A guide to buying a fireplace surround

A fireplace surround is a structure that is placed near the face of your fireplace and serves both a functional and decorative purpose. When buying a fireplace surround, you need to consider several factors - many of which relates to the design scheme of your home - in order for you to get one that would suit your taste and preferences. Read this article which guides you to buying a fireplace surround.

Things that you would need

1) Tape measure
2) Interior design magazines or websites

Steps to choosing a fireplace surround

1) Know how much you are willing to spend for a fireplace surround. Use this as a guide when going over your choices. 2) Measure the size of the area for the fireplace surround. You can use these figures as a reference for estimating your costs. 3) Find inspiration for your fireplace surround from home interior websites and magazines. Check out the materials of the models that you find appealing. 4) Know if you will be needing a contractor or professional to install the fireplace or if you can do it by yourself. Assess your building skills and know-how. Keep in mind that tile installing skills can come in handy for this type of project. 5) Look into how easy or convenient it is to maintain or clean the models that you are eyeing. Not all fireplace surround products are the same and some are more user-friendly than others. 6) Consider the design of your home, most especially the room where the fireplace surround will be installed. Get a surround that will match the style of the space where it will be incorporated in. If you own a modern home, choose a sleek or concrete fireplace surround. Wood, brick, granite, or marble fireplace surrounds, on the other hand, are great for traditional homes. Stone fireplace surrounds meanwhile go well with country style homes. 7) Take into account the room's colour scheme. Select a surround whose colour matches that of the room’s. If you choose one made of wood, consider the colour of the stains on the wooden parts of the room. Granite or tile surrounds come in a variety of colours, which can make it easy for you to select one that would blend well with your room.