5 More Ways to Update Your Fireplace

An attractive fireplace can add charm and character to any room. Whether you’re remodeling or refreshing, updating your fireplace might be the next project that you want to embark on to bring new life to your home. We’ve already inspired you to update your fireplace with five previous ideas that are bound to bring another dimension to your living space. But if none of those ideas sparked your fancy, then we have compiled five more ways to update your fireplace.

The hearth is truly the heart of the home. A hearth is the floor of a fireplace: it protects the floor from heat and coals while also adding charm and a pleasant aesthetic to the space the fireplace sits in. Like replacing a mantel or the trim of a fireplace, upgrading your hearth can change the entire feel of your fireplace and living space. There are many ways you can redo a fireplace hearth without breaking the bank. Sometimes a simple deep cleaning can do the trick to spruce up your hearth. However, you can make your hearth more attractive by restyling it. When replacing or redoing your hearth, you want to be sure to use a material for the floor of the hearth that can withstand very high temperatures. For the front part of the hearth, feel free to get creative according to your personal style. Use paint, tiles, marble, or a stone slab, depending on your personal taste and the aesthetic of your living space.

Before you go for the painted or semigloss look, consider decorating your fireplace surround with some eye-catching tiles. Tiling a fireplace isn’t exactly a quick fix, but it is totally worth the time invested because the results are sure to be stunning. You can change the entire look of a room by simply surrounding your fireplace with tiles to give a drab fireplace a facelift and bring color and texture into your home.

You will want to choose your tiles carefully, however. First, ensure that they are able to withstand higher temperatures without breaking or cracking. Also, carefully select a style of tile that works well with your living space. There is a big difference between white marble tiles, earthy terracotta, or artisan-inspired colorful tiles. You can also mix and match. For example, try using an earthy terracotta tile as the main event while adding accents of hand-painted artisanal tiles for extra color. Hand-designed, painted, and glazed tiles look fabulous as colorful and lively accent pieces against more monochromatic backdrops. Alternatively, go all out and use all colorful tiles to surround your fireplace with something new, bright, and lively. For a more low-effort approach that produces a similar effect, consider installing a tin-tile surround for a vintage and charming aesthetic.

Exposed brick is an incredibly stylish way to add a rugged and textured dimension to your home. Instead of redoing the fireplace, consider removing what is covering the brick and flue. Many people like the look of painting or covering up the natural brick around the fireplace with shiplap, but if that’s not your style, then perhaps exposed brick is. Exposed brick offers a rustic yet sophisticated charm that can change the feel of your whole home. Depending on how much you want to expose your brick and flue, you can create an interesting industrial or rustic edge that still has a modern streak.

Another way to get that interesting look is to update your fireplace with concrete. Before you say, "No way," hear us out. A concrete fireplace will completely upgrade the entire look and feel of your space. Concrete is soft and warm but still maintains a sleek and modern edge. Long-lasting and easy-to-clean, concrete might be the unexpected answer to your fireplace upgrade.

If you’re looking for something new but aren’t exactly keen to rip out the whole fireplace and start from scratch, perhaps first consider switching up your accessories. Adding even small details like a new mantel, artwork above the mantel, or screens can make a huge difference. Consider adding glass doors to your fireplace to change up its look. Glass doors are a great way to ensure the fireplace and living space stay separate from one another. You can keep excess heat, smoke, ash, and coals in the fireplace and sit back and watch the flames flickering through the glass. Another way to change the superficial elements of your fireplace is to add or change a screen. Screens come in so many different styles and designs that they're perfect for giving your living space some flair. Choose from Victorian-inspired, Art Deco, or modern minimalist to bring a different personality to your fireplace.

One sure way to update your fireplace is to redo your fireplace surround. While this sounds expensive, there are economical ways to do this. First, you can make your own fireplace surround. If you’re handy with carpentry, you can build your own wooden fireplace surround and mantel. Be sure you check with your local building code officials to ensure your design and materials are safe and compliant. Alternatively, you can buy vintage or second-hand fireplace surrounds to bring an antique feel to your living space. You can find some incredible antique fireplace surrounds that can be refurbished and brought into your home to add a vintage charm.

With a little creativity and some work, your fireplace can become the dazzling focal point of your home. Whether you’re renovating or simply upgrading, updating your fireplace can be what you need to perfectly match your living space with your preferred decor.