How to Decorate a Living Room with a Fireplace

Having a living room with a fireplace automatically creates a focal point for your room. However, this may also create challenges for your layout. How do you know where to put the couch? Can you still have a TV? Does the TV need to go over the fireplace? In this blog, we’ll run through the various scenarios of how to decorate a living room with a fireplace.

How to Decorate a Living Room with a Fireplace in the Middle

In open-concept layouts, fireplaces are often placed in the middle of the room. This layout is one of the easiest to decorate. Stack your TV over the fireplace to enhance the existing visual focal point and allow it to serve as a centralized spot for entertainment.

Your seating should form a U-shape layout to make the large area opposite the fireplace warm and welcoming. I suggest looking for large and comfortable pieces that make people want to snuggle up by the fire and watch a movie.

All the attention in your living room will center on your fireplace, so the rest of your living rooms should remain fairly simple. You may consider tall bookcases to flank your TV and fireplace. However, any finishing touches you add to the bookcases or art you add to the wall should be simple. Cluttering this space can quickly make your room feel overwhelming. 

How to Decorate a Living Room with a Fireplace in the Corner

When you have a corner fireplace, you have a whole host of decorating possibilities on your hands. This layout provides the opportunity for two focal points if you choose to put a TV in your living room. When you have your fireplace in your corner, you can still place a TV on the main wall. I recommend having a media cabinet below your TV, which will help anchor this part of the room. If you’re able to coordinate it with the architectural elements of the fireplace, then it will tie in nicely.

As for furniture, look for a sectional. This all-in-one seating solution is a comfortable way to make sure everyone can enjoy this cozy room. It also has the added benefit of providing even focus to both the fireplace in the corner and the TV that is adjacent to it.  

Just like our other example, be careful not to over clutter the room. You want to ensure that you’re able to easily walk between all furniture without bumping into things. Feel free to add a coffee table, side table, and maybe one additional chair if you anticipate hosting a lot of guests.

Small Living Room with Fireplace Ideas

If you have a small living room with a large fireplace, you may be at a loss for how to properly decorate. I suggest using either of the layout tricks described above paired with small living room hacks. Here are my favorite tricks for making a small living room feel bigger.  

·      Avoid cramming too much in the room

·      Choose furniture that is proportional to the size of the space

·      Select a light paint color for the walls

·      Embrace natural light (don’t cover up those windows!)

·      Add a feature wall in a warm color

·      Create space using mirrors

·      Replace curtains with blinds

·      Build a window seat to save space

·      Swap your sofa for a small loveseat

Awkward Living Room Layout with a Fireplace

Do you have a living room that just wasn’t designed for true use? Depending on the age of your home, you may have a room with a fireplace that more closely resembles a “sitting” room. It may be small with little wall space, lots of windows, and a large fireplace. This awkward layout doesn’t lend itself to easy decorating.

What do you do? Any couch you put in there looks overbearing. A TV simply doesn’t fit anywhere. Armchairs could be the solution but in what configuration?

 For small, awkward living rooms with fireplaces, I suggest four matching armchairs around a modest coffee table. You may consider framing the fireplace with bookshelves if the windows allow. While this will serve as less of an entertainment space and more of a socialization space, you’ll make it feel more functional, comfortable, and cozy than it otherwise would be.

Final Thoughts

Don’t let your fireplace discourage you! Fireplaces bring charm to any room, instantly creating a focal point and making it feel cozier. One of the best ways to clarify your vision during this process is to discover your design style. Read 8 Popular Design Styles Explained - Which One Are You? for more information.

Looking for design help? Redesigned Classics is here for you! Visit here to learn more.