Picking A Fireplace Surround – What To Consider

When making alterations to your fireplace or installing a new fireplace then you shouldn’t neglect to factor in the kind of surround you will have. It is an important decision because it needs to match your current décor and interior design. If you choose a surround at random it could have an unsightly impact on the look of your room.

A full fireplace surround has long been a staple of the living room, and although smaller fireplaces are being fitted everywhere in homes now there is still a strong demand for that elegant surround craftsmanship to create a focal point, making a house feel more like a home.

Here are just a few insights into the materials popular at the moment in fireplace surround design.

Stone

Building a fireplace from stone can seem like a heavy and unnecessary addition but it is one of the safest materials to use. It can not only support the wall into which it is fitted but it protects the surrounding area from fire, being a non-flammable material itself.

You can find plenty of different stone materials to create a fireplace from including a range of natural looking choices. Marble has a classic, elegant look with either a smooth and pure finish, or a sliced finished to show cracks of individual colour. Limestone surrounds offer a calming effect on a room and with their white or off-white finish they fit in with almost any colour scheme achieving neutral tones around the darker interior of your fireplace. Sandstone is a naturally sourced material – usually locally – and has a unique texture giving your fireplace strength and character.

Wood

The traditional fireplace surround material is wood and aside from the fact it gives you a homely and rustic feel it has many other qualities.

As with stone there are many different materials available to use as wooden surrounds, each with their own qualities. MDF is a simple and cheap option, easily carved into any design be it elegant and extravagant or minimalist and without detailing. Real timber offers a more natural look to your home and can be the jumping off point when redesigning your home, the traditional look can even fit in with modern design when done properly.

Certainly the distinction you get just from having a fireplace surround is unmatched by anything else. Whether you’re looking for a focal point or just want your fireplace area to tie in with the rest of your room and home these are great, decorative additions. Often your surround will help retain the heat in your room, pushing heat which tries to escape out of the wall behind and around the fire back into the room – this is especially true for stone surrounds.

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You don’t have to settle for ordinary either, some people, rather than choosing a surround to blend in with the neutrality of a room, would prefer to have something more architecturally unique. This can relate to the shape and the cut of your surround where detailing and design can go a long way.

For a range of quality fireplace surrounds in both wood and stone then pop into our showroom today. We have a great choice of beautifully crafted surrounds to perfectly compliment any home.