Wood Alternatives To Elevate The Design Of Your Fireplace

The presence of a fireplace is a game-changer in any home. Nothing can beat its cozy and sophisticated ambiance, whether it's installed in a living room, bedroom, or bathroom. It's also a versatile décor piece that can be styled with stone, tile, porcelain, and more to fit a wide variety of design aesthetics. But not only are fireplaces pleasant to look at, they're also a wonderfully functional decorative feature that can warm up a room on chilly winter nights. However, if you've had the pleasure of enjoying a fireplace for a few years now, it may be time to implement a few updates.

No, we're not going to convince you to spend hundreds of dollars on a remodel. Instead, we've listed 15 firewood alternatives to give it a fresh appearance. These options are especially beneficial for homes with a modern or contemporary aesthetic that can benefit from introducing an elegant touch. So if you're ready to transform your home with a few simple changes, check out these unique decorative alternatives.

If your fireplace has a beautiful contemporary design, we suggest ditching the wood for fireballs. There are both black and white options, and the round shapes may better complement your surrounding décor.

If you enjoy the appearance of wood logs but want to class them up, we suggest giving crystal a try. These can look sophisticated and beautiful while offering a stunning complement to homes with complementary colors and finishes. 

Are you running out of room on your bookshelf? Instead of stuffing books away in a random drawer, why not stack them inside your fireplace? It'll create cozy cottage vibes that won't fill your chimney with creosote. 

We suggest layering a few pillows over a blanket for a comfy touch to introduce a plush and soothing ambiance in your space. The mixture of soft and rough textures will also create stunning visual interest.

If your fireplace is wide enough, you can use it to introduce a variety of complementary décor. Above, a leafy plant, vases, and a tiered platter create a texturized and balanced design. 

Installing shelves inside your fireplace is a simple method to create a more structured look. You can fill it with books and create a little library or use the shelving to position staple décor pieces.

Candles are another sophisticated option that can complement a wide variety of design aesthetics due to the various options available. For instance, glass candles are an excellent option for a contemporary home, whereas cement candles look great in modern spaces.

If you want something with a bit more detail, we suggest placing your candles inside decorative lanterns. You can either use one large lantern, as shown above, or a variety of smaller ones to help fill out the space.

Adding flowers around and inside your fireplace is a fun option for those with a home in need of an added touch of color and texture. A vibrant floral arrangement contrasts beautifully with the dark walls in the above photo.

String lights are a versatile decorative tool that can transform your fireplace in more than one way. You can pile a pool of lights inside the firebox, string them along the sides and mantle, and more. They also come in various colors and sizes to create whatever look you envision. 

Layering several picture frames of different sizes and colors can create an exciting and fun visual. Here, a homeowner showcases their love of giraffes by introducing a variety of related photos all around their fireplace.

Mirrors are decorative items that can be used in basically any space in your home — even inside your fireplace. The example here shows how its reflective properties can brighten up an area without the help of firewood.

Add a vintage touch to your fireplace by stacking a few suitcases inside the firebox. You can create a symmetrical look or choose different sizes to stack, starting with the larger one and ending with the smallest.

Attaching a chalkboard to the front of your fireplace creates endless creative opportunities! Whenever you're sick of one picture, you can easily erase it and create a new one. And if you miss your firewood, you can always draw it on, as shown in the example above.

However, if you absolutely cannot live without your firewood, we suggest painting their ends to create a unique look. Those who prefer eclectic designs can use various colors, whereas those who identify as minimalists may prefer something more neutral, such as black or gray.