Just imagine yourself on a winters evening with snow falling outside and you and your loved ones snuggled in front of a fireplace drinking hot chocolate. Mmmm, that does sound good doesn't it? Well for many people this is something that happens regularly. Of course to do this you do need a fireplace.

These days there are so many styles of fireplaces to choose from. There are ones that are open and are fuelled with wood. These of course are the original open fireplaces. There are combustion style wood heaters that are also fuelled by wood but are fully enclosed. Then you can have gas-fired versions that are run completely on gas showing a naked flame coming from fake logs. These give the same visual effect of fireplaces that use real wood but without the hard work and the mess.

Many apartments have these installed as a compromise because they do not have chimneys fitted. A lot of newer modern homes are opting for this type of heating as well. There are many rules and regulations that are in force for new homes and some councils do not approve open fireplaces anymore.

If you are lucky enough to have the option of building a fireplace then you will know that there are many designs that you can choose from. You can have a brick, stone, tile, wood, metal or marble looking design. You can incorporate it into a feature wall if you like or just have it as a small addition to your room. Which ever you decide on you can still enhance it further with a beautiful mantelpiece.

A mantle piece will look fantastic even with fireplaces that are not wood fuelled. These are most commonly made from wood but many are marble also. Imagine a beautiful mantelpiece with a large mirror above it and a couple of family photos to top it off. Then with a roaring fire and you sipping some wine while listening to some soft music. How relaxing is that?

Of course with open fireplaces you need to remember that they can be hazardess especially if you have small children. Safety must be adhered to religiously. You will need to use a fire screen of some type to stop sparks and falling logs. You will also have to purchase other accessories including a fire poker and a grate to start with.

Whilst these accessories look good standing beside fireplaces they are there for a reason. Firstly the grate is important as it is placed inside the actual fireplace and that is what you place the logs on. This is to allow airflow so the fire actually will burn well. The poker is used to poke and move logs whilst burning. You really cannot go without these important accessories. A brush and pan are another necessity, as your open wood burning fireplace will get messy.

Whatever style of fireplace you end up with you will always feel cozy on a winter's day.