When the cold air seeps into the house and the long, cloudy days turn into long, chilly nights, it's only natural to yearn for a beautiful fireplace filled with dancing flames to cuddle up next to. It's in our human DNA, after all. But if your fireplace is outdated and unused, or you find yourself wistfully staring at the space where a new one would fit perfectly, it's time to embrace your favorite fireplace designs and trends. They’ll bring your visions of toasty gatherings around the fire to life in no time.
But choosing among the many fireplace design ideas to find one that you’ll love for years to come can be tricky — especially if it means spending thousands of dollars. According to HomeAdvisor, the typical cost for fireplace installation is estimated between around $945 and $4,200, but you could reach $30,000 or more for a custom luxury wood-burning fireplace. So to help you maximize your design choices and budget, we’ve broken down the most common fireplace types and added examples of trending styles and designs that will add the “wow” factor you deserve.
So What Is In Style for Fireplaces in 2024?
If you’re looking to give your fireplace a makeover or install one in your new home, these popular fireplace designs might spark your inspiration. From more modern fireplaces design ideas to ones that harken back to the 1800s, peruse these 2024 fireplace design trends to see what strikes your fancy. Keep in mind: If you focus on your personal preferences for fireplace finishes, they can take on whatever style you love most. Consider designing the fireplace with the rest of your home’s aesthetic in mind, and it will blend in or stand out as much as you prefer.
Q: What is the current trend for fireplaces?
A: While there’s no one trending look for fireplaces — it’s a timeless home feature, after all — statement surrounds with bold tiling, room-divider fireplaces that help create a sense of separation in an open-concept living space, and fireplaces with organic shapes or curved features are all on trend (think: colorful freestanding fireplaces).
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Traditional Fireplace
These fireplaces may never go out of style for good reason — picture a wood and plaster mantel, with a surround made of tile, marble, or brick. Though you might picture this kind of fireplace in a formal living room with coffered ceilings, mixing and matching styles is very on trend, so don’t be afraid to pair a traditional fireplace with a fun, maximalist room.
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Craftsman Fireplace
Fans of woodwork and cozy, lived-in living rooms will love the look of a Craftsman-style fireplace. Though you’ll often see them made with darker wood and ceramic tile, there are plenty of ways to update it for a lighter look, if that’s what your personal style calls for.
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Victorian Fireplace
From media to the runway, it’s clear that 19th-century designs are back in style. If you want to add some antique charm to your home, consider installing a Victorian-style fireplace, which isn’t as heavily ornamented as other styles and features a cast-iron insert. To top off the look, add an antique mirror above the mantel.
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Scandinavian Fireplace
Obviously, the part of the world that invented hygge (the Danish concept of coziness) knows what it's doing when it comes to fireplaces. Scandinavian style is defined by simplicity and neutral tones, which you’ll see in the fireplaces, whether that’s a column-shaped Swedish fireplace or another kind of freestanding fireplace with built-in wood storage (so handy!).
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Farmhouse Fireplace
Farmhouse fireplaces are typically clad with shiplap wood, or, if they’re brick, often whitewashed, so they look slightly distressed or antiquated. This fireplace design is great if you’ve got lots of fireplace decor ideas — decking out your mantel and swapping it out for the seasons is key.
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Mid-Century Fireplace
You’re probably familiar with the freestanding steel fireplaces made by Malm, which add instant color and a retro cool factor to any home. Though mid-century modern fireplaces can also be built-in, made of brick or stone and defined by clean lines and a sleek look.
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Minimalist Fireplace
This may be what you envision when you think of a modern fireplace — minimalist fireplaces have clean lines and zero ornamentation. They can range in material, from smooth plaster to a gorgeous hunk of marble to a more industrial concrete. The mantel may also blend right in, or you could opt for one made of natural wood or even metal.
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Maximalist Fireplace
Though neutral hearths are still en vogue, so are fireplaces that embrace color and pattern. You can apply this fireplace design trend to nearly any kind of fireplace, whether that means installing multicolored tiles, painting the brick surround a bold color, or giving the plaster a makeover with a fresh coat of paint.
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Fireplace With a Statement Surround
Punchy personality pieces and statement furniture are both major interior design trends for 2024, so if you like something, don’t shy away when it comes to your fireplace. Using illustrated tiles or beautiful mosaic pieces to create a magical-looking surround is a sure way to get oohs and aahs from house guests.
Q: What is the most modern fireplace?
A: When thinking about modern fireplace ideas, there are a few ways to go. If you’re envisioning a sleek, clean-lined surround, you may opt for a double-sided industrial gas fireplace made with concrete and glass. Those chasing 2024 fireplace design trends, though, may be more interested in a colorful, pattern-forward look with tiles and a painted mantel.
2024 Fireplace Trends
Okay, now that we’ve got your mental mood board filled with beautiful fireplace designs, you might be wondering what structural style it should take on, beyond just the look of it. The good news is, there isn’t one overriding trend for fireplaces. There are, however, endless amounts of impressive design ideas out there, so clear out your Pinterest boards to make room for an overload of fireplace envy. Keep in mind that most people are naturally drawn to designs similar to the house's existing decor and architecture. But if you need a little guidance, you can’t go wrong with one of these fireplace ideas.
Open Fireplace
If your house demands a showpiece fireplace, consider an open fireplace to become the home's proud focal point. Unimpeded open flames cast a considerable amount of light and will immediately draw your guests over to enjoy the ambiance. Choose reflective materials for the surround to add extra sparkle and drama.
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Frameless Fireplace
Sleek, sharp, and linear installation rule frameless fireplace designs. You’ll adore frameless fireplaces because they’re easily tailored to your preferences. Most are built either single-sided or as a see-through tunnel. These modern fireplace ideas look uber-sophisticated if paired with a black or dark marble surround or another dramatic and eye-catching material like steel.
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Convertible Fireplace
Can’t decide between a gas or wood-burning fireplace and want the benefits of both? Then a convertible fireplace is a brilliant solution. In just about 30 minutes, you can switch your wood-burning fireplace to gas. Then, later, when a gorgeous snowfall starts and your inner lumberjack calls, you can switch back to wood-burning and enjoy your axe and saw handiwork.
Multi-Sided Fireplace
If more is always more for you, then you’ll want full-view access to your fireplace through more than one pane of clear glass. Essentially a glass box, these show-stopping fireplaces let you view your fire from every angle and enjoy the warmth and light bouncing around each glass panel.
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Traditional Gas Fireplace
Tradition never dies, so you’ll always be on trend if you prefer a classic gas fireplace — especially if your home has a rustic or cabin feel. Gas fireplaces are clean, easy to start, and look like a traditional wood-burning fireplace with hefty stone or rock surround and hearth details.
Q: How can I make my fireplace look nice?
A: An easy, budget-friendly, DIY way to boost your fireplace’s appeal is to focus on fireplace mantel design ideas. The mantel is the perfect showcase for precious heirlooms, a holiday scene (snow globe collection, anyone?), or a rotation of one-of-a-kind collections each season. If you display things you already love and own, like family photographs or local artists’ work, you’ll never be stuck with the same look, even if the rest of your fireplace remains the same.
Free-Standing Fireplace
This is one of the more versatile modern fireplace ideas, in that it can be wood-burning, gas, or electric. These are excellent at radiating heat around the room and don’t take up the wall space of a built-in fireplace — though that doesn’t mean they can’t be just as much of a focal point. Bonus: They typically come in a range of fun colors and lend a mid-century modern, funky, or contemporary flair to any room. Seeing as organic shapes are very much in this year, a curved freestanding fireplace is definitely in line with 2024 fireplace trends.
(Source: Pinterest)
Room-Divider Fireplace
This modern fireplace design uses the surround to create a floor-to-ceiling division, making the hearth act as a room divider in itself. This is a particularly fitting choice for open-concept layouts, when you want to create a sense of separation without installing an actual wall that blocks natural light and closes the space off. Hint: This fireplace design can come in clutch for households where multiple people are working from home.
Popular Fireplace Design Materials That Make a Statement
Fireplace designs are as varied as the homeowners who build them. Want a funky fireplace that serves as an art piece? It can be done! Crave one of those classic stacked-stone fireplace designs with a recycled mantel? All you have to do is ask. Working with a home remodeling contractor will expand your design palette and steer you toward safe and budget-friendly options.
When searching for fireplace inspiration, you’ll often find fireplaces built from these materials:
Brick
Brick fireplace designs are inexpensive, come in unique colors, and can easily be painted or white-washed for entirely different looks. A brick surround is great for fireplace design ideas focused on a rustic or traditional style, but with a coat of paint, it can easily mesh with a contemporary or even minimalist aesthetic.
Natural Stone
Durability and uniqueness are the hallmarks of marble, granite, and limestone. And while a rustic stone fireplace is a lovely choice for an English- or French-country style (think: The Holiday), natural stone can easily go from cozy to sleek when you use a polished piece of veined marble for an oh-so-contemporary and minimalist look.
Plaster
Plaster is sometimes used to cover ugly fireplace finishes like dated rock. You can also opt for Venetian plaster to create a natural stone-like look — one of the less expensive modern fireplace design ideas, in comparison to pricier stone options like marble.
Tile
Add plenty of personality to your fireplace with colorful ceramic or porcelain tiles. This fireplace material is so versatile: Illustrated tiles can help you create a fun, statement fireplace (hello, maximalism!), for instance, while emerald green tiles can lend themselves to a nice Craftsman surround (and lean into the green trend of 2024).
Concrete
Apply concrete in the standard gray or add color for more presence. If you’re looking at fireplace design ideas using concrete, you probably already know this is a great way to go when you want to lean into an industrial or even rustic look — using it as a floor-to-ceiling surround for a room divider fireplace will add an instant cool factor to your space.
Metal
Steel and iron elements create strong, modern fireplace designs. It also tops the list of materials for modern fireplace ideas and is perfect for a minimalist look.
Wood
Reclaimed, hand-hewn, and rough-sawn are just some of the styles found in wood fireplaces. A live-edge wood mantel not only looks cool and cozy, but lends itself really well to a Scandinavian, farmhouse, or rustic style, as well.
If after you update or add a fireplace and think a living room remodel is in order, the PODS Blog has articles like "Remodeling Your House? You Need This Step-By-Step Home Renovation Checklist" to help you navigate the process.
Q: How do I learn how to design a fireplace?
A: Standout fireplace designs stem from customizing the three main aesthetic fireplace parts: the mantel, surround (material around the firebox), and hearth (space in front of the fireplace). A cohesive design should include finishes for each. Mantels are often made from distinctive wood, like reclaimed lumber. Surrounds are commonly created from unique rock or tile, and natural stone slabs like granite are go-to hearth features.
3 Common Fireplaces To Choose From
If your heart desires a comfy, cozy fireplace warming winter nights, there’s a version that will suit your budget and level of upkeep commitment.
1. Wood-Burning Fireplaces and Stoves
Wood-Burning Fireplace
There’s just something about a wood-burning fireplace that’s hard to replicate. That’s why they continue to have a devoted following, even though they aren't the most energy-efficient or cost-effective fireplace option. You’ll also need to factor in the time and money required for upkeep.
Chalk up the popularity to a huge dose of nostalgia and the way a wood-burning fireplace evokes emotion through all of your senses, but either way, there’s a reason holiday movies and real estate shows are filled with gorgeous wood-burning fireplaces.
Wood-Burning Stove
A wood-burning stove is similar to a wood-burning fireplace, but it’s enclosed and throws much more heat into the room. Stoves burn firewood better than fireplaces, and their efficiency ratings sit between 75 and 90 percent, depending on the model. In comparison, an open wood-burning fireplace’s output is as little as 10 or 20 percent efficient. You can also retrofit a wood-burning stove into an existing chimney, so it's a smart option for an efficiency update if you use it as a heat source.
2. Electric Fireplaces
If you love a fireplace’s ambiance but don't love a wood-burning model’s mess, one of the flameless (don’t worry, a faux flame is included) electric fireplace designs could be your favorite option. Electric fireplaces are wall-mounted or placed as an insert. They’re affordable and energy-efficient and have a convenient plug-in system that turns on with the flip of a switch. And since electric fireplaces emit less heat, they’re ideal for homeowners in warm climates who occasionally want to add a bit of festive atmosphere to the room.
3. Gas Fireplaces
Gas fireplace designs are popular because homeowners relish the chance to enjoy the creature comforts of a fireplace but want to avoid the constant care. They’re sold with or without gas logs and have higher efficiency rates than wood-burning fireplaces. If the traditional fireplace look doesn’t match your keen out-of-the-box style, you're in luck because gas fireplaces are highly customizable and sought after because they add high impact to any decorating preference.
Gas fireplaces are affordable alternatives to install from scratch (standalone models and inserts are available) or when you want to convert an unwanted wood-burning fireplace during a renovation. However, a gas fireplace does require a gas line and a carbon monoxide detection system because, of course, safety first.
Insider Tip: A fireplace install or update is an exciting home improvement project, but just like the soot you’ll clean from the wood-burning fireplace, the construction debris is messy, so you’ll need a solution to keep your home tidy while under construction. If you want more space (other than your kitchen or living room) to store the project’s materials and tools, consider reserving a PODS portable storage container for renovation and remodeling storage.
Your Fireplace’s Return on Investment (ROI)
Interior fireplaces don’t add as much home value as they used to — many Realtors say between $1,000 and $5,000, though some say even less than $1,000. But the financial investment isn’t the point for people who treasure a fireplace. Instead, they crave the warmth, light, and ambiance that only a fireplace offers, and the personal benefits outweigh the costs.
If you’re on the fence about updating or installing a fireplace and need a couple more pros for your pro/con list, know that, depending on the model and the amount of use, some fireplaces (especially stoves), might reduce your heating bills a little — although it’s not worth going off the grid anytime soon. Also, most potential homebuyers don’t fiercely hate fireplaces and avoid houses with them installed. In fact, they’re a proven selling feature in home sale marketing pictures and videos. It's hard to deny that a roaring fire is the highlight of any room.
Add an Outdoor Fire Feature for More ROI
On the other end of the spectrum, outdoor living spaces with magazine-worthy fire features provide some of the best home-improvement ROI stats. For example, fire pits typically have a 56 percent ROI, according to a 2023 report from the National Association of Home Realtors/National Association of Landscape Professionals.
If you’re a homeowner with an eye toward resale in the future, remember that by extending your inside living space outside, you’ll spend more time enjoying multiple seasons in comfort and attract buyers with the extra square footage. Think about fall afternoons filled with football games on the TV/fireplace wall unit designed especially for you. And don’t forget, an outdoor fire feature is a perfect excuse to enjoy seasonal snacks like s’mores on a summer evening or roasted hot dogs for a Halloween dinner.
Outdoor fireplace designs are similar to their indoor counterparts — you’ll choose from wood-burning, electric, and gas. But outdoor fireplaces need weather-resistant materials, such as stone, to prevent damage and maintain their beauty. You’ll also need to decide whether you prefer a standalone model or if extending an existing fireplace outside makes sense.
So what’s it going to be? A bold, new gas fireplace with sexy finishes? A to-die-for chimney made of local stones and a fireplace big enough to stand in? Or, if these sound too extreme, a gentle dip into fireplace life with a lovely electric model sure to chase away any wintertime blues?
For more inspired home remodeling and renovation ideas, visit the PODS Blog.
Dawn M. Smith writes about most home topics, including relocation, real estate, and home improvement. As a military spouse, she knows all too well the ups and downs of creating a new home after each move. From scouting the best neighborhoods and packing last-minute to choosing the perfect paint color, she gets it all done (usually in a hurry) with her family and Golden Retriever in tow. Dawn shares her lessons learned with the PODS Blog and other outlets like Angi, HomeAdvisor, and MilitaryByOwner.
