6 Ways to Use Your Old Wood Fireplace
Lots of older homes have aged wood-burning fireplaces that aren’t quite suitable to hold a cracking blaze anymore. These little brick caverns sit unused in most cases, with the homeowners wasting a great opportunity for some unique changes to the aesthetic of the house.
Here are three great options to reuse that space.
1. Decorate it!
The easiest way to get more use out of this wasted space is to clean it out and decorate it.
Cleaning is pretty straightforward. Put down some newspaper on the surrounding floor and sweep out any ash. Grab a smaller brush for detail work, working the bristles into the corners and spaces between the bricks.
If you’re a stickler, finish with a damp J Cloth.
Now fill the space up! A stack of birch or cedar wood looks great against dark brick, and bright vases topped up with colourful bouquets of flowers look great against any background. We’ve even seen a custom-fitted aquarium sitting beautifully inside an old fireplace. The sky is the limit!
3. Repurpose it!
Part of the beauty of your fireplace is the interplay of light on brick, and there are lots of ways to keep that ambiance alive. Pick up 5 or 6 beeswax candles of varying sizes. These can last through hundreds of hours of burning and look better as they burn down. Add an antique or rustic-looking lantern. Some use liquid fuel, others use electricity or even candles. The design of the lantern will add some texture to the fireplace.
By returning elements of light to the fireplace you get the great ambiance with none of the cleanup and hassle of a fire.
3. Install a new fireplace insert!
Maybe you’ve just let it fall into disrepair and you still want to enjoy the warmth and ambiance of a real fire at home. We have a solution for that. A gas fireplace insert! You can find a huge variety of designs, and certainly more than one option to suit your tastes and match the existing style in your home.
Wood-Burning Fireplace Inserts: Classic Meets Efficiency
Wood-burning fireplace inserts are engineered to transform outdated features into efficient, high-output heating systems. By enclosing the fire in a sealed combustion chamber and directing exhaust through a properly lined chimney, inserts drastically increase heat retention, allowing more warmth to circulate throughout your space. Many models are EPA-certified, meaning they burn cleaner and produce significantly fewer emissions than traditional open fireplaces. This makes them not only more environmentally responsible but also safer, as they reduce the buildup of creosote and the risk of chimney fires. For homes in colder regions or areas prone to power outages, indoor wood-burning fireplaces with high-efficiency inserts offer a dependable secondary heat source, perfect for zone heating and emergency preparedness.
Gas Inserts: Consistent, Clean, Convenient
Gas fireplace inserts bring both functionality and ease into the heart of your home. Fueled by natural gas or propane, these units offer steady, controllable heat output that requires minimal effort to operate. Advanced features such as remote controls, thermostats, and timer settings allow homeowners to manage their indoor climate with precision. Many units also come with built-in fans to help distribute heat more evenly across the room. Gas inserts are sealed systems, which means they vent directly outside, ensuring excellent indoor air quality and safe operation. They produce real flames without the ash, soot, or ongoing wood supply required by traditional models, making them ideal for anyone seeking low-maintenance warmth with visual appeal. Their reliability during power outages also makes them a smart, year-round investment.
Electric Inserts: Simple Installation, Year-Round Ambiance
Despite having no real flame, electric inserts utilize advanced LED technology and 3D flame effects to create a convincing fire-like ambiance. Most units offer adjustable brightness settings, color options, and the ability to operate the visual flame independently of the heat function, allowing for year-round use regardless of the weather. With the ability to heat rooms up to 800 sq. ft., electric inserts are ideal for supplemental heating in living rooms, bedrooms, and home offices. Their modern aesthetics and user-friendly features make them an appealing choice for those looking to enhance both comfort and style.
Installation can be done quickly in a single visit from a certified technician and you can start enjoying your fireplace as soon as this shockingly hot summer cools down.
Remember, a real fire cuts down on your heating costs in the winter by radiating heat into the room you most regularly use. With the fire going you might doze off with a good book a few more times this year. That’s comfort!
Learn more by contacting us online today or calling (905) 356-2922.
