With all the different fireplace surrounds available today it can seem a little challenging trying to decide which one is right for your fireplace. This can be particularly true if the whole concept of a surround is new to you. A fireplace surround is basically a decorative structure that is place on the wall surrounding your fireplace whose sole purpose is to add beauty to the room that you fireplace is located in. You may find that not only are fireplace surrounds used to add beauty to your fireplace, but in certain instances they can be very functional as well. When you decide it is time to add a surround to your existing fireplace there are several things that you need to take into consideration before you set out to buy your new surround not the least of which is whether or not you plan to actually use your fireplace as a source of heat for your home. If you plan to use your fireplace to heat your home you need to take into account the amount and type of ventilation that your fireplace requires. You need to consider how much clearance your fireplace needs when there is a fire burning and how much heat the fire is capable of producing. When looking at fireplace surrounds, you need to buy one that is made from a material that is more than capable of withstanding any heat your fireplace is capable of producing. Among the most popular materials used to create fireplace surrounds when the fireplace is used as a source of heat are brick, stone and marble. All of these materials are quite heat resistant making them perfect for use around open fires. Not only are these materials able to withstand the heat, but they can still be very aesthetically appealing. Brick and stone can be very rustic looking and marble can be very elegant allowing you to create the ambiance you want in your room.

If, on the other hand you are not planning to use your fireplace for anything more than decoration then you can go with anything you like the look of. You no longer have to worry about what material you use and can go so far as to pick a surround that has decorative painted artwork or engravings. You can have a custom wooden surround built that has shelving you can use to display your trinkets or store your video equipment that is connect to the flat screen television set you have mounted on the wall over the fireplace. If you are looking for the absolute perfect fireplace surround for your fireplace, whether you plan to use your fireplace to heat your home or merely as a decorative piece, Design the Space has what you are looking for. You can choose from stone or stacked stone if you are looking for old world charm or you can go for the elegance of marble. All surrounds can be shipped directly to your home and can be easily installed by no more than 2 people in just a few hours.