Real Flame Foster 25" Stove Electric Fireplace for Living Room or Bedroom, Realistic Log and Flame Effect, Freestanding Fireplace with Adjustable Thermostat, Auto Shut-Off

A cozy upgrade that actually warms the room

A space heater that looks like a woodstove is an easy win in a small living room, but not all of them feel convincing or push enough heat to matter. The Foster electric stove from Real Flame hits a surprisingly practical balance between ambiance and utility. After several weeks of use as a supplemental heater in my living room and a smaller bedroom, I came away impressed by its heat output for the size, its safety-minded design, and the flame effect that holds up from across the room—while still wishing for sturdier materials and a remote.

Design, build, and setup

Out of the box, the Foster is largely heavy-duty plastic—cabinet, door, legs, and the optional decorative chimney. The plastic is thick enough to feel solid, and the black finish hides a lot, but up close it won’t fool you into thinking cast iron. From a few feet away, though, the proportions and windowed door sell the woodstove look nicely. It’s a freestanding unit with a small footprint, easy to tuck into a corner.

Assembly is straightforward. I attached the legs and tried it both with and without the included 24-inch chimney. The chimney is purely cosmetic and snaps in securely; I ended up leaving it off in the living room to keep a lower profile under a windowsill, and using it in the bedroom where the vertical line looks great. The included anti-topple wall anchor is simple to install and worth using if you have kids or pets; it stabilizes the light cabinet without changing placement.

One thoughtful detail: the 5.5-foot lay-flat plug sits close to the wall and didn’t protrude awkwardly behind a console. The cord length is adequate for most placements, though if your outlet isn’t near your ideal corner you’ll need to plan accordingly—extension cords aren’t recommended for high-draw heaters.

Heating performance

Real Flame rates the Foster at 4,700 BTUs, which puts it in line with the common 120V plug-in heater class. In my 250-square-foot living room (8-foot ceilings, average insulation), it raised the temperature by 5–7°F over the course of an hour on a chilly morning, taking the edge off without running the central heat. In a smaller 160-square-foot bedroom, it got the space from 66°F to 72°F in about 40 minutes and then cycled off periodically as the thermostat hit its set point.

Several things helped:

• The heater blows warm air from the bottom front, which ends up warming your feet and the immediate seating area quickly.
• The adjustable thermostat isn’t a gimmick; once the room reaches the set level, the heater cuts off and the flames keep going.
• Closing doors and drawing curtains made a bigger difference than I expected. If you’re trying to “heat the whole upstairs,” temper your expectations.

Could it warm a large, open 1,000-square-foot area on its own? Not in my experience. For closed-off rooms up to a few hundred square feet, it’s an effective and pleasant supplemental heater. In big, open-plan spaces, think of it as a localized comfort boost rather than a whole-room solution.

Flame effect and ambiance

Electric flame effects range from kitschy to surprisingly convincing. The Foster leans toward the latter. The glowing log set and flicker effect look best at night or with the room lights dimmed; the ember bed has depth and the flame motion avoids the repetitive “looped” look some cheaper units have. Daytime, it’s still attractive, just less striking.

Crucially, you can run flames without heat. In flame-only mode, the fan remains off, and the unit is near-silent except for a faint motor whisper if you sit right next to it. It’s an easy way to make a room feel cozier without changing the temperature—nice in spring and fall.

Controls and usability

Controls are simple and tucked behind the front door: power for flames, a heat switch, and a rotary thermostat. There’s no remote and no programmable timer. I missed a remote more than I expected; getting off the couch to tweak the thermostat is a minor annoyance, and a basic on/off remote would make nighttime use friendlier.

On the plus side, the thermostat’s behavior is predictable. Once the room warms, it cycles the heating element on and off without overshooting too far, and the gentle fan ramps back in smoothly. The plug stayed cool to the touch during multi-hour sessions, which is reassuring.

Safety and noise

Safety is well-covered: automatic overheat shutoff, the included anti-topple anchor, and stable footing. The exterior stays warm but not scorching, and because the heat exhaust is down low, I found it easier to maintain safe clearances in front compared to top-venting designs. As always, keep a few feet of space in front of the outlet, and don’t drape fabrics nearby.

Noise is low. At full heat the fan emits a steady, soft whoosh that disappears under normal conversation or TV volume. If you’re very sensitive to fan noise, you’ll notice it in a quiet bedroom at night, but it’s gentler than most ceramic space heaters I’ve used.

Energy use and placement tips

Like any plug-in heater in this class, the Foster will draw roughly a dozen amps at full heat. On typical U.S. electricity rates, expect something like 20–30 cents per hour at maximum output. A few practical tips helped me get better results:

• Place it on an interior wall and let the air wash across your seating area.
• Close doors to contain the heat in the target room.
• Use the thermostat rather than toggling the heat switch; it keeps temperatures more stable and may reduce cycling noise.
• Mount the anti-topple anchor if the stove is near traffic, kids, or pets.
• Avoid power strips and extension cords; plug directly into a dedicated outlet if possible.

What could be better

Two things stand out:

• Materials: The plastic door and cabinet are the right choice for weight and safety, but they do make the unit feel less premium. A metal door would elevate the tactile experience.
• No remote: At this price and category, a small remote for flame and heat toggles would be a meaningful quality-of-life improvement. A sleep timer would be welcome too.

A couple of minor observations: the bottom-front heat exhaust is great for warming a seating area, but if you plan to place the unit on a thick rug, ensure the front outlet isn’t obstructed. And the 5.5-foot cord limits placements away from outlets; that’s common, but worth noting.

The bottom line

The Foster electric stove succeeds at the two jobs that matter most: it looks the part and it makes a noticeable difference in comfort for small to mid-sized rooms. The flame effect is warm and believable, the thermostat works as advertised, and safety features are thoughtfully implemented. While the plastic-heavy build and lack of remote keep it from feeling truly premium, they don’t undermine the core experience.

Recommendation: I recommend the Foster if you’re after a freestanding electric fireplace that delivers real supplemental heat and convincing ambiance without complicating your setup. It’s especially well-suited to bedrooms, dens, and enclosed living rooms where its 4,700 BTU output can shine. If you prioritize metal construction and remote control convenience, you’ll want to look at higher-end alternatives—but for most homes, this strikes a practical, cozy balance at a reasonable footprint.