Beyond keeping your home warm and cosy, fireplaces can also be used to create a stunning visual centrepiece.

Fireplaces are readily customisable, and available in a wide range of different design and colour options. When you work with a specialist supplier, you can create a fireplace unit that ticks all your boxes, in terms of both functionality and aesthetics. 

Below, our fireplace experts have shared their guide to matching a fireplace surround with different types of fires and stoves. With their guidance, you can achieve a fireplace unit that achieves the perfect combination for your home. 

Choosing the right material for your fireplace surround

Fireplace surrounds are available in a wide range of materials, with options to suit every aesthetic and interior design style. 

Choosing the right material for your fireplace surround will require you to consider both design and optimum compatibility with the type of fireplace that you have chosen. 

The most common fireplace surround materials are: 

Marble surrounds 

An elegant, luxurious surround material, ideally suited to modern properties and high-end aesthetics. 

Marble surrounds are a great match for: 

• Electric fires
• Inset gas fires
• Statement media wall suites

Stone surrounds 

Natural stone (e.g. limestone) is a popular choice of material for fireplace surrounds, as it gives the fireplace texture and visual interest. It also provides a great timeless aesthetic, particularly in rural properties. 

They are a great match for: 

• Traditional log-effect gas stoves
• Multi-fuel stoves
• Electric fires (particularly if they have heritage features)

Wooden surrounds 

Wooden fireplace surrounds are a fantastic way to create a warm and characterful feature piece. The material is available in a range of colours (either varnished or painted), and can complement almost any property type. 

They are a great match for: 

• Electric inset fires
• Gas inset fires
• Compact stoves

Exploring your fire and stove options

Once you’ve chosen a surround material that matches your interior design style, the next step is to decide what kind of fire or stove would work best in your home. 

You will need to assess the following fire and stove varieties: 

Electric fires

• Efficient, high performance and low maintenance units, available in a wide range of styles. Best matched with marble or wooden surrounds. E.g. the Luminosa 150 suite.

Gas fires

• Gas fires are high performance solutions, which provide real flame effects and convenient, instant heat. Best matched with stone surrounds. E.g. the Infinity 780FL suite.

Stoves

• These can be gas, electric or multi-fuel stoves, and are a great match for all interiors. Best matched with stone or wooden surrounds. E.g. the Huntingdon 30 Electric Stove suite.

Media walls

• One of the biggest trends in fireplace design, media walls are a modern fireplace layout, which combines built-in electric fireplaces with innovative, custom shelving and storage units. When you work with a fireplace specialist like The Fireplace Studio, media walls can be completely customised to suit your specific home and use requirements. Best matched with stone or marble surrounds.

At The Fireplace Studio, we offer a huge selection of designer fireplace suites, delivered by a skilled and friendly team of experts. 

Our team will work with you to understand your requirements, and recommend compatible surrounds and fires that perfectly complement your space and taste. 

You can explore our full range of designer fireplace suites here, or get in touch and arrange a consultation with The Fireplace Studio team.