Joanna Humphreys

Find out whether a wood-burning stove is right for your home, lifestyle, and heating needs before you start comparing models. This guide covers suitability, maintenance, running considerations, and alternatives.

The Axon Bolesworth has been named **Best Fire** at the *Ideal Home Living Room Awards 2026*. Recognised for its contemporary design, versatile styling, and impressive heat efficiency, this award-winning wood-burning stove combines modern aesthetics with reliable performance for today’s homes.

Wondering whether outdoor wood-burning stoves are legal in the UK? The short answer is yes. While indoor wood burners are subject to strict regulations around emissions, smoke control areas, and installation standards, outdoor stoves are governed by a different set of rules. In this guide, we’ll explain what you can and can’t do, how smoke control areas affect outdoor heating,

If you’re wondering whether bioethanol stoves are actually worth buying, you’re not alone. Some homeowners praise their convenience and real-flame appeal, while others dismiss them as expensive decorative features. The truth lies somewhere in the middle. In this guide, we’ll look at how much heat bioethanol stoves produce, how safe they are, their running costs, and who they’re best suited

Not sure which log burner is right for your home? Skip the endless specification lists and generic “best stove” rankings. This guide recommends the best wood-burning stoves based on your room size, budget, installation setup, and style preferences — from compact stoves for snug spaces to powerful heaters for open-plan rooms. Discover our Good, Better, Best picks and find the

Can a wood-burning stove really heat your whole house? The honest answer: usually not — at least not in the way most people imagine. While a stove can dramatically improve comfort and reduce reliance on expensive heating, most UK homes are not designed for heat to spread evenly from a single room. In this guide, we cut through the social

If your wood burner is burning through logs too quickly, producing too much smoke, or not giving enough heat, the problem may not be your stove — it could be how you’re using it. Discover practical wood burner efficiency tips to reduce fuel waste, improve heat output, avoid common mistakes, and get more from every log. From airflow settings and

Learn whether it’s better to build or buy a log store, what size you need, where to place it, and how to keep firewood dry, well-ventilated and ready to burn.

Most wood-burning stove problems aren’t caused by the stove — they’re caused by the fuel. Burning the wrong materials can lead to chimney fires, toxic fumes, and poor heat output. In this guide, discover exactly what not to burn, why it matters, and the safest, most efficient alternative: kiln-dried logs under 20% moisture for a cleaner, hotter, and more reliable

Heat pump or wood-burning stove? Discover which heating solution actually makes sense for your home, with real-world cost comparisons, property breakdowns, and practical advice for UK homeowners.