Since fireplaces are a powerful and cozy accent to add to any luxury home, designing one is a top priority for comfort-minded homeowners. A fireplace with built-in shelves is an especially good choice because it allows for storage and space maximization.
Read on to learn three great shelving options for those who want to use their fireplace surrounds in an elegant and functional way.
1. Natural-Look Built-Ins
You may think that wood and fireplaces only go together when you’re burning timber. However, this is far from the case when creating luxury fireplaces with trendy shelving. White birch finishing is one of the best materials for built-in shelves imaginable because of its sleek appearance and natural grain.
You can add some small library lights to illuminate the birch shelving, which gives it a cozy and natural look. Adding several different moldings and trims to the birch mantel also is an awesome way to make your fireplace unique and individualistic.
You also may like a natural-looking white surround. Painted wood is a great choice, but you can also get a quartz or marble luxury fireplace surround. Natural and engineered stone provide some cool contrast to a dancing flame, and they’re great for shelves because of their heavy durability.
2. Wallpapered Built-Ins
Paper is another thing you likely don’t associate with fireplace designs, but you can use wallpaper to line the back of built-in shelving. This will showcase a pattern behind the things that you plan to openly store on your shelves.
Make sure that you’re not putting tons of items on the shelves. Intricate patterns on vases and bowls also look best with plain wallpaper colors or paint. However, a striped or oriental pattern will look good when paired with minimalistic items and backward-turned books.
An interior design service can help you choose a style that works well for your unique needs.
3. Closed Storage
If you want to keep all eyes on your fireplace and surround, you may also opt for closed storage space in the form of built-in shelves. Have some visible shelving and spruce it up with vases, plants, and other decorative accents. But keep this minimal – include closed cabinets at the bottom of the fireplace right next to the surround, too.
This will let you store things that you don’t necessarily want on display. Gaming systems and other technology may be useful and fun, but you don’t want them marring your elegant and sophisticated aesthetic. You can also store papers, spare bedding, and household appliances in closed cabinets so you don’t need to look at them.
Both closed and open storage systems look great in bold colors as well as white. Consider using black wood or stone and adding white or brightly-colored accents to any visible shelves. Stone busts that look like classical sculptures and bright blue vases look great, as do faux fruits like lemons and oranges.
Design a Fireplace With Built-In Shelves
Now that you know some ideas for a fireplace with built-in shelves, it’s time to begin designing one with the help of an expert. Alpha to Omega has over 20 years of experience, and we’re excited to listen to your needs and turn your dream into a reality. Reach out to learn more about how we can help you design the luxury space of your dreams.