How do I decorate my unused fireplace like a real fireplace?

Unused fireplace is a potential atmosphere creator

Many people who live in an old house know the phenomenon: the unused fireplace. The fireplace cannot be lit for a variety of reasons. Often, the chimney has disappeared after a renovation.

And in many houses, the fireplace has been converted for the gas heater. The fireplace is then often bricked up, with a hole for the gas heater.

The same fireplace remains a clear part of the room and a potential atmosphere creator. What possibilities are there to decorate this fireplace like a real fireplace?

The following six steps indicate how an unused fireplace can look like a real fireplace.

Unused fireplace decorated as a wood-burning fireplace

Step 1 | With a fireback

Putting a fireback in front of or in the fireplace enhances the character of the fireplace. Antique firebacks come with a wide variety of styles and decorations. You may opt for an impressive fireback to make the fireplace look more impressive. It is also possible to opt for contrast; an antique fireback, for example, often looks very nice in a sleeker fireplace. For other fireplaces, a harmonious whole is often beautiful, created by choosing a fireback in the style of the fireplace.

In addition, it is important to choose the right size of fireback. The following article describes what the options are: Which size of fireback fits in my open fireplace?.

What size fireback fits my fireplace?

This step is suitable for both open fireplaces and fireplaces that have been bricked up.

Unused fireplace decorated as a wood-burning fireplace

Step 2 | With andirons and a grate or a fire basket

Andirons and a grate or a fire basket give the feeling that the fireplace is ready to burn. Especially when logs are placed. It is important that the andirons or the fire basket form one beautiful whole with the fireback. In addition, it is important to choose the right size of andirons with grate or fire basket. The grate that can be placed on the andirons or the fire basket must fall within the fireplace. The uprights of the andirons may possibly fall outside the fireplace.

This step is only suitable for open fireplaces and not for bricked-up fireplaces.

Unused fireplace decorated with a fire grate

Step 3 | With a fireplace screen

Placing a fireplace screen gives, on the one hand, the feeling of an active fireplace, but it also closes the 'empty' hole of the fireplace or is decorative for a bricked-up fireplace. With an open fireplace, you may choose any type of fireplace screen or fender that forms one beautiful whole with the fireplace, and possibly with the fireback and andirons or fire basket.

With a bricked-up fireplace, a flat screen is chosen that is placed directly in front of the fireplace. Examples are the brass screens on a stand or the 'summer screens' made of wood and fabric. Summer screens were traditionally placed in front of the fireplace when the fireplace was not being used.

This step is suitable for both open fireplaces and fireplaces that have been bricked up.

Unused fireplace with a fireplace screen

Step 4 | With other fireplace accessories, such as fireplace tools and a log holder

Additional fireplace accessories, such as fireplace tools or a log holder, give the feeling of a fireplace in use. The log holder can be filled with wood or with pinecones. The fireplace tools can, for example, be placed in a stand and positioned next to the fireplace.

This step is suitable for both open fireplaces and fireplaces that have been bricked up.

Unused fireplace with fireplace accessories

Step 5 | With antique cookware for the fireplace

A very decorative option is to give the fireplace the specific character of a fireplace used for cooking, as was the case in the past. Cookware and cooking utensils can be placed in the fireplace for this purpose. These fireplace accessories are often centuries old and beautifully forged. Options are a trammel hook on which the pan was hung in the fire, a trivet on which the pan was placed, a Dutch oven used for cooking and a large fork or spoon with which the food was tested and tasted. You may also choose andirons with spit hooks on which an antique spit is placed. Antique fireplace grills with a spring that can be wound so that the spit turns are also beautiful.

This step is only suitable for open fires and not for fires that have been bricked up.

Unused fireplace with cooking accessories

Step 6 | With other decorations that enhance the character of the fireplace

Decorations on the mantel or above the fireplace can also enhance the character of the fireplace as an active fireplace. Consider a fireplace mirror, an antler, one or more works of art or (large) candlesticks on either side of the mantelpiece. These are all elements that make the fireplace stand out and give it more allure.

This step is suitable for both open fireplaces and fireplaces that have been bricked up.

Unused fireplace with decorations