The Best Electric Fireplaces to Warm up Your Home

Dec 9

2 min read

Winter is on it's way, and many homeowners are kicking themselves for not calling the chimney sweep sooner or not selecting the gas fireplace upgrade at the design center when they built their home. Luckily, there's an easy and affordable alternative to wood burning and gas fireplaces -- electric!

When shopping for an electric fireplace, you'll first want to evaluate the needs of your space. Do you have a dedicated wall that for the fireplace? A plug in and go option will work best for you. Are you searching for an insert for an existing fireplace? Be sure to only purchase the insert and not the full fireplace equipped with a mantle! Do you have the desire to move your electric fireplace from room to room? A smaller option might be best for you, but keep in mind, the smaller fireplaces with give off less heat!

Can an electric fireplace really look like a permanent fixture in my home?

Yes! But, it will take a little extra work than the plug in and go option mentioned above. One of the homes I grew up in was largely inspired by Virginia architecture from the colonial era. Think intricate crown and chair moulding that might be found at Mount Vernon or Monticello. In that home, the colonial elements didn't stop with the product the home builder delivered. My dad, a fan of Jeffersonian architecture, spent hours outside of his full-time job adding complex moulding designs throughout our home.

While the home had a double wood burning fireplace (one on the basement level and another on the main floor), we added a white, electric fireplace in the formal dining room to enhance the space. Sure, we could've slid it right into place and turned it on, but fixed it to the wall, making it seem as if it were a structural option there all along. Caulking around the fireplace to reduce the appearance of any gaps in between the wall and adding pieces to the mantle intensified the colonial feel and added significant warmth to the room.