How to decorate non working fireplace

[HighHopes16]

We are currently in the process of buying a house with a non working fireplace in the dining room. I've seen the trend of filling them with logs all over pinterest (e.g - www.katescreativespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Woodplank-wallpaper-on-chimeny-breast.jpg)
But it just seems so pointless/a waste of space to me!
Any ideas?

I'm watching this with interest as I often wonder the same, we have three non working Victorian fireplaces in our house, and have so far skillfully avoided filling any of them with logs, giant pine cones or dried flowers.

I sometimes think that a nice Chinese style ginger pot would look nice in one, but again, not really very practical - just a dust trap.

Ours doesn't actually have a Fireplace Mantel/Surround - it's just like a big hole in the wall. I wonder if we could turn into some form of storage/shelving unit etc.?

Ours doesn't actually have a Fireplace Mantel/Surround - it's just like a big hole in the wall. I wonder if we could turn into some form of storage/shelving unit etc.?

Perfect place for a wine rack in the dining room I think.

That's a great idea but the kitchen already has a built in wine rack and we aren't big drinkers!

We had two like that in our old house. We out a wine rack in one with a couple shelves above. In the other one we had the stereo on shelves and CDs.

Bookcase (or shelves)?

Great place for a toybox. Or you could keep a sort of low stool/square pouffe in there and pull it out as extra seating when you need it.

I know it's a little bit twee but I'm a fan of fair lights in a big glass bowl/vase. Makes the room warm and invited kinda like a real fire.

Fairy lights.
Inviting.

We had one where we lived before, an old cast iron one, and I used to put a few large church candles in it. It used to look lovely when they were lit.

Fairy Lights/Candles look so pretty on Pinterest- now to convince my DH! Thanks :)

I love vase of white lilies but also fairy lights

wine rack!

We have a hole where there would have once been a fire, with a wooden mantel surround. We bought a plug in glowing fire, looks like a real woodburner. It provides a warm glow and focal point, and does have a fan heater option, but we've never used that.
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The link is an example, we don't have that one. Fairy lights as mentioned above would look lovely too.