Take Inspo from Your Surroundings
In this Florida home by designer Janie Molster, the tabby fireplace is covered in crushed seashells. For a beach house like this, it adds intention and a sense of belonging to cover this central feature in a natural material.
Limewash It
This stone fireplace is original to the home, so Melissa Anderson of OAD Interiors chose to limewash the surround to lighten it up. With all of the other dark tones in the room, this finish brightens up the room without ruining the original look.
Suspend It in Air
If you really want a fireplace that’s also a focal point, put in a midcentury style that’s suspended in the air. This bedroom gives glamping vibes due to the impactful fireplace, the large windows, and the vaulted ceiling—and that’s exactly what designer Melissa Anderson was going for.
Frame It in Tiles
Kevin Swayers of Sawyers Design took inspiration from his clients’ Heath Ceramics bowl collection and framed the fireplace in tile from the same company. The cut and colors of the tiles help break up the deep magenta of the mantel and wall above the fireplace, plus it’s a nice personal touch.
Make It Asymmetrical
This entire living room by Ali Budd was designed to accentuate the Calacatta Verde-clad marble fireplace. It’s a truly stunning piece of art, and the asymmetric fluting and firewood holder on one side of it make it feel more like an art piece than a fireplace.
Use What You Have Around
Taking inspiration from century-old design methods, Krysta Gibbons of Kipling House finished the fireplace in this living room with leftover trim that she found on-site. It keeps the feature cohesive with the rest of the house and is resourceful.
Salvage Something Iconic
The mantel in this living room by Sugarhouse once lived in the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, but now it brings charm, history, and an inimitable patina to the space. Using salvaged items, small or large, in your home ensures a wholly unique interior.
Ditch the Firewood
In this moody lounge by Marie Flanigan, you won’t find any firewood. Instead, the homeowners create warmth with fireballs, eliminating the need to go out and buy or chop wood.
Make It Ornate
The ornate black mantel in this library by designer Sarah Vaile emphasizes the luxuriousness of the space without sacrificing fun. This room is cheeky and warm, and the matte mantel ties in the other black accents in the room.
Cover It in Concrete
Designer Liz Carroll chose a concrete finish for the fireplace in this North Carolina home, but she didn’t want it to feel stark and cold. She had the architect, Clark Tate, use a board-form technique to create a subtle, warm wood-grain effect, giving the feature some dimension.
Keep It Minimalist
This simple metal fireplace surround is any minimalist’s dream. Look closely and you’ll see a subtle design in the metal. Designer Rajni Alex chose it for the lounge in our 2024 Whole Home, displaying only a sculptural art piece on top.
Feign Functionality
This empty fireplace idea involves stacking logs to evoke the charm of a rustic cabin, perfect for a lakeside retreat. By filling the nonworking fireplace, designer Brad Ramsey completed the space rather than leaving it bare.
Display Antiques
Take note of this empty fireplace idea from designer Tom Scheerer, who used one to house a paper fan. The additional wood is a nice nod to the structure’s past life.
Retile It
Old meets new in this empty fireplace idea from Kingston Lafferty Design. The ornate Victorian mantel contrasts with the graphic tiled fireplace, which reflects the geometric cabinets. The cactus in the fireplace niche livens it up and gives the hearth a purpose.
Paint It Black
Brick doesn’t always vibe with sleek monochromatic decor, luxe natural stone materials, and modern art. Nicole Hollis Studio’s solution was to paint over them with a dark or black color. This creates depth and makes the old-timey character of bricks more discreet. Do this if you want to make your empty fireplace look edgy but understated.
Go Monochrome
Leanne Ford painted this entire nonfunctioning fireplace white—even the decorative firewood. Then she warmed up the living room with pampas grass and cream accents.
Use a Statement Screen
Make your fireplace pop with a decorative screen like this brutalist one in the Williamsburg Hotel. It conceals the empty fireplace but also spruces up the surrounding area.
Display Artwork
In this chic, texture-rich environment, interior designer Leanne Ford turned an empty fireplace into a little gallery to display pottery and artwork.
Arrange Flowers
When in doubt, blooms are usually the answer. Liven up the drab space with a pretty flower arrangement, like in the empty fireplace idea in this Nantucket cottage by James Michael Howard.
Fill It With Vintage Books
Jersey Ice Cream Co. filled this empty fireplace with stacks and stacks of vintage books, complementing the rustic, aged look of the mantel.
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