Gas Fireplace Logs: All the Different Types and Styles

A gas fireplace is a good heating option that combines energy efficiency and convenience with tradition. Gas offers better heating and less cleaning while invoking the cozy atmosphere of a conventional wood-burning fireplace.

When it comes to choosing a log set for your fireplace, there’s more than simply picking between vented or ventless. Gas fireplace logs are available in a wide range of styles and materials, and you should take some time to choose the set that best fits the ambiance you are going for, whether it’s rustic and traditional or sleek and modern. In working with our clients, we have found that more realistic looking log sets tend to really catch the eye and stand out as an attractive visual centerpiece.

Below we will take a look at all the different types of gas fireplace logs. We also highlight a few of our favorite realistic gas log sets as well as the different wood styles used.

Gas Fireplace Logs: Types and Materials

1. Traditional Gas Logs

Designed to replicate the look of a classic wood-burning fire, traditional gas logs are ideal for homeowners who want the charm and nostalgia of a wood fireplace. They are crafted to resemble real logs, including intricate details like bark texture, knots, and charring.

These are made from ceramic, refractory cement, or a combination of both for durability and heat resistance.

Popular Choices:

• Oak logs: Known for their sturdy and timeless appearance.
• Birch logs: Recognizable by their lighter color and distinctive bark.

2. Rustic Gas Logs

Rustic gas logs are perfect for creating a cozy, cabin-like atmosphere. They offer a rugged and natural look that fits well with rustic and country-style interiors.

Like traditional logs, they have a natural appearance. The difference is they mimic the look of weathered and aged wood, often with detailed bark and branch patterns.

Popular Choices:

• Driftwood logs: Resemble logs that have been weathered by water and time.
• Split logs: Appear as though they have been chopped and split, adding to the rustic charm.

3. Modern Gas Logs

Contemporary or modern gas logs cater to modern tastes, offering a sleek and minimalist look that complements modern or minimalist home designs. These look less like wood and more like minimalist art pieces, characterized by clean lines and geometric shapes. They may also use innovative materials like glass, stainless steel, and concrete.

Such gas logs are often paired with decorative elements like fire glass, stones, or crushed lava rock for added visual appeal.

Popular Choices:

• Linear burners: Create a long, narrow flame for a modern look.
• Glass logs: Made from tempered glass, offering a unique, shimmering effect.

How to Choose the Right Gas Fireplace Log Style

Match the room

🗹 Choose a style that complements your home’s interior design. Traditional logs work well in classic settings, while contemporary or rustic logs may suit modern or country-style homes.

🗹 Beyond just the room, take into the account the design of your gas fireplace itself as well as the mantle and surround. Brushed aluminum and stainless steel pair better with modern geometric shapes, while bricks and flagstones evoke a traditional hearth.

Log Layout

Beyond the actual look of the particular logs themselves, you will also want to choose a log setup that has the right aesthetic you are looking for as well.

Below are a few of the common ways that you will see logs laid out in different sets, and the look and feel that each design evokes.

🗹 Lots of logs – Want your fireplace to look just like the real thing? A set with many logs can give the appearance of a real campfire you might make outside.

🗹 Fewer logs – For a cleaner, more spacious look, a log set with only a few logs could deliver a natural look while allowing more open space for the flames to appear.

🗹 Split logs – Some types of wood look particularly great when split, allowing a peek inside at the tree’s inner wood. Split log sets can add an extra addition of natural allure.

🗹 Laid out naturally – Real doesn’t always mean perfectly placed! An alternative to the more manicured log sets, a natural layout creates a relaxed and natural ambiance.

🗹 Stacked – Clean and simple. A stacked log set has a clean and orderly setup for a more modern look.

Heating requirements

🗹 Take into account how much heat you need from your gas logs. Vented logs are better for ambiance, while ventless logs provide more heat output.

🗹 The size of the room where the fireplace is located will impact your heat output requirements. Larger rooms may need logs with higher BTU (British Thermal Unit) ratings for adequate warmth.

Don’t forget the log size

🗹 Measure your fireplace’s width, depth, and height to ensure the gas logs fit properly. Logs that are too large or too small can affect both the aesthetics and performance of your fireplace.

🗹 The size of your burner will also determine the appropriate log size. Consult the manufacturer’s recommendations for the best fit.

Realistic Gas Fireplace Logs for 2024

Rugged Oak Log Set

The RH Peterson Real-Fyre Charred Rugged Split Oak Log Set features split logs, bark, and ends that are painted to look like the strong boughs and branches from red oak log samples, giving you strength and beauty in one place.

Not-So-Traditional Low Country Timber Set

With the Everwarm Low Country Timber Log Set, you can pretend like you did the hard work of chopping down a tree and bringing it inside (without all of the sweat normally required for such an activity!).

Different Wood Types

Apart from the different brands you may come across, many log sets can also be classified by what type of wood they are patterned after.

Oak Gas Logs: A Popular Choice

Why mess with a classic? For a beautiful, natural look, the light, reddish tones of the oak tree have become a favorite for wood furniture and log sets alike.

Aged Oak

For a more modern, edgy feel, and aged oak log set can be just the thing. With a softened, grayish color scheme in comparison to normal oak, you can class up your log set with this elegant pick.

Sassafras

With distinctive bark and thick, gorgeous logs, a Sassafras log set that will remind you of an outdoor camping trip.

Low Country Timber

Get a distinctive, weathered look for your log set with low country timber. With a beautiful blend of interior wood and chipping bark, you’ll be sure to have visitors doing double takes to see if it’s real.

Driftwood

You don’t have to live near the ocean to appreciate the Monessen Beachcomber Log Set, an option that allows you to bring the natural beauty of beach driftwood into your home. Plus, you can add Natural Blaze burners which provide taller, more lively flames to add to the realistic look.

Kentucky Wildwood

Channel your inner Southerner with a Monessen Kentucky Wildwood Refractory Log Set, which combines a rustic look with fine-tuned, hand-painted details.

Birch

The RH Peterson Real-Fyre Mountain Birch Designer Log Set brings a little bit of nature indoors, as the logs are modeled after real samples, with hand painted details that add to their beauty.

Other Factors to Consider

Before you jump into making your choice, there are a couple more factors to keep in mind in your log set shopping.

Charred Vs. Not

You’ll see in your search that some log sets are charred while others are not. For a more realistic look, charred logs give off the appearance of a longer burning fire. This simple detail can add a touch of coziness and charm.

RH Peterson Real-Fyre Evening Fyre Charred Log Set and Vent Free Burner – Choice of Size and Burner Valve

Get the Perfect Gas Log Set for Your Home

When it comes to choosing the right gas log style for your home or other space, getting the design that matches your decor or desired look is a top priority. If you already have a gas fireplace and are looking to replace your current log set, there are many styles available.

If you are really hunting for the most realistic gas fireplace logs, going with one of our picks above may be just the shortcut you are looking for.

Ready to find the set for your home? We’ve got you covered.

Also check out our related articles on gas fireplace logs:

The Different Types of Gas Logs

How to Set Up and Install Gas Log Sets

Gas Fireplace and Log Set Brand Options