subject: How To Design A Room Around A Fireplace [print this page] Every room in your house should have a main focal point, or at least a point that the eyes are automatically drawn too when you come through the door. If you aren't sure if your main living room has a focal point or not, go out and shut the door. Then come back in and see where your eyes are drawn too. This should be an architectural feature, not the TV set and if that's all that jumps out at you, its time to start decorating.
The best focal point for any room is a fireplace, fact. If you have never particularly been a fan of fireplaces, you obviously haven't checked out the enormous range of fireplace design ideas that are readily available these days. There is literally a fireplace to suit everybody, and every room. From modern and contemporary to rustic and ornate, you will find the perfect one for you.
Never try to install a new, or update an old, fireplace and attempt to make it fit in with the rest of the room. The new fireplace is going to be your focal point, so strip the room bear and start with the fireplace first, then design the rest of the room around it. The first place to start is the position of your fireplace. If you have never been happy with the location of your fire, now is the time to change it.
Once you have decided on the location, its time to choose the style, color and, very importantly, the size. While it needs to stand out and immediately draw your eye to it, you don't want it to seem as if it overpowers the room and gives the impression that your room is small and cluttered.
If you are restricted to where you can put your fireplace and it is going to have to be a small one, a beautiful mirror or picture above it will draw attention to it instantly. If this doesn't appeal to you, there are other options you can try. By adding some dramatic sculptured piece to the mantel, or even painting a faux border around the fireplace will give it that wow factor.
Be sympathetic with the dcor and ensure that the color of the wall doesn't clash with the fireplace. It is for this reason that contemporary colors such as black, white or gray are becoming increasingly popular as you can redecorate over and over again knowing that everything will blend with your fireplace.
Antique effect fireplaces deserve colors from the period it is emulating, and remember if your fireplace is a light color have it against a dark wall, and vice versa. Arrange your furnishings so that the fireplace can be appreciated from wherever you or your guests are sitting and voila, you have a fabulous room complete with focal point.
