How to make your fireplace the centerpiece of your entire home, according to designers

If you really want a fireplace that’s also a focal point, install a mid-century style suspended ceiling. This bedroom gives off a bright feel thanks to the impactful fireplace, large windows, and vaulted ceiling—and that’s exactly what designer Melissa Anderson was looking for.

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Kevin Swayers of Sawyers Design was inspired by his client Heath Ceramics’ bowl collection and framed the fireplace with tiles from the same company. The colors and shades of the tiles help break up the deep magenta of the mantel and wall above the fireplace, and are a nice touch.

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This entire living room by Ali Budd was designed to compliment the Calacatta Verde marble fireplace. It’s truly a masterpiece, and the asymmetric fireplace and wood carving on one side make it feel more like a piece of art than a fireplace.

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Taking inspiration from traditional architectural styles, Krysta Gibbons of Kipling House finished the fireplace in this living room with leftover sandals she found on site. It maintains a cohesive look with the rest of the house and is stylish.

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The Sugarhouse living room once housed the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, but now brings an unparalleled charm, history and patina to the area. Using salvaged items, big or small, in your home ensures a unique interior.

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In this cozy living room by Marie Flanigan, you won’t find wood. Instead, homeowners create warmth with fireballs, eliminating the need to go out to buy or chop wood.

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An embroidered black dress in this library by designer Sarah Vaile highlights the elegance of the space without sacrificing fun. This room is cheeky and warm, and the matte finish ties in with the other black accents in the room.

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Designer Liz Carroll chose a concrete finish for the fireplace in this North Carolina home, but she didn’t want it to feel cold and stark. He had the architect, Clark Tate, use the board texture method to create a subtle, warm wood grain effect, which gives it a certain character.

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This simple metal round table is any minimalist’s dream. Look closely and you will see a subtle design in the metal. Designer Rajni Alex chose it for the living room in our 2024 Whole Home, showing just the sculpture above.

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This rustic fireplace idea involves stacking sticks to evoke the rustic charm of a building, perfect for a lakeside retreat. By filling in an empty fireplace, designer Brad Ramsey completed the space instead of leaving it bare.

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Check out this empty fireplace idea from designer Tom Scheerer, who used one to house a paper fan. Additional wood is a good thing from the previous life of the structure.

Old meets new in this empty fireplace concept from Kingston Lafferty Design. An ornate Victorian dresser contrasts with a plain tile fireplace, featuring geometric cabinets. The cactus in the fireplace cache wakes it up and gives the fireplace purpose.

It’s not always brick with a smooth monochromatic decoration, natural stone materials and modern art. Nicole Hollis Studio’s solution was to paint over them in a dark or black color. This creates depth and makes the old brick texture pop. Do this if you want to make your bare fireplace look sleek but understated.

Leanne Ford painted this non-functional fireplace white—even the decorative wood. Then she warmed up the living room with pampas grass and cream tones.

Make your fireplace pop with a decorative screen like this one from the Williamsburg Hotel. It hides an empty fireplace but also enhances the surrounding area.

In this beautiful, fragrant environment, interior designer Leanne Ford turned an empty fireplace into a gallery to display pottery and artwork.

When in doubt, flowers are often the solution. Enhance a beautiful space with a beautiful floral arrangement, as in the empty fireplace idea in this Nantucket home by James Michael Howard.

Jersey Ice Cream Co. filled this empty fireplace with stacks and stacks of old books, complementing the aged look of the mantel.