5 Remodel Ideas For Giving Your Fireplace A Facelift

While performing your annual winter checklist, you may have discovered that your fireplace isn’t working correctly, or simply feels outdated.

A fireplace provides warmth during the winter and acts as an eye-catching living room focal point year-round. If you’re thinking that it’s time to reevaluate the state and comfort of your living room fireplace, here are a few remodeling tips that can help transform your dusty fireplace into something remarkable.

A well-designed fireplace makes a statement, and where better to make that statement than the focal point of the living room?

Not only is featuring a fireplace in the living room’s center ideal for spreading warmth throughout the entire space, but it’s also ideal for opening the room. An open-floor concept helps set an easier foundation for furniture placing. 

A fireplace creates the right atmosphere for your living room. And there are many designs that homeowners can ponder when it comes to remodeling their fireplace.

Simple touches, like paint, can go a long way. However, there are other classic fireplace looks to consider depending on your home’s overall interior design:

Rustic Design

Unsurprisingly, the majority of homeowners today gravitate toward traditional-style fireplaces that replicate real wood-burning fire. Not only is the style deemed “romantic” or “cozy,” but also considerably cost-effective when embracing a more natural state.

Most rustic fireplaces gravitate toward building with wood, brick or stone to embody a natural and earthy feel. The overall rustic approach shares a variety of shapes, textures and colors from natural materials, highlighting how each piece is unique.  

Modern Design

Moving away from the traditional log fire look, contemporary hues and classic furnishings rely on having a fireplace that has more of a modern feel. A modern fireplace design approach normally involves tempered glass covering and an outward finish, like marble and mosaic tile, to help bring a sleek look to the space.

An open layout is very popular with modern design. Modern fireplaces are generally tall and bring forward neutral colors. They also tend to have eco-friendly and long-lasting appeal, potentially helping homeowners cut down on electricity costs.

Do I Need A Fireplace Hearth?

The fireplace hearth is the noncombustible floor of your fireplace. The hearth can also refer to the firebox, the raised area around the fireplace, the mantel and chimney. 

As you design your fireplace hearth, think about whether you’d prefer a raise or flushed (floor-level) hearth. Either works with any fireplace design, but one requires more building material.

Fireplace mantel’s shield your fireplace and increase its value. There are a wide variety of mantelpiece styles, as they often include interior design elements from different time periods.

The most common mantelpiece styles today are mortared, carved stone and cast stone. Mortared styles encase stone or brick in mortar. Carved stone is more expensive but can offer more precise cuts, while cast stone is considerably cheaper and lightweight. The higher-grade stone, think marble or limestone, has a more refined cut for a cleaner look.

A mantelpiece can enhance a room’s beauty and bring eye-catching focus to the fireplace—from the design itself to which family photos, or art pieces, you choose to place on it.

When building, remember to consider the weight and depth of any desired items you’d like to place on your fireplace mantel, like a TV or art piece.

It’s important to take advantage of the wall space surrounding your fireplace. Storage spaces, like custom bookcases and cabinetry, easily brighten the area around it.

Built-ins can also provide both open and closed storage, as well as a spot for a TV and entertainment system. Not to mention, wall art and other hanging knickknacks bring personality into your living space.

If you’re looking to replace your wood-burning fireplace in your home, are electric or gas fireplaces the right choice? Both options look realistic when it comes to dancing flames and have easy home installation capabilities.

Gas Fireplace Benefits

Gas fireplaces require less management than wood-burning options. They continuously warm the living room area well and can get relatively hot by the flip of a switch. They also limit firewood hauling, compared to a traditional wood-burning fireplace, helping the environment.  

Electric Fireplace Benefits

An electric fireplace is generally easier to add into your existing home’s living room design, as it doesn’t require gas lines. It’s also cost-effective for your utility bill and if you choose, it can create an ambiance without any heat, which could be ideal for year-round use.

With all look vs. heat adjustment capabilities, electric fireplaces are “too cool to touch” (safe for pets and children) and many now include remote control options.

Comfort aside, fireplaces are great upgrades to make when it comes to adding value to your home. Not only does impact the atmosphere in your living room, but it also comes with cost-effective and lower maintenance options.

As you read more home improvement articles on our Learning Center, think about how crafting your own personal spark (like a remodeled fireplace) in your home is a great place to start, and how a personal loan could help upfront any project costs.