Nothing beats sitting by a cozy fireplace on a chilly evening. Fireplaces add charm to your living space, especially when you modernize a fireplace. They serve as a focal point that brings your whole interior together.
Additionally, fireplaces help increase the value of your home and add to its appeal. In fact, home buyers see fireplaces as hot commodities. Around 45% of home buyers would actually increase their offer for a new home if it has a minimum of one fireplace, according to a 2007 survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors.
But, even if you already have a fireplace in your home, it can start to look a little tired and lose its charm. This is when you should start brainstorming fireplace remodel ideas and give your fireplace a much-needed makeover.
How To Update A Fireplace In 10 Easy Ways
There are many ways you can update your fireplace, including:
1. Add Glass Doors
Leaving a wood fire unintended can be very unsafe. You can easily switch off a gas fireplace when you need it. You can’t do that with a wood fire. You need to close it off with glass doors. It’s not hard to retrofit your fireplace’s safety feature. Glass doors come in a variety of sizes that will allow you to easily fit them in any type of flat firebox opening.
2. Clean it Up
You’d be amazed at the difference you can make to your fireplace by giving it a little scrub down and polishing it up. If your fireplace has brass details, you can make a paste by mixing half of a lemon with some table salt. Rub the paste onto the brass in affected areas until you remove any grime. Then, wipe it away with a damp cloth, buffing the brass until it shines.
If your fireplace surround is cast iron and it has a little rust or it’s been marked up a bit, you can remove these blemishes using some metal polish and fine wire wool.
3. Install a Fireplace Insert
Unfortunately, a fireplace can be a huge air gap in your home, sending your heated air out the chimney. When left as is, a fireplace can make an inefficient heating source. But, luckily you can turn your fireplace into a very efficient source of heat by installing an insert.
4. Install Granite Fireplace Surrounds
Can you put granite around a fireplace? That’s a common question and the answer is absolutely.
Granite is a multifunctional, low-maintenance powerhouse of stone that resists wear from:
- Mild abrasions
- Water
- Heavy traffic
When it comes to fireplace surrounds, their heat resistance and simple-to-clean nature make them an ideal option.
Granite forms when magma beneath the surface of the earth cools and becomes solid. It’s an igneous rock that develops a resistance to extreme heat since it’s made by it. You can even place a hot pan on a granite surface and it won’t damage it. Even after long periods of time, the ambient heat that your home fireplace emanates won’t cause damage.
You’ll really appreciate a granite fireplace surround since grime and soot that could accumulate from natural wood burn won’t stain it. And, to eliminate dirt and dust, all you’ll need is a washcloth and soapy water due to its bacteria-resistant nature.
5. Whitewash It
If your fireplace is brick, you can add a little more light by whitewashing it. It isn’t that simple to paint and makeover dull bricks. In fact, you can make the bricks look brash if you try to paint them over with bright colors.
However, you can give your fireplace bricks a rustic look with a simple whitewash. It’s very affordable to do as well. You simply:
- Mix up equal parts of water and white latex paint in a container.
- Spray down the clean bricks lightly with water (be sure there are no drips left behind).
- Apply the paint using a rag. To get into hard-to-reach sections, switch to a dry brush.
- Apply a second coat, if needed, to achieve your desired color.
6. Put In A Gas Fireplace
The one thing that can make a warm, crackling fire on a winter’s night even better is one that doesn’t require tending to, doesn’t leave the rest of your home cold and requires very little clean-up. This is what a gas fireplace today can do for you.
The days of fake-looking logs and anemic blue flames are long gone. The modern versions today look much more realistic with tall orange flames flickering and dancing and red embers surrounding ceramic-fiber logs that are molded from the genuine thing.
7. Eye-Catching and Attractive Artwork
Adding abstract artwork over a fireplace will help draw attention to the center of your living space and helps blend nicely with other colors throughout the area. Depending on the cost of the artwork, this can be one of many budget-friendly fireplace remodel ideas.
8. Fit a Floating Beam
You may want to try a floating beam if you absolutely love a country farmhouse look. These make the perfect option for people with fireplaces but no surrounds. They’re also simple to fit.
Beams can be found in many places, including:
- Local salvage shops
- Wood shops
- EBay
- Online retailers
It’s a relatively straightforward process to install a beam and you’ll require a:
- Drill
- Angle grinder
- Level
- Vent sleeves
- Lag bolts
You’ll also find many step-by-step video tutorials online on how to do this if needed.
9. Dress Up your Mantelpiece
Dressing up your fireplace is one failsafe way to make way more than a statement with it. Add some artwork or a large mirror above the mantel to draw eyes to it. You may wish to try a gallery wall of mismatched frames or just a few large pieces.
10. Turn It Into a Faux Fireplace
Faux fireplaces are fireplaces designed to look and function like real fireplaces but without the real heat or flames. You can have an insert installed like electric to produce a flame effect or it can come as a totally decorative form.
This is a great feature to add and enjoy if you can’t have a log burner or a real fire in your fireplace. This way you won’t leave the space empty. You can place lanterns or pillar candles inside the space or surround it with fairy lights.
You can even place a basket with pinecones in the empty space or some chopped wood. You can even find some display logs at special supply stores that are treated so they won’t discolor or rot.
There are many ways to modernize a fireplace, including adding a granite fireplace surround. Your options are virtually limitless.
Choose Arch City Granite & Marble, Inc
When it comes time to update your fireplace, choose Arch City Granite & Marble, Inc. Our team of stone experts will help you choose your optimal fireplace surround that works best for your house. Explore our selection of stone fireplace surrounds today.