Shades used in image: Moss Blanket and Field Mouse

Modern Fireplace Ideas

A fireplace is the natural focal point of any room lucky enough to have one, but it can be easily overlooked when decorating. Whether you’re enjoying cosy evenings in front of a log fire or displaying your most treasured belongings on its mantelpiece, a fireplace can transform your  living room décor.

Looking for fireplace ideas to brighten up your home's hotspot and keep cosy all winter long? Discover our top living room fireplace ideas that will enhance your space's mood and feel – whether you have a working fireplace or not.

1. Bring bold colours to your fireplace

Wondering what colour to paint a fireplace surround? Breathe new life into your fireplace by incorporating bold, vibrant colours. Some of the best fireplace colours are jewel tones like Teal Voyage or Pine Needle, which add a sense of depth and luxury. Alternatively, a grey or black fireplace adds a striking, modern touch. 

If you’d prefer to introduce colour with accessories rather than painting your fireplace, play around with accents, like vases, photo frames and trinkets, to add contrast. Style the mantelpiece in a way that feels authentic to you, whether that's modern and minimalist or vintage and eclectic. 

2. Use warm neutrals for a comforting fireplace

For a cosy, timeless feel, paint your fireplace in soothing, warm neutrals. These comforting shades create an inviting atmosphere, making your fireplace the heart of the room.

Consider painting your fireplace surround in earthy tones like Knotted Twine or Wild Wonder – colours that feel like a warm embrace on cold winter evenings. These versatile shades work well in modern interiors, providing tonal contrast when paired with lighter neutral walls. This creates depth and visual interest while maintaining a sense of comfort and tranquillity within the space.

To tie your new fireplace into the rest of the design, layer textures with soft furnishings and natural accessories made from rattan or marble.

3. Decorate empty fireplaces with logs

If you don’t have a working fireplace, you can still decorate the space to make it a stand-out feature that reflects its former glory. For a warm, inviting fireplace that channels a rustic, Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic, stack logs in the hearth with their ends on display. This simple yet striking technique adds visual interest and a touch of natural charm to your space. 

To take this look to the next level, consider painting the exposed ends with any leftover paint samples you have lying around – whether neutrals or brights. Pair this unique log display with minimalist décor, woven textures and natural wood accents. 

Shades used in image: Cannon Ball

4. Experiment with fireplace tiles

If you already have fireplace tiles but want to refresh the colour, learn how to paint over tiles in our dedicated guide. Complement a tiled fireplace with a minimalist mantelpiece in natural wood or a painted matte black finish, allowing the tilework to shine.

5. Whitewash your fireplace

If you're blessed with an exposed brick fireplace, whitewashing it can give it a modern update. This simple technique feels rustic yet contemporary, whether you’re planning on colour drenching your living room in the same shade or making your fireplace a stand-out feature.

Painted stone fireplaces or brick fireplaces can be more challenging to paint, as they require specialist treatment and products, but we’ve got you covered with our guide on how to paint tricky surfaces.

As long as you follow the right preparation steps, you don’t have to be too particular with the application – the more uneven and weathered the finish, the more charming the result will be. Learn more about how to paint a fireplace in our guide.

6. Make your fireplace a focal point with a contrasting mantel

Transform your fireplace from an unloved feature to an eye-catching, modern centrepiece by painting the mantelpiece in a bold colour that contrasts with the walls. This simple technique creates instant drama and draws attention to the fireplace.

If your walls are painted in a pale grey-white like Rock Salt, consider painting the mantelpiece in a rich, deep hue like Sapphire Salute. The contrast between light and dark creates visual depth and makes your fireplace pop.

Prefer a more subtle approach? Try painting the mantel just two or three shades darker than the walls for a tonal look. For example, you could pair Almond White walls with a Pebble Shore mantel. This creates a gentle contrast without feeling too dramatic.

Modern fireplace wall ideas

Transform the wall around your fireplace into a modern design feature with these modern fireplace paint techniques.

Create depth with a bold accent wall

Shades used in image: Blood Orange, Polished Pebble

Turn your fireplace wall into the room's main attraction by painting it in a bold colour – ideally one that contrasts with the fireplace surround for added dimension. We love Auburn Embers for a bold fireplace accent wall, paired with a neutral fireplace surround. If you have a black fireplace, deep jewel tones like Acai Berry add even more depth and draw the eye to this area of your living room.

If you’re opting for this design, we recommend painting the fireplace wall in your preferred bold shade and choosing a light, neutral shade like Timeless for the other walls. This additional contrast will make your fireplace wall appear to come forward.

Colour drench your fireplace

The colour drenching technique is perfect for modern interiors, creating rooms that feel calm, cohesive and contemporary. You can achieve this sophisticated, seamless look by painting your fireplace surround in the same shade as the surrounding walls. If you want to go the extra mile with this design, you can also colour drench your ceiling, skirting and trim – find out more in our guide on how to colour drench a living room.

Muted yet striking colours such as Denim Drift or Overtly Olive work perfectly for this technique. The monochromatic approach makes the fireplace feel like an integral part of the room's architecture rather than a separate feature, creating a sleek, modern appearance.

Colour drenching creates the perfect backdrop for statement accessories and artwork, allowing them to stand out against the cohesive backdrop.

For more contemporary interior design inspiration, check out our favourite modern hallway ideas.