If you've been looking to install a fireplace but you're working in a smaller space and you're not sure where to start, we've got you covered. We know all too well about the struggles of people who want the warmth and ambiance a fireplace can provide, but don't have the space. There's also the issue of having the fireplace match the rest of the interior design of the room. Luckily for you, we've got a ton of experience and ideas to give you a helping hand!

If you're looking at gas fireplace options, take a look at some of the smaller units available on the market. Know that when you install a new gas fireplace, you're not building it back behind an existing wall. Instead, you're going to have to build a mantle around it, which will take up some space. Here's a list of some smaller gas units we carry:

• Valor L1 Linear Gas Fireplace
• Valor Portrait Series Gas Fireplace
• Valor H3 Gas Fireplace
• Valor Horizon Series Gas Fireplace
• Napoleon Ambiance Illusion Gas Fireplace

Secondly, you can take a look at a freestanding fireplace. These units don't have large mantles or engines that you need to work around. Other than the base itself and the venting above, you don't lose much real estate in your space. Listed below are a few gas and electric freestanding fireplaces:

• Valor Madrona Freestanding Gas Fireplace
• Amantii Lynwood E-50 Freestanding Electric Fireplace
• Amantii Lynwood E-70 Freestanding Electric Fireplace

Speaking of electric fireplaces, these can offer a great solution to those that just simply don't have the room for a gas unit, or if you live in an apartment where you're not allowed to vent. Depending on the style and look you're going for, you can either wall mount or recess your unit into the wall, saving you a ton of space compared to their gas counterparts.

Now that we've given you a few options as far as gas and electric fireplaces, here are a few design tips that help you get the most out of your space: 

• Utilize a large mirror: The age old trick of a large mirror helps introduce added reflective light into the room and creates the illusion that it's actually bigger.
• A fresh coat of bright paint: Simply putting a new coat of bright paint on the walls will make the room look bigger as light bounces off more easily. Also, painting the walls and ceiling with a different colour will give more perceived depth to the room. This trick will both seem to elongate the room horizontally and make your ceilings look higher.
• Minimalism: Perhaps the best way to make any room appear bigger is to get rid of clutter. It's time to get rid of that old over-sized coffee table that you found off of Facebook Marketplace and replace it with one that was intentionally bought to be the perfect size for you and your needs. Additionally, avoid having too many things placed in the middle of the room if you can. Maybe move the lamp or plant you may have into different corners of the room. Maybe move your chairs and coffee table closer to your new fireplace, just a couple feet away instead of in the centre of the room.
• Last but not least... Make it your own: At the end of the day, it's your space and your home. Whether it's a room filled with greenery and plants, bold paintings, a 70" flat screen or a life-sized figure of a storm trooper, it's your home. Do what makes you happy and comfortable with your new fireplace.

If you have anymore questions about getting the perfect fireplace for your space, visit any of our 5 locations across Canada to talk to a fireplace expert. We have two locations in Alberta with our Calgary North and Calgary South locations, as well as 3 across the GTA: Burlington, Oakville & Etobicoke, Ontario.