It can be said that the fireplace is the focal point of the home. Since the dawn of civilization, families have gathered around the fire to bask in warmth, both from the flames and one another’s company. Today, one of the things that makes every furnace is a fireplace decor that is both inviting and stylish.
Fireplace decor is vital for the living room to be a space for comfort regardless of the season. But it can be a hassle to keep updating the decor scheme to ensure this. If you’ve been looking for fireplace decor ideas that can give you feelings of coziness all year round, read on.
What style philosophy gives you feelings of comfort?
Everyone associates different things with comfort. If you have a particular aesthetic in mind when you think of the word “cozy”, you should hone in on that when designing your fireplace decor.
Sleek modern feel
This motif is often the go-to theme for fireplace decor ideas, simply because it meshes better with contemporary home design.
A good way to think about this design philosophy is a blend of minimalism and experimental fireplace decor ideas. In this style of fireplace decor, straight lines and subtle texture elements are king.
Thus, it often involves wood panels or marble walls, geometric hanging ornaments, and a modest amount of display items on the mantel. If you intend to have the fireplace remodeled, unorthodox fireplace layouts are also a popular option. Raised fireplaces are a common choice, often with a long thin fireplace opening, with some even opting for a glass-enclosed firebox. Most do away with the mantle altogether. You can also improve the look of the fireplace exterior by using accent tiles. Check out our complete guide on how to tile a fireplace.
Modern fireplace designs often make use of an electric fireplace to fit with a minimalist philosophy. The best electric fireplace come with the advantage of not requiring a chimney, since it doesn’t actually make use of fire. It’s also easier to fit with the rest of the interior. There are also excellent ways on how to make an electric fireplace look real.
However, contemporary styles are disadvantaged by not having the time-honored homey feeling that older styles have. But if that’s not a problem for you, you would likely find up-to-the-minute design inspiration very fitting.
Rustic farmhouse vibes
To many, the classic image of a brick or stone fireplace is the very picture of warmth and comfort. You might think that this aesthetic only fits with farmhouse-type homes, but that is not always the case.
It all has to do with your interior design. If your interiors do not particularly lean towards modernity or traditionalism, old-fashioned fireplace decor ideas can still work well without being too jarring. But your fireplace doesn’t have to be made out of brick or stone to give off that farmhouse vibe. If you decorate just right, you can achieve that feel just as effectively.
But if you really want to achieve that look, you can replicate it by using stone or brick tiles.
Traditional fireplace decor ideas are time-tested, and thus will likely be more functional than a contemporary design. Natural elements and colors are favored over artificial ones. It usually appears quite busy, with an assortment of small objects of different sizes that have sentimental value on the wood mantel.
Often the mantel also bears a prominent centerpiece such as a painting or other artwork, or a large round mirror. The mantel itself would bear a rustic mantel style, often with scroll-work or other carvings. Alternatively, it could just be a simple wood shelf. All around the fireplace would be homely trappings such as potted plants in tall vases.
Wood furniture, a richly patterned carpet, embroidered pillows, and traditionally upholstered seating complete the look.
You can even blend traditional and contemporary design ideas in the same room to arrive at a hybrid style that works despite the anachronism.
Areas to focus on
There are a few major areas to focus on when creating your fireplace decor scheme. The right kind of decor in the right areas can take a fireplace design from good to great.
Fireplace walls
It can be difficult to appropriately decorate the walls surrounding your fireplace. But a good rule of thumb is to remember that less is more.
The fireplace will look much more grand and imposing if there is a minimal things around it to draw the eyes. Try to hang only a few things on the surrounding walls, and focus display items on the mantel. But if you are short on space, it may be wiser to put shelves or cabinets on the surrounding walls instead.
But if you really want to have decor on the walls surrounding the fireplace, it’s best to go big. Powerful decorative pieces on both sides can serve as great supporting items for the fireplace itself.
Wood paneling, accent tiles, wallpaper, or even a fresh coat of paint can go a long way to give your living room a comfy vibe. Cobblestone accent tiles work great to achieve an old-fashioned feel, while solid color or geometric patterns fit well with a contemporary scheme.
The mantel
The fireplace mantel is the place to display items that have a lot of sentimental value for the family.
Things like candles, small art pieces, and other items that fit well on the allotted space belong here. A lot of people opt to lay a mantle or mantel scarf to add extra ornamentation, especially during the holiday season.
Plants
Plants are well-established ornamental pieces because of their ability to give a space a bright, lush appearance [1]. If you have a green thumb, you can even keep them alive through the cold months, thus turning your living room into a veritable sanctuary of life and greenery even in the dead of winter.
Evergreen plants work best for this as they naturally stay vibrant all year. Alternatively, you can prepare plants that flower in the winter, such as winter daphnes and evergreen hollies, to freshen up the room’s look during the cold months. They make great additions for holiday decor as well.
Small white pumpkins also work well as a year-round decoration, ready to be carved for Halloween and fitting right in with Christmas decor. This works best if you have a white fireplace.
Tiles
If paint is too boring for you, tiles can be a fantastic way to add a splash of color and texture to an otherwise bland wall. It can have any number of applications.
You can create a hearth mosaic, accent the surrounding walls, make your fireplace look like a stone or brick fireplace, and frame the centerpiece or the photos you’ve hung up.
The centerpiece
The centerpiece is often the defining feature of your fireplace decor. It is the focal point for anyone who walks in the room, and as such should be pleasing to the eye, invoke a welcoming feeling, and expressive of your personality or the character of the household.
Something many homeowners like to do is to put together a centerpiece in a coat of arms sort of format.
If there isn’t anything readily on-hand, you can’t go wrong with a round mirror or some tasteful art. A piece of handiwork created by a family member, such as a woven basket filled with fruit or knitting supplies, also works well.
It may be a little difficult to settle on a design scheme that feels warm in the winter but doesn’t feel suffocating in the summer. But as long as you make use of fireplace decor ideas that invoke feelings of comfort no matter the season, you should be fine.
