What's the best cosy heat source for a room without a chimney?

[Devora]

All the chimneys in my 30s semi were ripped out years ago (not by me) and we have central heating. Mostly it works well but not in our living room, which gets chilly as it has open stairs and the front door in it. Almost more than a bit of extra heat, I'd like some kind of cosy focal point for winter. What are the best of the (cheap) options? Bio-ethanol fires: inefficient? Flame-effect plug-in stoves: naff? Are there any portable electric heaters that actually look nice?

I'd look at draught proofing first otherwise your additional heat source will be going the way of the central heating - out of the door and up the stairs.

Curtains over doors are great - use a portiere rod so the curtain lifts out of the way when you open the door. Thick curtains which don't hang over the radiator (the heat will just be going up the back of the curtains and warming the windows).

Consider enclosing the stairs as they would have been originally. If you do this now you can insulate with modern, efficient materials.

www.fireplaceworld.co.uk/package/11547/Adam-Aviemore-Electric-Stove-in-Cream#.Ve_Sw8SkqrU
I've just had this for my bedroom, it's very nice

That does look very nice, Klaptout - but what gives out the heat? Is it electric bars, or a fan heater? If the latter, is it noisy?

Good advice, wowfudge. I've been going this way and that over reinstating the hallway wall. Our neighbours still have theirs, and their living room is far warmer. But also very small - and it's our only reception room. My end dream is to extend the kitchen out into our (big) garden to create a big kitchen-diner-living room, which would allow our current living room to be a smaller snug. But you're absolutely right: any heat source we put in now will just float up the stairs. Which is why I want something that looks cosy, to at least counter the impression of trying to relax in a dentists' waiting room.

I hear what you are saying. Could you box in the staircase in some way rather than reinstating the hall? It's quieter too if you don't have open stairs off a living room.

Yes we could, but not without losing the light that streams in through the hallway window.... There's a compromise gonna have to be made somewhere but I just can't decide where to take the hit!

I would love a hallway, though. I hanker for a proper hallway. Probably worth losing living room space for. Ditto reduced heating bills.