A Complete Guide to Decorating a Fireplace Like a Designer

Decorating a fireplace is one of the easiest and most impactful ways to style a room.

Whether your fireplace is functional or purely decorative, you can make it a beautiful focal point in whichever room it is in.

Which is why I wanted to create this guide on how to decorate your fireable, no matter your style or budget!

Start with a Clean Slate

Before adding decor, we need to strip it back to basics. Do this by clearing off the mantle and cleaning the fireplace itself.

A blank canvas helps you to see the fireplace shape, colour and architectural design which can help guide your decorating process.

Photo: Room For Tuesday on Pinterest

Choose a Focal Point

A well-decorated fireplace needs an anchor. Something that immediately draws the eye.

This is typically placed above or centered on the mantle.

Some ideas for the focal point could be a large mirror, a statement piece of art, a vintage frame, a decorative clock, or even mounted TV.

This will set the tone for the rest of the decor.

Photo: Reid and Wright

Add Layers for Visual Interest

Next, you should try adding layers.

You can do this by adding fresh flowers or greenery, stacked books, sculpture objects and even lamps and lanterns.

By layering different decor choices, you make the fireplace look intentionally styled.

Photo: Curbed

Balance, Don’t Overcrowd

Symmetry isn’t required, but visual balance is essential.

If you placed two items on one side, balance them with shorter but wider pieces on the other side.

For example, if you place a large vase on the left, add to medium-sized items on the right.

Or if you have a large mirror centred, have two smaller decor options on each side.

These small changes make the fireplace visually appealing to look at.

Photo: Cozy Manor

Incorporate Texture

If you want to create a cozy fireplace, incorporating texture is one of the best ways to do that.

Experimenting with ceramic vases and woven baskets can help to soften the lines of a fireplace.

Photo: Town N Country Living

Decorate Seasonally Without Replacing Everything

A fireplace is the perfect opportunity for seasonal styling.

You don’t need to do a total overhaul every time the season changes but just a few changes make a big difference.

For example, you can add pumpkins during the fall, candles and metallic accents during the winter, flowers and fresh greenery in the spring, and seashells and woven textures during the summer.

Photo: Cupful of Cozy

Avoid These Common Mistakes

A few small changes can greatly improve your fireplace styling.

Avoid:

• Too many small items (they look cluttered)
• Decor lined up in a straight row
• Oversized TV mounted too low
• Mantel décor that feels disconnected from the room
  

Instead, choose fewer, larger pieces and vary height and scale.

Key Takeaways on A Complete Guide to Decorating a Fireplace Like a Designer

Those were all of my best strategies for decorating a fireplace that can become a focal point in your home.

By simply cleaning out the fireplace and adding a few pieces that represent your personality, you can transform this space in your home.

Which strategy will you be trying first? Let me know in the comments!