Who doesn't love the hypnotic charm of a real fire?

A safe, natural flame in the home brings that inimitable sense of hygge - a cosiness that makes long, cold winter nights snug, secure, and fun.

However, traditional chimney breasts can be pretty limiting when it comes to room layout, demanding valuable wall and floor space. Sometimes, it's better to locate your fireplace in the corner, offering greater freedom for your room's design. 

Sure, it can take a little reconfiguration - maybe even a little building work - but it's entirely possible to relocate a wood burner or a bioethanol stove to the corner of the room without a great deal of disruption. 

1. Can you put a wood-burning stove in a corner?

In short, yes, you can. 

The beauty of a stove fireplace is that the firebox is self-contained and doesn't require a traditional hearth or chimney breast. 

Wood burning stoves require a twin wall flue system if there's no chimney in the room. And while a competent DIYer can install their own flue system, we'd generally recommend getting a professional in to do the job. 

Of course, bioethanol fuels don't create smoke or soot, so there's no need for a flue. 

Traditional wood-burning stoves can be fitted anywhere in a room as long as there's adequate ventilation. But corners feel cosier, providing more freedom regarding where to put the sofa and the TV. 

2. How to install your wood burning corner stove fireplace

If you're installing a wood burner, it's always best to get it installed by a HETAS engineer. That way, you have a guarantee that the fumes are safely extracted. 

It's crucial to comply with regulations that state:

• The stove pipe needs to be a minimum of 425mm from any material that could catch fire.
• The hearth should be 12mm thick while large enough to reach 300mm to the front and 150mm on either side of your stove.
• With a  stove of over 5kW, you require 550mm2 of permanent ventilation for each additional kW.

If however you’re opting for a bioethanol stove instead, all you need to do is unpack it and place it anywhere you want in the room. There's no real installation, as such, unless you opt for a wall-mounted biofire, which requires secure wall attachments. 

3. Corner Stove Hearth Ideas

Strictly speaking, you don't need a hearth for a bioethanol corner stove, but you do need a non-combustible hearth for a wood burner. Either way, a corner wood stove hearth forms the perfect frame for an eye-catching feature that helps elevate the look of your fireplace.

Some of our favourite corner stove hearth ideas include floor-to-ceiling corner tiling and a protruding hearthstone. 

We love:

• Slate tiles, giving a charming rustic feel to the room
• Brick tiles, which contributes industrial chic
• Patterned-mixed ceramic tiles, with a jumble of patterns and designs for a touch of Victoriana
• Wood cladding, for a cool alpine effect  

4. How far should a corner wood stove be from the wall?

A freestanding bioethanol stove should be at least 100mm away from the wall when lit - that’s 10cm. Once it’s cooled down, you can slide the stove to fit snugly into the corner - never move it when it’s lit.

A wood burner needs a minimum of 150mm to the rear and sides of the stove. Remember to keep all everyday combustibles away from the stove. That includes wood, plastics, and textiles, like carpet and curtains.

5. Corner stove kitchen ideas!

Corner stoves aren’t just for living rooms - they look fantastic in the corner of your kitchen as well. 

If you’re going for the rustic look, go for a black cast iron firebox with Victorian mouldings. Cast iron is the perfect material for superbly elaborated featuring, from stylised floral flourishes to tiled inserts that bring elegance and sophistication. 

If your kitchen is more sleek and modern, consider dispensing with the traditional box shape and opt for an uber-modern cylindrical corner stove. Take, for example, the Hampton corner stove design - placed in the corner of your kitchen, the rounded profile brings softness to boring right angles. 

If you don’t want to install a flue, you could consider a bioethanol fire with a false flue that helps complete that desirable rustic look. 

False flues are super-easy to fit - they literally snap onto the plate on top of your stove, held in place with magnets. There's no damage to your walls, either - just an instant Woodburner stove look. 

Consider the aesthetic of your kitchen - there's a fabulous assortment of modern corner  wood burner designs to enhance or charmingly contrast with your vision. You don't need to limit yourself to square boxes anymore!

6. Add pebbles to your eco-friendly fireplace for a touch of zen

Even a small corner wood burner stove offers that inimitable crackle and pop of combusting logs. And while the hypnotic flame dancing behind the glass is so temptingly homely, keeping it burning can feel like a chore. If you're looking to elevate the corner of your living space with natural flames without the hassle, an eco-friendly bioethanol burner could be a good choice. 

Of course, bioethanol fires require no wood or coal, so the firepit looks different from the traditional wood burner. Some people love the super-modern simplicity of the naked flame dancing around the firepit, but most prefer to adorn their corner stove with logs or pebbles for natural charm. 

For example, you might enjoy the zen-like minimalism of beach pebbles, introducing an instant sense of calm and hygge to any room. And once the stones have warmed up, they help radiate their heat. 

Biofire pebbles come in black & white, resembling pieces of coal, or in white for a more natural, spiritual zen for your living space. Super simple to use, but never put them over the opening of the fuel box, only around the opening.

7. Complete the look of your corner stove fireplace with artificial logs

Reinforce the Woodburner look of your corner stove with a log set, offering a wonderful finishing touch to your bioethanol fireplace.

Built from ceramic, they add a convincing traditional fireplace look without the mess associated with burning fossil fuels. You might not get the crackle of log burning, but it's undoubtedly the next best thing aesthetically. 

Some people like just a couple of logs in their eco-friendly corner stove, while others like to pile them up. It’s entirely up to you how many you decide to place inside your stove.  

If you choose to add ceramic fireplace logs to your corner stove, always place them around the fuel box opening, and never over the opening.  

8. Match or contrast with your room

Choose a corner stove that either reinforces the styling of your room or adds a stylish contrast in colour and design. 

If your room is rustic and cottage-like, consider traditional styling:

Photo by v2osk

This freestanding cast iron Victorian corner stove brings authentic old-world charm. So if you're renovating a Victorian or Georgian terrace, this elaborately moulded stove becomes an aesthetic feature that sets the tone of the room. 

The modest height of this charming stove helps accentuate the grand height of Victorian rooms. But you don’t need dusty old furniture to match the bygone styling. Combining a statement feature stove with simple, sleek furniture helps bring historic spaces into the 21st century. 

Photo by Inside Weather

Combining your Victorian styling with a modern take on the 1950s helps bring charm and anachronistic elegance to your living room. The fluted wooden legs bring retro-chic to this comfy settee. The burnt orange contrasts beautifully with the stark black of the wood burner (log burner). 

If your room is already modern and influenced by Scandinavian styling, you might prefer a burner in funky, modern white.  

Alternatively, go for a statement juxtaposition - adding something traditional into a modern space or going for a strikingly modern design, such as a fireplace insert in a homely, rustic room. 

Making a decision?

As you can see, there’s plenty to consider when choosing a corner stove to elevate the styling of your room. 

If you're looking for your perfect eco-friendly fireplace ideas, get in touch, and we'll happily help you choose a statement corner biofire or fireplace insert.