Take a long, honest look at your fireplace. The surround. The shape. The material. The way it blends in…or doesn’t.
And how about the way you feel when it’s lit?
Now, think of the next guests who will walk into that room. Do they notice the fireplace? Like it? Ignore it? Do you even notice it on a daily basis? Or has your fireplace become a box in the wall without any personality? Without a single statement to make?
The truth is that most fireplace designs fall flat. They weren’t intended to be emotional, because the builder or previous homeowners were only interested in the selling point. “Four bedroom home with two fireplaces.” Great. But the materials are uninspired, the placement feels like an afterthought, and not ONE of those fireplaces visually pull you in.
What you really want—what every homeowner really wants—is a fireplace that delivers warmth AND wonder. A fireplace should feel magnetic, creating atmosphere before the flames even start.
And the good news? Today’s luxury fireplace trends are showing you how to do exactly that…
Why Fireplaces Are Having Their Haut Moment
About five years ago, design, technology, and material science caught up with our best fireplace fantasies.
Today, you can choose flame style, flame color, flame height, and speed. You can set the heat output or choose a fireplace that gives you flame with no heat at all. You can select gas, electric, ethanol, or smart-controlled systems based on how you want the fireplace to function. You can choose the size of the firebox, the width of the surround, and the shape of the opening. You can select oversized stone slabs with bookmatched veining, or a blend of plaster, slatted wood, or blackened steel. You can decide whether to include a mantel or skip it entirely. You can choose whether the fireplace is one-sided, see-through, or even double-sided, and you can control how it integrates with your smart thermostat or whole-home automation systems. You can even choose how it sounds and smells!!
Does that seem like a bit too much choosing to do?! That’s what this article is for.
Today’s fireplaces can do it all, BUT your own lifestyle and “likes” will steer the design of your perfect fireplace.
Here are nine of the best fireplace trends…and my notes on which ones might really be for you.
Extra-Wide Linear Fireplaces
Instead of the traditional vertical rectangle, these fireplaces stretch out to 60, 72, even 100 inches across, making the flame more of a design element than a heat source.
Where to use it:
- In a long great room where you need to anchor a horizontal layout
- Beneath a floating shelf or media wall to create visual gravity
- In primary bedrooms or basements for a hotel-lounge vibe
Just look at these long-format fireplaces we installed in our national award-winning all-seasons pool cabana…
Double-Sided or See-Through Fireplaces
These fireplaces connect two spaces with one firebox using a multi-sided glass encasement. The glass can be ultra-clear, or even frameless, so you let the flame do all the talking…
Where to use it:
- Between a living room and dining room to define zones
- In a primary suite between the bedroom and bathroom
- In open-concept layouts to create quiet division without walls
Fireplaces Without Mantels
Skipping the mantel can give you a clean and modern fireplace silhouette. And that, in turn, draws the eye vertically instead, allowing the surround material to shine without any visual “noise.”
Where to use it:
- To balance a wall that already includes art or shelving
- In rooms where minimalism or sculpture-forward design is the goal
- In spaces where the fireplace should feel architectural instead of decorative
TV above the fireplace? Here are the new solutions that actually work…
If you want your TV mounted but discrete or hidden above the fireplace, today’s design trends separate the TV and fire in clever ways…keeping your fireplace as the centerpiece while still enjoying the TV placement you want. The best solutions use stone reveals, ledges, and concealed recesses.
Where to use it:
- Where you want a media wall that doesn’t SCREAM “media wall”
- In family rooms where the TV really must be part of the fireplace wall
- In new builds or full remodels where structure can support smart concealment
Smart Fireplaces with Flame Control and Occupancy Integrations
Today’s electric and gas fireplaces offer sooo more than just on/off!! You can adjust the flame height, color, and heat with a tap…and your fireplace can integrate with your smart home system for full-scene automation…
For example, just imagine the automations to turn the heat up or down when ambient temperature rises, or turn certain flame settings on when multiple people are sensed in a room!!
Where to use it:
- In homes with energy goals or no access to traditional venting
- Where instant ambiance should be part of your lifestyle
- In secondary spaces like bedrooms or offices
Oversized Stone Slabs
Use a full-height stone slab instead of stacked tiles or brick, and you add instant polish and poise. Select bookmatched veining or continuous grain. These looks are VERY high-end, but “quietly” so…
Where to use it:
- To contrast with soft or organic furnishings
- In main living areas as a sculptural focal point
- In tall, narrow spaces where the stone can stretch upward
Mixed-Material Fireplace Surrounds
Take the best of today’s maximalism and make it your chance to REALLY put your personality into your fireplace design!! Pairing materials like plaster, wood, stone, and metal can create layered depth. The contrast makes the fireplace feel curated.
Where to use it:
- In eclectic or transitional spaces where one material alone feels too flat
- As a way to bridge traditional and more contemporary aesthetics
- To echo other finishes in the room (flooring, lighting, furniture)
Sculptural Fireplaces as Art Pieces
Think beyond symmetry and explore curved forms or textured finishes. These fireplaces are pure personality pieces, each one unique, and each one a work of art…even if the fire is never lit!!
Where to use it:
- To soften a space full of hard lines or rectilinear furniture
- In spaces that don’t need a traditional hearth but crave a focal point
- As a visual anchor in rooms without strong architectural features
Statement Color Surrounds
Surrounds in deep navy, forest green, blackened bronze, or even oxblood red are growing in popularity, and I’m in love. These colors add contrast without needing ornate detail.
Where to use it:
- In light-filled rooms where you need a visual counterweight
- In moody spaces where tone-on-tone layering is key
- To tie together a color palette with confidence and edge
See more from this multiple-room vacation home project in our portfolio…
If you’re wondering where to start…
Here’s a quick mental exercise to see what’s actually possible with YOUR current fireplace…
- Stand across the room from your fireplace. Don’t light it. Don’t stage it. Just look at it in the context of the space. Ask yourself…“Is this the focal point? Or is it just…a box?!”
- Then, choose your FAVORITE trend from this list and hold that image in your mind.
- Now imagine layering that trend INTO your space. Does the wall allow for the width? Could a see-through design connect two closed-off zones? Would eliminating a mantel create cleaner lines?…
- Finally, close your eyes and picture the room lit only by a fire in that fireplace. If the idea gives you a visceral sense of relaxation or architectural satisfaction, then yes, your fireplace is ready for this transformation.
You know what comes next…a conversation with our design team!! Get in touch with us today…
About the author:
Robin Burrill, RID, NCIDQ, ASID, IDS, CAPS, is an award-winning professional kitchen, bath, and interior designer. Robin and her husband, Robert Mathews, have owned Signature Home Services, Inc. for over three decades, establishing a superior in-house team with a widespread reputation for delivering meticulous design to their many repeat clients.
In 2022, the national publication, Kitchen and Bath Design News magazine, named Robin to their Top Innovator list in recognition of her achievements in the field of kitchen and bath design. In 2024, she was named one of the Fall 2024 Market Pros and “tastemakers” by ANDMORE at High Point Market. Also in 2024, Fixr identified her as one of the Top Professional Interior Designers for their nationwide audience. At the start of 2025, she then acted as one of Dallas Market’s “Style Eyes” at Lightovation and Total Home & Gift Market.
Over her extensive career, Robin has been quoted in Architectural Digest and Forbes multiple times; her design work has been featured in top national trade publications; and she has been interviewed for Designers Today magazine’s “Profiles in Design” video series, among others. Widely respected for the depth of her knowledge, Robin is a sought after speaker and judge for many design industry events.
In 2023, Robin designed a bench for Charleston Forge, making her foray into product design. Robin currently serves as a volunteer on the board of the Dallas/Ft. Worth chapter of the Interior Design Society.
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