Light Up Your Fireplace with Fireplace Accessories

"Accessories" is a bit of a wimpy word to use for something as sacred as your fireplace.  Nevertheless, it is suitable for our purposes as it encompasses all the various accoutrements (now THERE'S a word!) you want or need for your place of fire.  You could theoreticallly get by with nothing but a stick for a poker, but most people nowadays want something more solid and nice-looking, fancier, than an ordinary stick off the ground.  For you DIY types, a stick may be just the thing, maybe even a stick that is forked.  For the rest of you, we will probably want to read on to learn about just what's available for purchase.  And there is a lot, even though most people nowadays buy their firewood from a store.  Heck, some people don't even buy real wood, they buy those logs in a wrapper that just need a light to burn for the next four hours.  These are the people who need the least tools, though they will probably end up buying a nice set just to have them.

The standard set which will allow you do do everything you need in your fireplace are:
1.  A long-handled poker (for fireplace use, obviously, as are all items on this list)- the poker is used to move logs around to keep the fire burning nicely.  Half the fun of having a fire is being able to tend it, so the poker is one of the few essentials in terms of tools for the fireplace.
2.  A long-handled shovel- can also be used for tending the fire, though it is more often used to move ashes and hot embers.  Once the fire is really out and everything has cooled down, it is used in conjunction with the brush to clean up the ashes.
3.  A long-handled brush- see above
4.  A cast iron grate- the grate holds your logs up off the floor of the fireplace, allowing for better ventilation and thus a better burning fire.  It can also facilitate roasting potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil, as embers will fall through and there is space beneath the fire to put your potatoes for cooking.
5.  A metal or metal and glass screen, if your fireplace has no doors- this is a very important safety accessory that keeps sparks from jumping out onto your flammables and setting your house on fire.  You don't really need it if you use those fake logs in wrappers, as you don't really get sparks with those.  With real wood however, it's basically a necessity unless there are no flammable materials, including your clothing, within range of sparks.  If in doubt, get the screen.  Most fireplaces already come with screens and doors, though, so this will be an item that many fireplace owners can forego. 
6.  Log holder/ log rack- this is semi-optional, but it is really nice to be able to keep your firewood organized and have a place for kindling, scraps, etc.  It's also good to keep these out of range of sparks, just in case you get a "lucky" spark that manages to ingnite your pile. 

When it comes to fireplaces & accessories, these are the basics that you need for a "classic" setup.  The first three items on this list are usually sold as a set, which also includes a stand.  You can also get packages that include all these items.  Some other fireplace accessories which you may enjoy having are fireproof gloves for fireplace use.  These are longer to offer more protection from the flames, and are fireproof.  They will allow you to handle flaming logs, at least briefly, but are mostly intended for protection when getting close to the flames.   
Another tool that gives you more control over flaming firewood are log grabbers or tongs.  Instead of only being able to push and pull, as with a poker, you can actually pick up logs and rearrange them with such tools.  They would also be handy for removing those hot potatoes from the fire. 
You may also wish to get an ash bucket.  Frequent use of the fireplace means, or should mean, frequent cleanup of ashes.  Having an ash bucket is really handy as ash is very fine and easily blows around to settle where you don't want it, like on your furniture.  A bucket makes it much easier to handle disposal.  Sets made specifically for fireplaces also often come with a shovel to make cleanup easier. 

Fireplace accessories make a fireplace more respectable, but it's not just for looks; having these tools will make using the fireplace more relaxing and enjoyable and the cleanup easier, whether we're talking about gas fireplace accessories or just accessories for a normal fireplace.  After all, a fireplace is more than just a place to keep your body warm.  Sitting by the fire, watching the flames dance and the transformation of energy into heat is also food for the soul.