On chilly winter days, nothing beats warming up by a nice, cozy fire. If you are considering having a fireplace installed in your new or existing home, there are some things to consider.

"Think about the square footage that you are wanting to heat," says Quent Kasten, general manager of Kasten Masonry in Jackson. "Also, consider if you are going for looks or warmth and how efficient you want it to be."

Fireplaces range from wood burning to gas to natural gas to electric.

"Some people prefer the wood burning fireplaces because you get the smell [of the wood burning] and hear the crackling sound that a lot of people like," says Kasten. "You don't get that with artificial fireplaces."

However, artificial fireplaces can be cleaner.

"There are no pollutants [with artificial fireplaces]," he says.

Some electric fireplaces are made to look more like real fireplaces by producing steam that looks like smoke.

"They have a heat bulb that acts like a room heater and humidifier and they produce a steam that looks like real smoke," says Kasten.

Safety precautions with fireplaces include inspecting the area before lighting the first fire of the season.

"Before you start your first fire, make sure the chimney is clean, or if it's a vented gas fireplace, make sure the flue is clean," says Kasten. "You want to be sure no bird's nest or animal is in there so the toxic fumes can escape. Also, make sure your glass doors and screen are in good shape."

Brad Maevers of Best Clean Fireplace Shoppe in Cape Girardeau cautions against leaving wood fires burning in unattended fireplaces.

"If it's an open masonry wood fireplace, don't leave it unattended, even with the screen," he says. "Small embers can pop out from the fire."

When it comes to decorating the fireplace for the holidays, use common sense.

"Don't put any flammable items close to the doors and follow the owner's manual," says Kasten.

Now that you know the "in's and outs" of purchasing a fireplace, what are some great Christmas decorating ideas for your fireplace and mantle?

"I like to use fresh greenery with some type of mercury glass, like candle sticks," says Emilie Stephens, owner of Annie-Em's at Home in downtown Cape Girardeau. "I like to use something tall on the mantle and you can use things you already have, like Santas, and just incorporate some mercury glass with it."

Sparkles and gold are what Michaelyn Ross, owner of Bloom Studio & Gifts in Cape Girardeau, recommends for mantle decor.

"We're getting in some sparkly Christmas trees that would look great on the mantle," she says. "Also, gold is very 'in' this season, and we're getting in a lot of gold ornaments. You can use them for decorating not just your tree, but put them in groups on your mantle and use bigger pieces for decorating your hearth."

Lisa Walker, co-owner of High Street Station in Jackson, says she loves the look of adding lights to mantle and fireplace decorations.

"I love seeing Christmas lights [interwoven] with greenery on the mantle with a mercury glass collection in groupings and maybe some tea lights," she says. "It's great to see the light bouncing off the pine boughs."

She also suggests adding your own personal touch to your favorite collections.

"For example, you can display Buyer's Choice Caroler Dolls in groupings on the mantle, and within that display, nestle a family photo in a cute red holiday frame," she says.

Battery-operated candles can add lighting to your mantle safely and for a long period of time.

"We sell Mirage Candles in classic cream and red colors at Christmas. They give the illusion that they have a moving flame," says Walker. "They take the bigger D batteries, so they last a long time, and some have remote controls that you can set for one to 23 hours so you don't have to climb up [if your mantle is high] and turn them off."

She also recommends choosing a theme for your mantle and fireplace area.

"You can do something rustic and woodsy with pine boughs, LED pillar candles and owls, and then use burlap for ribbon and stockings," she says. "Or, do a vintage look with Santas and Christmas trees from your mom and grandma's collections.

To decorate the hearth of a fireplace that is no longer in use, Knaup Floral in Cape Girardeau sells candelabras made to fit into the pit of your fireplace.

"They are made of wrought iron and have 13 glass votives that are tiered and staggered," says Kathy Knaup, owner of the shop. "You can decorate them by putting greenery underneath."