Living room without fireplace

[WouldAnIdiotDoThat]

Hi all,

Any advice on this would be much appreciated! We live in a 70s build with no chimneys and it would be incredibly expensive and time consuming to try to add a chimney. At the moment there is a hideous electric fireplace that definitely needs to go, but I'm not sure what to put in it's place.

I don't really like any electric fires (no offence to anyone who has them, just my preference!), We could just put a surround in and fill it with candles or something, but will that look weird? Especially if the fireplace surround is on a flat wall so it's obvious there isn't and never was a chimney there?

I'm finding it difficult online to find inspiration of living room decor without fireplaces, practically every living room inspiration photo I find seems to have a fireplace! If anyone has any recommendations of where I should look please let me know!

If we get rid of the fireplace how do we create a focal point that's not the TV?

Thanks for any ideas and help!!

I do actually have a flat wall with fireplace (in the house when we moved in) because the chimney is on the outside of the property rather than a chimney breast inside. It has a gas fire in it but you could have an electric one.

www.fireplacesareus.co.uk/shop/fireplaces/flat-wall-fireplace-packages.html

I've ordered two of these for my living room - I have chimney breasts, so I've ordered the inset version, but they also do a wall mounted version:

smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08QJDC4GD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We have an awful gas fire with a back boiler behind it. Replacing it with a modern fire would cost thousands. We had this made to cover it up! It serves as a kind of mantelpiece and I put flowers, cards, candles etc on it. It just needs a lick of paint to freshen it up every year or so. The gas fire is never used but regularly serviced and clean. We use the radiators sparingly.

We are the opposite
The living room wall in our newbuild is flat and when we have our new (Corinthian stone) fireplace fitted in a few weeks time they are building a dummy chimneybreast to accept the depth of the (electric) fire.

Commented earlier on the other thread about fireplaces, I dislike the current trend for the focal point of a room to be an oversized TV and really like a nice fireplace so am happy to have one put in (pricey though).
If you don't like a fireplace or TV you will have to look at a nice piece of furniture, painting etc.

There is one option - a British company make a stove very similar to Agas (Agas are now made in China, so a former employee started doing a more efficient and modern version 20 years or so ago, in the Cotswolds) and they make these mini versions, which you can bake a potato or two in, that just use normal plugs and can fit in fire cavities. They don't have that fake fire effect electric and gas ones do, and don't have the huge costs or environmental/health implications wood burners do. All manner of colours and enamelled cast iron, just like a full sized Aga/Everhot.

They're here: www.everhot.co.uk/Everhot-Electric-Stove.aspx

Interestingly I am having a similar dilemma from the other side. We are looking at moving to a property needing renovation. We are considering removing all the chimney breasts because we basically don't like any of the fire options we've seen (although I do quite like the Everhot thing linked to above) for various reasons including eco, plus getting rid of chimney breasts in the bedrooms above makes them much more flexible and functional. We are considering building in a massive shelving and cupboard unit with space for a TV, but with lots of books etc around it so the TV is less of a focus. We'd probably also run a screen on the TV to make it look like art when not in use, rather than like a black hole. Food for thought, we aren't settled ourselves yet

I like these! I'm definitely going to look into this option, thanks!!

Yes that's what I'm debating, some kind of cabinetry, but it's not the biggest room and I don't want to make it look smaller. We said the same thing about getting an art TV if we do this. I'm just concerned that I don't have much imagination and won't really be able to create a stylish look with the ornaments etc on the shelves, or that even if I do my husband will gradually fill them with ugly functional things that I'm constantly trying to re-home!

Go for a simple surround filled with candles. And you can also have a decorative fire screen in the summer or if you get bored of the candles - google for images of 'painted fire screen'

1960’s house here! we actually boxed our fireplace in to be able to better utilise the space when we relocated our staircase. We have the chimney breast still but have a huge corner sofa in front of it which also gets views of our garden so a much better position.

Our TV is in the corner but the furniture (corner sofa and snuggle chair) are opposite each other (sort of) so the TV isn’t the focal point.

I’m renovating and extending my house and have gotten rid of two chimney breasts and a gas fireplace. This has given us lots of extra space in the bedrooms and living room, it’s really noticeable.

We are really committed to low carbon emissions, and couldn’t justify a fireplace as they are so inefficient. I also like a modern, clean look, and a fireplace takes up a huge amount of space for what in my view is just “fluff” - no useful function and the space can be put to so many better uses. Furniture and art placement (not to mention tv) is instantly easier. There are lots of ways to make a room dramatic, cosy or elegant without a fireplace.

For me a fireplace is like a jetted tub - fun to use in a chalet or hotel, but not something I need in my house. Too decadent!

Fireplaces look dated, open fires are toxic and gas/electric is costly so I think you're on the right course without one. I would look for inspiration from around the world as the UK is a bit stuck on fireplaces, every room has the same layout!

I would just wait until inspiration strikes. Don't make any changes that can't be easily undone. If you're not sure what to do just wait until you do know.

Thanks all, lots of good points and things to think about. I agree that it seems like every living room in the UK has the same layout, including a fireplace! I don't have a very good imagination when it comes to interior design and I feel like I need to see inspiration that I can replicate myself and I'm struggling to find any inspiration online that is in any way realistic/achievable. I wouldn't openly admit in real life that I want to shamelessly copy someone else's interior design but I can admit it anonymously here!

I love a Fireplace! Especially Victorian style

OP, would something like this work?

www.biofires.com/bio-ethanol-fireplaces/74-carrington-fireplace-suite-with-non-electric-bio-ethanol-insert.html

This site - others are available! - sells all kinds of bio ethanol fire places and stoves. They don't need a flue or a chimney. They have all kinds of styles - modern, classic, big, small enough to just sit on a table. If you go for the kind in the picture you would build out a false chimney breast but it doesn't have to be very deep so you don't lose much of the room.

When you want a fire you just squirt the contents of a bottle of the fluid into the metal container at the bottom, hidden beneath some coals. And set it alight with a match. No smoke, no fumes. You see these everywhere now in restaurants and outdoor bars, and they get really toasty!

@WouldAnIdiotDoThat OP I have just started a similar thread but would love to know what you decided on!!!

I think you'd be crazy to insert a fireplace/stove you don't want. Google 'UK sitting rooms without fireplaces' for a lot of inspiration for ways to lay out furniture. And at least you're avoiding the mess of sticking a wall-mounted TV over the fireplace, often far too high.

We ended up without a fireplace and spent the money on a Samsung Frame TV which looks like art when it's not on. I love it, I know not everyone will agree that they're convincing as art rather than a TV but we've genuinely had visitors ask where the TV is. Then on either side of the TV we have high shelves and a big bookcase filled with nice looking books and ornaments so the wall is fairly full and the TV isn't the only focal point. I'd recommended spending a decent amount on shelves etc and getting something you love, it made all the difference for me.

I do still love the Everhot fireplaces someone linked to above but didn't convince my husband on them, we also have a dog and a small child so it's not very practical for us to have something hot in touching reach.

Now I just enjoy beautiful fireplaces when we stay in a holiday cottage.

We had a similar dilemma. The cost of am electric or gas options was too expensive and we didn't like it much anyway. We wouldn't have had a stove due to cost, space and pollution. I paid a builder to brick up the fireplace. Stuck a TV on the wall. Bought a striking TV unit and ornaments. Two bookshelves in the gaps either side of the fireplace to soften the look. Good use of space, functional and cosy. It provides the focal point to the room. I agree how frustrating it is that all interior design photos are in beautiful Victorian rooms, with fireplaces and high ceilings!

Sounds lovely @WouldAnIdiotDoThat and also @TheCoolOliveBalonz