Does your home have a fireplace that you are currently not using
very often? Or are you thinking about adding a fireplace, faux
or real, to one of the levels in your house? If so, here are
some ideas for decorating your fireplace to bring out its
natural beauty and charm.
How you decorate your fireplace will depend in part on the room
where it is located. A bedroom fireplace may look quite
different from one in the family room or den. Part of your
decorating decision will be based on the room and its tone. For
example, your bedroom fireplace should have a cozy, intimate
look with a décor that is special for the occupants of the room.
If one or both spouses like cats, use cat-decorated accent
pillows with a matching throw for a rocking chair on the hearth.
Add a coordinating mantel runner, and you have a total look,
especially with a nearby wall picture or two of a related theme.
A living room fireplace can become the focal point of the area.
Accompanying floral arrangements sitting in an unused fireplace
center or on either side of the hearth add a warm touch.
Fireplace tools, like tongs, a brush, and a poker for stirring
the embers come in many designs and styles to match the room's
decorating scheme. You can get a Mediterranean, early American,
or French provincial style to suit the mood of your living room.
Adorn the mantel with period antiques or accents to add color
and design.
Some people even have kitchen fireplaces on which they cook or
hang decorator pots and kettles. Baskets hanging on the mantel
and pewter urns across the top help to make that type of
fireplace inviting and attractive. A cat, ceramic or otherwise,
adds even more charm.
During the holidays, a fireplace offers the perfect place to
hang Christmas stockings or holiday greeting cards. Some
families stack gifts on the hearth or arrange Christmas
decorations for a magical display area in keeping with the
holiday spirit. Children sometimes put out a plate of cookies
and a cup of cocoa for Santa. A wreath above the mantel is a
nice seasonal touch.
When you arrange a fireplace in your den or home office, it
could look semi-formal, with paperweights, books, and quill pens
for effect. But it also may have accents like your favorite
coffee cup, a planner, and an afghan quilt draped over a nearby
rack when you stretch out on the leather sofa for a snooze or to
catch up on your reading. Photos or busts of famous people and
admirable mentors can round out the various types of décor you
may want to include in your personal workspace area fireplace.
Your fireplace serves as the heart of any home, and
particularly the room that it occupies. Use your creative
talents to devise a decorating scheme to make your fireplace a
showcase of the things that are special to you, as well as those
that make a visitor feel welcome.
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