Summer isn’t the traditional time to think about decorating your fireplace. In fact, it isn’t the traditional time to think about the fireplace at all! With the weather picking up (fingers crossed), your fireplace may go unused for weeks at a time. So what should you do with it in the meantime?
Well luckily, there are a wealth of options available to you. The fireplace is actually a very versatile centrepiece, open to a lot of style changes. This remains the truth both with and without the fire or stove in place. Here are some ideas.
Plants
The obvious and most versatile choice, plants are a go-to decoration for most rooms. Their vast variety, from colours to flowers, is well known. Yet, when choosing decorative flowers, why do most go for the generic choices of roses, daisies or tulips?
Why not go for something more exotic? With most fireplaces offering more space than the typical coffee table or shelf will, you can afford to get something a little more wild and out there than the norm. You can choose flowers that will stand at the side of your fireplace, or cover it completely with your own little forrest.
Logs
If you have a wood burning stove, you have a few more options available to you. For a start, if you are struggling to think of a place to store the logs over summer, why not arrange them nicely within the stove? You are creating a suitable visual to get you through the warmer months, and saving room too.
Alternatively, there are such things as decorative logs. Some are pure crystal, which have a timeless quality, but it is also possible to obtain coloured logs if you are feeling more adventurous. A stove filled with bright green logs is sure to turn heads, just remember to not set them on fire when September comes!
Ornaments
Now for something else you may have already, scatterer around your house – ornaments. Though they are usually on shelves or tucked into display cabinets, most ornaments actually look great in a fireplace, due to the way the fireplace frames them and makes them the centre of attention.
Putting something fragile like vases or chinaware may not be the best option, considering how close to the floor they are, but something more robust, like a statue, would work well. If you’re feeling like dabbling in DIY, however, you could remove the fire or stove altogether, put up some temporary shelves inside the now empty alcove, and make a little bookcase!
Divider
And for those who want to completely hide their fireplace, there is the divider. These screens vary in size, material and patterns, so finding something suitable won’t be hard. Just make sure it is in-keeping with your current interior decor style, as it will be in position for a few months. You don’t want an eyesore in front of your fireplace for the whole of summer!