Dwell On This: Here’s What to Do With That Neglected Fireplace

At one time the hearth may have been the heart of the home, but today many fireplaces see neither match nor log—if they’re not already bricked up—as sitting around the fire becomes more and more anachronistic (not to mention the proliferation of stringent wood-burning laws). Just think of how common it is to find a flat-panel television mounted over the mantel: Aside from being an ergonomic no-no, it’s certainly a sign that the fireplace is not in use.

Instead of wasting that space, make it a focal point!

Fireplaces are typically situated front and center in the living or family room, making them an opportunity for creative and functional reuse. Painting the inset of a fireplace can be enough to evoke golden warmth without ever needing to fan a flame, and the shallow cavity can also be used as a niche for displaying framed art, sculptures, or souvenirs from nature.

If you have an especially large hearth, there’s the option to add shelving for books and other objets d’art. A friend of mine likes to store records in the recess of a nonfunctional fireplace; another fills the space with the aptly named green flame fern. My wife and I have begun investigating installing a flat, wireless speaker behind the textured screen of our fireplace, which will also warm a room—albeit through music.

Cover illustration by Mar Hernández