30 Fireplace Remodel Ideas to Maximize Your Home’s Coziness
Cue the makeover montage
Because a fireplace is often the focal point of a living space—especially in older homes where it was likely a significant source of heat back in the day—a fireplace makeover can dramatically transform a house. To inspire your own fireplace facelift, we rounded up our favorite fireplace remodel ideas. These span from complete renovations to simple cosmetic upgrades you can do in a weekend or even an evening.
1. Incorporate a Stone Aesthetic
Incorporating stone into your fireplace design adds a timeless and captivating aesthetic that brings natural warmth and texture to your space. Whether you use real stone or stone veneer or add in a stacked stone hearth, the appearance can invite a sense of comfort and connection to the outdoors, ultimately enhancing the overall ambiance of your home. Some of the best stacked stone fireplace ideas incorporate a variety of interior styles from mountain rustic to all-white modern.
2. Paint the Brick White
An impactful, yet simple, fireplace remodel idea is the white-painted brick fireplace. All you need is some white paint and an afternoon to get the modern brick fireplace of your dreams.
3. No Really, Paint the Brick White
Don’t just stop at the fireplace surround, paint the inside of the brick fireplace (the insert) too. For an ultra-modern look that will make the fireplace really pop, paint the grout joints gray or black.
4. Whitewash the Brick
If you're not into the idea of a fully white brick fireplace, whitewash the brick for a chic look that creates a stunning focal point. It's perfect for any interior style, from rustic to modern, as it softens the color and maintains the brick's character. The process of whitewashing brick involves applying diluted white paint to the surface of the brick to create a translucent, textured finish.
5. Or Paint It Blue
While everyone else is doing a white fireplace remodel, why not do a blue one? This navy blue painted brick fireplace also comes together over a weekend and is perfect if you’re looking for a little color.
6. Marble-ize the Mantel
A white marble mantel is the epitome of fireplace luxury and looks lovely in a grand parlour or spacious living room. For a similar look that’s less expensive, opt for quartz or granite.
7. Marble-ize the Surround and Hearth
Did you know it’s possible to keep your mantel but reface your fireplace surround and hearth? It takes a bit of work, but you can pry your existing mantel off in one piece and set it aside. This particular fireplace pairs new marble with an old wood mantel for a beautiful modern-vintage look.
8. Coordinate Your Fireplace Decor
Not every fireplace needs an extreme makeover. If you’re bored with how yours looks but don’t want to make big changes, try updating the decor that surrounds it. Simply pick out a few pieces of decor for the mantel and the fireplace surround that match your couch color or perhaps the predominant hue in a nearby painting. Your room will look pulled together in a flash. Bonus if you can coordinate with fresh flowers.
9. Dress Up the Hearth
Another fast makeover idea? Dress up your hearth with sculptures and plants. And don’t overlook your fireplace grate area. Replace a worn-down grate with a new one or, better yet, opt for a set of fireplace andirons in a sleek ball shape.
10. Mix Old and New
There’s just something so charming about an exposed brick fireplace, and if you’re lucky enough to have an old one that’s in decent shape, consider planning your fireplace remodel around it. For instance, you can pair old red bricks with a brand-new white wood mantel for a vintage-inspired look that fits in a modern home.
11. Go Ultra Modern
Between the stone surround and concrete hearth, this ultra modern fireplace could look a little cold. But cozy furniture, warm lights, and light hardwood floors add softness and help balance the look. If you're interested in updating your current fireplace, a concrete over brick fireplace project can help you achieve the look.
12. Add Metallic Accents
While the owners of this house updated the fireplace with a modern white mantel and surround, they kept the antique stone hearth. What’s more, they accessorized the fireplace with antique brass candlesticks and a copper wood holder to pay tribute to the original style of the house. A modern brass mirror completes the look.
13. Go Rustic With a Solid Wood Mantel
Installing a solid wood mantel over your fireplace offers a multitude of benefits, as it not only adds an elegant focal point to the room but provides functional versatility. A wood mantel blends seamlessly with rustic and farmhouse styles but can also offer a touch of warmth and natural beauty to more modern or contemporary designs, especially with a sleek piece of wood. Functionally, a solid wood mantel acts as a protective barrier between the heat of the fireplace and your wall, adding an element of safety.
14. Create a Shiplap Focal Point
In case you’re unfamiliar with this interior design technique, shiplap is a type of wood paneling that’s exploded in popularity due to its ability to add warmth, texture, and rustic charm to any space. Instead of a traditional shiplap accent wall, why not do a DIY shiplap fireplace? It’s both chic and pretty easy to DIY.
15. Or Try a Natural-Wood Shiplap
While white shiplap is probably the most popular version of the shiplap trend, natural wood shiplap looks equally gorgeous on a fireplace.
16. Use Tile for the Surround
Using tile for a fireplace surround introduces a captivating element that can dramatically transform your space. The choice of tile material greatly influences the overall functionality and aesthetic, whether it's timeless, sleek, cozy, or eclectic.
Ceramic and porcelain tiles offer a wide array of colors, patterns, and finishes, making them suitable for both traditional and contemporary styles. Natural stone tiles like marble, granite, or slate lend an elegant and organic feel, often associated with upscale and classic designs. Glass tiles reflect light and bring a modern, glossy touch, while mosaic tiles offer intricate designs.
17. Pick a Pattern
To really make your fireplace stand out, do a tile surround with a fun pattern. This particular fireplace actually uses tiles leftover from a kitchen counter remodel, which can be a great way to create a cohesive look between your living room and kitchen while saving money.
18. Fashion a Wall Insert for Wood
While we love the gorgeous light gray brick used in this fireplace remodel, we can’t help but stare at the elegant wall insert of stacked logs. Yes, it’s practical, but we really love how it makes the wood feel like part of the decor.
19. Replace Logs With Stones
To modernize your gas fireplace fast, switch out the logs or coals for large round fireplace stones. The stylish minimalist balls make a big impact despite their compact size and can quickly give your fireplace an easy makeover. Additional gas fireplace surround ideas include using tile, natural stone, or even steel.
20. Opt for Low-Maintenance Electric
Electric fireplaces are convenient and versatile alternatives that, unlike wood or gas fireplaces, don't require a vent or chimney, making them easy to install in a home. They use LED technology to simulate the appearance of a real fire and often come with adjustable flame effects and heat settings, providing both aesthetic charm and optional heating. Since electric fireplaces don't produce real flames or heat in the same way as wood or gas fireplaces, you have more flexibility in choosing surrounding materials. Some popular options include engineered stone, tile, ceramic, porcelain, glass, metal, or even wood.
21. Beautify With Built-Ins
If you’re up for a fairly substantial home makeover, think about adding built-in bookshelves to either side of your fireplace. Along with automatically increasing your storage space, built-ins provide visual intrigue and texture to the room. What’s better than reading a great novel by the fire?
22. Top It Off With a TV
A roaring fire is arguably more interesting than even the most intriguing TV series. Still, if your family regularly posts up in front of the tube, mounting the TV over the fireplace gives you the best of both worlds.
23. Make Family Photos the Focus
If you use it regularly, your fireplace is your home’s heart, so the people closest to yours should be represented there. Framed photos along the mantel are a great way to make the space feel even cozier—or you could use photo-clip string lights for an added touch of brightness.
24. Consider a Pellet Stove
Looking for a way to warm your home the old-fashioned way, but not so excited about splitting logs? Consider fitting a pellet stove into your fireplace, which offers efficient heating with easily-purchased fuel. Plus, since pellet stoves are more contained than fireplaces, you’ll likely have less soot in your life.
25. Get Grecian With It
If “go big or go home” is your mantra—or you just have a passion for Plato—consider adding Grecian columns to frame your fireplace. Few designs feel grander or more timeless.
26. Customize Your Grate
It’s true: Your fireplace grate could be a bespoke family heirloom, proudly spelling your surname at the base of the flames. (Or, come to think of it, any other word that’s meaningful to you.)
27. Upgrade Your Accessories
Sometimes, it’s not about the fireplace itself so much as what’s around it. If it’s been a minute since you’ve upgraded your fireplace tool set or log rack, consider making the investment. You might be surprised how much life it brings into the room.
28. Bring It to Life With Houseplants
Nothing brings the power of nature into your home quite like a fireplace, but houseplants are a close second. If you’re hoping to make your fireplace feel even warmer (in every sense of the word), add a few houseplants to the hearth—always making sure they’re a safe distance from open flames, of course.
29. Go Double-Wide
What’s better than a normal fireplace? An even bigger fireplace, of course. Extra large fireplaces create drama in any room—not to mention additional heat if you live somewhere with exceptionally cold winters. While this upgrade could take some more substantial renovation, if you’re really looking to make an impact, it’s one worth considering. Plus, your local fireplace remodeler can help.
30. If It’s Not a Working Fireplace—Make It Into Snazzy Storage
Whether the chimney’s been blocked up or you simply don’t want to deal with the mess, sometimes, a fireplace is no longer a place for a fire. If that’s the case in your home, consider cleaning it up really well and using it as a storage and display area, instead. Just think of your defunct fireplace as the hippest bookshelf in existence. (Of course, this option only works if you’re sure you won’t be using it for burning any time soon.)