5 Ideas for Fireplace Built-Ins
Light Brite • March 16, 2020

5 Ideas for Fireplace Built-Ins

Looking for a fresh design or more storage and display space for your home? Fireplace built-ins are a great solution. They’re a lot easier to incorporate with existing layouts than you’d think, and they provide an ideal spot for those often-used items that need to be stored away. Here are five ideas to inspire you with the perfect fireplace built-in solution.

1. Stylish Fireplace Mantels 


If you only need minimal storage or display space, a simple mantel will do the trick. This is especially important in smaller rooms where an uncluttered look is preferred. Make your fireplace mantel work for you by adding small decorative boxes for an attractive storage fix

Fireplace mantel with colorful bird painting, plants, and decorative accents in a cozy living room
Cozy living room fireplace with stone surround, wood mantel, and built-in bookshelves on both sides

2. Fireplace Bookshelf Surround 

Bookshelf surrounds are a practical fireplace built-in and an easy way to get a whole lot of storage. Open shelves work great to fill in any dead space that needs some charm. Lining up a bookshelf surround with the mantel height makes the shelves look like they’re one with the fireplace. Or floor-to-ceiling built-ins, complete with bookshelf doors to hide all the clutter, make an elegant statement.

3. Built-in Settings – Recessed or Flush 

While you’re deciding on your storage solutions, it’s a good idea to think about the setting of your built-in. Mostly, the decision is all about personal preference, but the size of your room could help dictate whether you want your built-in recessed or flush with the fireplace. In larger rooms, built-ins are typically installed in the same plane as the fireplace. But setting a built-in several inches back provides storage while still maintaining a bit of visual relief in a smaller room.

Bright living room with a stone fireplace, wall-mounted TV, white shelves, and a striped chair by the window.
Cozy living room fireplace with stone surround, wood mantel, and built-in bookshelves on both sides

4. Symmetrical or Asymmetrical 

Traditional homes typically have symmetrical built-ins on both sides of the fireplace. But if you’re going for a more sleek and contemporary design, you may opt for a fireplace built-in that’s only on one side. The bottom line, though, is that your fireplace’s location in the room will often determine the layout of your built-ins. As long as you go with what works best for you and your home, you can’t go wrong.

5. Materials and Design 

No matter what fireplace built-in design you choose, look to your home and the setting of your fireplace for clues as to the types of materials and details you should use. For example, a built-in is a smart way to duplicate your favorite design elements that are found elsewhere in your home, like woodwork, crown molding or color and texture.

Whether you are remodeling, replacing or are involved with a new construction project, a fireplace built-in from Light Brite is adaptable to most settings.



Call us today to set up an appointment at our showroom in Trenton, IL.

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