Buying an electric fireplace is all about making choices. You'll find yourself examining various different designs and looking closely at the specifications. What are the important options that you need to know about?

There are probably four main factors to consider when buying an electric fireplace. These can be summarised as follows:

1. Size: How big is the fire and how much heat will it generate?

2. Style: Is it a modern, contemporary design or something a little more traditional?

3. Fitting: How will the fire be fitted within your home?

4. Price: What sort of price range are you looking at and where will you get the best deal?

Let's take a closer look at each in turn and discuss the various options. We'll start by turning our attention to the size of a product.

Not all fireplaces are the same size. In fact, sizes and heat outputs can vary considerably. When you're looking at the specifications of individual products you need to think about whether the fire will look right in your room and whether it will generate enough heat.

Appliances that allow you to vary the heat output are particularly useful, giving you more control over the fitting.

What about the style of fire that you will choose? This may well be dictated by your own vision for the room and for your home. If you're looking for a sleek, modern design then there are plenty of options available to you.

If you'd prefer a more traditional appearance then don't worry - you'll find that there are plenty of models available. Have a clear idea of how you want the room to look and then select a fireplace style to match.

Fitting will depend upon the situation within the room and how much you're prepared to pay. An inset fire is likely to cost more to install, for example, than a freestanding alternative. You need to weigh up the pros and cons.

Are you prepared to pay a little more on installation in order to get the electric fireplace that meets your requirements?

Which brings us neatly on to the last factor - price. There are numerous fireplaces available and prices can vary considerably. If you're intending on buying a fireplace manufactured by one of the leading brand names then don't forget to search online.

You'll find that you can quickly carry out a price comparison and you're likely to find that online retailers will offer low prices.