Are you finally ready to finish or upgrade your backyard or patio? Do you want to make it a focal point or a gathering place for friends and family, but not sure where to start? Start with deciding which fire feature might fit your situation by asking yourself these questions:

• How do we typically like to spend our outdoor time?
• Do we have a pool or other outdoor amenities that a fire feature would enhance?
• Do we want to stay under a covered patio, or do we prefer to be out under the sky?
• How much space do we have to dedicate to a fire feature?
• How mobile do we want it to be?
• Will this outdoor space be for small or large gatherings?
• What kind of concerns do we have about children and fire safety?

If you’ve been thinking about making a great backyard hangout, you need to consider built-in grills, a common choice for homeowners who want maximum utility in their outdoor kitchen. If you aren’t sure if an outdoor kitchen is right for you, check out these five benefits.

An outdoor fireplace can be a boon to your patio, providing both warmth and light, not to mention a natural area of congregation. Below are some tips for incorporating a new fireplace so it matches your patio’s style.

Fireplaces are transformative, capable of adding both warmth and character to any space they reside in. Because of this, you may find yourself getting stuck on the age-old question: where exactly should you put it? The answer lies in your goals and lifestyle. Consider these suggestions based on the type of environment you want to create in your home.

If you want to transform a room’s ambiance and aesthetic, a fireplace is a great feature to install. You must be sure to carefully incorporate your fireplace into your home’s décor, however. Pay attention to these fireplace details, and you’ll really change the look and feel of the room while ensuring that your fireplace fits your aesthetic.

With a renewed desire for a simpler way of life, homeowners are once again turning their focus to transforming the kitchen into the heart of the home. A comfortable and cozy kitchen is a great place for family conversations around the dinner table, entertaining friends, and hosting parties.

If you add a linear fireplace to your kitchen, you can transform an ordinary kitchen into one that’s extraordinary through aesthetic beauty, ambient light, cozy warmth, and inviting appeal.

Aesthetic Beauty

Fireplaces make good focal points in most rooms where they are located, and mantels are fun furnishings to decorate because of their position over the fireplace. However, because mantels are located over the fireplace, it’s important to be safe while decorating them.

Anything placed on the mantel must be relatively resistant to heat and flames. Items placed on the mantel must also be secure, so they cannot fall into the path of the fire.

If you’re a homeowner with a fireplace, here’s what you need to know about decorating your mantel. These tips will help you stay safe and avoid accidents that could lead to a potential fire, or which could lead to the decoration being ruined.

Designers favor the two-sided fireplace. The purpose of the two-sided fireplace is to delineate space in an open floor plan, so it serves as a transition between two “rooms.” Sometimes, these fireplaces are visible from two sides of a wall. However, you also see installations in which the back wall of the fireplace offers another design element.

Below are ideas for the room-transitioning fireplace.

Fireplace With Shelf

A linear fireplace is somewhat like an outdoor fire pit that can be used indoors.. Therefore, you have numerous design options with a linear fireplace. You can connect two rooms or play with proportions.

While you could certainly incorporate a linear fireplace into a traditional fireplace style, linear styles tend to look modern. Below are some ideas and considerations for adding a contemporary linear fireplace to your house.

1. Background Fireplace

Your new fireplace will undoubtedly reinvigorate whatever space it inhabits. But that space must also be fit for a fireplace, filled with safe, noncombustible materials. What doesn’t fit anywhere near any kind of fire are flammable materials. Before you install the fire, be sure you follow these materials dos and don’ts.

DON’T Place Chemicals Nearby

Anything left near the fireplace is in danger of overheating or having flying embers on it. This is particularly dangerous when you leave or use gases, chemicals, compressed liquids, paint, or aerosols around the fireplace.