What better way to relax than in the warm glow from a real fire, listening to the gentle popping of the embers as they burn?  Flame effect fires are a good substitute but there’s nothing like the real thing.  The problem is that, when it comes to choosing a fireplace, many of us are unsure of what will look best  and, in view of the fact that a fireplace will become the focal point of any room, it is vital that the fireplace we eventually choose is the right one.

When it comes to fireplace design, there are several aspects that influence the final look, for instance: the hearth, the grate and the style of the opening.

The hearth is the bit that you see – that is, the outside of the fireplace; the grate is the place where the fuel is burned, and the opening is the shape the hearth makes.  As there are hundreds of variations on each of these aspects, it’s no wonder we get confused!

The Hearth

Let’s consider the hearth for a moment: it can be placed on the floor, sunk beneath the floor and, very popular nowadays, suspended above the floor.

Perhaps your first consideration should be the construction material of your hearth.  If your décor is rustic or natural, then you could consider using glass, stone, or terracotta, whereas for something might modern you might be drawn to heavily glazed or brightly coloured tiles.  Of course, you should take your existing décor colours into account when selecting the tile colours.

Fireplace Tile Design Ideas

Your fireplace should be designed to blend seamlessly with the rest of the room so that it not only creates a natural gathering place for the family but also creates a resting place for the eye.  One way of doing this is by using large tiles so that there aren’t too many grout lines, which would look too ‘busy.’   Marble and slate tiles tend to come in at 12”, which means that you can cut them down to fit the exact width you need.  If you then use the same tiles uncut to tile the hearth, you will create a harmonious effect.   You can achieve a similarly seamless effect by sticking to just one colour; especially effective if you are using tiles of different sizes or patterns.

If you want to add a decorative element, consider placing a slim, patterned, border around the opening of the grate, tiling the rest of the fireplace with solid coloured tiles, picking up one of the colours from the patterned border.   A matching patterned border around the edge of the fireplace will ‘ground’ the look.

How to Tile Over a Brick Fireplace

Choosing the Best Grate for Your Fireplace

.