If you are a big fan of the medieval era, then it won't be a surprise if you have a stone fireplace in your home. Stone fireplaces give off the impression of depth in a particular house. While there are people that say stone fireplaces make a room look sinister and dark, when designed well and with the right lighting, stone fireplaces can be a perfect finishing touch to a cozy-looking and feeling space.

Critics of stone fireplaces claim that they only make a house look heavy and cramped, especially if its just a small house. However, developments in the world of interior design have made it possible even for small spaces to accommodate stone fireplaces without having it look stuffy and moldy.

Not all kinds of stone are dark, so you don't really have to have a medieval looking room if you want a stone fireplace. You can have the stones bleached, or you can use synthetic stones that have lighter colors to make it look brighter and easier on the eyes.

Whether you have real stone or synthetic stone materials in your fireplace, neither of them will have the right effect on your room without the correct design for the rest of the room. If you want to have a stone fireplace, the other accessories and furniture in your room should coincide well with the kind and color of the stone you are using.

It wouldn't make sense if you have a stone fireplace and the rest of the living room is furnished with wood accessories. Neither would a stone fireplace work if the room is flanked to the brim with electronic devices, unless, well, you use black marble to give it a modern feel. Just be careful with black or white marble, though. You wouldn't want your room to look like a mausoleum.

In addition, the cost of using real stone is higher. If you want to take the synthetic route, it can also come with a hefty price tag, depending on where you get it done. If you're under a particular budget, you can attempt to do it yourself, but be forewarned that it takes a considerable degree of effort. There are many tips on how to do it on the Internet. Or you can talk to a freelance craftsman to get the job done at less the cost of hiring a professionally listed fireplace installer.