Bonjour and welcome to our Art of the Home gallery of gorgeous and charming living room designs with fireplaces! We hand picked them just for you…hope you enjoy the visit!
Fireplaces add warmth…literally…to your living room. Whether you have a wood-burning fireplace, gas-burning (or electric) fireplace, a fireplace insert or a stand alone wood-burning stove, the joy of seeing a roaring fire will fill up your heart. When a fireplace is in any room (we’ve even seen some in bathrooms!), the fireplace naturally becomes the focal point. There are many ways to incorporate a fireplace into your design but it’s often wise to arrange the chairs and sofa with this in mind. We like to break the symmetry to add personality and flare to the room (too much symmetry can make the room feel impersonal and “hotelish”). To accomplish this, if your floor plan allows, you could simply have your sofa or loveseat face a couple of armchairs. This way, whether you are enjoying a nice conversation with friends, cuddling with your other half or your little ones, reading a book in peace or simply watching television, you can enjoy the beautiful views of the fireplace. And even in the summer when the fireplace is on sabbatical, living room designs with fireplaces add coziness and charm to living rooms of all styles.
With the many fireplace types, how do you choose the one that works best for you? There is no right or wrong answer really. The fact is, they are all enjoyable in different ways. There is no question that a gas-burning fireplace (or electric) is very convenient and in the end, you may end up using it more often. This is especially true if you can’t get free labor to gather up the wood and kindling (i.e. children or grandchildren — it’s good for them!). In this case, a gas (or electric) fireplace is a great option. Some are designed so well that it’s hard to tell the difference. Sure, you won’t get the scent and crackling sounds of burning wood but it will lift the mood of the room straight away. If we had to pick one, we tend to prefer the open-hearth wood-burning fireplace. There is so much joy in the ritual of getting ready for a good “flambée” (“blaze”) and enjoying it thru the evening. We have not noticed it so much in the US, however, France’s wood-burning fireplaces are also used for winter cooking (ours certainly is!). Grilling in the fireplace adds so much flavor to a good “côte de bœuf” (a delicious bone-in thick rib steak)! Now in the event your fireplace is currently unusable, it can still add character to the room — simply display candles within the firebox with some decorative accents on the mantel and voilà!
So let’s stop by these living rooms and visit. We hope you will find some good ideas looking at the selection of inspiring living room designs with fireplaces we chose just for you. If it helps you spark just one idea or warms your heart, that will make us happy. Enjoy the visit and beautiful day to you!
1. Rustic Elegance…
The Little Plus: this floor to ceiling all stone fireplace design is magnificent! The stone arch over the firebox with its keystone is simple yet so classy. The elevated hearth allows for casual seating close to the fire. Love how they chose to place a large mirror on the mantel — it breaks up the stone and adds a touch of elegance. The candles grouped by three and of different heights provide for a beautiful visual interest — nice touch.
2. Sparkling Magic…
The Little Plus: this pebble stone built-in wall mounted electric fireplace adds sparkles to this modern cottage living room. With this design, there is no need for a hearth so it makes it a good choice for smaller living rooms. And how about that skylight next to the ceiling fan — open the shutters at night, lay down near the fireplace and if you see a shooting star don’t forget to make a wish!
3. Two Cupidons Warming Our Hearts…
The Little Plus: the beautifully carved fireplace surround and mantel add a luxurious Victorian feel to this room. The antique wrought iron screen is beautiful and calls back the dark loveseat and ottoman re-purposed as a coffee table. Also, the fireplace screen will come in handy when the fire “pops” to minimize the chance of hot coals damaging the beautiful hardwood floor.
4. Earth Tone Warmth…
The Little Plus: the beige marble fireplace with ecru surrounding millwork brings a gentle touch of luxury. Love the idea of having a Bergere (or two) in the living room. You can bring them closer to where the action is — very versatile. And did you notice the herringbone red brick inside this gas fire insert? It adds some richness to the color palette and plays well with this earth tone living room — so gorgeous when the fire is roaring.
5. Zen…
The Little Plus: the beige marble facing and hearth of the fireplace add a touch of luxury to this elegant living room. Also, note how in a traditional layout, two twin sofas are placed on each side of the fireplace. Another option is to have a sofa and a couple armchairs face each other which breaks the symmetry of the room and adds flair.
6. Modern in Earth Tones…
The Little Plus: this zero hearth wood fireplace insert fits into this living room minimalist design. It is set on a stone accent wall in earth tone and a beige marble facing — both of which add warmth to the room. Also, note the vents at the bottom and on top to help warm up the room more efficiently. This is both practical and eco-friendly — a huge advantage of fireplace inserts!
7. Movie Night…
The Little Plus: the white mantel and white hearth of the fireplace work well with the white built-in of this living room. The wicker square coffee table brings a nice relaxing feel to the room and calls back the dark hardwood floor. Notice how the two apple green ottomans and pillows with green leafs freshen up the look.
8. Marble on Marble…
The Little Plus: the two-toned marble surround calls back the white upholstery and the wooden glass coffee table. The dark ash marks on the inside of the fireplace give it character. And notice how the wood is carefully positioned to be ready for the next fire. This display sets the mood when the fireplace is not in use and the fireplace is ready to go when it’s time to warm up the living room — just add newspaper, kindling, light it up…and voilà!
9. Colonial White…
The Little Plus: the detailed wood surround painted in antique white to match the window casing is beautiful. Also, notice the built-in pre-wired TV box above the mantel — ready to welcome a flat screen TV so you can enjoy your favorite show!
10. Let’s Meet under the Alcove…
The Little Plus: the stone surround and mantel brings the old world into this living room that doubles as a study.
11. Talking Around the Fireplace…
The Little Plus: this old stone wood-burning fireplace has a lot of character. It would fit right in with many living room designs: rustic or country chic but also elegant and luxurious. The chimney is painted in white to match the wall and is discreet so the beauty of the fireplace stone can shine.
12. Blue Sky in Winter…
The Little Plus: the gas-burning fire insert with stone look mantel on a baby blue separation wall adds a simple elegance to this space. The ecru mantel fits well in this decor with dark hardwood floor and the blue color palette of the living room.
13. Serenade on a Cold Winter Night…
The Little Plus: the brick facing of this fireplace plays well with the pale yellowish walls of this earth tone living room with rustic accents. The wide off-white mantel adds a touch of elegance to the rustic look of the brick — especially with the tall vertical mirror on top.
14. Friday is Pizza Night…
The Little Plus: the round shape of the fireplace insert looks like a fire oven ready to welcome a homemade pizza — how delish would that be! The round mirror calls back the round shape of the firebox and also gives depth to the room while providing beautiful reflections of the exposed ceiling wood beams.
15. Sky High…
The Little Plus: the stone used on this grandiose fireplace offers texture and rustic colors to this hardwood floor living room with a high vaulted ceiling. A golden brown maple mantel breaks the tall two-story high chimney and allows the display of decorative accents, mirrors, etc. Or in this case, a flower arrangement.
16. Country Joy…
The Little Plus: the wood mantel on this all stone fireplace calls back the built-in armoires on each side and is in perfect harmony with the soft leather loveseat and armchairs.
17. Copper and Stone Marriage…
The Little Plus: the stone hearth with a slate top designed to look like a rock bench in nature — very nice. Also, notice how the fire surround is also made of stones carefully chosen with different tones to call back the marble mantel with copper hues. Another great idea is the two seating areas which allow the family to enjoy the fireplace in different ways. It’s a flexible layout that allows the owners to bring chairs together when extra guests visit — versatility is a good thing.
18. Peacock…
The Little Plus: the thin mantel and surround of this gas-burning fireplace is used to stay in line with the colonial decor. Also, look at the decorative screen used to give the feel of a wood-burning fireplace.
19. Tropical Warmth…
The Little Plus: the prefabricated limestone gas-burning fireplace adds a touch of old-world to this traditional living room. Also, the wicker furniture and olive green pillows bring in the outdoors giving this living room a casual and relaxed feel.
20. Safari in the City…
The Little Plus: the stainless steel fireplace accessories and decorative accents (see the candle holders on top of the mantle…) work really nicely in this living room setting. The silver color theme calls back the nailhead trim accent of the elegant white loveseats and works well with the black and white zebra pattern of the area rug.
21. Lakeview…
The Little Plus: the dark beige fireplace surround of this unused fireplace provides a gentle contrast. It works well with the white color palette used for the walls and furniture in this living room with a view.
22. Heads or Tails…
The Little Plus: this peninsula fireplace allows you to enjoy the fire from the living room and the sunroom. The brick chimney going up to the wood cathedral ceiling adds a rustic touch to this otherwise traditional carpeted living room.
23. Candlelight Joy…
The Little Plus: this gas-burning fireplace is installed on a beautiful accent wall made of stone laid in a subway tile pattern. Also, note how the firebox is flush with the wall and a simple shelve mantel was added — a very sleek look. This charming fireplace in tucked between two built-in windows that double as a bench, very cute and convenient.