Have you ever been into a home in the winter and felt a sense of overwhelming comfort and joy? You probably have, and there's a good reason for that.
If you haven't guessed yet, the actual item that made you feel so great was some type of fireplace, and the reason it had that effect was its power to evoke memories.
Don't you want this to be the same with your home or apartment? Fortunately, fireplaces have only become more affordable as their technology has improved.
Now you can have them powered by natural gas or propane, or you can be green and get an electric model that doesn't even burn wood.
You can get vented or direct vent models for a lot of heat output (enough to warm up an entire home), though you'll need to be careful to not place anything too close that could get damaged.
Don't forget about another popular new type, the inserts that can be installed very quickly and are much less expensive than trying to buy an entire new mantel.
You also won't have to worry about needing to find the space for something else in your home (such as trying to cram one into a corner).
The only downside to these is the fact that some people are not quite accustomed to the black cast iron look of them.
The choice is entirely up to you, though, so don't let that stop you.
You've probably heard about the portable types, as well.
If you haven't, you're probably somewhat confused at the concept.
This doesn't mean that they're small and compact and you take them on the road with you, it just means that they're electric types that are small and can be set up to look like a traditional wood burning type in any room.
They're great for bedrooms where you want the extra heat and might enjoy the simulated sounds they can produce.
Napoleon makes this type.