Those of us who don’t have fireplaces at home may find ourselves a little stumped when staying somewhere (like that romantic B&B you booked for a President’s Day weekend getaway) that does. Here are few simple steps to follow that will have your toes toasty in no time.

1. Make sure the flue is open — otherwise you’ll fill the room with smoke. There is usually a cast iron handle inside that you turn. You’ll feel the cool air drifting in when it’s open.

2. Crinkle up newspaper pages or other paper that’s handy, and place that under the base of the grate, where they logs will lie. Try twisting them first, then rolling into a ball.

3. Layer some kindling — small, dry pieces of wood — ontop of the paper balls. Leave spaces for air circulation.

4. Place two or three logs ontop of kindling and paper. There should be little gabs between them for air to circulate. The wood needs to be very dry.

5. Use a match (preferably a long oene!) to light the paper under the kindling. It should catch fire after a few senconds.

6. Once it gets going, you may place another small log ontop, but don’t over stuff the fire. That could smother it and it will go out.

7. Eventually the fire will go out all on its own. Technically you could fall asleep in front of a fire, but it’s safer to keep an eye on it as long as it’s burning.

8. Recline on that fuzzy rug and bask!

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