Everyone loves a fireplace so here are some fireplace ideas to fire you up! After all there's a saying that home is where the heart is and when it's cold outside, it's also true that home is where the hearth is?
Maybe that's not exactly right, but there is some truth to it. A beautiful fireplace can serve as a gathering place for your family. These fireplaces also provide the ideal entertainment spot for guests, especially on a cold winter night. So if you're not satisfied with how your current fireplace looks, here are a half dozen fireplace ideas to inspire you to update your fireplace.
Fireplace Ideas from the Old World
This grand fireplace adds to the classic elegance of this family room. The fine curved trim on the mantle and the Venetian plaster wall treatment create a stately effect. It's ideal for homes with the chimney in the middle of the house rather than on an exterior wall.
Use your imagination to rethink what goes next to the fireplace as I always head to the fireplace at Panera's to get toasty warm on a cold, winter night.
Black and White and Comfy All Over
Let's say you've got an old brick fireplace painted in a color you don't like, maybe a dull red, gray or brown brick. Why not paint the brick black and surround it with shiny white painted lumber, or maybe add a railroad tie to complete the look?
Finding and reusing old building materials is becoming more popular. You might find the perfect fireplace mantel for your home at a Habitat ReStore (for recycling gently used house fixtures) or an architectural salvage company.
These are simple updates you can make to a room that is casually furnished in neutral tones. The right fireplace mantel will give your room some sizzle while leaving you to pick any accent colors you want.
Fireplace Ideas For the Dining Room & Warm Meals
Some people love the idea of eating by the fire. For them, a simple modern gas fireplace can be placed almost anywhere (and what I love about mine, is being able to turn the timer on and not worry about shutting it off). Here the dark, strong stone wall surrounding the fireplace gives a warm, natural look to the dining room. This would be an excellent addition to a soft, romantic dining area.
What's fun here is that people are starting to recognize that fireplaces can go in any room, and they can easily become a decorating focal point.
Rustic and Whimsical Fireplace Ideas
Now this is a centerpiece fireplace! You've got to have the right room for this type of fireplace but it certainly works here, and adds so much character to this room.
The wrought iron chimney and trim with round, whimsical designs provides a nice contrast to the adobe fireplace. The functional-yet-fashionable wood box in front is another nice touch, making it easy to keep the fire burning.
Mosaic Beauty
Believe it or not, this mosaic fireplace used to be covered with brick. The homeowner hated the brick so the interior designer simply placed glass mosaic tiles over the brick to modernize the appearance and don't you think it turned out great?
The glass cabinet doors and the basic white fireplace mantle complete the look. This is one of the easiest fireplace ideas you can use to add character to any room, with almost any decorating style.
Metal and Oak Masterpiece
Where there once was a bare wall with a boring fireplace, there is now an attractive floor-to-ceiling space with accents and mirrors. The stained oak trim and fireplace mantle blends beautifully with the sheet metal fireplace surround. This design fits nicely in a home with an elaborate entertainment area.
There are many other ways to renovate your existing fireplaces, or add a fireplace to other rooms to make them cozier and more inviting. For more fireplace ideas to inspire you, check out our fireplace collection on Pinterest.
Not sure where you ought to put a new fireplace? Read our article, Fireplaces That Fire Up Your Imagination, and you'll see that fireplaces work well anywhere in your home.
Which of these fireplace ideas do you like best?
This is some really good information about fireplaces. It is good to know that it would be smart to have a fireplace in a dark dining room. I have been thinking about renovating my dining room soon. So, it seems like it would be smart to put a gas fireplace in there.
Ivy, I’d put a fireplace in the dining room if you spend a lot of time there but sadly, that’s the least used room for many families so … make sure you’ll get enough hours of enjoyment to justify the expense.
Architects and designers can give you great ideas on where to place a fireplace & what style fits you/your house. We believe a fireplace should not be viewed simply as a “fireplace” but as a year round piece of beautiful, designer, sculpted furniture providing maximum impact and a cozy, relaxing ambiance.
Thanks Marc, I’m amazed at all the new places people are adding fireplaces … like bathrooms.