8 Freestanding Fireplaces That Can Keep Your Home Cozy During Winter

Indoor fireplaces are pretty much the epitome of the word cozy, or the Danish trend known as "hygge decor." Just about any image of a cozy winter aesthetic has a fire burning in the background, emitting a warm glow that feels comforting even through the screen. If your home didn't come with a fireplace pre-installed, it might feel like you're missing out on a whole host of cold-weather luxury. Luckily, there are plenty of freestanding fireplaces that will make your home feel cozy without requiring construction and a huge bill —  and we've compiled a list of eight highly-rated fireplaces that are the crème de la crème. Some are from Amazon and others can be found at local home improvement stores. 

First, let's compare these options to the old school route of building your own fireplace. That job can cost about $850 to $3,500 and requires having the right space to make it happen. Plus, with a wood fireplace, you'd need to acquire fire wood and perform a lot of upkeep. If you install a gas fireplace, you'll need professional help connecting to a gas line and should expect to pay $400 to $640 per year in gas bills. So, opting for a freestanding fireplace — which is renter-friendly, easy to move between rooms, runs on electricity or its own fuel, and typically costs under $1,000 upfront — saves plenty of time and money, all while still providing a lot of the warmth and aesthetic of a typical fireplace. 

The TURBRO electric fireplace for $129.99 from Amazon is a rustic-looking freestanding fireplace that emits heat while mimicking the look of a fire. You can turn the flames and sound on without the heater, but when you are looking for heat, you can toggle the temperature anywhere from 68 to 95 degrees and expect that heat to cover about 460 square feet. Reviewers on Amazon say that the heat is definitely effective, too. "It's nice and warm when I'm right in front of it, but there is also great heat spread indoors and it warms up a small room nicely," one buyer wrote. 

If you want the traditional look of a fireplace — ideal for making a beautifully festive Christmas mantel — this Real Flame Silverton fireplace ($564 on Amazon) is a great solution. The model lays flat against a wall and has remote-controlled heat that can reach up to 1,000 square feet. The downside is that it requires assembly, which some Amazon buyers found to be slightly difficult but still doable. The upside is the "real flame" effect that's the company's namesake creates a pretty realistic fire, and the heat is effective, buyers report. 

Solo Stove is a fireplace brand that's rising in popularity, and offers fireplaces in various sizes (as small as the Mesa, a tabletop fireplace that's $39.99.) The Solo Stove Lloyd Modern Gel Fuel Fireplace for $639.99 is a great piece for living rooms, and burns actual gel fuel so it creates an authentic fire. However, because the fireplace uses fuel, you'll have the ongoing cost of buying fuel refills that only burn for about three hours at a time. 

Another option with a full mantel, the allen + roth quartz fireplace for $499 at Lowe's is a best-seller spreads heat across 1,000 square feet. The fireplace is remote-controlled and has various flame settings, plus it comes with a realistic sandstone finish for a more authentic look. Lowe's customers reported having some trouble assembling the fireplace, but said that once the assembly phase is over, the fireplace is well worth the energy. "This fireplace exceeds my expectations! Looks fantastic and heats my living room quickly," one reviewer wrote. 

Though it's at a higher price tag than others on the list, the Malibu Fireplace TV Stand from Realcozy for $1,795 doubles as a chic, mid-century modern TV console with its own built-in cabinets. It's available in eight different colors, including coral, black, and white, and the fire has six different flame colors. The fireplace claims to heat up to 500 square feet, and stands on its own anywhere in your house. The product currently has a 4.8 star rating from over 180 reviews.

The Fire pit Bundle from Housewise (which costs $99.99 and comes with a starter kit) is a 12-pound concrete fireplace that can go on tables both indoor and outdoors. It runs on ethanol fuel and comes with a metal lid that covers the flames and immediately extinguishes them when you're ready to put the fireplace away. Because the fireplace creates real fire, it emits heat and has real flames, which buyers loved. "One of the best purchases I've made in a while! The flame is substantial and we have used it both inside and outside!" one buyer wrote.  

The Ameriwood electric fireplace with shelves for $429.99 on Amazon is an all-in-one fireplace that offers enough storage and decor potential to completely revitalize a room. Like some other larger fireplaces on this list, this model seems a little hard to build, since there are so many various parts, but users said the flames are "realistic" and the heat output is great, plus the aesthetic of the model lived up to their hopes, making it altogether worth the time and financial investments. 

The Rintuff small electric fireplace ($127.99 on Amazon) is another rustic option that will make your home feel like a log cabin with an old-fashioned heater. The thermostat goes from 50 to 99 degrees and claims to heat up 800 square feet. The fireplace also has a timer that goes up to 8 hours so you don't need to worry about turning it off if you fall asleep. "It's been perfect for keeping us warm this winter while adding a nice touch of charm to the space," one reviewer wrote on Amazon.