20 Living Room Fireplace Ideas and Trends for a Charming Interior

Natural stone fireplaces have been around, well, since humans made the first chisel and migrated indoors. But this year, we’re stepping out of the Stone Age and taking on a fresh contemporary feel.

The deconstructed fireplace — breaking down its components into individual design elements — is an unexpected, hot (ha!) trend. The stand-alone stove, the to-the-side mantel/bench, and underneath wood-and-woolly-blanket storage all work together, offering visual interest and practical solutions.

Just because a fireplace is located in or near the living room doesn’t mean that it has to have a fleet of sofas surrounding it. Funkify the functionality of your living space with a fun, fireside breakfast nook.

Fluting is a new texture trend popping up on everything from side tables to headboards. Here, it’s used by Andrea Grbic Home to gently pull our attention towards the fireplace with its subtle play of light and shadow in an all-white space.

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Previously only seen in luxury hotel lobbies (or outdated 1960s ski chalets), three-way fireplaces are taking up permanent residence in our contemporary homes. Beautifully integrated into the design by Jillian Harris, this open fireplace feels warm and inviting.

This year, fireplaces are losing their mantels and getting knee-level surrounds instead. Used for decorative displays, extra storage, or overflow seating, fireplace surrounds are really gaining ground when it comes to trending fireplace ideas.

When it comes to fresh fireplace ideas, metallics are stepping onto the podium. From highly reflective metallic tiles to heavily patinated brushed steel, mixing metals into your interior plans is an out-of-the-box idea that could have a big design payoff.

A big trend in fireplaces — and interior design in general — is versatility. People want their homes to work harder for them with more multifunctional design solutions, and a two-way fireplace definitely ticks that two-for-one versatility box.

With their clean lines and sharp edges, it’s no wonder linear fireplaces continue to hold their spot at the front of the line of design trends in 2024. Paired with the aforementioned versatility trend, the ability of these simple, sleek units to fit just about anywhere is unparalleled.

Finding fireplace ideas that make a big impact but won’t blow a fixed budget is always the name of the interior-design game. Large-scale porcelain tiles installed from the floor up to the ceiling can have just the same wow factor as natural stone… at a fraction of the cost.

When updating a historic property, it can be challenging to balance the urge to preserve and the desire for a blank slate. Here, designer Lauren Miller opted to reinvigorate the 115-year-old fireplace and its original millwork with a DIY marble adhesive facade, seamlessly meshing contemporary design and Old-World craftsmanship.

Fireplaces don’t always have to live in the living room. The warmth and coziness brought on by a mellow fire crackling behind the grate might just be what the hub of your family home needs.

If you’re thinking of renovating a specific area or starting from scratch, play around with the fireplace’s placement to alter its functionality. Here, in this basement family area and playroom, a safe, elevated linear gas fireplace insert brings light and ambience to a space that’s all about cuddles and creativity.

When looking at fireplace ideas, consider your fuel options alongside those of form and function. In this big, airy living space —designed by Laurie Sprague of Sprague Interiors — a high-end linear electric fireplace reduces the family’s carbon footprint without losing any convenience.

In a sea of monochromatic fireplace surrounds, seeing a splash of colour is one of the freshest fireplace ideas this year. Since these bold mosaic tiles take over the lower half of an entire wall, designers Kyla Bidgood and Kristine Hageland of Bidgood Co Interiors used simple, large-framed art on the mantel to balance them out.

Thank the Scandinavians for the concept of hygge, saunas, and the perfecting of powerful wood-burning fireplaces. Efficient and aesthetically pleasing, a compact, standalone wood stove is the perfect cabin accessory.

Firepits are fun and pizza ovens are handy, but if you really want to elevate your backyard entertaining area, an outdoor fireplace is next level. It’ll lengthen those long summer nights when you don’t want to go inside just yet and heat up memorable winter moments watching the snow fall around you with a hot chocolate in hand.

From its low-to-the-floor arch to its recessed firebox, this unique fireplace holds a bevy of interesting design concepts. The layers of brick add depth and texture, while the white paint and simple dark mantle unify the whole unit.

The contrast of the rich black marble surround and the warm wood cladding and side cabinets is what makes this fireplace-design sing. Interior designer Michelle Hurley chose materials that immediately bring a sense of coziness while remaining contemporary.

Tiny spaces may present limitations to fireplace-design options, but don’t count them out altogether. This compact electric fireplace turns a transitory flex space into a must-stop, snuggle-down spot.