Best recessed electric fireplace – our top 5 picks for 2023
The best recessed electric fireplace is a great way to create an ambiance in your home.
There are many different styles and designs that you can choose from, some with realistic flames while others offer warmth without the need for an open flame.
With so many options, it’s easy to find the perfect recessed electric fireplace for your needs!
In a hurry? Here’s our top picks for best recessed electric fireplace.
Best all-round recessed electric fireplace
- available in sizes from 50″ to 100″
- can be plugged into a standard 120v outlet or hardwired
- supplied with remote control
- can heat a room from 400 to 1,000 sq. feet depending on size
Touchstone The Sideline Electric Fireplace
Best budget recessed electric fireplace
- available in sizes from 30″ to 60″
- can be wall-mounted or recessed
- can be plugged into a standard 120v outlet
- supplied with remote control
- can heat a room up to 400 sq. feet
Best recessed electric fireplace
1. Dimplex IgniteXL
A high-end, feature-rich recessed electric fireplace
The Dimplex IgniteXL is one of our all time favorite recessed electric fireplaces.
It offers tonnes of settings and feature, a slick remote control with plenty of functionality and a flame that is unbeatably realistic.
The IgniteXL uses Dimplex’s patented Comfort$aver® ceramic heating system to saves you money while keeping you more comfortable by adjusting the fan speed and heater wattage to match the heating requirements of your room.
One of our favorite features of the Ignite is its heat boost setting. This setting quickly warms your room by pumping out maximum heat for a set amount of time.
You can change the color of the flames to suit your mood or allow the fireplace to cycle through its range of colors at a relaxing speed.
And, of course, you can have the flames turned on with or without heat for a year-round ambiance.
The supplied remote control is one of the sleekest remotes we’ve seen in a long time (and we’ve seen a few!).
The remote allows you to control all the same settings you can control from the touch screen on the fireplace itself including on/off, colors, speed, brightness, temperature, and timer.
2. Napoleon Alluravision
A top-spec electric fireplace with plenty of flame settings
The Napoleon Alluravision is a close second to the Dimplex IgniteXL.
While it’s as well-made and beautiful as the IgniteXL, it is missing some of the functionality we love so much in the Ignite and the flames aren’t quite as realistic.
Particularly the heat boost setting found on the Ignite, although this option does seem to be limited to Dimplex fireplaces so we can’t give the Alluravision too much of a hard time.
The Alluravision’s flames are still super realistic and still create an aesthetic that just cannot be replicated by cheaper electric fireplaces.
And in fact, if you want to be able to have lots of flame options, the Alluravision outperforms the Ignite on this front.
You can control the fireplace from the front panel or the supplied remote control and allows you to control settings such as – on/off, colors, speed, brightness, temperature, and timer.
It features four flame color options – yellow, orange, blue, and multi-colored and five flame speeds.
So you can find the perfect flame speed and color to suit the mood and vibe you’re aiming for!
The flames can be turned on with or without the heat setting for never-ending flickering.
If you’re looking for a high-end electric fireplace that will give you endless nights of entertainment, the Alluravision is definitely your top choice.
3. Touchstone Sideline
A super budget-friendly modern electric fireplace
The Touchstone Sideline is one of our favorite budget recessed electric fireplaces to date.
For the price, nothing comes close to the functionality and aesthetics of the Sideline.
It features 5 flame control settings and multiple flame color options.
While many of the color options are obviously designed to add impact, the gentle setting of the orange flame looks nothing short of real.
In fact, we would go as far as to say it’s almost on par with the likes of Dimplex and Napoleon.
It comes supplied with both the crystal ember bed and faux fire logs which is almost unheard of. The faux logs can often set you back a hundred dollars or more.
You can even use both the logs and crystals together or in any combination you like.
4. GMHome Metal
A super budget-friendly modern electric fireplace
If you’re looking for a more industrial vibe in your home, the GMHome metal panel electric fireplace is your top choice.
Its gunmetal finish adds a raw feel to the fireplace as opposed to the usual sleek and modern design of most electric fireplaces.
It offers a whopping 9 changeable color settings and 5 flame brightness settings – from a soft ember glow to a blazing flame.
The fireplace features a timer setting as well as a thermostat ranging from 62°F to 82°F.
We much prefer fireplaces that feature some kind of thermostatic control as opposed to timer only as it allows you much more control over the heat of your room.
The fireplace can be controlled via the front panel or remote control including settings – on/off, color, heat, temperature, timer.
And, once again, the flames can be used with or without the heat setting turned on (bored of hearing that yet?).
5. Valuxhome
A small electric fireplace with life-like crackling sounds
The Valuxhome electric fireplace offers a cozy atmosphere to any space.
One of our absolute favorite features of the Valuxhome is its crackling sound log speaker that can be turned on and off as desired.
Nothing quite beats the sound of logs crackling and spitting and it’s so rarely replicated in electric fireplaces.
The fireplace features a pretty decently real-looking flame effect with 3 color settings and a variety of flame brightness settings.
The fireplace can be controlled from the fireplace itself or the remote control which allows you to control everything from on/off, timer, heater, back/toplight on/off, and crackling sound on/off.
And for the last time in this article, you can have the flames and/or crackling sound on without the need for the heat to be on too!
