A fireplace should be the crown jewel of any room. Whether you’re showing your house to sell, or just getting ready for the holiday spirit—staging your fireplace can make a grand statement. Dress it up right to make a great impression in every season.

It’s natural to pay more attention to the fireplace in wintertime. We hang stockings on the mantel and cozy up by the fire in the cold winter evenings. But this home feature can still be a major highlight when it’s warm outside. From fireplaces in the living room to the bedroom, proper staging should be a year-round focus.

The “Rule of Three” for Staging

Your fireplace doesn’t need to dominate an entire wall to make an impact. Even smaller fireplaces can have a luxurious vibe. In this living room, basic brick is bordered with beautiful crown molding. This simple touch gives the narrow mantel a bolder effect. To help draw the eye upwards, hang a nice piece of large-scale artwork in the very center of the firebox.

Professional stagers will often utilize the “Rule of Three” to create intrigue with fireplaces. Choose items of a similar color scheme or pattern to complement the rest of your room. We decided to use copper-toned vases here with a delicate flower display. By working with accessories that have varying heights, you can create instant intrigue and drama to any size fireplace.

Fireplace Staging Symmetry

Sometimes you need to keep your staging simple. If you’re pressed for square footage on either side of your fireplace, a small side table or floor lamp can help balance out the space. Traditional brick fireplaces with simple mantel shelves can get an updated look with a sleek flat-screen television. Just try to size your technology to your room. A bigger screen will actually make your living room feel cramped if it overpowers your fireplace.

Once you have your fireplace “centerpiece,” you can play with symmetry by using other small, matching décor pieces. Miniature plants or bookends can help frame the television and add balance to your room. If you need help finding the right style or pieces, just reach out to a local staging professional. Their design sense will help you accentuate the positives of your home in every corner.

Modern Bedroom Design

Accent colors on your fireside should play off the color palette already in the room. For the master bedroom, you’ll probably want to stick with calming and neutral paint colors—especially around the fireplace. A white-washed effect on this fire surround softens the hard brick and keeps the tone muted.

Bright whites are refreshing any time of year, so the fireplace can easily be the major focal point for this room in winter as well as springtime. The white shelf and molding go great with the darker tones we tend to use for traditional holiday decorating, and the classic design still looks fabulous in the warmer months too. Greenery and garland in winter—with white birch logs or colorful flowers in springtime—are winning combos for this classy white fireplace.

No matter what room your fireplace is in, dressing up your mantel can make a huge difference in your home’s selling price and how you enjoy your space. With the right staging and design style, your fireplace can easily be the one thing that ties your entire room together!

All images on this website are the property of Home Matters LLC. They come from our actual clients and staging projects, so be sure to contact us if you like what you see!