There’s no doubt it’s still chilly out there. For those of you with fireplaces, odds are high they’re being used regularly. Whether purely for warmth or for the power it has to bring people together, there is something truly special about fireplaces. For many, however, the fireplace can be a bit of an eye sore during the months of the year when they’re not in use.
So, follow this guide to help make your fireplace a worthy focal point all year long.
Common Types and Styles of Fireplaces
As with any other element of interior design, there are as many styles of fireplaces as there are styles of interior design. These range from the very elaborate and ornate to the sleek and modern. The style of the fireplace is directly tied to the style of the home.
Putting style aside for the moment, fireplaces also differ drastically in how they function and how they are fueled.
Many older homes have traditional fireplaces that are only fueled by wood and have to be started manually. Homes built more recently feature wood-burning fireplaces that have a gas starter to help make lighting the fires much easier. For modern homes with no chimneys or apartment-style homes, electric and gas fireplaces exist to provide the same warmth and other benefits without having to deal with the hassle or potential safety issues that come with wood-burning fireplaces.
Modern technology, as always, has introduced a number of new features that have revolutionized fireplaces in the home. They have even allowed for the benefits of fireplaces to be enjoyed in any area of the home (and even outdoors).
Instead of the Burning Wood
That big empty space can truly be an eye-sore when the fireplace is not in use. Honestly, how can a room’s design be improved with a large, dark hole in the middle of the room?
A unique solution is to use that space as another opportunity to infuse design into your space. A few ideas for using that space include filling it with wood leftover from the winter season (as pictured).
This not only adds visual interest and incorporates natural elements into your home, it also serves as a practical place to store the wood. Which is very convenient if you’re not a fan of going outside when it is freezing cold to get more wood for the fire.
Other ways to fill the space include filling it with books (this one is especially useful if the fireplace is surrounded by bookcases, is in the library or if you use your mantle primarily as a bookshelf.
The Mantle
Speaking of the mantle, this is where the design of the fireplace comes into play. When we talk about fireplace design, the mantle is what we’re referring to (specifically with traditional fireplaces). A mantle can make or break a room’s style and often dictates the look and feel of the design.
As the natural centerpiece of the room, it is important to use the mantle to emphasize what is most important to you because this area will attract the most attention.
If you’re a family-oriented person or a fan of photography, experiment with different sizes of photos and frames (as well as with effects such as black and white, sepia, etc.) that rest both directly on the mantle as well as hanging the images above the mantle.
Or maybe your a bookworm. The mantle is the perfect place to display some unique bookends along with a small portion of your favorite books. It also makes them easy to access for some quaint fireplace reading.
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If you’re fortunate enough to have a fireplace in your home, you know how beautiful it can be when the flickering bits of red, orange and yellow are lighting up your home. Don’t let it be an eye-sore on the days you aren’t using it though. Incorporate some of these fireplace design ideas into your home so your fireplace can be a source of beauty all year ’round.