subject: Decorating Around Your Fireplace [print this page] Decorating Around Your Fireplace Decorating Around Your Fireplace
Fireplaces make beautiful focal points for family rooms and reception rooms, and decorating the area by the fireplace can make that area even more lovely and inviting. Here some ideas to help you while decorating around your fireplace.
First, think about the overall colour and theme of the room. All your decorations should compliment or neatly contrast the main colours of the room, such as the walls, carpets, area rugs, and furniture.
If the room is formal, try to stick with more formal decorations. For instance, for marble fireplaces, crystal ornaments or china figurines look good on the mantelpiece. But a rough stone fireplace or red brick fireplace might look better with shabby chic dcor, or farmhouse/country style decorations that might not look good with marble fireplaces.
Think about all the different parts of fireplaces that you can decorate, not just the mantelpiece. You can add certain decorative items to the hearth stones, or on either side of the fireplace. Some items can even be placed inside the fireplace, if they are fireproof, such as decorative rocks or iron items.
Make sure that you keep all flammable items well away from the fire. It is best not to hang any paper or fabric ornaments near a fireplace. In fact, even placing them on the mantelpiece can be dangerous as they could be knocked or blown into the fire by accident.
Of course if your fireplace is for decorative purposes only, and not for heating, this allows you more scope in how you decorate.
Think about adding some afghans and cushions to your sofas and chairs as this adds to the cosy feel of the room. You can also place ottomans and stools by the fireplace for people to sit and warm their hands.
Be creative, and think of different ways to make your fireplace area inviting.
