-shaped fireplace openings depending again on the style of your house.

Take into consideration all these things before you design your very own fireplace. You need to keep in mind what you want, what is suitable for your home and also what are you looking for - utility or style.