Do you live in a period property with an empty fireplace? Maybe you have an existing electric fire that you never use? Perhaps you’re looking to renovate an old bedroom and have discovered a boarded-up fireplace behind the wall? 

Fireplaces make beautiful focal points in any room, but an unused fireplace is a wasted opportunity. Use it to introduce some welcome hygge into your living space. 

Empty fireplace ideas go further than just adding a few candles onto the hearth stone. And in this article, we’re going to explore some of the most stylish empty fireplace ideas out there, going from cosmetic to structural renovations to relighting that old fire with bioethanol. 

Put your feet up, and allow yourself to dream!

Empty fireplace idea #1: Frame your fireplace with a beam

One of the simplest approaches to beautifying an old fireplace is to consider how it’s framed. You might have an inglenook - basically, a fireplace-sized alcove built into a chimney - which could be plastered to seamlessly complement the surrounding walls.   

Adding an oak shelf above the fireplace adds character and provides a simple, stylish storage space for a clock, candles, or understated ornaments.

Image courtesy of CelticTimber.co.uk

Empty fireplace idea #2: create storage

This is a bit of a structural change and an extremely messy job to boot. But if you don’t use your fireplace, you could consider having part of the chimney knocked out to make space for storage. 

This isn’t the same as knocking out the entire chimney, which is a big structural job that requires reinforcing floors and ceilings by adding new joists. 

This dining room once had a mid-century tile fireplace that was out of keeping with the Victorian building - roughly waist-height, with a deep hearthstone that dominated the room. 

The fireplace was knocked out and extended in height, leaving a LOT of soot and mess. However, the mess was worth it, because after the builder had installed the RSJ to reinforce the remainder of the fireplace, the room felt much larger. 

After plastering, a carpenter built shelves and a cupboard in Victorian styling, which provided plenty of storage space and a restored sense of period to the room.

Now it looks like this:

The cupboard provides lots of storage space, as does the accompanying wall-length matching cupboard. 

And while this is quite a costly way to put your empty fireplace to use, it’s a real asset to this lovely Victorian home, which adds financial value to the property. 

Empty fireplace idea #3: Go bioethanol

Many of us have let our fireplaces go redundant because of the well-documented environmental impacts from burning fossil fuels in the home. Whether wood or coal, these fuels release harmful carcinogens into the room and dirty fumes into the air.

On top of the environmental impact, there’s all the mess associated with burning wood and coal in a fireplace or wood burner - soot and ash that needs to be cleaned out after each use. 

Bioethanol fuels provide a safe indoor flame without any mess or pollutants. In fact, you don’t even need a fireplace, chimney, or flue because bioethanol burns cleanly - there’s no soot, ash, or dangerous chemicals in the air. 

The only emissions from burning bioethanol are water vapour and a little carbon dioxide (about the same as burning two candles). 

So, it is possible to transform your empty fireplace with fire; without damaging the environment!

Bioethanol fireplaces come in a range of styles, from traditional-looking wood-burning stoves to ultra-modern wall-mounted fireplaces that bring a real space-age feel to a room. 

Empty fireplace idea #4: create an indoor oasis

All rooms benefit from houseplants, bringing energy and vibrancy into a living space. So, why not transform your empty fireplace into an oasis of calm with a plethora of houseplants.

Image courtesy of Livabl.com

The homeowner has created a sense of texture and visual interest here by introducing climbing vines for height while adding additional pots onto small platforms to bring energy and shape to the tableau.

These evergreens flourish all year round, helping maintain a sense of vitality throughout the seasons, especially when we’re starved of that essential outdoor green during the winter.

Empty fireplace idea #5: Fake it (till you make it!)

One of the simplest ways of putting your empty fireplace to use (or at least look like it is) is to cover the fireplace void with a stylish decorative fire screen or guard. This gives the impression that the fireplace is in use, even if you can’t (or don’t want to) use it. 

Image courtesy of HouseBeautiful.com

For even more hygge, install remote-controlled LED lights behind the fireguard to introduce a warm, cosy glow to your living space. 

Fireguards come in a range of beautiful styles. This gorgeous piece from Plow & Hearth could add a stunning decorative feature to your living room, giving the impression that the fireplace gets used. 

Image courtesy of Plow & Hearth

If you’re not keen on illuminating with LEDS, consider lighting a collection of church candles for that inimitable flicker, bringing the instantly calming, restful ambience you get from a real fire. 

Empty Fireplace Idea #6: Tiling

A less expensive way to transform your empty fireplace is to install stylish tiles around the inglenook.

Image courtesy of Livabl.com

These stunning starburst tiles provide a stylish centrepiece to this gorgeous living space. Extending into the inset hearthstone, the beautiful tiles in shades of grey and white makes a wonderful frame to make the verdant, deep green of the cheese plant really pop in this lovely room.  

Empty fireplace idea #7: Leave it empty!

Now, this seems like an odd thing to say when we’re considering stylish ideals to put your empty fireplace to use, but hear us out - we haven’t completely lost it!

Consider the minimalist approach:

Image courtesy of Swoonworthy

This lovely, understated fireplace incorporates our tiling idea, but it uses these gorgeous hand-glazed tiles that offer a spectrum of muted pinkish hues - let’s call it Blush. 

Leaving the fireplace empty may seem like a brave styling choice, but the framed art piece that sits on the mantel spreads the trademark blush into the living space. And against the neutral linen of the painted walls, the blush offers a really stunning but minimalist contrast. 

Understated but beautiful, an empty fireplace could just stay as an empty fireplace if you trust your styling. 

How will you transform your empty fireplace?

So, there you have it - seven modern and stylish ideas that transform your old, empty fireplace into something spectacular. 

From framing your fireplace with a rustic beam to converting your old fireplace into essential home storage; from creating an indoor oasis to introducing bioethanol into your life, fireplaces are an excellent characteristic of any home.