How to update your fireplace

It’s that time of year again, the time where we start thinking about Christmas which is right around the corner. If you are planning on having people over to your home, is your fireplace ready to be the centre of this festive occasion?

If you’ve been in your home for any significant amount of time, you have undoubtedly repainted walls, changed couches, updated decor, subtracted carpets and the like. However, chances are, you haven’t done anything with your fireplace. It’s possible that despite the updating efforts you’ve made on the rest of your living room, your fireplace dates it. Do you think it’s time to update your fireplace?

In our 17 years of installing over 5,000 fireplace features and dealing with thousands of people, we have learned a thing or two about approaching fireplace updates and refreshing fireplace surrounds.

To start, let’s sit back and reflect on your fireplace. For one, do you actually use your fireplace? If not, why not? Does your fireplace insert seem dated? Maybe you just need a fireplace insert refresh. Or, does the thought of actually having to chop wood and deal with the mess aftermath prevent you from using it? If this is the case, maybe you want to consider upgrading to a gas fireplace.

If you are considering a fireplace upgrade, it is important to first note whether you want the fireplace to be the focal point of your room, or blend into the background. Secondly, do you need a mantel (the shelf above the fireplace)? Thirdly, do you want to place a flat screen TV above the fireplace? If so, you will need to consider the height your TV will be placed in relation to the heat the fireplace will give off.

Moving on, what is your personal style? Are you looking for a traditional fireplace surround (see Arch), a transitional fireplace mantel (see Cornice) or a modern fireplace (see Span)?

Once you have done all this, take some measurements with our measure up guide and start getting inspired by design. We suggest doing a Google image search for the fireplace surrounds that match your style. You can also try searching on Houzz, Pinterest or Flickr.

If you have more questions, feel free to contact us and talk with one of our design specialists.

Happy fireplace updating!