The fireplace is often seen as the heart of a room – and the way it’s styled can provide an additional layer of character and interest.
Even if you don’t have a working fire, you can still experiment with fireplace design ideas. For example, you could use your mantelpiece as a decorative focal point, or style the interior with stacked logs to add a rustic appeal, or plants or paintings to make a creative statement.
So, whether you’re hoping to restore an old fireplace, install an electric version, or just make a non-functional fireplace look chic, here are 10 stylish fireplace designs for every budget.
Note: Fireplaces serve as captivating focal points, adding warmth and charm to a room. However, when choosing a fireplace design, it’s important to make sure that it supports the appropriate safety measures, such as regular maintenance, proper ventilation, and the installation of fire screens.
1. Add marble for luxury
If you have a fairly generous budget and are looking to add a touch of luxury to your home, you might want to think about a marble fireplace. Marble features look very stylish in both Victorian and Georgian houses, and can create a sense of opulence and sophistication, while still retaining plenty of authentic period charm.
But marble fireplaces don’t just look good, they’re also durable. Marble is resistant to both heat and fire, so you can light the fire throughout the cold winter months without worrying about any damage. If you’re looking for a new marble fireplace, keep an eye out for movement and depth in the stone, which makes the marble look more striking and luminous.
2. Paint or stain your fireplace surround
If you’re not a fan of your existing fireplace, you could try giving it a lick of paint before removing it entirely. This is a simple, inexpensive way to increase your fireplace’s design appeal and give it a new lease of life. You might want to try painting the fireplace surround the same colour as your walls so that it blends into the background visually, yet still retains its texture and form.
Alternatively, you could try painting your fireplace a different colour. Bright, bold colours can help to inject personality into your room, while white paint can create a more modern look. If your fireplace surround is made of wood, you could try staining it a different colour. Simply sand through the existing stain or varnish until you reach the naked wood below, then stain it with your chosen colour.
3. Create a sense of history with a reclaimed fireplace
If you have a period property and want to create a sense of grandeur and history in an otherwise simple room, then choosing a reclaimed fireplace is a great idea. Antique fireplaces don’t only retain their value, but they also help instil a home with traditional charm and authentic character.
Reclaimed fireplaces are often much cheaper than you think, particularly if you’re prepared to do some digging. You can find beautiful bargains in scrapyards and reclamation centres as well as online marketplaces on social media. Antique fireplaces have a different level of detail to modern fireplaces and can bring some real style and flair to a room.
4. Add colour and depth with a tiled fireplace
Tiled fireplaces can add colour, depth, and personality to a room – and there are many different ways to do this. If you have a period property and like the Victorian aesthetic, then ornate fireplace tiles can be a good choice – particularly when paired with decorative panels. But there are also more modern ways to achieve this look, like going for more minimalist colours and patterns.
When it comes to choosing a tile type, ceramic ones are best at withstanding heat, and they’re also very durable in general. Plus, because they’re available in various sizes, colours, and finishes, they also offer a huge range of style choices.
5. Turn it into a decorative feature
If you have a fireplace but it isn’t functional, you don’t have to fit it with an open fire or stove. There are other, far less expensive ways to turn it into a focal point and use it to create character in a room. You can paint it a bright colour to add vibrancy – or, if your room is dark, then painting your fireplace bright white can give the illusion of light and space.
You can create a rustic look by layering some logs, as in the image below. Alternatively, if you’re a reader, you can reflect your personality by using the space as a bookshelf, and creatively stacking your favourite books. Or why not use it as a space to store your plant collection or even place a collection of candles there, which, when lit, will create the same cosy ambience as a fire?
6. Upgrade your electric fire
If you have an electric fire, there’s no reason why this can’t look as cosy and characterful as a real fireplace. Plus, because they don’t require a chimney or ventilation – and they also don’t pose any carbon monoxide risk – there’s far more flexibility when it comes to updating your electric model.
Electric fires can also be exceptionally good value for money while making your living room look more beautiful, and turning it into a perfect space for entertaining. There are many ways to add more authenticity and charm to electric fireplaces too – for example, why not install a wooden beam or mantel above for a rustic finish?
7. Update your gas fireplace
Similarly, if you have an old or outdated gas fire, sometimes it doesn’t matter how much time you spend on styling up the surround – it might just need to go. If that’s the case, there are some excellent budget-friendly gas fires you can update your old model with.
Gas fires are far more convenient than wood-burning stoves and open fires, which can often take a lot of time to light and keep warm. With a gas fire (and electric fire), cosy, warming flames appear at the press of a button – and today there are some incredibly realistic models. Some gas fires are even designed to look like wood burners, as seen in the example above.
8. Consider an exposed brick design
When it comes to a traditional fireplace look, exposed brick always works well. It suits both period properties and modern homes, commands attention, adds texture, and can be used to create both rustic and industrial looks. Plus, it’s usually relatively easy to uncover concealed brickwork.
Just keep in mind that, if you’re not sure what type of brick is under your plaster, you’re taking a risk by ripping it up. If the brick isn’t in good condition or isn’t the style you were expecting, you may end up looking for a plasterer to put the wall back. However, you might be able to avoid this by making an exposed brick fireplace with brick slips (thin brick tiles which look real when stuck to the wall).
9. Add another light source
If you don’t have a working fireplace but still like the idea of having it be a focal point of your room, why not light it up with other light sources? You could place quirky LED light displays in the space, or arrange fairy lights to create a fun, ethereal light source. Even if you do have a working fireplace, you could still experiment with adding different light sources around it to make it look more dramatic.
Alternatively, layering lighting on different levels can also create a cosy atmosphere. Try playing around with wall lighting, table lamps, and floor lamps around the fireplace to create a beautiful and unified lighting scheme that draws your eye to it, and adds warmth to the room.
10. Style the mantelpiece
If your fireplace is a focal point of the room, that means the mantelpiece is a great place to store some of your favourite objects. Whereas in the past symmetrical mantels with matching lamps on either end were popular, this can feel quite formal – and if you want to create a more relaxed vibe, it can be better to create an asymmetrical mantel.
Why not experiment with propping your favourite paintings or photos on the mantel, then adding beautiful vases, unique ornaments, and different light sources, whether that’s candles or lamps? Plants look fabulous on mantels too – although, if you have a working fireplace, remember it can get pretty hot. And hanging a mirror above your mantel can add space and light to the room.
Note: If adding plants to a mantlepiece above a working fireplace, it’s best to choose compact ones that don’t dangle or spread quickly, as these can pose a serious fire risk.
Final thoughts…
From investing in a new gas or electric fire to ripping off plaster and exposing traditional brickwork, some fireplace designs do involve spending some money. But a cosy, attractive fireplace can make your home look and feel warm, and increase the value of your property, so many would argue that it’s a worthwhile investment.
However, there are also lots of small things you can do to improve your fireplace, from giving it a lick of paint to experimenting with different light sources, and making sure your mantel always looks elegant and seasonal. And even if you don’t have a functional fireplace, there are still ways not just to get the space looking lovely, but to have it bring character and atmosphere to your room too.
For more home design ideas, why not check out our article; 8 ways to make your home cosy?
Are you planning to try any of these fireplace designs? Or perhaps you’d like to share some other fireplace design ideas with our readers? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.