Fire place screens were invented more recently than their complements, the fireplaces. They were invented in the 18th century, which eventually became a necessary tool for every household that had fireplaces. Before it was invented, people had to constantly confront the problem of having smoke and ashes inside the room where the fireplaces are situated.
Years ago, fireplaces were considered to be the main source of heat, and thus it was necessary to have them particularly when the winter season came about. Since the fire place screen was a complement to a fireplace, its demand also rose for its necessity. Nowadays, however, sophisticated heating systems are the ones that replaced fire places for its necessity. Thus, the demand for fireplaces changed from actual necessity to mere luxury. Similarly, people buy a fire screens today mostly for its decorative purpose and its complementary aspect to fire places.
Uses and advantages of fireplace screens
The primary use of fireplace screens is to separate the house furniture from what the fire could emit, like its smoke and ashes. People would hardly want to huddle up a fireplace if the room where it is at is full of smoke and ashes from the fire. It also serves to shield people in the room from the full blast of heat that could result from a crackling fire. Fire place screens make a home clean and it also contains the sparks from the fire, keeping family members and even pets safe.
Today, the use of fire place screens has shifted from mostly necessary and slightly decorative to mostly decorative and slightly necessary. This is because the popular use of heating systems has yielded to the disuse of fireplaces and thus of the loss of the need to protect the room and its occupants from smokes, ashes and sparks. For decorative purposes, fireplace screens are significant in enhancing the look of fireplace. With the numerous designs that have come about for fireplace screens, it is also essential in beautifying its complement as well as bringing a good touch to a room. Currently, fireplace screens are fashioned in a variety of styles, furnishes, sizes and shapes that seek to accentuate your fireplace and your room.
Basic types of fireplace screens
Folding screen
A lot of people go for these types of fireplace screens because they are adjustable. It is perfect for entertaining guests because one can easily adjust the screen accordingly. These kinds of screens come in 3, 4 or 5 panel units. For fireplaces that are not too large, the 3-panel unit is preferred, as it still offers a view of the crackling fire, making it more stylish.
Single screen
In comparison to folding screens, single screens offer a better shield against fire sparks. Unlike the folding screen, however, single screens have to be completely removed before a person can make adjustments to the fire.
