Ideal for cosying up your home during cold and humid days, while elevating the overall look of your space, fireplaces can be a great addition to any house. Historically they were used for heating, cooking and warming up water for laundry, whereas they were once considered the centre of the home where the household would gather to work and relax. Nowadays, things have changed, yet its main purpose of heating remains and for this reason, it continues being a desired feature.

Yet, selecting one can be easier said than done. From considering the style you need to opt for that will complement your decor to whether you would like to have a chimney and the ideal type that will best suit your needs, if you're unsure of how to go about selecting a fireplace, you'll need to consult one of these stores listed on Yellow.

How to enhance your space with a fireplace

Despite being functional, a fireplace is a decorative item and as such it must be suitable for your style. Fireplace stores across the island offer a wide variety of styles and designs ranging from the modern and contemporary to the classic and the rustic. You can also select different sizes or you may have something completely customised to your needs.

What are the different types of fireplaces available? 

In days gone by, a fireplace used to typically be associated with burning wood. Today, alternative solutions abound and choosing the right type is key to ensuring that it doesn't become just a decorative feature that is underutilised and serves no purpose.

Without a doubt, a wood burning fireplace is the most traditional solution, known for its unique look and for being associated with the sound of crackling wood and the smokey scent. However, it's not for everyone. This type does require maintenance like stocking up on chopped wood, cleaning the ashes and looking after the chimney. A wood-burning fireplace will warm your house efficiently and it will continue functioning even when there are electricity outages. You can choose between an open or a closed fireplace.

Another type is ethanol fireplaces that have in recent years become highly popular since they are a great solution if you're after a sleek, modern design. In addition, they don't require a chimney, which means that they can be placed anywhere around the house, whereas installation is relatively straightforward. They also don't produce any ashes, making it a simple and hassle-free alternative. Having said that, compared to other fireplaces, the ethanol variety tends to emit less heat, however, this is not an issue when bearing in mind the mild, Maltese winters.

An economical solution since it provides more heat at a lower cost, gas fireplaces are easy to maintain and use since they turn on with a simple push of a button. You can choose between direct-vented, which requires a chimney, or alternatively, a pipe. One more option that requires no structural changes to the house is the ventless option, however, if you decide to go with this solution, you need to ensure that there is a good ventilation system within your house because harmful fumes can get into the heated room.

As is the case with ethanol fireplaces, electric ones don't require any chimney. They can be installed in any room you desire as long as there is an electrical plug, while they come in various styles and sizes. Highly comfortable, they can be switched on and off as you please, while some options may even come with a remote control that allows you to adjust the fire.

One last alternative is pellet stoves, both a cost-effective and an eco-friendly solution since they run on renewable energy, typically biomass pellets or compressed wood. Although this type of heating option does not require a chimney, it does need a proper exhaust pipe. This can either be installed in an existing chimney if available or in a shaft.

Fireplace products and accessories

Local fireplace stores do not only sell fireplaces, but they also have on hand a range of other products and accessories. These include things like decorative stones and logs, fire utensils, log holders and boxes, as well as fire screens. In addition, you may find a series of maintenance products amongst which include brushes and rods, ash vacuums, glass cleaners and air filters.

Need further information on selecting the ideal fireplace? Here is our ultimate guide to fireplaces.