Electric fireplaces: Why are they so popular, and should you get one?

It’s that time of year. A woollen beanie, ga oblet of mulled wine, and a piping mound of vindaloo are all on the table to soothe winter’s bite.

A dancing fireplace looks wickedly inviting, too.

If you love the romance of a crackling wood fire, without the manual toil of lumberjack life, an electric fireplace is a formidable alternative.

It’s also set to grow in popularity in the next few years.

A customer at Decoflame Net Zero Fireplaces wanted a fireplace to add interest to their renovated open-plan living area.

They didn’t want wood or gas, but they did want real flames, says Chris George, Decoflame’s general sales manager for Australia and New Zealand.

They also wanted a fireplace that was safe for their young kids.

“Their ideal was a stylish, low-maintenance fireplace that still had a natural flame – not necessarily an LED or holographic image,” George says.

“The fireplace also needed to heat, and certainly without the mess or hassle of wood or a gas connection.”

Guillaume Roux is the founder and director of modern designer fireplace and wood heater shop Oblica.

He says some customers favour electric fireplaces over wood because they can switch an electric model on instantly. Electric is also seen as an attractive alternative to gas as the world works towards net zero and governments phase out gas in homes.

Roux adds that installation is easier with an electric fireplace as there is no venting or chimney needed.

At Oblica, the appetite for electric fireplaces with realistic flame effects varies from one customer to another.

For those who are really set on the fidelity of the flame illusion, today’s technology enables ultra-realistic 2D flame effects with LED lights and mirrors, and deeper 3D flame effects with holographic technology.

“Most of the manufacturers are working on the footage of the flame, so that the flame is as realistic as possible,” Roux says.

Some electric fireplaces even emulate the crackling sounds of a real log fire.

You can control flames to imitate wood or gas flames, switch the flame patterns, and change the size and intensity of the flames with a remote control or an app.

Some manufacturers take the illusion even further.

“Even details like smoke,” Roux says. “When you switch it off, the fire just slowly reduces and smoke comes on the screen.

“There’s the ability to adjust the height and intensity of the fire, too.

“We’re also seeing different types of fake logs and wood to suit your interiors.

“Some manufacturers are even going as far as thinking about scents – the scent of burned wood.”

But like artificial plants, fake grass, or even holographic fish tanks, some people welcome the illusion more than others.

George says the couple he recalls were set on a real flame. He recommended one of Decoflame’s wall-mounted bioethanol fireplaces, which connects to power, and heats over 70 square metres of living space, with real burning ethanol vapours (BEV) flames.

“[The customers] get to see and feel a natural flame that adds warmth or movement and ambience,” he says.

“The living room for them now serves as essentially a cosy gathering spot for the family evenings and entertaining, but it has that ambient flair.”

Christopher Elliott, principal designer at Christopher Elliott Design, says key points you should consider if you’re thinking about installing an electric fireplace are:

1. Take note of your room’s proportions and think about how much attention you want the fireplace to attract.
2. Choose the best wall or surface to locate the fireplace on, so that it visually anchors your furniture placement and feels intuitive. “A fireplace doesn’t always need to sit central to a space, but it should be considered a main visual feature,” Elliott says. “You can use joinery, artwork and wall treatments as part of the overall design, to balance the placement of a fireplace.”
3. Carefully consider the location of a TV and fireplace on the same wall. “These can be two large black boxes that often aren’t visually appealing when not in use.”

Elliott adds that architectural materials like wall treatments, flooring, joinery, lighting fixtures, furniture, rugs and artwork can all create a sense of warmth in a living space.

Electric fireplace FAQs: Answering your burning questions

Are electric fireplaces safe?

Electric fireplaces are generally considered safe for a few key reasons. They don’t ordinarily feature open heat sources and the outer surfaces are ordinarily cool enough to touch. Always follow the safety guidelines of your fireplace’s manufacturer.

Can I install an electric fireplace myself?

It will depend on how handy you are. A good way to find out is to check out the manufacturers’ installation guides (and safety information) online before you buy. Be aware that different fireplaces have different electrical, plugging, framing and mounting requirements. You won’t need to change the structure of your building to install it, but you may need to feel like you can at least handle an IKEA flat pack.

Can an electric fireplace heat my entire home?

It’s fair to expect many electric fireplaces will heat a smaller room. It’s common for models to heat a room sized around 35-40 square metres, but others can heat bigger rooms. Check out the fireplace’s wattage and British Thermal Units (BTUs) to gauge its heat output. It’s a good idea to think of the fireplace as a supplemental heating source, secondary to your main home heating source.