Heating with wood can save you money on your utility bill, and the huge variety of wood stove accessories on the market will add style to your stove.

Hearth pads are a must for protecting your floor from the high temperatures that radiate from the bottom of your stove. Look for pads made of mineral fiber topped with a layer of steel. Toxic asbestos is no longer used for hearth pads. You can even find pads in a faux stone or masonry finish.

Stove pipe shams help absorb heat from the pipe leading from your stove to your chimney opening. They should be made of heavy gauge steel so they can withstand high temperatures. Many shams come in decorative designs to go with any décor.

A wood stove fan or blower can really boost the efficiency of your wood stove. This wood stove accessory can be made part of the stove pipe assembly, or it can be an add-on to your wood stove. Electric blowers run off your house current, while heat-driven blowers are powered by the heat from the stove itself.

A wood stove thermometer attaches to the stove pipe with a magnet or screw and lets you monitor the efficiency of your wood burning. Too low a temperature will create creosote and plug up your chimney. Too high a temperature can harm your catalytic combustor, which is required by law in many locales.

An ash shovel and bucket usually come as a matched set and are useful for cleaning out wood ashes. Like log holders, these come in a variety of decorative finishes.

For the top of the stove, a metal teakettle is a nice touch. You’ll have hot water at your fingertips, and the steam adds humidity to your house on dry winter days.

To keep the kettle from putting rust stains on your stove’s finish, take a look at the many decorative trivets available. Both the teakettle and trivet should be made of a sturdy metal, such as cast iron, copper, enamel, or pewter, with no plastic parts that could melt and cause a fire hazard.

Enamel wood stove accessories are particularly prized since they add a splash of color. Look for an enamel lattice top steamer or an enamel trivet. Dragon shaped steamers are unique and charming.

Wood stove accessories are a great way to express your creativity and flair. Not only will you save money on your heating bill, but you’ll be doing it in style.