Let us look at how to enhance fireplaces that remain in a corner of the home all year round, often unused, and make them part of its atmosphere. Naturally, our main task is to dress the fireplace surround.
A Decorative Makeover for Your Fireplace Surround
Fireplaces command a room through the warmth and light of their flames. With creative decorative touches, they can remain the focal point of a space even when they are not in use.
Is it not almost everyone’s dream? Winter, falling snow and a roaring fire... At moments like these, you picture yourself beside a fireplace in a mountain chalet, and time seems to stand still. Fireplaces play the leading role in these scenes, which come to mind especially in colder months. Yet they can also be an enticing decorative feature when they are not being used, as well as on gloomy days.
- A single-colour solution for small spaces
If your fireplace area is small, you will want it to blend into the space rather than dominate it. Our first suggestion is to disguise imperfections by painting the surround, mantel and panelling above it in a single colour, extending to the ceiling if possible. Where several materials have been used together, this approach removes the visual clutter and makes the fireplace appear smaller.
- Create emphasis with a mirror
If you have chosen a bold style for the fireplace frame, you can carry that confidence through the rest of the feature. A classically shaped mantel, for example, shines beneath an oversized mirror. Add candlesticks and candles to be reflected in the glass.
- Group your artworks
If you are a modest collector or have only just started collecting, you have a wonderful place to display your pieces as a group: above the fireplace. This allows the sensory movement of the fire below to continue through the artworks displayed above.
- A burst of energy with contrasting colours
If you have had enough of all this calm, how about a burst of energy in the room? If you believe in your fireplace and want to make it the star, paint it in a neon colour such as midnight blue, turquoise, flamingo pink, yellow or orange. Even painting just the mantel or outline will create the desired effect.
- Minimalist camouflage
Those who favour “less” face a real challenge. Minimalists want to show off a fireplace while keeping it out of sight. In this case, setting it flush with the wall is the best solution. This camouflage lets you retain the fire itself while eliminating the clutter around it.
- Luxurious warmth with a marble effect
If the cost and durability of real marble cladding leave you with a question mark, let us put that uncertainty to rest. Porcelain and ceramic tiles of a quality that faithfully reproduces marble bring the nobility of its texture to the fireplace surround. One of the finest examples is Sunrise from the Çanakkale Seramik family. Capturing the luminous colours of Onice marble, Sunrise is an option for both walls and floors.
- Inspired by Nordic winters
How might we describe a Scandinavian-inspired fireplace corner? A hide rug lies in front, the log store and firebox have the simplest possible forms, and organic furniture surrounds it. If you are looking this far north for the essence of simplicity, you could leave your fireplace in exposed concrete or clad it in cement-effect tiles. Cement 2.0 from Kalebodur’s Royal Gallery series is a distinctive product that brings the look of exposed concrete to the elegance of ceramic. Its matt and semi-gloss options introduce architectural simplicity to the fireplace surround.
- Organic angles in the seating layout
This suggestion concerns the seating arrangement: if possible, create a circular layout that wraps around the fireplace from both sides. With armchairs on either side and a curved sofa opposite, everyone can enjoy an equally good view of the fire and its warmth.
