Ideas To Reuse The Space Of An Unused Fireplace

4 May 2023
By Deshal Shah

Fireplaces! Romantic, cozy and dreamy. But sometimes it is more of a pain compared to the frequency of its use. The regular cleaning and maintenance is not only expensive but also time consuming. This is one of the major reasons of why most fireplaces remain unused. The other reasons why of it remaining unused can be the safety of the kids and the weather conditions.

So, are you one of those people who fancied a fireplace before but now you hardly use it (I mean, never)? Worry not, we have got a few ideas here to use up the space of the fireplace in effective and creative ways.

Make it a spot for your pets

Turn the mantel into a pet corner. Arrange a cozy mattress and a few toys for your furry, scaly or feathery buddies. It tends to make them feel special and add to their sense of belonging.

Add art into it

Lean a painting over the fireplace to cover the niche. Or paint a mural on the entire wall. Make it your personal art exhibit in the corner of your house by adding little sculptures. You can introduce an art of fire to bring in an abstract metaphor of for the use of the space.

Use it as a book corner

Stack the books you have already read or those that you are going to read (someday). Often the case with books is that they lie around at the same place after you buy it, until you find the time to clean your house. But when you are replacing the mantel with book storing space, you give it a specific place and it doesn’t lie around.

Rethink your layout

Add sofas or armchairs that hide your existing but closed off fireplace. You don’t need to let everyone know that there is an unused niche in the center of your living room. If you have a hug house where you don’t need any extra storage space, you can simply add a few seating elements.

Fill it up with basket

You can introduce a seasonal touch to the fireplace by adding a basket full of seasonal souvenirs; artichokes, pumpkins, even gifts during the holidays.

Shift the focus

Instead of making the fireplace a center of attraction, you can divert everyone’s attention to the frame of the mantel. Make it elaborate, decorative and stand out of the place.

Be hopeful to use it soon

You can stack wooden logs in the fireplace with a hope to use it soon. It brings a rustic, and country-inspired character to the space. Be mindful to use the treated wood which can be resistant to weathering, rotting and boring insects.

Plant it up

If you are a plant parent, engage your guests in a display of plants. The most suitable indoor plants to put up in the mantel are succulents as they are not high maintenance.

A suitable substitute

You can light up fragrant candles, instead of setting up a fire in the interior of your house. Unlike blazing fire, it has a welcoming glow. If you have been thinking of getting a heater, the mantel can become your place of installation.

A fireplace can be a trouble sometimes but it is still a luxury unavailable to many. So, make the most of it in its working or unused state to enhance the ambiance and aesthetic of your living space.