With a contemporary fireplace and wood burning inserts, getting warm has never been so easy.
The only difficult you'll face is figuring out which of the many different options is the best for your home.
Obviously you can just go to a store that is a dealer for name brand models like Napoleon, or you can ask them to select for you.
This isn't recommended, because a very large part of choosing a fireplace is going with your gut.
It's hard to imagine that the dealer won't just have his or her commission in mind, and sell you something that's not going to be right for you.
There is an exception, though.
If you can get the person that wants to sell to you to come out and take a look at your home, that is a different story.
By looking at the home, they might be able to notice some things that you yourself do not.
For example, they might make you think about putting one in the corner of a room, rather than parallel to a wall.
They might find one of the smallest rooms in the home and recommend that you get a portable type.
Of course, they might simply reaffirm exactly what you're thinking and what you wanted in the first place.
Either way, you can't lose.
In most cases, though, you won't be able to have a salesman come out to your home.
It's in these cases, then, that you'll have to exercise your best judgment.
You'll have to make the call about whether a wood, marble, or brick mantel will be the most appropriate.
You'll have to understand that direct vent and ventless styles put out a lot more heat than the more environmentally friendly electric models.
You'll also need to know that at the end of the day, you'll be happy with your purchase.
This is because a fireplace is a common thing that most people can share and enjoy, as it brings up fond memories.