If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace in your home, but you’re not planning on using for it’s built-in purpose (i.e… a fire), you may be wondering what to do with it. Well you’re in luck, chimney breasts make a beautiful focal point in any room even without a working fireplace. There are plenty of options to make the most of this delightful element of your home, and we have a ton of inspo and tips to show you for chimney breast ideas without fire. Ultimately, it will depend on your own personal preferences, design tastes and existing styling of the space, so the more inspiration you can find I’m sure the better!

Fireplaces were an essential element in a home well into the 20th century, however from the 1960’s onwards, as central heating gained prevalence, which resulted in people moving away from traditional fireplaces. At this time many fireplaces were bricked up or removed and modern houses began to be built without any fireplaces. Nowadays, we see a lot of original fireplaces boarded up – this is because open fireplaces are pretty inefficient and bring a cold draft into the home whenever the fire is not lit.

If you are lucky enough to old an older home, this may serve as a design challenge, what do you do with this extra, low alcove? Well we see it as a beautiful staple to the home which is incredibly versatile in terms of styling. If you’re looking for how to style your chimney breast alcoves too – we have a blog post on that too! You can check it out here: 12 creative ways to style your living room chimney breast alcoves

Fake fire with candles

Perhaps the most obvious option is the creation of a ‘faux fireplace’ through the use of multiple candles. This is my personal favourite and, as you can see from the video, is what I have opted for in my own home.

When it comes to chimney breast ideas without fire this one if often the most cohesive, in that you are still using the space for beautiful flame light during dark evenings. We typically see lots and lots of white pillar candles used for this option, and that tends to look the most ‘chic’ – particularly if juxtaposed against a dark background.

I personally went for a mix of pillar candles and tea lights in cast iron lanterns. This goes particularly well in my space as it is an older home, although you may want to opt for something more sleek and colourful if you’re in a more modern space. The lanterns I used are cased in glass which makes it particularly reflective – making it look like there are far more candles dancing around in the space than I actually had. I have linked them below.

Create a pretty plant nursery

Another simple way to create a focal point chimney breast without a fire is through the use of plants – which make a beautiful, natural alternative to the flames and wood we typically see in fireplaces. For those of your following a botanical theme, or who have a paired back design style, this alternative can really work magic in your space.

The designer below has opted for pure vine leaves in the fireplace alcove which is a unique way to incorporate plants into the space. Again, it will depend on your own design tastes and preferences, whether you opt for vines, a huge assortment of plants, or just one stand out star plant in the space.

We particularly love the incorporation of the coastal theme below with the huge clam plant pot. An absolutely stunning way to both incorporate plants into your space whilst making a nod to your theme. A chimney breast without a fire can really benefit from using stand out plant pots to make an impact1

Style a non-working fireplace with logs

Logs make a beautiful addition to your fireplace alcove, and make for wonderful chimney breast ideas without a fire. Logs will bring warm wood colours into your space whilst giving a nod to nature, and although they are typically used to light the actual fire, they make for beautiful decor and look right at home in the space.

You can either pile them up as we see in the below image, or you can place them on a log burner to give the illusion of a working fireplace. Either way works beautifully! Finish the look with a wood basket and some additional wooden decor if you really want to lean into the look.

Add shelving

Of course, your empty fireplace is similar to any alcove – and what do we do with most alcoves? We put shelves in them. Whilst the people in the below image have used this as part of their fireplace library (more on that later) you could just as easily use this shelving to house your decor and candles – which would look just as beautiful frankly!

If you can’t be bothered for the DIY involved in measuring shelves to size and drilling them in, you could follow the designer below’s inspiration and place a small and low console in front of the fireplace as a faux shelf.

Add storage

Another trend we’re seeing in modern chimney breast ideas without fire is the use of suitcases as both decor and storage. These look wonderful in all types of design styles and have the added benefit of providing storage for items you’d rather have hidden away!

Create a focal piece with tiling

You may want to tile over the fireplace if it is causing too much of a draft in the home, and you can do so with stunning results! There are a wide range of tiling options available for you, with even mirrored tiling being used in some cases. Just make sure it aligns with your current colour scheme and styling and it can make a stunning focal point chimney breast without a fire!

You can mix and match this style with another solution for maximum impact, for example including beautiful books in the space or covering with plants.

Create a library

If you are a book lover, like me, you may often struggle to find space for ALL the books, as your shelves bend and groan at the weight of them! Recently we’ve been seeing a trend of books in the fireplace (hopefully not to set alight – no book burning allowed here!)

Whether you organise your books neatly (and alphabetically), or you dump them all in there, is up to you and your aesthetic (and how you treat your books!). Both options look pretty stylish and dare I say intentional regardless of how they’re organised.

Pet pad

You know who would fit wonderfully in that short and narrow alcove? Yep! It’s the perfect height for your pet to have a new mini bedroom! Beforehand you should check that the chimney is fully covered and tiled up (and clean – we don’t want a dusty pooch) You can get some gorgeous pieces from the likes of Dunelm and Wayfair, just make sure to check the measurements.

Modern chimney breast ideas without fire should be functional and fabulous. Fur or pet sofas look particularly chic in the space – add in some battery operated fairy lights and some mini photo frames for a cosy place for your kitty to have their cat nap!

Make it a fun focal point with paint and sculptures

To make a truly gorgeous focal point chimney breast without a fire, you’ll want to make it stand out with paint/tiling along with some beautiful modern sculptures that fit in with the style of your home.

For a more laid back look, you can also keep the fireplace in keeping with the rest of the walls and use the sculpture alone to make a big statement. The bigger and more eye catching the better!

When looking for chimney breast ideas without fire had you already considered putting your art and frames in the fireplace? This looks beautiful regardless of if it is one frame or many, and is often an easy way to make your fireplace look beautiful using items you already have to hand.

Make a fireplace

If you’re looking for chimney breast ideas no fire have you ever considered.. putting in a fire? Bioethanol fireplaces offer a genuine warming flame without the environmental impact, and are relatively easy to install. You can find plenty of versions from specialists and even from amazon – once again just make sure you check the dimensions of your space!

Antique Fireguards

Fireguards don’t just need to be there for working fireplaces, they can also be a pretty and easy solution to making an empty fireplace look good. You can get some gorgeous, handmade options from places like Etsy that really help to make a focal point out of your chimney breast without a fire, without breaking the bank.

House your blankets

Add some cosy comfort to your fireplace with beautiful wicker baskets filled with your favourite blankets. You can even finish off the look with your spare cushions and a cosy faux-fur rug.

Educational space for kids

You know what other little creatures are the perfect height for an empty fireplace? The kids! You can add some sweet toys to the space, whether in a basket or placed freely. You can also add a black board over the alcove for a fun writing area for the kids!

Photo by DHD Architecture and Interior Design – Browse kids’ bedroom photos

Top 5 Chimney Breast Ideas without fire

• Patch up with plants
• Illuminate with lots of candles
• Tile it up with a contrasting tile pattern
• Create a focal point with paint and a stand out sculpture
• Create a doggy/kitty haven for your pet with a pet bed and fairy lights