One of the biggest challenges in decorating any room in any home is dealing with the question of space. Sometimes it seems like you simply do not have enough space and you have to be creative about how to make use of every square inch that you have. Sometimes the opposite seems to be true. Although people used to cramped living spaces can’t really imagine this kind of problem, a lot of people have the challenge of having too much space. Some of them have large rooms that they cannot fill or entire homes that they have yet to figure out how to configure. But the truth is that not having enough space is always a little tougher to deal with than having too much of it. There are a number of tricks and tools, though, that professional designers implement to make spaces feel better.
If you have a small living room, then you should consider designing the fireplace area in one of the below ways, which should make the whole room feel bigger.
Design Idea #1 – Paint the fireplace white. If you have a fireplace that is very dark, it might be making your living room feel smaller. In fact, you should always use brighter, warmer colors in a small space because they will open the whole room up and make it feel more spacious. So if you have a dark brick fireplace, for example, consider painting it white, ivory, eggshell, or a similar hue. It is inexpensive and easy and will make the space feel larger and the fireplace look like it’s brand new.
Design Idea #2 – Hang a large mirror above the fireplace and mantle. A very common trick that designers use is hanging mirrors to reflect light and make rooms feel larger. This works in hallways, bedrooms, and living rooms, too. And hanging a large single piece of décor on the wall is a common, simple, and aesthetically pleasing way to decorate the fireplace and mantle area. So it makes sense that if you have a fireplace in a small living room, hanging a large mirror above it is a great way to decorate the area.
Design Idea #3 – Put in a stone fireplace that includes bricks all the way up to the ceiling. Whether or not this works well in your living room is a call that you will have to make yourself, but it can be an expensive investment so make sure it works for you. Instead of a mantle, put in a sleek, stone fireplace that crawls all the way up to the ceiling. It can make your ceiling look higher, making the whole room feel better.
Design Idea #4 – Cover your fireplace in a mirrored mosaic design. Just as a mirror above the mantle can make your room feel larger, covering the entire fireplace in mirrored mosaic tiles will also make the room feel larger. Light will hit the fireplace and reflect off of it, hitting corners that might not otherwise get any natural light. Beyond that, this is also a unique and beautiful way to decorate your fireplace so that it is a vibrant part of your room even when it doesn’t have a fire inside of it.
Design Idea #5 – Decorate your mantle with candles. Candles are beautiful both when they are lit and aflame and when they are not lit. But just as mirrors light up a small room and make it feel larger, so do candles. Pick out some tall white ones and put them in pretty candlesticks. Or go with shorter, squat, colorful ones. Feel free to get scented ones, too, if you want to add a fragrance to the room as well.
Design Idea #6 – Build a slate fireplace. Slate fireplaces are modern, sleek, and chic. If you want a high tech, cutting edge looking fireplace in your living room, then consider investing in a slate fireplace with matching andirons. It is cool and contemporary and will make your whole room feel like it has been updated.
These are just a few ways to design your fireplace for your smaller living room. But if you really want to enjoy the fireplace, then make sure you use it. Whether you are cuddling up alone on the couch or hosting a gathering of friends and family, a fire always adds an element of fun and intimacy. So keep plenty of extra firewood on hand, you never know when the situation will call for a romantic vibe!
June 13th, 2013 
