Fire has an almost sacred quality – it is essential for provide warmth and cooking facilities to mankind, and a dancing, crackling open fire invokes feelings of comfort, home and peace within. Why not invest in a beautiful tea light fireplace screen to bring extra comfort and light to your home? Even if you do not have a solid fuel fire, such a fireplace screen can bring the magic of the flame to your home.

The TV shopping channel QVC sells attractive tea light fireplace screens at equally attractive prices. One on offer is a beautiful rustic screen, hand-made from silver branches and twigs. There are seven glass votives included with the fire screen, and the tea lights are also included in the price. This screen would look lovely at Xmas, as the materials and colour will go well with the Christmas tree and other decorations.

QVC also sells a Yankee candle 12-votive tea light fireplace screen. Made from black wrought iron, this freestanding 3-panelled screen is very pretty. It is embellished with trailing leaves, beads and flowers and features an amazing 12 glass votives.

Also included in the price are two packs of scented tea light candles in clean cotton and rose fragrances, with 12 candles in each pack. So, this fireplace screen provides an amazing and attractive display of light, as well as a gorgeous aroma, thanks to the scented candles. All this on offer for under thirty pounds!

Most tea light fireplace screens are made from wrought iron, as it tolerates heat very well. However, there are many styles and types available for sale, such as the one made from branches above. Obviously, this is for decorative use only and cannot be used when the fire in on, and you need to be aware of this when choosing a tea light screen – if you want a functional design, check that any one you buy is suitable for the purpose. In any event, a decorative tea light fireplace screen brings a magic to the fireside all of its own.

Fire has been used for cooking and providing warmth since the days of the caveman. Man has a special affinity with fire; it evokes feelings of home and comfort, and now you can bring the magic and ambience of the burning fire to your laptop or PC with the fireplace screensaver.

There are many kinds of fireplace wallpaper available, and these can be easily downloaded from the Internet. When your laptop or PC is on standby, you will be treated to the sight- and sometimes sounds – of a roaring fire, and some fireplace screensavers have an amazingly realistic 3D quality.

There are many different designs of fireplace screensaver, such as 3D; classic; brick; rustic; open hearth; relaxing, and even a Christmas fireplace scene. This features a cosy fireplace in a room that is beautifully decorated for Christmas. Many fireplace screensavers feature realistic sound effects, such as the crackling, popping and roaring of a real fire.

Funutilities is an excellent site that contains over 4500 free screensavers and wallpapers, and all contain top quality graphics and animation. There is an excellent selection of fireplace screensavers and, since they are free, why not download several? A condition of the downloading of screensavers from this site is that you download the crawler toolbar, but this helps speed up searches and is adware and spyware free.

As mentioned, there are many online sites offering fireplace screensavers. Some are free, but some offer a try-before-you-buy service, where you can preview the product before deciding whether to buy or not. Similarly, some sites allow you to download a basic version for free, but if you want the full version with all features you must pay.

It is a matter of personal choice whether you decide to buy a fireplace screensaver or download a free one. Both free and bought fireplace screensavers offer various features such as:

1. A choice of burning logs, with or without smoke

2. Various fireplace types, materials and fireguards

3. Different flame colours

4. Adjustable flame height, width and intensity

There really is a fireplace screensaver for everyone – or several, if they are free! Looking at and listening to the roar of a real log or coal fire induces a feeling of calm, tranquility and relaxation, and this is especially welcome in the stressful surroundings of the office or workplace. What are you waiting for? Download your fireplace screensavers today – just make sure that any software is spyware and adware free!

Stained glass fireplace screens are made from coloured glass. This glass is sometimes coloured by the adding of metallic salts during manufacture, or sometimes the colours or enamels are painted directly onto the glass and then sealed in a furnace.

Stained glass became particularly popular in the Victorian era, with stained glass windows displaying motifs such as birds and flowers. Many large homes had spectacular examples of such stained glass windows, whilst smaller homes had scaled- down versions.

Famous designers who worked with stained glass include William Morris, who produced many architectural and interior pieces using glass, including the stained glass fire screen, and Louis Comfort Tiffany, who used opalescent glass to create many unique stained glass pieces in a variety of colours and textures. Tiffany is most well known for his production of stained glass windows and lamps, but he did produce a range of interior decorations, including fireplace screens made from stained glass.

Stained glass fire screens really add a unique beauty to the hearth, drawing attention and admiration from all who see it. Most stained glass fireplace screens are for decorative use only and cannot be used when the fire is on, but they provide an attractive cover for when the fire is not in use and the rich colours of the glass really come alive when the sun shines onto the fire screen. Also, a candle could also be placed behind the screen to create a lovely ambience in the evenings.

Stained glass screens are very popular today due to their beauty, and there are many different designs to choose from. The traditional Tiffany style fire screens are some of the most popular, with their amber glass that looks lovely when the light catches it, and some expensive models feature many pieces of stained glass, with hundreds of jewel segments. Antique stained glass fireplace screens are very expensive, but there are excellent reproductions available for a fraction of the price. More modern designs are also available for the more contemporary setting.

There are some companies that are pleased to design stained glass fireplace screens to an individual’s liking, and the beauty of this is that such a fire screen will be completely unique. Businesses such as The London Stained Glass Company are happy to provide a commissioned service – see their websites for details.

Fireplace screens were introduced in the eighteenth century, and initially were used to prevent any sparks, embers or smoke from the fire escaping from the grate and onto people or furnishings. Early screens were made of tapestry, and these were often woven with the family armour of the middle-class families to whom they belonged.

Types of early fire screen include pole fire screens that stood at either side of the fireplace, sliding panel screens that worked in much the same way as a sash window, and the panelled fire screens like the ones seen today. Fire screens were highly ornate and many contained decorative items such as stuffed birds, butterflies or dried flowers, and these antique screens are very much in demand today. As well as shielding occupants and property from the fire, a fire screen had a purely decorative function in the summer, hiding the empty coal grate.

Today, there are many types of fireplace screen for sale. Single panelled fire screens are ideal for the smaller fireplace, and where space is limited. These sit up flush against the fireplace opening, so are only suitable for flat fires. 3 and 4 panelled folding fireplace screens are also available, and these provide a traditional look for larger fireplaces.

Folding fireguards can be folded down and stored away if not in use, thus taking up little space. Curved fireguards are ideal for fireplaces where the fire is not completely flush and glass fireplace screens are also available, in many styles. Some are made for decorative purposes only, and only those made from toughened safety glass can be used with a lit fire. If you buy a glass screen, double-check with the retailer that it can be used when the fire is lit.

Fire screens come in many decorative designs and are made from many materials such as metal, glass, wire mesh and brass. Today, the glass ‘tiffany style’ screens are very popular, and these come in a range of colours and designs to suit every home. Many of the basic screens are made from strong mesh edged with wrought iron or brass, and these come in several colours such as black, silver and bronze.

Fireplace screens were initially invented for the purpose of protection from heat, smoke or stray embers, yet today they are used mainly for their decorative qualities – most people have gas fires or electric fires, yet still have a fireguard to enhance the look of the fireplace. If you do have a solid fuel fire, then a fire screen is essential, especially if there are children or elderly people in the household.