Beautify Your Home Using Decorative Fireplace Screens
It seems that fireplaces and decorative fireplace screens of one kind or another have been providing a source of heat for cooking and human comfort for thousands of years. There is archeological evidence of clay fireplaces, decorative fireplace screens and ovens (basically an enclosed fireplace) discovered as far back as 3200 BC.
The History of Decorative Screens
Although the Chinese and Japanese used highly decorated folding screens as wind blocks and room dividers for hundreds of years but it wasn’t until the 19th century that decorative screens began to appear in European homes and parlors.
The first antique fireplace screens were created with two purposes in mind. The first and primary design for decorative screens was to act a way to evenly control the spread of heat throughout the room. The second was as a safety measure to prevent flying sparks and ash escaping from the fireplace and burning floors, damaging furniture and injuring people.
In the warmer seasons, painted decorative fireplace screens were used to hide away the wood grate along with any messy soot or smoke stains. It also was an effective wind block to cut down on drafts when the fireplace was not in use. Not to mention a decorative fireplace screen was a pleasant alternative to staring into a gaping dark hole in the evenings.
Almost immediately enterprising housewives and decorators caught onto the idea of using fireplace screens to reflect their own personal styles. Decorative screens were made from wood, metal, tooled leather, wicker and other materials and not to mention the occasional stained glass fireplace screen. They were made for any type for example brick fireplaces.
During the Victorian period this humble device became a large fashion fad. Thousands of women created highly decorative fireplace screens as a way to display their creative needle work and home-making skills. Many homemakers spend hundreds of hours sewing embroidered tapestries to form the core for their screens. Exotic woods such as satinwood and mahogany were used in elaborately carved screen frames.
But when the mesh fireplace screens became popular these elaborate hand made creations fell out of favor. Today most decorative fireplace screens are either made from metal or as glass fireplace screen doors.
Selecting the Right Decorative Fireplace Screens for Your Home
First determine what type of fireplace screen you want. You can find many excellent factory built screens available at local fireplace stores and online. You can buy ones made from cast or wrought iron in intricate detail or ones made from polished brass, brushed steel, stamped tin or with a variety of powder coats.
You are almost certain to find something that matches your décor. Or if you are good with your hands, you can create a custom made or painted decorative fireplace screen that fits in with your fireplace mantel designs on your own.
You just have to make sure that any screen your make or buy fits completely across the face of your fireplace. A loosely fitting fireplace screen will allow both children and pets to have access to your firebox.
Depending the age and adventuresome nature of your animals or kids, you may want to consider using a glass screen that can also double as a close fitting fireplace cover.
Now that you understand more about decorative fireplace screens and how they can improve the looks and efficiency of your fireplace, you can make better decisions on which ones to buy.
