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How to Style a Bioethanol Fireplace for Christmas and Winter

How to Style a Bioethanol Fireplace for Christmas and Winter

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Imaginfires
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Bioethanol fireplaces become a beautiful focal point during the festive season. Whether you’re drawn to Scandi minimalism, classic fireplace looks, or more modern luxe styling, bioethanol fireplaces can be easily decorated to suit your exact tastes this Christmas. With a little thoughtful styling, your bioethanol fireplace Christmas decor can transform your living space into the most atmospheric backdrop for your festive gatherings. 

When ‘decking the halls’ for the festive season, most of us naturally start with decorating the Christmas tree. But have you thought about how you’ll style your bioethanol fireplace this Christmas? Your bioethanol fireplace is one of your room’s most captivating focal points, giving you the freedom to get creative with your seasonal styling – without worrying about having a chimney for Santa to squeeze through or sweeping away ash before your guests arrive!


Below, we explore three of the most popular bioethanol fireplace Christmas decor options, along with essential safety tips to help you create the most magical festive living room.

A note on bioethanol fireplace safety

It’s vital to ensure that you style your bioethanol fireplace safely. While bioethanol fireplaces are flueless and relatively low-maintenance, they are still real-flame appliances, so you need to decorate them with care. Make sure you:

  • Leave at least 45cm between the top of your fire and any electrical equipment, such as a TV.

  • Keep all flammable objects like decorations, foliage, ribbons, and stockings well away from the flame, leaving at least 60cm in all directions from your fireplace. This is especially important if the flame is open, as with our wall-mounted Alden range.

  • Take care when opening windows for air movement, as they may create draughts that could move lightweight decorations closer to the fire.

  • Never place items on top of the fireplace itself, but you can place them on your mantlepiece.

  • Ensure that you fix garlands and hanging decor to your walls securely so that they don’t fall into the flames.

Winter fireplace styling: bioethanol edition

Scandi minimalism

Want to harness that cosy hygge feeling in your living room during the colder months? Our Scandi-inspired models including the Howarth, Hampton, and Burford lend themselves beautifully to Nordic styling this festive season. Here’s how to achieve the perfect Scandi fireplace look in wintertime:

  • Stick to a soft, neutral colour palette of whites, greys, and natural wood tones to complement the clean lines of your fireplace.

  • Place a sprig-filled stoneware vase beside the fireplace, using eucalyptus, fir cuttings, or dried honesty stems for that clean Nordic feel.

  • Style your hearth with a trio of miniature wooden houses or carved Scandi forest trees. 

  • Hang a woven jute or rattan wall star on the adjacent wall to frame the fireplace.

  • Display a few handmade festive wooden ornaments or Danish-style ceramic bells on a nearby shelf to reinforce the Nordic theme.


The most important thing to remember with Scandi winter fireplace styling is to keep your decorations minimal and considered, focusing on just a few high-quality pieces that enhance your biofire rather than crowd it.

Classically cosy

Dreaming of a classically cosy fireplace that’s straight from a Christmas storybook? The Ledbury, Malvern, and Kendal are some of our most popular traditional-style biofires, helping to evoke that classic fireside charm without any of the hassle of a real woodburner. Here’s how to get that cosy, storybook-inspired fireplace look this winter:

  • Arrange bunches of holly, faux red berries, or mini spruce branches in a classic enamel jug placed safely beside the fireplace.

  • Style your hearth with traditional Christmas ornaments – think nutcrackers, reindeer, or even a collection of snow globes. 

  • Fill an unlit lantern with cinnamon sticks, pine cones, and star anise for a warm, nostalgic scent.

  • Hang a traditional wreath or festive bow on an adjacent wall to frame the fireplace.

  • Stack a few wrapped presents in brown paper and twine to create a picture‑book Christmas moment.


The addition of a few traditional festive decor pieces will make your biofire feel like the beating heart of your home during the winter – the perfect place to gather and exchange gifts on Christmas Day, or pause with a hot chocolate after a frosty morning walk.

Modern luxe

Prefer a more contemporary aesthetic? Our Stow, Alden, and Marlow models offer clean and bold architectural lines that pair beautifully with a more refined winter styling scheme. Here’s how to achieve that modern-luxe fireplace feel in your home this winter:

  • Keep your colour palette rich and moody; think midnight blues and charcoals with bronze accents.

  • Place sleek, sculptural ornaments such as matte-black reindeer silhouettes or smoked-glass baubles in a decorative bowl on your hearth.

  • Position reflective accessories like mirrored coasters or mercury-glass ornaments beside the fire to catch and amplify the glow.

  • Hang a modern metallic wreath on a nearby wall, decorated minimally with a sprig of eucalyptus or a single satin ribbon.

  • Place a tall sculptural vase beside the fire filled with festive stems such as gold‑dipped branches, frosted eucalyptus, or black‑tipped pampas.


By following these styling tips, you’ll create the most sophisticated backdrop for hosting over the winter season that’s perfect for a stylish festive gathering or New Year’s Eve party.

Feeling inspired to decorate your bioethanol fireplace for Christmas?

Bioethanol fireplaces offer the cosiest blank canvas to decorate to your heart’s content this festive period. The real flickering flames allow your decorations to shine, and you can easily move your fire around to style your space exactly as you wish. 


Complete your bioethanol fireplace Christmas decor with our ceramic pebbles, logs, and false flues, and make sure you stock up on our bioethanol fuel for a warm, welcoming glow all winter long!

Frequently asked questions

  • Are bioethanol fireplaces safe?

    Are bioethanol fireplaces safe?

    Bioethanol fireplaces produce real flames, so it's important that they should be treated with the same level of caution and safety as any other object that produces flames. Having said this, bioethanol fireplace safety procedures are very easy to follow, meaning that they are suitable for use in most homes.  

    To ensure that our customers stay as safe as possible, Imaginfires are constantly updating and improving our biofires. This means that our ethanol fireplace safety features have been tested by a world-renowned testing laboratory to ensure they meet the new British and European safety standard BS EN 16647:2015. Customers can rest assured that we only sell products that we would and have been delighted to install in our own homes.

    What makes bioethanol fires safe indoors?

    Recent updates include the introduction of a new, patented, ‘no-spill’ fuel box into our freestanding, fire basket and woodburner biofires. This means that the biofuel is quickly absorbed by a special internal absorption feature, reducing the risk of any biofuel spilling out of the fireplace when knocked.

    Of course, despite every effort being made to make biofires as safe as possible, there are a few basic safety measures biofire users should always follow. These are all listed in the supplied product manual, but include:

    Taking care with biofuel

    Biofuel is obviously a flammable substance, so it should be handled with care for maximum ethanol fireplace safety. It is important never to pour biofuel onto a lit or warm fireplace. Rather, users should only refuel the fireplace once it has been turned off and cooled down. 

    Before refilling the steel fuel box with the bioethanol fuel, always ensure the fuel box has returned to room temperature (this takes approximately 30 minutes from extinguishing the fire). You should also clean up any biofuel spillages before lighting the fire.

    Purchase high-quality fuel

    To keep your running costs reasonable and to avoid any potential problems that low quality biofuel could cause, we recommend buying the fuel that is of a high quality and has at least 95% alcohol. This provides the best and longest flame.  

    We offer some of the best value biofuel in the market, and our fuel is developed and bottled specifically for Imaginfires biofires. You can read many great Trustpilot reviews we have received from customers for our biofuel.  

  • Can you put a TV above a bioethanol fireplace?

    Yes. Bioethanol fireplaces produce no smoke, soot, or mess — so there\’s no danger of smoke damage to your TV.  You\’ll see that many of our biofire customers have made a lovely feature of their biofire and TV together.  

    Some simple tips on positioning a TV above a Biofire: 

    We recommend leaving at least 45cm between the top of your biofire and your wall-mounted TV. Biofires don\’t get as hot as wood- or coal-burning stoves, but installing your TV too close to the heat could damage your television. 

    Use one of the closed top biofires, such as all of those in our woodburner style range (link). 

    Dont put any TV leads or cables behind the biofire. They could heat up and get damaged. If you absolutely need to put cables behind a biofire…make sure they are covered in a heatproof cable guards/conduits. 

    Can I use a stovetop fan to distribute the heat from my biofire?

    Stovetop fans are inexpensive and powered by thermoelectric energy (the heat of the fire converted into electricity), your stovetop fan has neither cables nor batteries.

    The fan sits on top of your bioethanol fireplace and distributes the heat into the room (rather than permitting it to rise directly to the ceiling).  

    Stovetop fans are almost silent, and the blades start spinning when the fireplace heats up. 

    However, we get very mixed reviews on how good a job these stovetop fans do in distributing heat around the room. It depends on the fan itself, the size of room, the levels of ventilation etc.  We dont have especially high expectations for these fans to significantly improve heat distribution, but they do have their \‘fans\’ (sorry!)

    Will smoke from my bioethanol fireplace damage my TV?

    Bioethanol should never produce any smoke — it\’s a clean-burning fuel that produces carbon dioxide and a trace of water vapour — never any smoke. 

    If your bioethanol fireplace is smoking, close the slider and extinguish the flames immediately. Open your windows to ventilate the space. 

    Check that nothing has fallen into the fuel box that could be causing the flames to smoke. Small pieces of paper, hair, or debris could cause smoke. 

    Always make sure the burning aperture is clear of any obstructions. 

    What type of bioethanol fireplace is best with a wall-mounted TV?

    All of our beautiful fireplaces can be installed underneath a TV. Just ensure you leave at least 45cm between the top of the fire and the TV set. 

    However, we recommend — for extra safety — installing a closed-top biofire underneath your TV sets, such as our wall-mounted Marlow or our stunning woodburner-style biofires .

  • What are the different types of bioethanol fireplaces?

    When it comes to bioethanol fireplaces, there are various types available to suit different needs and preferences. Here are some of the common types:

    Indoor Bioethanol Fireplaces

    Indoor bioethanol fireplaces are designed to be used inside the home and provide a clean and smoke-free alternative to traditional fireplaces. They come in a range of designs, including:

    Outdoor Bioethanol Fireplaces

    For outdoor spaces, there are bioethanol fireplaces designed for outdoor use. These fireplaces are built to withstand the elements and enhance the outdoor ambiance. They include:

    • Outdoor Wall-Mounted Bioethanol Fireplaces: These fireplaces can be mounted on exterior walls, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in outdoor entertaining areas.
    • Outdoor Freestanding Bioethanol Fireplaces: These standalone units are designed to be placed on patios, decks, or other outdoor areas to provide heat and a captivating flame.

    Wood Burner Style Bioethanol Fireplaces

    For those who love the look and feel of a traditional wood-burning fireplace, there are bioethanol fireplaces designed in a wood burner style. These fireplaces mimic the appearance of a wood-burning fire, providing a rustic and classic charm without the need for wood logs or a chimney.

    For more information on the different types of bioethanol fireplaces and to explore our range of products, please visit our bioethanol fireplaces page.

  • How do I use pebbles or logs in my bioethanol fireplace?

    Bioethanol fireplaces produce a beautiful, real flame and introduce the cosiness of a real fireplace into your room (without the existential guilt of burning fossil fuels). 

    Many of our customers love the minimalist look of the dancing flame from the stainless steel fuel box, but others enjoy the more traditional look of ceramic pebbles or logs placed around the flame.

    The ceramic pebbles and logs we sell are for decorative purposes only. You must use only recommended ceramic logs and stones — NEVER add anything else to your fireplace. 

    Can I use other fuels in my bioethanol fireplaces?

    No. 

    Never add paper, wood, charcoal, or coal inside your bioethanol fireplace. You need a chimney or flue to burn these items. 

    Our bioethanol fireplaces are not designed to burn fuel other than bioethanol. 

    Can I use ordinary pebbles or logs in my bioethanol fireplace?

    We only recommend using the ceramic logs and pebbles we supply. This is because we’ve thoroughly tested our products and know they’re safe to use. 

    Never add paper, wood, charcoal, or coal inside your bioethanol fireplace. You need a chimney or flue to burn these items. 

    You may find ceramic logs or pebbles online, but we can’t vouch for their safety. We haven’t been able to assess their impact on combustion quality, so we can’t say whether other products are safe to use with our biofires. 

    Only use recommended pebbles and logs in your bioethanol fireplace. 

    Where do I place my ceramic pebbles and logs in my bioethanol fireplace?

    Never cover the opening of the fuel box with ANYTHING, including ceramic pebbles and logs. These should be placed AROUND the opening to ensure that they allow your bioethanol fuel to burn correctly and safely. 

    We recommend removing all ceramic pebbles and logs before refilling the fuel tank — that way, you’ll avoid accidentally spraying bioethanol over your ornamental logs and stones. They’ll be hot if you have been using your fire, so let them cool down before you move them. 

    If you spill any fuel as your refill, wipe it down thoroughly before lighting. And don’t allow ceramic accessories to touch the glass panels of your bioethanol fireplace.