How to Source & Style the Most Realistic Electric Fireplace

Earlier this year, I shared our basement media room reveal and it’s safe to say- we’ve definitely been enjoying our basement since it’s big makeover. Basements aren’t typically described as cozy and inviting, but that’s exactly how I’d describe ours. I attribute much of that to clever use of textiles (think walls of drapery, strategically placed rugs, upholstered furniture, etc), along with our electric fireplace. Yes- you read that correctly. We installed an electric fireplace for both aesthetics and functionality. Believe it or not, it’s an excellent additional heat source, and it’s the easiest way to create a striking focal point, filling negative wall space. Since installing it, I’ve received lots of questions. Today, I wanted to share a roundup of my favorite (designer recommended) cozy fireplaces, my tips for how to source & style the most realistic looking electric fireplace, and give you a closer look at what ended up being the perfect fit or solution for our chilly basement media room.

This post is sponsored by Wayfair. All content, ideas, and words are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that allow me to create unique content while featuring products we actually use & enjoy!

The electric fireplace in our basement media room is one of two fireplaces found throughout our home. The other one lives in our formal living room, and is actually a gas fireplace. Having lived with that one for a few years, I was interested to see how the new electric fireplace we installed would compare.

What to Look For

Depending on where your fireplace is going to live (a bedroom, a living room, a basement media room, etc), the location will influence what you might want to look for. Does the area have a draft? Are you looking for a unit that will provide quite a bit of heat? Is it primarily for aesthetic purposes, to fill an empty wall or create a focal point? Here are my best suggestions on what to look for in an electric fireplace…

Check the heating capacity– and make sure it meets your needs.
Confirm the electric insert includes the surround & mantel- or is it just the electric fireplace insert itself? Some of the photos can be deceiving, so carefully read the specs.
Speaking of the specs- double check the size and measurements… some can look quite small, so make sure the scale is appropriate for your room, to achieve a convincing or realistic look.
Consider the functionality… ours works with a remote, rather than a switch. We keep the remote in a box on the mantel, but a switch may be better suited for certain spaces.
Choose a realistic flame– many of these units have multiple flame effects that can be controlled (color, size, crackling sound, etc).
Check the brand… I heard good things about Real Flame (from designer friends), and I also liked Winston Porter- both are available at Wayfair.

My Top Electric Fireplace Picks

Click directly on each fireplace below to be directed to the source!

The lowest I’ve seen my exact electric fireplace (with the included bookcases), is from Wayfair. It’s the top right in the above collage.

Ideas for Customization & Installation

Much like updating a readymade bathroom vanity, you can think outside the box for ways to customize your readymade electric fireplace, making it look the most realistic. While in actuality, it’s just a piece of furniture (you plug-in), you can easily make it feel built-in, custom, and tailored to your personal aesthetic. Here are a few ideas for customization and installation…

Add trim pieces. Use millwork to your advantage. You could add moulding to make it feel more traditional or built-in, install dentil moulding, or apply panels on the side of the fireplace for a custom look (check out this post on how to install panel moulding).
Give it a fresh coat of paint. Never underestimate the power of paint… you could color drench the fireplace to match your wall color- or use a contrasting color to create a striking focal point. You could even faux paint a section to look like natural stone.
Add tile or a stone remnant. Tile or add stone around the perimeter of the firebox or the hearth for a designer look. Definitely give this post a read for tips on how to save money and shop stone remnants in a slab yard.

We actually left our electric fireplace as is, but it would be easy to make some of the above changes to enhance the look. We have a lot going on in the adjacent kitchen / bar area, so I leaned into styling instead (scroll on for my styling tips).

How We’re Liking Our Electric Fireplace

First, I’ll say this- we use our new fireplace far more than I thought we would. Because we spend quite a bit of time in the basement unwinding after long work days, it’s in the perfect spot for decompressing. The flame puts off quite a bit of light and can be adjusted, so we’ll use the fireplace to light the basement, in addition to a few lamps for ambiance.

Second, Emmett & I were both surprised how much heat it puts off. You can also adjust the temperature, which quickly heats our basement kitchen, living space, bathroom, and hall… in 30 minutes or less- which seems quite fast for such a large space.

From a design point of view, I think having the bookcase or built-ins drastically helps the overall aesthetic, making it feel more realistic and expansive. I like that it takes up quite a bit of wall space and is capable of balancing the large work of art and sconces installed above the mantel. Does the flame itself look real? I’m of the opinion a faux flame will never match that of a real fire. It lacks the depth and organic movement, but from afar- this one looks pretty good. I think it’s best when turned on the lowest settings for brightness and flame height. I would certainly purchase this built-in electric fireplace again… we really like it.

Would you prefer a separate blog post with a detailed review? I’m happy to elaborate on this specific item with pros, cons, and close up images of how it functions! Let me know in the comments.

Styling Tips

I think the key to making an electric fireplace seem more realistic is to go all out on styling. While a fireplace (as a whole) is the focal point- you can use styling to your advantage. Draw the eye to the fireplace mantel, hearth, or surround by adding finishing touches… here are some ideas:

Add a rug or runner in front of the hearth.
Use plenty of books for texture, color, and interest.
Try adding sculptural shapes with vessels, planters, bowls, or objects.
Pull in an ottoman or stool.
Incorporate a tray filled with your cozy favorites- a candle, match strike, or snuffer.
Add life with plants, greenery, or florals.
Style functional favorites- like my burl box to stash the fireplace remote.

The end result is a seamless look that feels cohesive, realistic, and convincing. Hopefully clever styling will place less emphasis on the flame itself.

FAQ

How does something like this ship?

It ships in a large box and is flat packed, so it does require assembly. I’m going to post a video of Emmett assembling our fireplace on my Instagram, so you can see how it comes together. While it was time consuming, it was an easy process.

Question about the front of the fireplace itself… is there a glass insert or screen in front of the faux flame?

It does contain a glass insert to make it feel more realistic, but the heat actually comes from a vent toward the top of the firebox- you can feel it blowing (and turn on a light so it glows). Again, I’ll share more via video!

Where do you get all of your books for styling? They’re so pretty and cohesive!

I took full advantage of my teenage nephew’s love for thrifting while he was here visiting. We stopped by no less than 10 secondhand stores and accumulated all of the books for the fireplace shelving. Check out this post- tips for thrifting & styling books… it does help to have a second set of hands because they’re heavy (grainy photo of our haul below)!

Looking for more cozy posts on fireplaces, mantels, millwork, our basement projects, and related styling tutorials? I’ll link some reader favorites for you below!

Be sure to tour our basement media room, basement bar, basement bedroom, and basement bathroom to get the full picture of our lower level.

I hope you liked this post! I’m pleasantly surprised by how much we use and enjoy our electric fireplace… especially now that the weather is beginning to turn. The entire fireplace wall came together so nicely with the book-filled shelves, updated sconces, and traffic path lined with the vintage rug that bridges our basement bathroom to the backside of the bar with the media room. It’s a cozy vignette we’ve come to love and appreciate! Feel free to drop any questions for me in the comment section below. I’m happy to help!