Wooden Fireplace Surround Buying Guide

Wooden fireplace surrounds have long been one of our favourite ways to frame a fireplace. However, recently they are gaining even more popularity, perhaps thanks to their versatility and array of stunning styles.

As there are so many different types of wooden fire surrounds to choose from, we have put together a guide to help you find the perfect option for your home, including:

What type of wood surrounds are available, and;
Some of the best wood fire surround ideas to help you choose the best one

If you want to find out more about fire surrounds, such as which size you need, take a look at our Guide to Fireplace Surrounds and Mantels.

What Type of Wooden Fire Surrounds Are There to Choose From?

Once you know what size fireplace surround you are looking for, you can start the task of seeking out the best style. With wooden fire surrounds, there are a few things for you to consider, such as:

What shade of wood to choose?
How strong a grain do you want?
Do you want a glossy finish or a natural finish?
What type of wood furniture do you already have in your room?
Would you prefer a carved style or something more minimal?
What overall look and feel do you want to achieve?

A new wooden fireplace can make a huge difference to your room. Read on to find which one is best for your home, plus see some of our wooden fireplace surround ideas!

Shop All Wooden Fireplaces

Pine Fire Surrounds

Pine fireplaces are one of the most popular wooden surround options. This is probably down to the beautiful light, almost honey tone of the wood that adds a sense of warmth to the room. If you have other pine wood pieces of furniture, it should be easy enough to find a pine surround to match.

Pine doesn’t have a particularly strong grain, so is a good choice if you want something a little more subtle. Many of our pine fireplace options also come with an ‘unwaxed’ option, so you can stain or paint it to your liking.

Is there a downside to a pine fireplace? The only thing to consider is the fact that they are made from a soft wood. While this doesn’t mean they are worryingly weak, they are a little more prone to damage than hardwood fireplace surrounds.

Shop Pine Fireplaces

Walnut & Oak Fire Surrounds

Oak fireplaces are another incredibly popular choice of wooden surround! What makes solid oak so wonderful is that every wood grain is unique, whether you want something subtle or more noticeable knots to add a little character.

Similar to walnut fireplaces, oak is ideal if you love chunky furniture, as there are many bold options that will really stand out in your room - some with clean blocks, others with detailed carvings.

Is Walnut More Expensive than Oak?

While walnut and oak may look a little similar, you might notice that walnut is often more expensive. This is because it is rarer to find in long lengths. However, walnut is also extremely strong - even stronger than oak, which is a hardwood itself. Walnut also has more of an open grain, so does have a slightly different feel to it.

Both oak and walnut look best when they are kept well oiled, in order to bring out their unique details.

Shop All Oak Fireplaces

Shop All Walnut Fireplaces

Dark Wood Fire Surrounds

Many oak and pine fire surrounds tend to be light - medium in their colour depth. So, what do you do if you want a dark wood fire surround?

There are plenty of dark wood fire surround options available. In our range of acacia fireplaces, the Carron Thakat Chestnut Acacia Fire Surround is a brilliant choice, with a deep chestnut colour. Our Sheesham fireplaces also offer a deeper, luxurious tone with modern designs.

You could also go down the route of staining your wooden fire surround a darker colour yourself. If you buy an unfinished fire surround, you can apply your own coat of stain to get your desired finish. To do this, you simply paint your stain on with a brush and leave for the required time - usually about 10 minutes. Make sure you go in the direction of the grain. Then, remove it with a rag before applying a finishing coat.

Painted & White Wooden Fire Surrounds

If you want a lighter look, painted wood fireplace surrounds could be for you. If you don’t like the idea of your own DIY project, there is a great range of options that can be bought in a choice of stylish shades.

In addition, we also offer a custom paint service on our Carron painted wood fireplaces - simply fill in your desired paint manufacturer and shade on the order page! Whether you want a white fireplace to match a marble hearth or something bold and bright, a painted fireplace is a brilliant way to suit your wooden fireplace perfectly to your home.

See which options are available on our Painted Fireplaces page.

Wooden Fireplace Surround Ideas

Now you know what different options are available, we thought we would give you some wooden fireplace surround ideas to help you make your final decision!

Take a look at some of our most asked-about requests below...

Rustic Fire Surround

For more of a rustic style, choose a wood fire surround with less detail and structure. A more apparent wood grain also adds to the rustic effect. An acacia wood fireplace is a good choice if you want a rustic fire surround.

Pictured: Carron Colorado Sheesham Wooden Fire Surround

Wooden Fireplaces for Victorian Fires

Wooden fire surrounds are a fantastic partner to period and victorian fireplaces. Oak in particular looks beautiful with cast iron fireplace inserts and tiled fireplace inserts. Chose one with carved corbels to keep the vintage character alive.

Pictured: Cast Tec Balmoral Solid Wooden Fire Surround

Modern Wood Fireplace Surrounds

If you have a more contemporary electric fire or gas fire, you will probably want more of a modern wood fireplace surround to match. While pine fireplaces look lovely with modern decor, we think a white fireplace is a stylish alternative, which looks great with chrome.

Related: Our Best Modern Fireplaces

Pictured: Be Modern Ellonby Timber Fire Surround

Distressed Wood Fireplace Surround

The distressed wood look is another very popular fireplace choice - they look particularly striking with an open fireplace or a stove! Find one with a natural looking grain with a natural finish for the best effect.