Bobby Meyer
Join our newsletter Name: Your Email Address Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Thank you for signing up to Realhomes. Perhaps you’ve already got one of your favorite fireplace ideas installed but feel like creating a corner one as a secondary focal point. Whatever your reason, one thing’s for sure, you won’t be ‘considering’ for long – our shortlist of stylish designs will be sparking inspiration in no time.
‘There are so many options these days, you aren’t limited by traditional requirements anymore, anyone can have a corner fireplace’, says interior designer Christina Carleton.
We love how these black metro tiles lining the inside of the furnace pop against the beautifully elegant white mantel for a classic yet modern fireplace look. A pair of sconces create symmetry and when switched on, cast a warm glow – handy for warmer days when you want a cozy feel but perhaps not the heat of a roaring fire!
In larger rooms, you can afford to boost the proportions of your corner fireplace without the risk of it overwhelming the space. This impressive design has gained height in the form of sleek white panels topped with an oversized mantel made from reclaimed wood.
Raising the firebox slightly is a neat idea too; it brings the flickering flames up to eye-line level for those chilling on the sofa… A much cozier visual than the television, don’t you agree?
‘Try a less bold tile, stone or brick and keep wall paint light so the space appears bigger’, says Hillary Quinn, owner of Grace Oak Designs (opens in new tab). You could also try swapping the mantel for something stylish yet understated – think clean lines and natural materials’. This clever corner fireplace design put together by Arbor & Co. (opens in new tab) features a three-sided stove positioned off-centre, which creates the illusion of a long flat wall and makes the room feel more spacious… With the added benefit of being able to see flickering flames from all angles.
Leather sofas, textured textiles and happy houseplants bring warmth to the black lacquered brick wall behind, creating a perfect mix of industrial and homely vibes. As well as the obvious heating benefit, a corner fireplace essentially creates a ‘fifth wall’ in a room which can be extremely useful, as demonstrated in this design by Christina Carleton (opens in new tab); ‘The family who live in this home like to gather in the evenings, but the dramatic tall ceilings, tile floors and large windows and doors made warming their living room difficult in winter months and there was no obvious placement for a television, either. It doesn’t need to involve intense building work either; ‘we used a vent-free natural gas insert that required no chimney or structural changes’, says Christina.
(Image credit: Lauren Morgan Interiors Photographer White Orchid Photography) Think about what materials you want to incorporate into your corner fireplace – wood paneling is a great option for covering large spaces, while patterned tiles create interest, for example. Tall ceilings are accentuated by taking paneling all the way up to the ceiling, while eye-catching tiles draw the eye down – we love the way the fireplace tile color has been picked up across soft furnishings and walls to add a cohesive feel to an otherwise eclectic scheme.
This stunning design has a futuristic feel with its bold triangular shape and sleek tiled finish. There’s something inherently inviting and cozy about natural stone, and a corner fireplace is the perfect way of incorporating it into a room.
We love the mix of rustic and modern in this stylish scheme – created by Mindy Gayer (opens in new tab) and photographed by Vanessa Lentine (opens in new tab) – where a minimal mantel lets the stone do the talking, while dark hues, natural textures and beautiful greenery all hint at the great outdoors.
Apart from being a stunning design feature, a double-sided corner fireplace is a great way to break up an open plan living room space, but they can be big. This contemporary design offers a similar effect by sitting square on the corner and featuring glass on two sides, creating a wonderful sense of continuity between the two rooms. If you’re lucky enough to have an existing brick corner fireplace, perhaps a little update is all that’s needed to make old and new work in perfect harmony.
It doesn’t need to be costly or hard work either; ‘painting bricks is actually simpler than a wall, they’re more forgiving. You’ll also need to take fire safety into account when positioning, which could also increase your space requirements; ‘The fireplace should be located at least 36 inches from any combustible wall that does not have protection. If they do have a protection layer, this can be reduced to 12 inches’, says Josh Mitch, Founder of AirConditionerLab (opens in new tab).
These can sit square on the corner of a wall and often feature glass sides which creates the illusion of extra space.
