7 Tips for Decorating Fireplaces
March 26, 2020Adding a fireplace to your custom home design adds more than just a heating source – it also adds an interesting design element and helps you create an atmosphere for the room. It also offers you another area to use for decor. Here are some tips for decorating fireplaces:
1. Take Location Into Account
As you approach how to decorate your fireplace, take its location into account. You will likely decorate a fireplace in the living room differently than a fireplace located in a bedroom, another room, or even a bathroom. By thinking about the location of the fireplace, you can often get inspiration for ideas for fireplace decor if you’re stuck or avoid adding decor that just looks out of place.
2. Picture How the Fireplace Decor Fits in With the Rest of the Room
When you decorate your fireplace, whatever you add should look like it belongs in the room. It should fit in with and enhance the overall theme or aesthetic you’re trying to achieve. If sticks out too much, you may end up with an atmosphere in the room that feels off somehow or with a focal point you don’t want.
3. Add Some Standard Decor
Depending on the design of your fireplace, you may have a mantel, an extended hearth, a column or wall space above the fireplace, shelves coming off the sides, and more. Take stock of the space you have and then add some items that will be your “standard decor”.
Oftentimes, these are big pieces like a mirror, art, or something else hung in the space above the fireplace. For some rooms, this is where the TV is hung on the wall. It could also be items near the hearth like a fireplace screen, a small woodpile, or large items placed in other areas. These larger items ground the area and provide a foundation for you to add smaller items as needed.
4. Change it up for the Seasons
Because the fireplace often becomes a focal point of a room and naturally draws the eye, you can change up elements of your decor to match the seasons. Your big standard pieces of decor may or may not change. But, you can use the mantel and surrounding areas to your advantage and refresh your decor by creating a seasonal look. Plus, there are plenty of winter, spring, summer, and fall mantel decor ideas to help you create the look you want.
5. Find the Right Balance
It can be easy to overdo it on decor in any area. This is especially true with large fireplaces that have a mantel and space to the sides for decor. These areas allow you to add decor without creating a fire hazard. The trick is finding the right balance so your fireplace has enough decor without adding too much and ending up with a cluttered look.
A similar concept applies to any wall or column space above your fireplace. These areas give you the opportunity to continue to draw the eye up and open up the room. Mirrors, tall pieces of art, a gallery of small prints, or another piece of hanging decor can all enhance the space.
But, a bunch of small frames placed on the mantel can make it look cluttered. Too much on the wall above the fireplace can also give the area a busy, cluttered look. At the same time, too much free wall space above the fireplace can make the area look forgotten or undecorated. It also tends to stop the eye and doesn’t draw it upward.
6. Use the Hearth During the Off-Season
When your fireplace is in use, you have to be careful about where you place decor, the materials you use, and more to reduce fire hazards. But, when your fireplace is out of service for the season, you can get more creative with the space inside your fireplace as well as the hearth around it. This is why one of the tips for decorating fireplaces is using the hearth during the off-season.
You can block off the open fireplace with a stack of wood for creative firewood storage, books, or other items. You can also add more indoor plants and place them closer to the fireplace. You have more freedom to place things close to the fireplace when you don’t have to worry about heat and flames.
Granted, you’ll need to adjust your decor when it’s time to use your fireplace again, but this area is a good space to redecorate temporarily.
7. Consider Adding Other Light Sources
When a fire is roaring in your fireplace, it adds its own warmth and light to a room. But, it can also be a good idea to add other light sources to accent and enhance your fireplace. They can also double as a light source when your fireplace is not in use.
Wall sconces above a fireplace can add an interesting look while also adding light to a room. Candles can also accent your fireplace decor, even if you don’t use them. If you do want to use them for soft lighting, LED candles can be a good option. Plus, they come in a variety of styles, so you can get the look you want without having to worry about melted wax or open flames.
These are just a few tips for decorating fireplaces. If no amount of decorating or remodeling makes your current house feel like home, consider upgrading to a custom home that is designed and built to suit your style and needs. If you’re ready to get started on your own custom home, contact Custom Home Group at 717-284-4090 and bring your dream home to life!