Features of the design of a living room with a fireplace

Nowadays, fireplaces are becoming popular furnishings in both traditional and modern living rooms. They give the interior a special atmosphere of warmth and comfort, and also help to interestingly diversify even a simple and boring environment. Modern options for fireplaces have many varieties, so they can be entered into almost any design project of the living room.

If you are planning to make a living room with a fireplace, it is important to take into account the peculiarities of your room for a competent design. What matters is the layout, dimensions, as well as the desired finish and even the arrangement of furniture. When developing a design project, you will encounter many features of such an environment.

The place for the fireplace must be selected so that it organically fits into the overall layout of the room. It is not recommended to place a fireplace in the aisle, as it will simply be inconvenient: a recreation area is usually arranged around the fireplace, and if other family members constantly pass by, it will be uncomfortable to rest. In addition, it is not customary to place a fireplace close to doors or windows.

It is worth taking care of practicality in advance, because the main function of the fireplace is to heat the room. Most of the heat will be given by fireplaces that are heated with wood, as well as simulated hearths powered by electricity. It should also be borne in mind that fashionable modern models, glazed on two or three sides, are significantly inferior to traditional options in practicality.

If it is possible to purchase a fireplace portal with a drawer at the bottom, it is definitely worth doing. In a small cabinet under the fireplace, it will be very convenient to store firewood for the hearth or just any things you need in everyday life - for example, brushes for cleaning the fireplace. Often, fireplaces also have a small open shelf on top. This can be useful if you have a spacious living room, and in the interior you like an abundance of small details. On a similar shelf above the fireplace portal, you can put a clock, stylish ceramics or photographs - such bright accents will help to further highlight the fireplace.

Many fear that the fireplace will be too conspicuous in the interior. and will not be able to harmoniously fit into the design - this is especially typical for those cases when a fireplace with a traditional design is placed in a modern interior. To avoid this, tables or low cabinets on the side are often attached to the fireplace portal. They can be decorated with the same tiles or paint as the fireplace portal. So you can support the hearth in the interior, organically fit it into the decor of your room.

Modern fireplaces are very varied - they can differ in their location, required fuel, heat emission and style. However, all fireplaces have a number of common features. The main part of the visible structure is occupied by the fireplace portal - this is the facade, which can be decorated with a variety of decorative elements: tiles, tiles, wood and painting. The design also includes a firewood combustion chamber, called a firebox, a smoke collector and a chimney facing the street.

Despite the fact that the design of all real fireplaces is similar in many ways, there are a number of differences.First of all, fireplaces are distinguished by the location in the house that they can occupy.

There are the following options for foci:

• wall-mounted;
• corner;
• built-in;
• island.

The most popular option is wall fireplace... Moreover, this option is quite voluminous and takes up a lot of space, therefore it is recommended to consider a similar model for spacious houses. An obvious plus is that such a fireplace fits into the wall, which means it looks organically in the interior. These fireplaces are usually distinguished using tile, brick or stone finishes.

Corner fireplace has a special design and can look very beautiful in any type of interior. Such models will be ideal for owners of small living rooms. The decoration of such a fireplace can be almost any, and around it you can easily arrange cozy armchairs or even a corner sofa for relaxation.

Built-in fireplace has a chimney embedded in the wall - taking care of the presence of such a fireplace is still at the stage of building a house. This option looks great and takes up very little space in the living room. At the same time, in order for it to be noticeable, it is imperative to come up with a catchy and interesting finish for the portal.

Island fireplace does not occur very often, but it looks very interesting. Mostly, these options are suitable for spacious living rooms, otherwise you simply will not have anywhere to locate the island. Moreover, such options have a suspended chimney, and the heat transfer from them will be less than from other models. Island fireplaces are mostly decorative. The hearth can be viewed from all sides, and you can place such models anywhere in your room, complementing it with a sofa and armchairs.

In addition to being located in the house, it is important to emphasize the differences between fireplaces by the type of fuel required for the hearth:

• A wood-burning fireplace is a traditional option, it requires careful installation and does not give off too much heat. However, the sight of burning logs in the portal is mesmerizing and creates a special, incomparable atmosphere in the room.
• If you want a more practical option, install an easy-to-use gas fireplace.
• Electronic fireplaces are an imitation of real fire, they are suitable both for an apartment and for a house, and will also be convenient to use.
• Finally, bio fireplaces are innovative alcohol-powered models that have a predominantly decorative function.

According to the method of heat radiation, modern hearths can also be divided into several types:

• The first option is a hearth with one-sided heat radiation, the most popular in private houses, is the simplest design and has the maximum heat transfer.
• Hearths with double-sided radiation will become an original design highlight in the interior, however, they lose in heat transfer and practicality.
• There are also options with three-sided radiation, they are rare, and their main function is decorative.

It is very important to choose the right design of the fireplace portal for your style in the interior. The hearth can organically fit into the decor of any living room, but you need to find suitable decor options.

Very often fireplaces are selected for interiors country style in country houses. Often, traditional brick or stone fireplace cladding looks very appropriate in such living rooms. At the same time, if you want to diversify the atmosphere with folk motives, you can choose colored ceramic tiles for the decor of the fireplace. Wood carved cladding options can also look very organic. Finally, simple metal facades will also suit country style and will become a highlight of your interior.

Living room chalet style - this is one of the popular options for country style, such interiors resemble the decoration of houses in the Swiss Alps. Typically, such living rooms have wooden walls, beams on the ceiling, large panoramic windows, and the walls and floors are decorated with natural animal skins. Stone cladding is best suited for such fireplaces - beige and brown shades should be selected so that they do not contrast with the wooden elements in the interior. Also, sometimes you can find minimalistic options for fireplace portals made of metal - they are suitable if you want to put a special emphasis on the hearth.

Now it is becoming fashionable, simple and practical. Scandinavian style in the interior. It is possible to furnish a living room in this way inexpensively, laconic design, light colors of finishes and environmentally friendly materials prevail. The stove is most often finished with light ceramic tiles or light stone - this option is suitable for a small room. If you have a spacious Scandinavian-style living room, you can highlight the hearth with darker shades of stone or tiles.

For a modern living room hi-tech characterized by glossy surfaces for facing the fireplace. Various options made of metal can look very interesting - steel or copper will look great against the background of a dark interior decoration. If you prefer pastel shades, you should consider plastic glossy facades, which will become a fashionable and versatile solution for modern design. Finally, unusual options for fireplaces covered with glass on two or three sides should be considered - such fireplaces are not very practical for heating a room, but they look very unusual and stylish.

Often, houses are made out in classic style, neoclassicism and baroque are also popular - such an interior looks luxurious and elegant. It is customary to decorate a fireplace in such settings with small decorative columns and stucco moldings. Also popular is the facade cladding made of solid stone, for example, marble. However, you can replace this option with a cheaper analogue - a suitable ceramic tile. In addition, sometimes a smooth white facade made of plaster or plastic, as well as the now popular light tiles, stylized as brick or masonry, can look interesting.

For the living room art nouveau brickwork on the facade of the fireplace or its imitation with tiles will be the simplest and most harmonious option. At the same time, if you want to diversify such a design, now you can pick up very interesting modern finishes from black, gray or dark brown stone.

For the living room in english style characterized by restrained decoration, pastel colors of decoration, simple wooden furniture, striped and floral prints of textiles. Hearths in England are usually trimmed with pink or white bricks - such portal facades look restrained and stylish. Often, brickwork is combined with molding or wooden elements. These mantels are characterized by open shelves at the top and cabinets at the bottom.

Living room-loft implies the most open space with a simple stylish design. Very often in lofts, one or more walls are finished with bricks. Facing the fireplace portal with a brick in this case will also look very harmonious if it is located on one of these walls. At the same time, if the fireplace is against a wall with a light finish, you can paint its portal in the color of the walls - it will also look very stylish and organic.

If you are planning to furnish your living room in an eclectic style, it is important that the design of the fireplace is not too restrained and not too flashy - it must organically fit into the room's decor. A variety of modern models of fireplaces can look great - island hearths, portals glazed on several sides, as well as models of an unusual shape made of metal. However, even the most ordinary traditional fireplace built into a wall with brick cladding can look interesting - just decorate the wall around the hearth with moldings or place a couple of bright accessories on the mantelpiece.

The color of the facade of your hearth is very important in the interior - of course, the fireplace portal should stand out, but not be too catchy.

Options for a good color scheme for decorating a fireplace, taking into account the shades of finishing:

• If you have an interior in whitish or pastel shades, and the size of the living room is small, the decoration of the fireplace portal should also be chosen mainly in light colors. Bright white tiles, plastic, whitish stone or brick may work. A light metal facade will also look quite appropriate. An unusual design can be done using non-standard color combinations - for example, lilac tones with olive or beige tones with light gray can look great.

• If you finished the room in light shades, but the room is spacious enough, the fireplace can become a bright and interesting accent. At the same time, it is recommended to avoid pure colors - bright blue, yellow, scarlet or saturated green. It is better to replace them with complex composite shades - for example, facing a fireplace in wine, emerald, mustard and gray-blue shades can be an actual solution. You can also use deep dark tones - black, brown, burgundy or dark blue.

• For a dark living room, you should not choose a fireplace portal that matches the tone of the finish - such a design may turn out to be too boring and gloomy. It is better if the facade of the hearth is slightly lighter or brighter than the main color of the finish: the degree of difference between these colors will depend on how much you want to highlight the fireplace in the interior. If you have burgundy wall decoration, raspberry tiles may work, white fireplace facades are often chosen for khaki-colored walls, and copper shades can be chosen for dark gray walls.

• If you have a living room combined with a hallway or kitchen, which are finished in different colors, using the correct color fireplace portal, you can make the interior more beautiful and solid. The hearth located in the kitchen can be finished in the color of the living area, and vice versa. However, for any finish that combines two colors in different zones, options with white cladding, red brick cladding or metal cladding will be win-win options.

Consider the following design features of a living room with a fireplace, depending on the layout:

• If the fireplace is located in the center of a small living room in a private house, it is best if the design is concise enough. Nevertheless, the fireplace will be the semantic center, therefore, it must be distinguished visually. You can make a bright finish for such a fireplace, decorate the walls around with moldings or paint in a different color. Furniture is usually located around the semantic center of the room. In a small living room with a fireplace, this is best done in a circle, leaving a wide passage.

• If the stove is located in the center of a spacious hall, and you do not want to divide the space of the room into zones, the design should be rich and diverse - you should not limit yourself in choosing small accessories and bright accents. At the same time, all decorative elements should be arranged so that the fireplace stands out. This can be done in two ways. You can furnish the living room rather succinctly, and decorate it with small elements around the fireplace.You can, on the contrary, place bright interior items throughout the room, and leave the area near the fireplace with a minimalistic design - this option will also make your fireplace stand out as the semantic center of the room.

• If you are going to divide your living room into several zones, the location of the fireplace does not matter. Most likely, the fireplace will be located in one of two or three zones, which, in turn, should be highlighted with the help of lighting, decoration color or arches and columns. To make such a living room look good, you should take care of creating several semantic centers in the room - one in each zone. The semantic center, along with a fireplace, can be a TV, a table, a panoramic window, a corner with flowers or an aquarium.

• Nowadays, layouts that involve a combined living room and kitchen are very popular - this trend is especially typical for private houses. At the same time, the options look extremely interesting in which the stove is located at the point of separation between the kitchen and living room zones. In this case, the fireplace is often complemented by a bar counter or an island kitchen countertop. The hearth is usually directed to the living room area. For a harmonious design, you need to think over the environment so that your fireplace is visible from all points of the room.

• In houses with a bay window, the fireplace is usually placed on the right or left side of it. Armchairs or a sofa are usually placed along the windows - this is especially true for classic and neoclassical interiors. If you are afraid that the hearth in this case will become secondary in the interior, you can highlight it additionally - for example, hang a TV or a large picture over it.

• Combined living rooms and hallways are also extremely common in modern country houses. In such cases, the fireplace is often located along the wall under the stairs. This location seems unfortunate to many, but it can be very interesting to beat. In a well-thought-out environment, such a layout will become a highlight of your interior, for this it is important that the fireplace under the stairs is as noticeable as possible - come up with an interesting finish, the fireplace facade can be decorated with tiles, metal elements or carved wood figures, depending on the design of the room as a whole.

To make the fireplace in the interior of the living room look organic, it is better to find a place for it in the room even at the stage of a major overhaul. If you have a ready-made living room with decoration and furniture, it will be much more difficult to fit the hearth into an already established design project.

If they decide to place the hearth in a living room with already finished decoration and arranged furniture, most often it is made as invisible as possible. You can install the fireplace along the wall or in one of the corners of the room, and it is better to cover the portal in the same color scheme as the walls. It is possible to highlight the hearth in such an interior, but unobtrusively - for example, make a thin white frame around with molding or play with glossy and matte textures when decorating a fireplace portal.

For modern interiors, it is worth considering various imitation fireplaces.powered by electricity. Their undoubted advantage will be an interesting design - you can find options that are glazed from all sides, suspended and torn off the floor, or have the most unusual shape. It is usually not possible to design a real fireplace in this way. In addition, an imitation of a hearth is the best option for a city apartment, in which it is almost impossible to install a real stove.

To choose the right design project for your living room, it is worth considering a variety of possible options for placing the hearth in the room.The appearance of the interior will depend on many factors: for example, on lighting, color of decoration and fireplace portal, room layout and size, furniture arrangement. There can be no two identical interior projects, but you can always borrow individual ideas, creating something unique on their basis.

If you do not know which cladding option to choose for a fireplace portal in a private house, in most cases masonry will be the most successful and organic option. Brick and stone fit especially well with country style - if the walls in your house are finished with wood, stone in brown tones will look great on a fireplace portal.

If you appreciate the restrained English style, the easiest way is to choose a plaster of Paris design for a fireplace portal - it can be white or painted in any color. It is worth choosing a pastel color scheme; various beige and golden shades can look interesting. Typically, the design of such a fireplace is restrained, but interesting: for example, the finish can combine several colors and unusual embossed ornaments.

For modern minimalist interiors, many people choose imitation of a hearth, powered by electricity. Options glazed on two or three sides are especially relevant now. Such a high-tech design fits perfectly into the laconic atmosphere of a modern home, but at the same time, such a hearth allows you to create an atmosphere of comfort. With a fireplace, a modern interior will never seem cold and boring, even if it is dominated by restrained shapes and light colors.

For information on which fireplace to choose, see the next video.