The fireplace has served many purposes throughout its existence - drawing families around it for warmth and conversation and adding ambiance to modern rooms. Today's fireplaces often continue to serve as the centerpiece of a home; and, as such, they are outfitted with accessories and ornamented to fit into a cohesive home design. Fireplace screens - products of function for historical and modern fireplaces - have also become products of form; embellishing the fireplace and adding another dimension of design to the room.

Fireplace screens first came about in the 18th century as a solution to the ash created by the fireplace. Screens would shield the hearth - and anybody sitting close enough to the fire to be affected - from ash and smoke produced in the fire. They also acted as a barrier between people and the more intense heat and smoke originating from the fire.

Today's screens act in a similar capacity; creating a barrier between the room and ash, smoke, and heat. Another important role that they fill is that of barrier between the fire and any curious onlookers who are drawn to it. Pets and small children left unshielded from the fire may find themselves very quickly in danger. In this situation, they act as a protective device.

But these functional responsibilities are only part of the role performed. Fireplace screens also perform a highly decorative role for the fireplace and in the room as a whole. Many people use these screens as a way to infuse their personal style into a room; and the way in which they do this is through the use of a variety of materials that are used to construct fireplace screens.

They come in a variety of styles including contemporary, antique, and traditional. To the transparent four-panel screens and one-piece opaque to those that are ornately carved and intricately designed, theses screens are an inseparable combination of form and function.

There are some screens that slide open and some that open much like a doorway; and there are some that are simple and some that are elaborate; regardless of the screen you choose, you will undoubtedly find that it transforms the look of your fireplace and creates the overall look that you want.

Purchasing them can be as simple as visiting your local home improvement store or fireplace supply store. But there are also a multitude of online resources that will help you locate the perfect one for your fireplace and for your home. Such screens can be shipped straight to your door for the ultimate in convenience.

A fireplace can bring great joy to a home - infusing warmth and personality into a room and creating a beautiful centerpiece around which family and friends can gather. When it comes to choosing accessories to go along with your fireplace, choosing fireplace screens that work well within the overall design theme of your room and home will go a long way to adding style and cohesiveness.