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Original poster

How can I make this ugly fireplace look better?

64 replies

greeneggsnspam · 09/01/2023 17:22

Attached a pic. Can't afford to remove it, so do you have any ideas to make it look less...like it looks?

How can I make this ugly fireplace look better?
OP posts:
Fladdermus · 09/01/2023 17:23

Board it off and paint the tiles that still show?

Original poster
greeneggsnspam · 09/01/2023 17:25

@Fladdermus the stove juts out from the wall, so couldn't do a flat board across it

OP posts:
Marthaandthemuffins · 09/01/2023 17:25

Can you post a photo which shows the entire fireplace with the log burner in the centre?

Just might be better if we could see the whole thing.

DeFacto · 09/01/2023 17:27

Maybe take the sticker off and move all the plugs, that would improve its appearance a great deal.

SBAM · 09/01/2023 17:27

How about a fire guard? A big, fairly densely woven one would screen it off.

melmos · 09/01/2023 17:29

Is it an actual woodburner? Can you afford to fix it? Either way remove the wires and the sign if you can't afford to fix I'd buy stick on tiles. If you can afford to fix I'd paint the wall surrounding to match the terracotta tiles. Pale pink, greens and blues work well. Buy some fireside equipment.

Yesthatismychildsigh · 09/01/2023 17:31

The only problem is all the wires and plugs.

Original poster
greeneggsnspam · 09/01/2023 17:35

@Marthaandthemuffins it's right next to our bed which I can't move!

@SBAM I'll look into it, thanks

@DeFacto, thanks I am going to do that, but that still leaves the tiles and stove?

@melmos, thanks I've never heard of stick-on tiles, that would be great!

OP posts:
Frankensteinisamonster · 09/01/2023 17:36

Remove rhe sticker, cables and extension

Robinredface · 09/01/2023 17:39

Remove the cables and sticker. Use tile paint to paint over the terracotta. The stove itself is actually quite nice. You can buy a blackener product to bring it back to life.

fitflopqueen · 09/01/2023 17:42

www.stickandgotiles.co.uk/10-6-x-6-tiles-15cm-x-15cm?page=2, measure your tiles and look on line, also Amazon have stick on ones. You could then pretty the stove up, a trailing plant on top. even a battery light inside to represent fire. (i have a real log burner and sometimes use tea lights in it on the logs to bring a glow on evenings we don't need the heat)

hadtoomuchsleep · 09/01/2023 17:43

I'd paint the hearth (all the terracotta bits) with thermal stove paint in black also.

gulliblestravels · 09/01/2023 17:45

Just stand several plants of different types & heights and in different kind of pots in front of it, maybe a couple of candles. Ikea is your friend. The colour of the tiles will look quite warm through the green leaves.

(and reroute the cables as everyone else says)

Cosycover · 09/01/2023 17:46

Get the wires away.

Take the sticker off.

Paint the tiles.

Get some nice candles jotted around and maybe some greenery.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 09/01/2023 17:50

The most unsightly things are the cables/extensions and the "Do not use" sign.

Flapjackquack · 09/01/2023 17:50

I quite like it… I think anything you do to cover it will make it look boxy and draw even more attention to it.

Feelallright · 09/01/2023 17:52

What don’t you like about it? Just remove the sticker and cables.

purplecorkheart · 09/01/2023 17:53

What about a small room divider screen? You could place in front of power lead.

maryofthevirginkind · 09/01/2023 17:55

Spray tiles black. Paint white surround a colour the compliments your decor.

UnfinishedBusiness · 09/01/2023 17:56

Paint the tiles white (or black). Tidy away the wires. Maybe stack some logs to the sides of the burner. Some nice big candles on the hearth. The wires are the only thing that really don’t look good.

Adultchildofelderlyparents · 09/01/2023 17:57

Another vote for some adhesive tiles. They come in all sorts of colours. Something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/WALPLUS-Mediterranean-Backsplash-Self-Adhesive-Splashbacks/dp/B08BG1JVK5?ref=asttstodp&th=1&psc=1

Remove all of the cables - feed them around the edge of the fireplace and fix with cable ties to keep them tidy.

Remove the "do not use" sign and add a couple of plants or some decorations on top. (Assuming you are not using it as it says not to...)

bilbodog · 09/01/2023 17:58

We have candles and small light on our wood burner when not in use and a dried flower arrangement in front - could you do something like this?

How can I make this ugly fireplace look better?
MassiveSalad22 · 09/01/2023 18:02

I got our ugly gas fire removed and painted the tiles (chalk paint white and then stencilled in grey tile paint over the top, has lasted a couple of years already with no sign of it going wrong yet!). Was way easier than I expect. In the gap where the fire was we have had candles, books, flowers.
Definitely remove the sticker and cables for a start 😵‍💫

MrsMoastyToasty · 09/01/2023 18:02

Apart from the sticker, cables etc it's inoffensive. Is it an electric fake logburner or the real thing?

If you really don't like it I would replace the terracotta tiles with grey slate ones.

TenoringBehind · 09/01/2023 18:06

It will look fine without the sticker and cables.

maybe paint the tile grey?