5 Tips For Creating A Cozy Fireplace

A fireplace brings a warm glow to any room whether it’s a living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, or outdoors.  Many people are now adding a second or third fireplace to their home because they see the benefit a fireplace provides which also adds to the value of their home.  A fireplace creates a cozy and warm mood in any space, especially with a real cackling fire going on.  Of course, there are other factors that play a part in the overall coziness and warmth of a space from the furniture to the colors, accessories and layout.  But, a fireplace is a beautiful feature to have in your home that creates a feeling of intimacy where people can gather together and share in the warmth or simply enjoy the ambience of the room.  If you are looking to give your fireplace a refresh (whether it’s small or large) and make it more cozy and inviting for your family and friends, here are a few tips to help inspire you to tackle your project head on.

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1. Accessories

A large antique mirror above your fireplace or a large piece of bold artwork can help make your fireplace and the rest of your space more welcoming and inviting.  Adding brass, gold, and copper creates warmth and glamour.  Place lighted candles, small or large above your fireplace mantel to add a warm glow to the ambience. Books, plants, and family photos provide a personal touch and consider choosing a few fixtures that contribute to the look and feel of your fireplace. Fireplace pokers, screens, and log racks help enhance and elevate your fireplace while providing comfort and elegance to the room.

2. Dark Colors

Dark colors help make a space more cozy and warm, especially in a smaller room.  Colors such as charcoal, olive, navy, chocolate brown and even black can provide warm tones.  As the light in a room changes throughout the day, so does a dark wall color.  Black can have warm undertones so if you paint the walls around your fireplace a dark color, it can create a sense of warmth, safety, and homely ambience.  When you bring in other elements such as wood for your fireplace mantel, it adds a cozy texture and depth to your space.

3. Lighting

Wall Sconces in that sit on either side of a mirror or a painting above the fireplace adds a warm glow.  If you want to add additional lights to your living room for example because you don’t get enough light in the room, consider wall sconces for the fireplace.  If you set the lights on a dimmer, you can easily set the mood for a room creating a more intimate and inviting ambiance that is cozy for a group gathering especially during the holiday season. If you have artwork above your fireplace, you can add a picture light to highlight the artwork but also add to the warmth and coziness of the space.  Hardwiring lights requires a bigger budget and an electrician can help obtain any necessary electrical permits required.

4. Stone or Brick Face

If you have a bigger budget and plan to replace the face or surround of your fireplace, then natural stone such as slate, limestone, or travertine, or traditional brick would be great materials to use.  Stone and brick can fit any design style from traditional to rustic to modern, and still provide a cozy look and feel to a space. Plus, natural stone and brick comes in many shades of colors and sizes that will fit your needs.  Upgrading the surround or face of your fireplace not only helps increase the value of your home, but you can also make it the focal point that draws the eye when you first enter the room.

5. Wood

Wood is a beautiful material not only because it comes from nature which is amazing itself, but wood is a great material to connect the outdoors and indoors so that it’s in harmony with one another.  It has so much texture and depth and instantly adds warmth to any room, especially the fireplace.  If you want to replace your fireplace mantel, consider a wood mantel or if you want to do away with a traditional mantel that has legs, consider a solid reclaimed wood beam for your mantel instead.  This gives a more modern look, but still provides coziness and warmth to a space.  You can also add corbels for a touch of decorative accent to the mantel. Even adding logs to your fireplace either inside the firebox or on the side in a woven basket creates an inviting and homey atmosphere.

These are some ideas to inspire you to tackle your fireplace project head on and create a cozy, warm, and inviting space during the holiday season.  If you want a designer’s touch to spruce up your space and are ready to jump in with your design project, please contact me for a complimentary design consultation.  To schedule your consultation, click here.   In the meantime, happy decorating!