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Step 1
Choose a fireplace screen that will accommodate the kinds of fires you make. If you like to constantly poke around the fire and add new logs, then look for a screen that opens and closes easily and that will hold up to heavy use. If you get long-burning store logs or use gas, then you can get a more permanent kind of screen or one made of glass.
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Step 2
Buy a set of fireplace tools all together. A set usually includes a poker, shovel, broom and big log tongs. They usually come on a decorative stand. This way, all the tools will match and can serve as the core of your hearth decorations (see Resources below).
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Step 3
Invest in a bellows so that you won't be blowing ashes with your face close enough to the fire to get burnt. Bellows also are very attractive decorations and come in a variety of sizes and finishes (see Resources below).
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Step 4
Store your wood beside the hearth. You can use a sling-type holder that folds up when not in use, a nice wood box or a canvas sack made to carry the wood inside and stand up next to the fireplace while in use.
