Choosing an electric fireplace for a house or apartment

Content:

Types of electric fireplaces
Varieties
Advantages and disadvantages of electric fireplaces
How to choose
Choice for the style of the interior

A fireplace is a real luxury in the home. Its presence adds chic and wealth. And the main thing is to create a cozy home atmosphere. But, not everyone has the opportunity to equip their home with such an attribute of the interior. Firstly, even where there is the possibility of arranging a natural fireplace, it is rather painstaking and expensive pleasure. Secondly, in an ordinary apartment, the possibility of its installation is limited.

However, do not deprive yourself of pleasure. Now there is a great alternative - electric fireplaces. In addition to aesthetic pleasure, it usually serves to heat the room. In order to understand how to choose an electric fireplace, it is worth considering in more detail their types and characteristics.

Types of electric fireplaces

Electric fireplaces have been in demand for a long time and successfully, therefore there is a wide choice depending on the manufacturer, operating mechanism, design, and the like, and choosing the one is not so easy. If you have a problem to buy a modern artificial fireplace, then you should know how they differ from each other.

By the principle of work

In addition to decorating the room, the electric fireplace also serves as a heater. According to the principle of this function, they are divided:

Spiral - heat comes from a heated coil. However, the level of its heating can be critically high and this causes dry air and a decrease in the level of moisture in the room.
Infrared - heating in this way has a mild effect. This type does not affect the state of the microclimate, does not burn oxygen. Therefore, it is considered predominant.

By installation method

Electric oven. Freestanding fireplace. By style, different executions are possible. However, the main advantage is its portability. Easily moves indoors with no extra effort. Usually it has a stove body and looks quite impressive in a home interior.
Hearth. This is a frameless type of electric fireplace. Such a device can be easily and conveniently built into any place. Usually such a place for him is a portal, niche, wall. A very good type for any design decision. It can be framed to suit every style.
Wall mounted electric fireplace. This is a very simple and concise solution for a home fireplace. It is compact, wall-mounted, like a plasma TV. If you prefer this type of fireplace, then you can easily install it yourself.
Built-in fireplace. This electric fireplace is difficult to distinguish from a living one. It produces such an effect through a visual deepening into a niche or portal. That is, this electrical device needs a mandatory frame. Quite a good option, because it can be used in any style. An interesting design solution is to mount it in furniture or a wall.

Varieties

All types of fireplaces, except for an electric stove, require a good frame (portal, niche). In stores, you can choose a case specifically for the type of electric fireplace.In this regard, there are many options to suit all tastes.

You can also make the portal yourself. It is not very difficult and the costs are low. However, if you have your own view of arranging a fireplace, then with the help of improvised means (drywall, decor) and imagination, you will make the original fireplace of your dreams.

By the effect of a living flame

Electric fireplaces for a house or apartment should be chosen considering how realistically they reproduce a living flame. Manufacturers in this sense are progressing. In particular, it is possible to buy a fireplace equipped with different mechanisms:

The "flame" effect is reproduced by vibrating red stripes and foil.
Flame - reproduced by the image on the screen and the sound of crackling firewood.
Built-in aroma that adds naturalness due to the smell of burnt wood.
Steam electric fireplace. Such a mechanism most realistically reproduces the glare of the flame. This is due to halogens - yellow and red backlights in combination with steam. In addition, it does not dry at all, but rather humidifies the air.

Advantages and disadvantages of electric fireplaces

Like a real fireplace, an electric fireplace has its pros and cons.

pros

A great way to improve the design, make the room stylish. In addition, they are quite safe and do not require additional maintenance like a natural fireplace. For example, the owners are deprived of the burden of cleaning it from soot after each ignition.
Easy installation. In most cases, it just needs to be plugged into an outlet. Does not require excessive preparation of the place for the fireplace: base, stove, hood.
Safe. They do not heat nearby interior items and do not heat up by themselves.
Price. Buying a decorative fireplace is much cheaper than installing a natural version.
New models of electric fireplaces are able to convey the effect of fire in a very natural way, which is difficult to distinguish from the real one.
This type is unpretentious in care, in contrast to the wood-burning option.
Does not require additional funds. It works from the mains, while a real fireplace needs constant logging.
Not only decorates the interior, but also serves as a heating agent.

disadvantages

Although the reproduction of the flame is as close as possible to the real one, it is not a natural fire.
The fireplace itself consumes little electricity, but when the heating function is connected, the consumption increases significantly.

How to choose

When choosing an electric fireplace, it matters for what purpose you purchase it. If only for interior decoration, then you will only be interested in its design and reproduction quality. But if you are also interested in its practical aspects, then you should carefully approach the choice. In any case, in order for this attribute in the house to bring aesthetic pleasure and be practical, pay attention to the following points.

Power. Not all artificial fireplaces have a heating function. Therefore, if you need it, find out whether it is provided for in the electric fireplace you have chosen and what power is (what area is able to heat).
Parameters. Choose an electric fireplace according to the size of the room. Don't choose a giant fireplace for a small room. So you only emphasize its modest space.
Style. The main thing is that it harmoniously blends into the existing interior: it emphasizes and complements.
Find out if it is possible to separate the functions of simulating fire and heating. And also, the ability to adjust the heating power.
Backlight. There are models that provide for the possibility of its regulation: brighter, dimmer.
Sound. It can be built into the fireplace or not. Ask about the availability of this function in the selected model or the possibility of integrating it additionally.
The best option with a humidifier. Such a fireplace very realistically reproduces the flame, and at the same time is a humidifier.
Framing.There are various materials for this, both natural and artificial. True, marble and wood will be more expensive, while plastic will be cheaper. Choose an affordable option, but make sure it is safe.

Choice for the style of the interior

Style is the main issue when choosing a fireplace. After all, with its help, you want to make your home elegant, with a beautiful design. To do this, use the general guidelines.

If the design of the room is classic, choose the same frame for the electric fireplace. Better to make it rectangular. As a material for framing, modeling, marble is best suited.
The gold effect is good for the Baroque.
For a living room or office, successfully equip the English style. In this case, the fireplace portal can be decorated with wood panels.
Stone (natural or artificial) can be successfully used to equip a country-style fireplace.
If this is a loft style, then brick is simply irreplaceable.
The ceramic frame will successfully highlight the epic.

An electric fireplace is certainly not a real fireplace and the costs of installing it are incomparably less. But you should still carefully approach the choice so that his presence in the house seems integral and creates a positive atmosphere.

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