Fireplace Design Ideas for Small Spaces

For decades, we saw the average American home grow in size. Now, thanks to a changing economy, increased need for housing, and a desire for affordable homes, single-family homes are starting to shrink.

Having a small living space doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice all of the design choices you’ve always longed for. If your living room is on the cozier side, you can still enjoy your own custom fireplace.

To make a fireplace work in a small space, all it takes is an innovative fireplace design. By choosing the right type of fireplace, you won’t need any major renovations like chimney installation.

How can you come up with a fireplace design to fit your small room? Read on for tips and inspiration.

Best Fireplace Options for Small Spaces

In a small space, you aren’t going to want to go for the traditional wood-burning fireplace. Wood-burning fireplaces produce too much heat and require a distance of at least three feet to keep furniture and textiles safe. Instead, consider an electric or gas fireplace for your small living room or bedroom.

Electric Fireplaces

Electric fireplaces are often the best choice for homeowners looking to outfit a small room with a fireplace. Because they only need an electric outlet to run, they offer unmatched versatility. You can build a mantel around them or leave them free-standing and they can hang on nearly any wall. 

Plus, electric fireplaces require a distance of one to two feet to keep furniture and textiles from overheating. This makes it easier to create a cohesive layout without having to lose any seating.

Gas Fireplaces

Gas fireplaces are another workable choice for small rooms. While some options do require chimney or outdoor ventilation access, a ventless gas fireplace does not. This means that you can install a ventless gas fireplace without having to make major structural changes to your home.

It’s worth noting that gas fireplaces do take up a bit more space than electric fireplaces. While design choices are customizable, you’ll likely want a mantel surrounding the firebox due to its width. However, a mantle can add much-needed storage or decorative space to a small room.

Fireplace Design Inspiration

Now that you know to focus on electric and gas options, let’s talk about the additional design choices you can make. This includes the design of the fireplace, itself, and how you style it. Read on for some fireplace design inspiration for your small space.

Free-Floating Electric Fireplaces

If you don’t have a ton of wall space to give up, consider a free-floating electric fireplace. This means a fireplace that has no mantle or surrounding design elements which can take up as little as a few square feet.

A free-floating electric fireplace is your best choice if you need wall space for things like shelving or don’t want to drastically rearrange the furniture. A free-floating fireplace can still create stunning visual effects but don’t have to become a focal point if you don’t want them to be.

Mantels for Storage

A recent survey found that one in four Americans outgrow their home within a matter of a year or two. One of the biggest issues is a lack of storage space. While mantels do take up a bit of space, they add additional shelving to the room, which can make it easier to change the way you store things.

For example, you can use your mantle for books and even decorative storage bins where you can keep small items. This can help to free up shelves and closets and maximize the way you use your space. Mantels can also make it easy to display art and decor while reducing clutter.

TV Mounting Above the Fireplace

These days, most families do have at least one TV in their home. Chances are, you’re going to have a TV and a fireplace in the same room, whether that’s your living room or bedroom. In a small space, having two focal points can really limit the layout and make it easy to create a cohesive flow.

Instead of drawing the eye to two separate points, consider mounting your TV above the fireplace. Make sure that you know the proper clearance and other tips to protect your TV from the heat.

Corner Fireplaces

Sometimes, there’s just no way to fit a full-sized fireplace in a small room. You may not have the wall space to sacrifice to a new addition. That’s where corner fireplaces can come in handy.

Corner fireplaces, as the name suggests, are built into a corner of the room. They are smaller than the average fireplace and produce less heat, but in a small room, they are usually still sufficient for heating purposes. An electric corner fireplace can provide ambiance and coziness even if it isn’t the focal point or doesn’t have a huge footprint.

Come to Dreifuss for Your Small Space Fireplace

When you’re dealing with a small space, it can feel like you have to sacrifice a lot of the design elements you’d love to have. With strategic fireplace design, you can still enjoy a fireplace in a small space. At Dreifuss Fireplaces, we’re here to help you come up with the perfect custom design to fit your small room.

To get started, contact us about the project you have in mind. We’ll get in touch to discuss our multi-step process as well as pricing so that you can make an informed choice about what you want to do next.