One of the best ways to create a homely feeling in your living room is to make the fireplace the center of attention. Even though you may only light the fire in the winter months, there are ways to make a fireplace a focal point all year around. The key to doing this is to ensure that you center the theme of your living space around the design theme of the fireplace itself. This can be done through color schemes and other design ideas.
We’ve compiled a list of 15 ideas for creating a fireplace focal point in your home for you to use during your next interior design project.
Gray Brick Paint for Your Fireplace
This design idea works particularly well if you have a living space that focuses around color. When you choose to tone down the color scheme of the room by using gray brick fireplace paint, it puts the focus more onto the fireplace itself. It works particularly well in a room with bright colors, creating an effective contrast that draws the room occupants’ eyeline to the fireplace.
Make Use of Fireplace Doors
Fireplace doors are a great way to neaten up your living space and ensure that your fireplace and its surrounding areas remain clean and tidy. However, when you get fireplace doors, you can also have a lot of fun with their design.
Consider getting fireplace doors in an interesting color. You can either get fireplace doors that complement the overall theme of the room, or that stand out. To make your fireplace a real focal point, get fireplace doors in gold or copper. This will also add to the warmth of the room.
Upgrade Your Fireplace Surround
Many older fireplaces have a beautiful big surround. Many make the mistake of leaving this space alone, which can create an empty feeling in the living space. To truly make your fireplace stand out, consider redecorating your fireplace surround to integrate color and unique designs. There are several ways to do this. You can either paint something custom onto your fireplace surround or simply use a bold color to make it the living room star.
Create an Exaggerated Mantel
A statement mantel is one surefire way to ensure your fireplace becomes the focal point of any room. The mantel provides you with additional display space, which can be customized to suit any design layout. Having an oversized mantel made from large pieces of hardwood wood or even stone can be a great way to make it stand out. To make a fireplace with a large mantel into a focal point, plan the furniture around the material, using similar components in furnishings and accessories.
Treat Yourself To a Double-Sided Fireplace
If the layout of your home allows, consider installing a double-sided fireplace. This will make it a focal point in open-plan homes. It draws a central focus to the overall living space and adds incredible ambiance when the fire is lit. This fireplace style also helps to add structure and finesse to homes with them installed.
Use Lighting to Guide the Focus
Having low-lighting in your living space is a great way to guide the focus to any one given point in a room. You should never use the main lights in the space, as these can detract from the overall aesthetic of the atmosphere. Consider investing in lamps and candles and placing them around the fireplace to make this into the room’s main focal point. Light naturally guides the human eye to a specific area. You can also use LED lights in the firebox during the warmer seasons.
Integrate Unusual Artwork to Draw Attention
If you run a household that appreciates artwork, then this should be reflected in your living space’s design scheme. A fireplace is usually a naturally larger feature of a room, making it the perfect place to display unusual or abstract artwork that can become a conversation point. For example, you may consider placing a large piece of artwork above the fireplace mantel. This will draw attention to the artwork itself, but also make the fireplace the focal point you want.
Direct Your Furniture Toward Your Fireplace
One of the best ways to ensure that your fireplace becomes a focal point in any room is to subtly tell the occupants to sit facing a certain direction. This can be done by arranging your furniture in such a way that all the seating is directed towards the fireplace. Using your furniture to direct the flow of the room is a design technique many professionals use to enhance focal points.
Combine Your TV Unit with Your Fireplace
If your home is all about creating a relaxed environment that’s all about kicking back and chilling, then integrating your TV with your fireplace is a great option. If your fireplace allows, you can install a flatscreen TV above the mantel. This will ensure that the focus is on the fireplace when the entertainment system is in use.
Display Sentimental Items on the Mantel
Your household is your sanctuary, and sentimental items are important for preserving your family’s story. So why not display artifacts and personal photographs on the mantle of your fireplace? Doing this is a great way to create talking points among those in the room. It will also give the room the sentimental touch it needs to truly become an inviting space in your home.
Create a Stand-Out Design for Your Fireplace
Play around with patterns, different colors, custom murals, and even interesting accessories to make your fireplace design properly stand out. You don’t necessarily have to go too overboard, but commissioning a tasteful custom design for your fireplace will surely make it a focal point in the home.
Grow Your Own Indoor Forest
If you have a flair for the green, then arranging your indoor plants around your fireplace is one of the best ways to draw attention to the area and create a calming atmosphere indoors. Plants are great for interior decor and help create a soothing feel in the space.
Make The Fireplace a Multi-Functional Unit
If your fireplace is built into the wall, then making it into a multifunctional unit will certainly draw attention to the feature. You can build bookshelves, cupboard space, and even an electronic device station around the fireplace, enhancing the feature’s size and purpose to create a functional room.
Use Interesting Patterned Tiles
Tiling is one of the best ways to add interest to the fireplace. Using tiles with interesting patterns in the fireplace surround can provide a great canvas to work off for the rest of the living space. For example, if you use patterned tiles with prominently blue and white colors, then the rest of the room can also be designed using a similar scheme. Similarly, you can also use bold-colored tiles to add a pop of color to a room and draw attention to the fireplace.
Play Around with Different Materials
Materials offer various textures and looks to the fireplace. For more relaxed, neutral looks, choose stone to surround your fireplace. This will also help to increase insulation and add a point of interest that draws attention to the fireplace. You can also use dark woods for a more dramatic effect in your fireplace design.
