Due to the fact that South Africa is a country that is warm for most of the year, fireplaces are not used very often. Many homes have them because they contribute towards a homely feeling to the house. They also give a room a feeling of sophistication and high class. Due to the fact that fireplaces are not used often in South African homes, they can be used to place display ornaments in the room. It is a great place to put family pictures and other memorabilia because the fireplace usually faces the whole room.
However, winters in South Africa can be very cold. Many people will buy heaters to help keep rooms warm. However, heaters require a lot of electricity and they contribute to a very high electricity bill. Getting wood for your fireplace is thus, a very good idea. You can get firewood at most service stations and it is not expensive. Best of all, it will warm up the whole room without leading to a high electricity bill. Also, lit-up fireplaces contribute towards giving the home a feeling of comfort and relaxation. Having the whole family in the room relaxing after supper and giving you a chance to catch up on the day’s events is a great bonding experience. Fireplaces give any home a lovely cozy feeling that will create great family memories for all occupants.
For those that are not keen on having a real fire with firewood that will eventually become ash and need to be cleaned up, a fake fire can be installed for the fireplace. It is essentially a heater that is installed by the fireplace and it gives you the illusion of there being a real fire. It is very easy to light up, as all you have to do is switch it on. These fake fireplace heaters are not cheap, but they will be worth the money spent on them. You can find out how to have on installed through the internet. Most home decor stores have them available and you can simply purchase one with them.