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2022 was a big year for homebuyers, with more than 5 million homes sold. Of course, buying a house is just one of many steps on the road to making it your home. Once you own the house, then you start the process of renovating and decorating to meet your needs. This almost always includes popular projects like redoing the kitchen or finishing the basement. One project that straddles the line between remodeling and decorating is picking a fireplace design.
For those that want cozy evenings at home, though, the right fireplace can make that a far more achievable goal.
If you’re struggling to pick, keep reading for six fireplace design ideas
1. Wood Burning Fireplace
When it comes to creating a cozy home, few things help you achieve that goal better than a wood-burning fireplace. Wood fireplaces hit a lot of the right buttons.
For one, they’re nostalgic for a lot of people. Many people have fond memories of wood-burning fireplaces at their grandparent’s houses or even their parent’s homes.
For some, those memories are part and parcel of winter. They recall coming in or outright hiding from icy winter days next to the fireplace. Others associate them with spending their holidays with their beloved family members.
Wood-burning fireplaces also create a unique experience. There is, of course, the warmth that spreads through the room. Yet, there is also the look, crackling noises, and even the unique smell that comes with burning wood.
All of those elements can combine to leave you with a cozy feeling that is difficult to replicate. For the ultimate in coziness, though, the open-hearth wood-burning fireplace is the way to go. The open hearth gives you the full wood-burning experience since you can see, feel, hear, and smell the fire.
2. Traditional Fireplaces
Another way you can embrace coziness is with a traditional fireplace. These fireplaces do their best to replicate a fireplace that corresponds with a historical style of fireplace.
“Wait,” you may say. “Isn’t that just a wood-burning fireplace?”
The answer to that is, perhaps. Traditional fireplaces certainly can use wood as their fuel source. If you go that way, it’s a bonus for coziness.
Of course, it’s not a requirement. You may want a traditional fireplace to achieve the right look for an older home but would prefer to avoid the maintenance that goes with burning wood.
Fortunately, traditional fireplaces focus more on achieving the right look. You can get versions of traditional fireplaces that use alternatives like gas or even electricity if you want.
While these alternatives won’t exactly replicate the feel of a wood-burning fireplace, they come close. You can still see the flames and experience the warmth, which is all that many people want. For many, giving up the unique sound and smell is a small price to pay to get a generally hassle-free cozy experience.
3. Custom Fireplace
For many people, a wood-burning or traditional fireplace design is crucial for creating a cozy experience, but those aren’t your only options. There are gas fireplaces, electric fireplaces, and even linear fireplaces that can let you add the look and warmth of a fire to your decor with ease.
The good news is that you can customize almost any style of fireplace to meet your home’s needs. If a wood-burning stove isn’t practical where you live or a traditional stove is simply too big, a flush-set electric fireplace can let you bypass those concerns.
You can even get multi-sided custom fireplaces that sit in the middle of your living room. That places the fire at the center of the action and brings the coziness out into the room itself.
4. Furniture Arrangement
Fireplace design isn’t all about the fireplace itself when it comes to cozy decor. Your furniture arrangement can enhance the coziness of a fireplace or diminish it.
To maximize the cozy factor of your fireplace, you should arrange your furniture around it. For example, you could place a couple of comfortable chairs on either side of the fireplace. You could also face your couch toward the fireplace to keep it in view while you sit.
As an added bonus, this kind of arrangement makes your home feel cozier if you’re entertaining at home.
5. Mantels
If you want to make your fireplace part of a cozy home, you should give some thought to what kind of mantel you want for it. For example, a marble mantel looks stately, but it’s not the coziest of materials.
There is an inherent chilliness to the stone that even an open flame cannot wholly overcome. It’s great if you want decor ideas for a manor house, but not so much for a cozy appeal.
The natural material of a wooden mantel embraces that coziness that you want. Plus, you can add fireplace decorations to your mantle that enhance coziness, such as family pictures.
6. Log Storage
Another way you can incorporate your fireplace into a cozy decor ideal is with a log storage area. Granted, this works best with a traditional fireplace because traditional fireplaces typically push out from the wall.
This makes it easier to put in cabinets around the fireplace that include a log storage area. While it’s subtle, the log storage also improves the coziness of the space because it ensures that no one needs to go out into the cold night to fetch more firewood.
Fireplace Design for a Cozy Home
There are two broad elements to fireplace design for a cozy home. First things first, there is the fireplace itself.
You have options with the type of fireplace. You can go with a wood-burning fireplace, a traditional fireplace, or even a custom fireplace. The one you pick often hinges on the specifics of your home.
The other main element is the decor around the fireplace. You can use furniture arrangements, mantels, and even a log storage area to boost coziness.
Dreifuss Fireplaces offers fireplace designs that help you achieve your cozy home dreams. For information about our fireplaces, contact Dreifuss Fireplaces today.
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