23 Storage Around Fireplace Ideas that are Too Hot to Handle

Published: November 18, 2021

Updated: October 30, 2023

Fireplaces are the epitome of coziness and warmth, acting as a natural focal point in any room. Adding storage around a fireplace enhances that focal point by framing it. Just like how the right frame enhances a painting, the right fireplace storage can help craft a clean and calm aesthetic, making curling up by a soft crackling fire much cozier.

From built-in shelves to custom cabinetry, there are endless ways to add storage around a fireplace—and some serious flair and function to your décor. The hardest part is picking out storage that works best for your space, budget, and style goals. Want something warm and welcoming? Freestanding farmhouse shelves are worth a whirl. No room beside your fireplace? Check out #22 in our collection below for a creative and stunning solution.

Storage around fireplaces comes in all shapes, sizes, and styles. Here are 23 of our favorites that we think are absolute fire!

01
of 23

French Farmhouse Fireplace Storage

Photo: designsbykaran

A combination of tallboy dressers and floating shelves is used in this dreamy living room to add storage around the fireplace. The floating wood shelves echo the tone of the rustic ceiling beams and fireplace mantel, while the soft green dressers subtly accent the muted olive-green shiplap walls. Thanks to the abundance of green, stone, and wood tones, the entire room feels like a luxurious earthy escape.

02
of 23

Hide, Show Off, or Both?

Photo: farmsteadonfirst

When selecting the right storage for a fireplace, you have to decide if you want something to hide clutter, show off accessories, or both. This modern farmhouse living room went with the latter, pairing eye-catching, industrial floating shelves with a small cabinet to hide odds and ends. To top it all off, a plush chair covered with pillows and a knit throw blanket adds a whole new level of coziness to the room.

03
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Coastal Home with Floating Shelving Around Fireplace

Photo: willowbloomhome

04
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Storage Around Fireplace with a Side of Spook

Photo: fairytalefarmhouse

05
of 23

Fall-ing in Love with Fireplace Storage

Photo: pollies_place

This bright and airy living room full of fall décor uses leaning shelves to fill an empty space beside the fireplace. The clean lines and white paint echo the aesthetic of the stark white fireplace mantel. Warm tan and wood pieces—baskets, wreath, storage trunk—are woven throughout the room to offset the white and cool gray of the fireplace.

06
of 23

Built-In Shelf Storage Around Fireplace

Photo: sarahmadeithome

The storage around this fireplace keeps things minimalist with shaker cabinet doors topped with warm wood. Staggered shelves incorporate just the right amount of extra intrigue—especially when each shelf is styled with its own vignette. Featuring clean lines, repeated colors, and simplicity, the eye is able to easily wander around this setup with ease.

07
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Crisp White Fireplace with Built-In Shelves

Photo: finding__lovely

08
of 23

Symmetrical Country Living

Photo: thriftyandchicdecor

Flanking a fireplace centered in a room with built-in shelving is a great option! In this home, the symmetrical display brings the shelves right up to the ceiling, making the room feel taller and more spacious. Since there is an abundance of shelves styled with various accessories, the simple round mirror and shiplap over the fireplace elicit calm by providing a place for the eye to rest.

09
of 23

Luxe Hampton Home Built-In Storage

Photo: hamptonstyle_countryhome

White is king in this luxe interior with subtle coastal vibes, and the storage around the fireplace is no exception. The white paint is carried over onto the shelving, which makes it blend in and creates the perfect blank canvas to show off treasured items. To top off the elegant aesthetic, a metallic chandelier glimmers from the ceiling, while fresh white florals incorporate a dreamy touch.

10
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Fireplace Storage with Woods and Whites

Photo: our.pretzer.home

11
of 23

Shorter Shelves Meet Shiplap

Photo: kira_turner

In this cottage-like living room, the gray pull-out bins artfully play off of the stone fireplace. Bins or baskets are a great option for adding hidden storage to shelves around a fireplace. Since these shelves don’t reach the ceiling, white shiplap incorporates texture and extends the crisp white hue upward.

12
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Small and Mighty Storage Baskets

Photo: interiorswag

Don’t be afraid to skip the shelves and put storage baskets directly on the floor! The trio of baskets offers a boost of hidden storage while adding style with their varying builds and shapes. The natural woven material of the baskets complements the round rug and light wood mantel and melds in effortlessly with this chic boho space’s fresh and airy vibe.

13
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Luxury Country Storage Around Fireplace

Photo: theredfernhome

14
of 23

Mix and Match

Photo: txsizedhome

Instead of using the same type of storage on both sides of the fireplace, this living room mixes and matches theirs to create a captivating look. In the middle of this room, a fireplace surrounded by honey brown brick oozes warmth and pops against sleek white shiplap. The shelves off to the left of the fireplace are also white and styled with warm brown accessories to tie it all together. On the right side of the fireplace, a cozy bench with storage drawers nestled underneath is waiting to become your newest reading nook.

15
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Farmhouse Freestanding Fireplace Shelves

Photo: jenbryantdesign

Built-ins are always a nice touch, but freestanding shelves can look equally stylish—and this home proves it! This living room uses large metal and wood shelves with an abundance of storage around the fireplace. The open X-brace backing gives the setup an airier feel than solid wood bookcases, which blends in perfectly with the light and airy aesthetic of the all-white fireplace, planked ceiling, and natural floors.

16
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Shelves for German Schmear

Photo: bloom_jennybrooks

Here, the rich texture and contrast of the German schmear brick fireplace immediately caught our attention. The mounted shelves and collection of frames beautifully accent it with their honey tones. The luxe blue chair, with its relaxing hue and plush cushions, is pure perfection with this living space and ties the whole aesthetic together.

17
of 23

In the Spotlight

Photo: caldtothefarm

Want to instantly make the storage around a fireplace feel extra luxe? Add some focused lighting. A strategically placed pot light basks a short white cabinet in light and expands the room by ensuring that an otherwise dim corner is fully illuminated. With that light on, you can see that the brown and white of the cabinet beautifully mimics the colors found in the brick fireplace, wall art, and blanket ladder.

18
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Mid-Century Modern Fireplace Shelf Lighting

Photo: splitrockcustomhomes

Mounting sconce lights above your fireplace storage is another lighting option. The black hue of this pair of sconces creates a bold contrast while beautifully illuminating the built-in white shelves with wood inlays. The way the shelf inlays tie in the ceiling beams is absolutely divine.

19
of 23

Matching Mirrors

Photo: my.farmhouse.fanatic.life

If wiring in lights isn’t in the cards, then placing mirrors above shelves flanking a fireplace is another option. They will bounce existing light around the room to extend its reach, illuminate dark corners, and make the entire space feel brighter. In this modern room, the homeowner plays with symmetry by using identical mirrors on both sides of the fireplace. They keep the shelf area feeling bright without detracting from the brick fireplace.

20
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A Book Worm's Dream

Photo: candlewoodcottage

A vintage chair and ottoman create a cozy reading nook beside this fireplace bookshelf. The shelves are brimming with tomes that sport the same earthy shades as the fireplace mantel, vases, and wall art. Grabbing a great read and spreading out on that snuggly fur rug in front of the contrasting black fireplace sounds like a dream!

21
of 23

Corner Fireplace Storage

Photo: westtexfarmhouse

Shelves or cabinets can still work for corner fireplaces. In the space above, shallow shelves sit on one side while a console table sits on the other. The trio of shelves shows off curated accessories like lanterns and plants, while both the woven baskets and farmhouse console table provide spaces to stash away clutter. A black farmhouse sign finishes off the look, balancing the black that the TV ads to the otherwise light and bright room.

22
of 23

Up, Up, and Away!

Photo: a_flann

When placing storage beside a fireplace isn’t an option, consider using the space above it. This living space added shelving above their modern fireplace since there was a window on the left. Blue ceramic vases artfully line the shelves, with their patterns echoing the intricacy of the bold red throw rug.

23
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Cozy Farmhouse Inset Fireplace

Photo: houseonlouisemeadow

Zakhar Ivanisov

Meet Zakhar Ivanisov, a Seattle-based entrepreneur and design enthusiast at the helm of Soul & Lane. With a heart full of passion, Zakhar blends his business acumen and a keen eye for aesthetics to create spaces that are as inviting as they are stylish. His venture into the world of home decor and organization reflects a unique fusion of entrepreneurial spirit and a genuine love for transforming living spaces.

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