Fresh Ideas for Tiling Your Fireplace
Let new tiles transform your hearth or chimney breast – or create the illusion you have one
A fireplace is a natural focal point, and the colours and patterns in its tiles often set the tone for the whole look of a room. If you’re thinking of revamping yours, check out these ideas first. From bold and bright to gently traditional, the tiles you choose could be the key to unlocking a whole new style in your living room.
Keep it simple
It’s not only a bold, patterned or colourful tile that can make a feature of a fireplace. In this living room, designer Celine Erlam of Indie & Co kept the chimney breast almost bare, since a projector for watching films drops down from the ceiling, casting images onto the plain surface above (the wreath is removed for viewing).
A busy fireplace could be a visual distraction in this context, so this plain blue, simple square Moroccan tiled surround works beautifully to house the homeowners’ wood-burning stove.
It’s not only a bold, patterned or colourful tile that can make a feature of a fireplace. In this living room, designer Celine Erlam of Indie & Co kept the chimney breast almost bare, since a projector for watching films drops down from the ceiling, casting images onto the plain surface above (the wreath is removed for viewing).
A busy fireplace could be a visual distraction in this context, so this plain blue, simple square Moroccan tiled surround works beautifully to house the homeowners’ wood-burning stove.
Have a hearth
Tiling doesn’t need to extend to the whole of a fireplace cavity. Here, in a living room designed by REES Architects, it’s just the hearth that gets the decorative treatment.
Designer Daniel Rees made the chimney breasts (one fireplace is out of shot behind the photographer) into a real focal point. “The original fireplaces weren’t in situ,” he explains, “so we designed simple, modern openings around the existing structure to reduce costs and retain some of the original house.”
See before photos in the tour of this space.
Tiling doesn’t need to extend to the whole of a fireplace cavity. Here, in a living room designed by REES Architects, it’s just the hearth that gets the decorative treatment.
Designer Daniel Rees made the chimney breasts (one fireplace is out of shot behind the photographer) into a real focal point. “The original fireplaces weren’t in situ,” he explains, “so we designed simple, modern openings around the existing structure to reduce costs and retain some of the original house.”
See before photos in the tour of this space.
Ramp up the colour
This striking, teal-tiled fireplace in Cambridgeshire was made bespoke to replace a tired 1970s version. Design company colour + shape had a simple oak surround built to contain the blue-green scallop tiles.
The shape of the tiles picks up the just-visible arch in the background to the left, helping to tie the scheme together. With the fun touch of painted logs to reference the peacock and turquoise shades in the tiles, this fireplace is a real focal point.
This striking, teal-tiled fireplace in Cambridgeshire was made bespoke to replace a tired 1970s version. Design company colour + shape had a simple oak surround built to contain the blue-green scallop tiles.
The shape of the tiles picks up the just-visible arch in the background to the left, helping to tie the scheme together. With the fun touch of painted logs to reference the peacock and turquoise shades in the tiles, this fireplace is a real focal point.
Use your chimney breast as a feature wall
This design is an interesting reinvention of the feature wall, and one that also deals with the issue of a defunct fireplace and bare chimney breast.
Inspired by a friend’s home, designer Yoko Kloeden tiled the whole chimney breast using hand-glazed Moroccan tiles. The variety of blues and greens makes it easy to link this standout feature to furniture and decorative details in different shades of the cool tones in the rest of the room.
Inspired to renovate your home? Find the right people to help you in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
This design is an interesting reinvention of the feature wall, and one that also deals with the issue of a defunct fireplace and bare chimney breast.
Inspired by a friend’s home, designer Yoko Kloeden tiled the whole chimney breast using hand-glazed Moroccan tiles. The variety of blues and greens makes it easy to link this standout feature to furniture and decorative details in different shades of the cool tones in the rest of the room.
Inspired to renovate your home? Find the right people to help you in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Create a ‘splashback’ for your stove
This is an attractive idea for a room where there’s no chimney breast, perhaps where a flue is installed to run out of the room and straight up the exterior of a building.
This living space is part of a converted workshop in the Cotswolds and was designed by Cream & Black Interior Design, who created this panel behind the wood-burning stove.
The black and white tiles set the style for the rest of the monochrome space. Consider this power when picking tiles for your own fireplace, as you may find yourself building your décor around them.
This is an attractive idea for a room where there’s no chimney breast, perhaps where a flue is installed to run out of the room and straight up the exterior of a building.
This living space is part of a converted workshop in the Cotswolds and was designed by Cream & Black Interior Design, who created this panel behind the wood-burning stove.
The black and white tiles set the style for the rest of the monochrome space. Consider this power when picking tiles for your own fireplace, as you may find yourself building your décor around them.
Pair with dark walls
So far, the featured fireplaces have all been set against pale backdrops. More unusually, this living room has geometric tiles that pick up on the inky shade of the walls.
If you’re using cement tiles, usually referred to as encaustic tiles, they need careful handling and should always be laid by an experienced professional. Ensure they’re properly sealed, as these tiles are porous, so will otherwise absorb dirt – and there will be plenty of that around a working fireplace.
Read about how to care for encaustic cement tiles.
So far, the featured fireplaces have all been set against pale backdrops. More unusually, this living room has geometric tiles that pick up on the inky shade of the walls.
If you’re using cement tiles, usually referred to as encaustic tiles, they need careful handling and should always be laid by an experienced professional. Ensure they’re properly sealed, as these tiles are porous, so will otherwise absorb dirt – and there will be plenty of that around a working fireplace.
Read about how to care for encaustic cement tiles.
Raise your flame
A slightly raised fireplace, especially if you’re without original features and building it almost from scratch, can create an interesting opportunity for tiling.
Here, the fireplace features semi-traditional floral patterned tiling – the sort you might have seen in an original Victorian fireplace, but used above and below the opening rather than in strips down the side of a cast-iron design. The arrangement is topped by a chunky, modern-rustic wood shelf – an excellent mix of old and new.
A slightly raised fireplace, especially if you’re without original features and building it almost from scratch, can create an interesting opportunity for tiling.
Here, the fireplace features semi-traditional floral patterned tiling – the sort you might have seen in an original Victorian fireplace, but used above and below the opening rather than in strips down the side of a cast-iron design. The arrangement is topped by a chunky, modern-rustic wood shelf – an excellent mix of old and new.
Revamp an original
Perhaps it’s only the tiling you aren’t in love with when it comes to your fireplace, whether that’s down to the colours or the tiles being in bad nick. If you have a lovely original feature, like this one, then gently updating it with tiles could give it a new lease of life while also transforming your room.
This fireplace has been freshened with white paint, blending it in with the walls and helping to give the room an airy feel. The choice of blue-and-white contemporary geometric tiles is in keeping with this easy-breezy theme, but very definitely non-traditional.
Consider working with an interior designer if you’re changing something fundamental and old, as they will be able to design the layout of your new tiles to best preserve the integrity of an old fireplace.
Tell us…
Which of these ideas would you consider for your own fireplace? Let us know in the Comments section.
Perhaps it’s only the tiling you aren’t in love with when it comes to your fireplace, whether that’s down to the colours or the tiles being in bad nick. If you have a lovely original feature, like this one, then gently updating it with tiles could give it a new lease of life while also transforming your room.
This fireplace has been freshened with white paint, blending it in with the walls and helping to give the room an airy feel. The choice of blue-and-white contemporary geometric tiles is in keeping with this easy-breezy theme, but very definitely non-traditional.
Consider working with an interior designer if you’re changing something fundamental and old, as they will be able to design the layout of your new tiles to best preserve the integrity of an old fireplace.
Tell us…
Which of these ideas would you consider for your own fireplace? Let us know in the Comments section.
This 19th century Cornish cottage had been stripped of its original internal features before Helen Bainbridge came to work on it. Rather than slavishly recreate what would once have been there, Helen reintroduced character to the space in different ways.
One of her ideas was this contemporary enclosed fireplace, which sits flush against the chimney breast. Helen chose to tile the surround right up to the ceiling, making it a key feature in the room.