A Stove for Every Space: How to Choose the Right Wood Burner for your Home

Wood burning stove expert from Swedish stove manufacturer, Contura, shares a guide to choosing the right model for different spaces this autumn/winter.

After a sweltering summer, it’s time to look forward to crisp, colder months, when our homes become our sanctuaries once more.

With high energy costs continuing to be a consideration for many households, homeowners may be looking for alternative ways to supplement their heating as temperatures drop. A wood-burning stove can provide an appealing focal point as well as an efficient source of heat, with the flicker of an amber flame bringing warmth and atmosphere to the home during the autumn and winter months.

When used and maintained correctly, and installed in accordance with relevant regulations and manufacturer guidance, a modern wood-burning stove can be a practical way to enhance the warmth and design of a room. But with a wide range of styles and heat outputs designed for different spaces, choosing the right model can be confusing. Phil Wood, UK Managing Director of Swedish stove manufacturer, Contura, is here to help.

Phil says: “With the cost of living an ongoing challenge for many households and forecasts suggesting continued fuel price volatility this autumn-winter, homeowners may be looking for reliable ways to stay warm. A modern wood burning stove provides just this, delivering a dependable heat source, as well as creating a welcoming focal point in any living space.

“In terms of heat output, modern stoves can achieve efficiencies of around 80%, compared to just 20% in the case of a traditional open fireplace. There is also now a wide choice of freestanding and inset designs, offering greater flexibility in how a stove can be incorporated into a room – the key is making sure the stove model suits the needs and design of the room.

“Combining cost-saving potential with sleek design into a single investment, choosing the right stove ultimately comes down to balancing heat output, functionality, and aesthetics.”

Read on for Phil’s guide to choosing the right wood burner for different spaces…

Best for – An open-plan kitchen/diner
Contura 996 Style

• 6kW output
• 150 m² heating area
• Elevated firebox
• Wraparound fire visibility
• From £3,695

The three glass panels of the Contura 996 Style provide a mesmorising 180° view of the flames, making it well suited to sociable, open-plan spaces. Not only that, but the elevated firebox lifts the flames into view, making the stove a natural focal point.

Ideal for larger extensions with heightened ceilings, bi-fold doors and airy skylights, the 996 Style also boasts a powerful 6kW heat output with a heating area of up to 150 m², ensuring larger spaces feel warm and inviting on even the coolest day.

Best for – A lounge in need of a statement
Contura 320A

• 7kW heat output
• 120m² heating area
• Open log box
• Rustic, heat-retaining artstone surround
• From £3,050

For those looking to add a practical yet stylish centrepiece to a spacious lounge, the Contura 320A offers a modern cubic cassette design, with the option to build into a pre-existing chimney breast or create a purpose built wall for a sleek, contemporary look.

Its rustic, heat-retaining artstone surround brings natural texture and warmth to softer interiors, while its powerful 7kW heat output makes it well suited to larger rooms. The glass front provides a clear view of the flames, while the open log box offers a practical storage solution beneath the stove.

Best for… A cosy reading room
Contura 810L

• 4kW heat output
• 90m² heating area
• Compact design
• Curved glass front
• From £1,795

Perfect for smaller, more intimate spaces, the low Contura 810L is designed to keep the flame at eye level for those cosied up on the sofa or lounging on the rug – including any furry companions.

Its compact design and curved corners allow the 810L to fit comfortably into shallow fireplaces and spare corners. Plus, the moderate 4kW heat output ensures it’s well suited to smaller rooms where a higher-output stove could provide more heat than required resulting in energy wastage.

Best for – An airy conservatory or garden room
Contura 690 Style

• 6Kw heat output
• 150m² heating area
• Streamlined, cylindrical design
• Inbuilt log compartment
• From £3,595

For an airy conservatory or garden room, the freestanding Contura 690 Style combines a 6kW heat output with a streamlined, cylindrical design that works well in spaces lacking a traditional chimney breast and underused corners. Its elevated position also provides good flame visibility across inside-outside spaces designed to connect the home with the outdoors.

Alternatively, where a suitable firplace and chimney already exist, an inset stove such as the Contura i2 can provide a sleek, space-saving option.

Best for – A compact home office
Contura i1

• 5kW heat output
• 120 m²
• Small, compact model
• Functional cassette design
• From £1,595

For smaller spaces, the compact design of an inset or cassette stove is best.

Fitting neatly into an existing fireplace, the Contura i1 provides at 5Kw heat output, without overwhelming a home office or other modestly sized room. Plus, with an energy efficiency rating of 80% and optimum heat retention, the cast iron i1 ensures home workers can keep warm without the need to rely on central heating and the risk of racking up their daily usage costs during the colder months.

Best for – A stylish master bedroom
Contura 870G Style

• 5kW heat output
• 120 m²
• Rotating pedestal design
• Handy hotplate
• From £2,595

One of Contura’s most distinctive designs, the Contura 870G Style sits on a raised pedestal, with an optional rotating function allowing the curved glass front to be positioned towards different areas of the room. Whether you’re lazing in bed, sitting at a dressing table or even bathing in an en-suite, the flames can be turned to face any eyeline for optimum relaxation.

As a freestanding stove, this model is a great option for upstairs bedrooms, as it can be placed anywhere that a flue can be connected to the roof. Plus, the added bonus of the hotplate on the upper surface allows for handy heating of cups of tea without needing to head downstairs to the microwave.

The most important thing when choosing a stove is to speak with an expert at your local dealership, who will be able to guide you through different choices to suit your space, heating requirements and personal preferences.

A professional installer can also advise on the suitability of the room, flue requirements, ventilation, and any other relevant installation considerations.

Do also check manufacturers’ websites for handy visualisation or selection tools too to help narrow down your choices. You can also check Contura’s stove selector ‘build your stove’ tool here and in-home visualisation tool here.

For more information, please visit www.contura.eu.

-Ends-

Notes to editors:

• Rooster PR will coordinate comment, interview and profile opportunities for Contura UK Country Manager, Phil Wood.
• The Contura PR team will also arrange visits to the nearest Contura Design Centre dealerships or the Contura showroom in Doncaster to see the product range.

For further press information, please contact:
Josie Waddington | Tilly Everard | Elsa Findlay | Julie Aguilera
Rooster.
T: +44 (0)203 440 8930
E: Contura@Rooster.co.uk

About Contura:
Contura is Europe’s leading manufacturer of wood burning stoves, offering an extensive range of classic and contemporary wood burners; from traditional insert stoves suitable for existing fireplaces, to freestanding statement models made with innovative materials such as soapstone.

Starting at £1,295, Contura stoves are premium yet affordable. Award winning, timeless Swedish design means the products complement or enhance any style of home, whilst also offering outstanding performance, maximum efficiency, practicality and ease of use.

Designed and assembled at the factory located in Markaryd, Sweden, and manufactured to the highest standards, Contura stoves are highly energy efficient, offering powerful convection, superior combustion technology and clean burning systems. All Contura stoves are DEFRA Clean Air Act exempt and thus approved for use in Smoke Control Areas.

Contura stoves can be purchased through a network of 165 independent retailers nationwide.

Contura is part of the NIBE group, a Swedish manufacturing company producing world class solutions in sustainable energy across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

Contura is a founding member of the Stove Industry Association (SIA) in the UK.

Contura is a proud supporter of Eden: People+Planet’s efforts to restore and monitor over 241,150 hectares of land, creating jobs to support local communities and the environment in the long-term. Since 2018, Contura has funded the planting of over 170,000 trees.

For more information, please visit www.contura.eu