Looking for fireplace remodel ideas to make yours a more interesting focal point?

A homeowner can often recover over 100 percent of the expenses associated with adding a fireplace upon selling their home. According to the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers, adding a fireplace to a home can increase the resale value of the home by as much as 6-12 percent.

Whether you’re desperately wanting to give your outdated fireplace a facelift or you’re just ready to change things up or you’re trying to personalize a new home, here are some ideas for you on how to update a fireplace on a budget. And If your fireplace lacks polish or doesn't mesh with the rest of your decor, it might be time for an upgrade this 2022!

Change the look of your fireplace without spending a lot! Whatever your budget, these tips - and some creativity and elbow grease - will get you the look you want.

Glass Fireplace Doors

A cozy fire on a cold night is a delight. But a wood fire left untended isn't safe. Unlike a gas fireplace, which can be switched off, the only way to leave a wood fire is to close off with glass doors.

Fireplaces won't be able to heat a room as well as a wood stove is able to, but you'll still feel warmth sitting nearer to open fire. Wood burning fireplaces aren't known for their ability to generate large amounts of heat for a room.

The see-through glass fireplace (also called a four-sided glass fireplace) is another functional and sophisticated trend in 2022 fireplace designs. It falls in step with other popular fireplace styles, and its clean, linear designs will bring warmth and light to a contemporary space.

There’s only one thing better than a roaring fire on a wintry night: a roaring fire that needs no tending requires minimal cleanup and doesn’t leave the rest of the house freezing cold. That’s what you get with today’s gas fireplaces.

Mantels and Tiles
Don’t let your mantel bore you. Sharp, detailed models come in kits that lock together with a few twists of the Phillips-head. You can have a whole new look in less than a day. Mantels come and go. It's the hearth that's always been there, an ornate buffer between the fire and the shag rug. Consider jazzing things up with some colorful new tiles. You can change the whole look of a fireplace by doing these easy steps.

First and foremost, tiles are not flammable. Therefore, it is a safe material to use in this part of your home. Ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles, and all other tiles are able to handle high temperatures as well as the extreme temperature changes that come along with using a fireplace.

When guests come over, the mantelpiece is one of the first things they'll notice about your home decor, so it really sets the tone for how they view your home. You want something that's pleasing to the eye and simultaneously timeless to grace the area around your fireplace and give guests a good impression.

NOTE: Designer tile is a great material for a hearth, but it isn't always the appropriate one. Fortunately, there are many other masonry products that work well for fireplace decoration, from formal white marble to earthy terra-cotta, and they are all installed using the same methods. Also, before you go for the painted brick look and some white semi-gloss, consider the more elegant cover-up of art tiles.

Bricks or Stone

Firebrick on the sides not only protects the steel but makes the stove run at a more constant temp and adds just a bit of thermal mass. Same fire in identical stoves, one with brick, one without, and the sidewalls on the one without will be a lot hotter.

A stone fireplace projects a warm, cozy atmosphere. Using natural stones in constructing your fireplace also gives it a distinct look. Natural stones can also help retain heat from your fireplace. It radiates heat longer than other materials, which means you can enjoy a warmer room for a longer period.

Since both materials, brick, and stone, are long-lasting and strong, the choice between brick and stone for a fireplace will often fall heavily on design factors. Brick can give a sense of strength and warmth to a room. Stone, on the other hand, adds a more natural aesthetic to the room's atmosphere.

Touch of Paint
Painting the inside of your fireplace requires intense cleaning to prepare the surface. Even with that, there's a chance the paint will peel and crack after a year or so. If you're not planning on lighting fires in your fireplace, then you can use latex paint, though some homeowners prefer the finish of oil-based paint.

Actually, painting the inside of your fireplace needs some extra cleaning to prepare the surface. If you have planned to light fires in your fireplace, it is important to use paint specifically formulated to withstand high temperatures.

NOTE:  For your paint, the general rule for fireplace surrounds is indoor, latex, and heat resistant paint. You can select either flat, semi-gloss, or gloss, depending on what look you want your fireplace surround to have.

Fireplace Design Ideas

Fireplaces are used for the relaxing ambiance they create and for heating a room. Modern fireplaces vary in heat efficiency, depending on the design. Historically, they were used for heating a dwelling, cooking, and heating water for laundry and domestic uses.

You can change the entire look of your living room with a can of paint by updating the wall and fireplace brick color to coordinate. Gray walls look gorgeous next to a gray-painted fireplace. Using a sheer painting technique will help you keep the natural variations in brick color while still taking out the red.

Not all gas fireplaces need venting. Both natural vent and direct vent gas fireplaces need venting, which exhausts air up a chimney and through the wall to the outside respectively. A ventless gas fireplace doesn't need venting.

NOTE:

1. Decide on the fireplace's main purpose.
2. Don't buy a fireplace with the intention of heating more than one room. 
3. If you're looking for heating efficiency, consider a thermostat-controlled, self-modulated fireplace.

 Outdoor Fireplace

Outdoor fireplaces come in all different styles from wood to electric, gas, and more. Although very similar, outdoor fireplaces differ from indoor fireplaces for a variety of reasons:

• Outdoor fireplaces are generally less expensive than indoor ones
• They are typically larger in size and contain a voluminous firebox in comparison to their indoor counterparts
• Because they are located outside, outdoor fireplaces may require a chimney cap to prevent the spreading of sparks on a windy day
• Durability is a top priority when building an outdoor fireplace because they need to withstand weather-related elements and climate change exposure.

Having a fireplace installed in the home can really improve the look and the feel of the room in which it is installed. Fires provide a more natural type of warmth that many individuals feel is more comfortable and sitting in front of a warm fireplace provides a great means of relaxation and calming. So don’t forget to think of what best upgrades do you want to have for your fireplace at home!