This wide-open living room perfectly displays the draw of a modern fireplace surround by showcasing a Roman clay fireplace. The textured gray stone looks stylish, especially when contrasted by a dark wood floating mantel. For a contrast of color, consider including a gold-framed shelf nearby and hanging a piece of artwork that spans a large portion of the clay. Bonus points if you can snag a Samsung Frame TV that can display various art pieces as the seasons change.
21 Minimalistic and Modern Fireplace Surrounds
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Published: December 11, 2023
Updated: December 12, 2023
Our current interior trends are some of cleanliness and simplicity, and these trendy examples of modern fireplace surrounds showcase just how incredible stripping down our homes can be. Instead of an over-the-top mantel design, we’re shifting our focus to cleaner lines and open space. There’s been a big focus on highlighting high-quality stone and sturdy wood shelving. In addition, many designers are choosing to keep the sides of the fireplace open instead of inundating the wall with built-in shelves or exaggerated artwork.
Where a traditional mantel stands in an antique or vintage home, painting the original woodwork black can instantly modernize a space and expose the old brick that may have been white or lime-washed at one time. These are only a few tips of many that inspire these gorgeous living rooms that have committed to this shift in design so exuberantly. You can enjoy this look too with a little help from our inspirational guide.
02 of Three-dimensional Modern Fireplace Surround
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In a traditional home, a classic white fireplace never goes out of style. The uniqueness of this design exists in how far the chimney stack extends from the wall, creating a rectangular shape that extends into the living room area. A wide wood beam mantel instantly elevates the look, blending in the creamy walls with the white paint below, a great way to modernize any fireplace.
03 of Black French-doors for Built-in Shelves
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A contemporary update to built-in shelving, this family room includes a set of French-door cabinets painted black to contrast beside a white fireplace with a black hearth. The mantel itself is simple, boasting a beveled molding effect, while a flatscreen television hangs above. The look is so classic that any decorations on top of the mantel would be unnecessary and over the top, an important tip if you want to achieve a similar look.
04 of Two-tone Fireplace Surround
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You can do a lot to play around with the color and material of your chimney stack in a room with vaulted ceilings. A black shiplap pattern has modernized this lime-washed brick fireplace, extending the height of the chimney above a stained wood mantel. The sides of the fireplace are balanced by white lower cabinets, matching mirrors, and display lights to keep the room looking symmetrical.
05 of White Brick Fireplace With Built-in Shelving
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If you find yourself with built-ins in your home and want to give them a modern twist, a painted black or wallpaper backdrop behind the shelves is both chic and contemporary. A white brick fireplace with a light-wash oversized beam is situated between these lovely additions. Due to the size of the television, there isn’t any space for extra mantel decor, which can work out in your favor if you’re hoping for a space that exudes current interior trends.
06 of Fireplace Mantel With Mirror
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A simple cream fireplace mantel stands prominently against a gray wall in this airy, neutral living room. The overall look is magnified by a black-paned mirror that elegantly reflects the room’s grandeur alongside various candles. Mirrors are an idyllic tool to help a room feel larger while also standing as a great focal point in any space.
07 of Art Deco Fireplace
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Modern doesn’t always have to mean neutral, though it may seem this way. Instead of more beige and brown, add a little color to your life with a gorgeous pastel acrylic or watercolor painting to hang blissfully over your mantel. The mantel itself is composed of granite and marble, an exquisite touch to a bright and cheerful room.
08 of Entryway With Modern Black Fireplace
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Elevated beyond any trend, black fireplaces are prominent yet calming and create a fantastic, contrasting focal point in a neutral living room. This stone masterpiece shines on its own without any extra frills. When the material of any fireplace surround is high quality, any shelving or artwork is unnecessary, especially in a minimalistic environment.
09 of Painted Black Victorian Fireplace
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To make use of negative space, floor-to-ceiling built-in cabinets are a great move. Situated around an antique fireplace modernized with black fireplace paint, the look is both sophisticated and intriguing. The abstract art piece hanging gently above the fireplace ties in all of the room’s colors wonderfully, highlighting the complexity of neutral interiors.
10 of A-frame Stone Fireplace
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- thelohanproject
In an architecturally unique home, working with the negative space around a slanted fireplace can be challenging. Selecting various materials like stone and wood can make a difficult space even more attractive, and this is achieved through two-tone shelving and light-colored stone. A lovely landscape portrait can highlight the organic nature of the surroundings as well.
11 of Modern Electric Fireplace
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Not all fireplaces are equipped for wood burning and that’s okay! A built-in electric wall unit can be equally as attractive and efficient in heating a cozy room. This rectangular feature expands a decent amount of space at the front of the room and looks very high-tech below a swiveling television mount.
12 of Bohemian Gas Fireplace
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Another example of an unconventional fireplace is a gas range surrounded by very thin flagstone. A wooden mantel hangs above, home to idyllic plants and Bohemian-inspired decor. Achieve a similar design in your home by including a bit of greenery in your fireplace decor as well as items that are interesting and unique in shape.
13 of Elevated Traditional Brick
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There may be a bit of juxtaposition in this sitting room with a corner fireplace, but the overall look is truly immaculate. An exposed antique fireplace made of brick has been modernized by an updated white mantel composed of the most pristine wainscotting and molding. This is a fantastic way to honor the age of the home while maintaining a design that is modern yet traditional.
14 of Modern Farmhouse White Mantel
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If a modern farmhouse is your vibe, look no further than this trimmed white fireplace with a black firebox. Due to the sturdiness of the thick wooden mantel, it is clear that the television does not need to be mounted, which eliminates a bit of headache for the homeowner. Dress up a look like this with a hanging fringe garland or a few plants.
15 of Pretty White Mirror and Florals
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Just because space allows it does not necessarily mean the space above a fireplace is reserved for a television. Instead, keep the energy feminine with a lovely white-framed mirror and a few pink florals atop a white mantel. As a complementary piece, light pink lounge chairs are an idyllic addition to the seating area intended to stand away from the entertainment unit.
16 of Rustic Stone Fireplace Surround
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The vintage elegance that extends from this rustic stone fireplace is astounding. The three-dimensional sides negate any need for additional built-in cabinets or shelving, while the antique benches placed on either side are an eclectic touch. Dress up a prominent feature like this with decorative items with a similar rustic feel that honors the whole structure.
17 of Smooth Stone Modern Fireplace Surround
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Unlike most stone fireplace surrounds, this gray beauty has a stone flush against the wall, almost like a high-quality tile. It’s an ideal addition to the minimalistic gas inner firebox, which stands in black. Elevate a look like this with built-in shelving that supports the ability for the surround to stand alone in all of its glory without the need for shelving or a mantel.
18 of Stone Modern Fireplace Surround in Nook
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Behold a unique twist on an old stone fireplace set back into a nook of this modern living room bathed in bright white walls. The stone fireplace honors the originality of the home with the carefully trimmed built-in shelving contributing a touch of contemporary flair. Building a fireplace surround into a nook ensures that all attention is drawn to this feature, adding a great deal of depth to the room.
19 of Minimalistic Fireplace Mantel
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Come to adore this open-concept living room with mid-century touches. Instead of a traditional fireplace mantel, a very thin trim has been installed around a black hearth located underneath a black shelf. This addition creates a nice space between the fireplace and the television above while embracing the minimalism of modern trends.
20 of Stacked Logs to Accessorize a Fireplace
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Fireplaces are not efficient for everyone due to the need for frequent and necessary maintenance. An alternative is closing in the hearth and laying freshly cut logs for year-long use without the risk of fire damage. In addition, leaving an exposed front pathway without stone or brick creates a fresh face honors the beauty of a decorative mirror or piece of artwork.
21 of Contemporary Wood-burning Stove
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Wood-burning stoves are a coveted element in many refurbished antique homes. Instead of removal, working them into your other modern decor is not only simple but also trendy. Because our current interior design themes involve taking the best styles of every decade and merging them for something completely new, a wood-burning stove under a rustic beam and contemporary mirror check all the boxes for a stunning interior.
