An inoperable fireplace or one that won’t be used during summer doesn’t have to become wasted space. You can give the fireplace a thorough cleaning, remove the grate, and use the hearth in unique decorative and/or constructive ways. Choose an idea that fits with your lifestyle preferences or your personal taste in home design. The following are a few of many great ideas for utilizing a fireplace during the off season.
A Book Nook
If a fireplace doesn’t operate and there are no plans to restore it to working order, you can create a low-cost book nook. Simply paint the inside of the hearth and use the fireplace as a shelf for books. For a more elaborate solution, have a custom bookshelf built to fit perfectly inside the hearth. Another style popular with diehard book lovers is to fill the entire space inside the fireplace with books–from top to bottom, side to side. There are different ways to place the books inside so that they have just the type of decorative styling that fits well in your home. Another unique approach is to fill surrounding cabinets with books from ceiling to floor and then place one large and perhaps especially ancient volume inside the pristine fireplace.
Logs
After you’ve removed ashes and charred logs and given your fireplace a good scrubbing, a popular style is strategically placing specially cut logs inside. The following are some of the ways you may enjoy adding fresh-cut logs to your inactive fireplace, for decorative purposes:
- Add a collection of logs in various sizes that are cut specifically to fit inside the fireplace and fill it with logs so that the ends are on display. The logs could appear similar to the logs stacked in a shed or might be fit into the hearth like pieces of a puzzle, leaving minimal space between any two logs.
- Instead of larger logs, choose a collection of small to medium limbs of virtually the same circumference. Place them with the ends on display. The uniformity adds an artistic element to the room.
- Choose about 15 decorative birch limbs of similar size. Place something inside the hearth that will allow you to lean the stack of limbs from the hearth opening up to the top part of the hearth at the rear. It creates a unique effect that could nicely serve to complement other elements of décor.
Display Pieces
The hearth could be used as the perfect setting for a large display piece or a collection of statement pieces. It could be a large basket with greenery or a flower arrangement overflowing. If you have a large decorative plate, it may look much better inside the hearth than displayed on the wall. An old, weathered trunk might be ideal for decorating a fireplace not in use.
Fireplace Remodel
There’s one more idea for what to do with your fireplace during the off season. You could consider doing a fireplace makeover or remodel. A fireplace is useful almost year-around in Colorado, where nights are often cool even in summer. For help with a fireplace upgrade, contact the experts at family-owned FyrePro in Fort Collins CO. In addition to installing your new fireplace, FyrePro professionals can provide custom treatments, including granite, veneer, stone, or brick. Contact FyrePro today at (970) 266-8556 or visit our showroom at 4631 S. Mason Street, Suite B5, in Fort Collins, CO.