Fireplaces can be a very desirable feature for just about any home. Especially if they are well-maintained and ready for use, it may be the make-or-break reason that a potential buyer wants one home over another. It’s easy to understand why – nothing really beats coming in from the cold on a dark winter day and warming up next to the open flames.

The problem though is that not every house has a fireplace, let alone a chimney. What’s more, a huge percentage of the world doesn’t live in a house, per se. They might live in condos, apartments, or other living situations where a fireplace is simply not going to make sense. If you are in a house and it doesn’t have a fireplace already, it’s going to be quite expensive to put one in. So, if you want this luxury added to your home what are you left to do?

Well, you do have a couple of options, but we’re going to discuss electric fireplaces and when they are the right choice for you and your home.

When an Electric Fireplace Is Right For You

People are quick to bat an eye at the concept of an electric fireplace, but the reality is that these days it’s unwarranted. These devices can be installed just about anywhere, no fireplace or chimney required. Many of them work by plugging into an everyday outlet, so installation is a breeze to boot. There are also no real flames in the unit, so you won’t run into any issues with condo associates or apartment rules set by your landlord.

As Home Reporter News discusses, electric fireplaces come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and designs. If you have a small apartment you can get them in free-standing designs that are nice and small and will still put off a good amount of heat. If you have a larger and more luxurious condo you can recess units up to 72″ and larger into your wall for a truly elegant look and feel.

Many people wonder if electric fireplaces are worth the money. They fear that they won’t look real, or worse they’ll even look drab. Our best advice is to go see one for yourself in person before you write them off. They can actually be quite impressive, and the amount of control they offer really makes them a great option for a lot of people.

For example, you have complete control over the flame height. In some cases, you even have control of the flame color. Simultaneously, you have control of the heat level, which can be run at full blast, off, or anywhere in between. All of this can usually be controlled from a convenient remote, so all you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

So, if you’re in a situation where you don’t have a chimney and installing one is not a possibility, an electric fireplace is certainly worth considering. They can actually be quite affordable too, so if your budget is tight that’s another reason to consider one. If you haven’t taken a look we encourage you to. They may just suit your needs.