The gentle crackle of burning logs. A golden-orange glow filling the room. The air thick with warmth. A cozy night in front of the fire is one of life’s little pleasures. Or it is, once it’s lit. Here’s how to do so with ease (so you know for next time you arrive at that winter cabin).

Before you start, it’s important to check your fire is in good working order. The chimney should be swept at least once a year to ensure its clear of any blockages or debris. Clean the hearth, sweeping away any ash or cinders as these will restrict the air flow and make it harder for the fire to catch.

There’s a couple of ways to build your fire, but both will require some form of firelighters, tinder and kindling to get the flames started. You can buy ready-made firelighters, or you could use two tabloid-size pieces of newspaper crumpled into a loose ball about the size of a cricket ball. For kindling and tinder, you can use dried softwood, such as spruce and pine, as well as dried pinecones. Citrus skins, like orange peel, dried and cut into ribbons, are also good to help get the flames started, while also creating an appealing scent. You can throw in some rosemary sprigs, too – they will smell delicious as they burn.

The traditional way to start a fire is to place small pieces of dried kindling into a triangular pyramid shape over your firelighters and tinder, allowing space for air to flow through. Then light it from beneath. However, you can also try the top-down method, where you place larger logs on the bottom, layering them up in a Jenga-style pattern, then adding firelighters between the gaps. This way, the fire will catch as the lighter materials burn and drop down.

Once your fire is going, it’s time to add some larger logs to the flames. To prevent harmful pollution, wood for burning must have a moisture content of less than 20% so it burns with less smoke. Make sure any you source yourself has been thoroughly dried out, and don’t burn wood that has been painted or treated, or coal. There’s also a range of manufactured smokeless fuels available, such as heat logs, or even ones made from recycled coffee grounds.