In interior design, there is hardly a more prominent or important component than a fireplace. It is often – but not always – used as the architectural centerpiece in a room. Of course, it is important that you understand how to design your fireplace to complement your home.
Your fireplace doesn’t always have to match the room. If you want to accentuate your fireplace, it is best to visually contrast it with the rest of the room. Otherwise, you can highlight other things in your suite by blending it with the interior.
In this article, I will discuss why the design of a fireplace depends on your interior decor. I will also guide you through using color, material, and location to achieve the perfect look for your fireplace.
Contents
Your fireplace doesn’t always have to match the room
In interior design, as in all arts, it’s about creativity. That means you should have the freedom to design your home the way you want. However, if you want to arrange a suite, you need to understand some basic concepts.
Your fireplace design should rely on whether you want it to stand out in a room or if you want it to sink and remain subtle. The look you want to achieve is directly influenced by how you express your focal points.
Match your fireplace with the room’s focal point
It’s important to understand how versatile the implementation of your fireplace can be. One of the first important things to know about are focal points.
Focal points (or usually just one focal point, as it’s common to have only one per room) are the main attractions of any apartment in a house. You can use these points to draw attention and stand out.
While fireplaces are the most common type, as stated on redhousestaging.com, they don’t have to be. According to Gloria Hander Lyons’ book Ten Common Home Decorating Mistakes & How to Avoid Them: If a fireplace isn’t your focal point, you should make sure there is something else, be it a painting, a window, or anything that could make the room more interesting.
All this means that you can match your fireplace design to the rest of your room and set a different focal point, or you can accentuate your fireplace and intentionally give it a design that stands out from the rest of the room. You can achieve this contrast by using colors, materials, and locations.
What’s the best look for my fireplace?
The best look for your fireplace is a design that matches its colors and materials. Make sure the colors and designs of your fireplace blend well with the rest of the room. Actively giving it a distinctive design helps it stand out and create a focal point.
Whether you want to subtly adapt it or highlight it, such a renovation will always be rewarding. This allows for a solid and consistent look for your space.
Use the right colors for your fireplace
The easiest way to change the look of your fireplace is by painting it.
Color plays the most important role in interior space design. There are many approaches you can take to achieve the ideal aesthetics.
Marks Painting offers a wide range of options that go hand in hand with the two alternatives mentioned earlier in this article.
Create contrast between the fireplace and the focal point
The first option is to rely on the natural function of a fireplace as a focal point. You can do this by coating it with a shade that is noticeably vibrant and striking compared to the rest of the room.
It’s possible to go a step further by creating an internal color contrast within the fireplace itself. Use two or three different colors to separate the inner chamber, mantelpiece, and chimney to create a truly attention-grabbing focal point for the room.
Keep the colors subtle
On the contrary, if you have another focal point in mind or don’t want such a full-fledged fireplace, I recommend you can also suggest a more achromatic alternative. By using a similar (or the same) shade as the rest of your room, you can easily blend your stove into a more subtle composition.
If you want something that allows for a marginal distinction, using more neutral shades can work wonders. A paint in black, white, gray, brown, or beige can give any room the deep and yet calm style you desire.
Choose a material that suits your fireplace
The last thing to consider about the specific design is the material used for the surround. There are various options to choose from, and each can give your interior a completely different look.
Thanks to Direct Fireplaces and Quality Granite and Marble, here is a list of potential materials you can use in your design:
- Slate: It’s an expensive choice for a darker look.
- Granite: This material introduces some lighter tones at a lower price.
- Oak: It can be for a richer style and at a much more affordable price.
- Pine: It’s a particularly lighter and more affordable choice.
- Limestone: It can accommodate neutral tones at a moderate price.
- Marble: It’s the most expensive choice for an archaic white look.
Where is the best place for your fireplace?
A final note is that sometimes it’s less about the look and more about the location when it comes to finding the right spot for your fireplace.
The best place for your fireplace is in the center of your room. You can achieve this by arranging your furniture to surround or face the stove.
Escea.com has a quality guide if you’re looking for a detailed guide on the best ways to compose a room around a fireplace. The key is to ensure that you almost always center the room on the fireplace. That doesn’t mean the firebox should be in the middle of the room, but the furniture and composition should focus on the firebox.
Of course, this is subject to your freedom and by no means a rule you have to follow.
Final thoughts
In summary, your fireplace doesn’t have to match the room at all, and the beauty of a stand-alone stove greatly enhances many designs.
I’ve discussed the versatility that can be integrated into the design of your fireplace and guided you through the ideal practices.
By using color, material, and location, you can create stunning interior spaces with any fireplace.
Sources
- Red House Staging: What is a Room’s “Focal Point”? Does a Room Need One?
- Google Books: Ten Common Home Decorating Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Mark’s Painting: Paint Color Ideas for a Fireplace
- Direct Fireplaces: What Are the Different Types of Wooden Fireplace Surrounds?
- Quality Granite & Marble: What Type of Stone is Best for a Fireplace Surround?
- Escea: Living Room Layout Guide: 5 Ways to Position Your Fireplace & Furniture Together