Victorian fireplaces were the centre of the home and, consequently, they knew a thing or two about dressing a fire.  Here are some updated interior design ideas for dressing your own fireplace.

If you’re lucky to have a chimney breast, turn it into a focal point.  There are a variety of ways to do this, you could, for instance:

1. Paint it a different colour

2. Use a bold and dramatic wallpaper on the opposite wall to the chimney breast, and on the chimney breast itself

3. Hang a large and beautiful mirror

4. Get a piece of glass cut the same size height and width as the chimney breast so that it becomes one large mirror

5. Place a collection of small, unusual mirrors on the mantelpiece

Speaking of fireplace mantels, don’t forget it makes the perfect place to display all sorts of collections; what about: photographs, shells, dried flowers, fresh flowers, pretty antique teacups and saucers, teapots, antique jugs and art pottery

We all dream of sitting cosily around a glowing hearth, but how can you arrange the space for best effect? Symmetry always looks good, although it’s not always possible.  Use ‘pairs’ of things, such as:

1. The same chairs either side of the fireplace

2. Matching lamps

3. Matching picture frames

4. Bring the eye into the centre of the arrangement with one large picture on the chimney breast, or an impressive vase of flowers

When the fireplace is unlit, place vases of differing heights in front of the grate, perhaps mixed with pebbles, shells and pretty pillar candles.