Should a Fireplace Be in the Middle of a Room or Middle of a Wall?

Traditonal Fireplaces

• If your home is traditional or transitional, and your tastes run that way, most likely you'd feel uncomfortable if the fireplace were anywhere else but in the middle of a wall. Most furniture placement in a traditional home's living room or family room is centered around a fireplace. There is a comfortable symmetry. Whether your fireplace is gas or wood-burning, you can choose what kind of mantel and surround suits your decor.

Corner Fireplaces

• With gel-fueled and gas fireplaces, you don't have to depend on a chimney, so you can have your fireplace in the corner of your room. If your room is small, it opens up the space and allows for more creative furniture placement. Another advantage is that it gives you more wall space for either a window with a view, wall art or your flat-screen television.

Pass-Through Fireplaces

• Also known as two-sided fireplaces, pass-through fireplaces serve to divide open spaces into two separate areas and provide a fireplace's beauty to both. A fireplace in the common wall between the master bedroom and its bathroom is a romantic addition. The most common use for this type fireplace is to provide the cozy ambiance of a fireplace to the dining and living rooms.

Free-Standing Fireplaces

• Free-standing fireplaces are found in the middle of rooms for modern flair and contemporary drama. They come in any configuration you can imagine. And they are formed from a number of materials, including non-heat conductive metals, ceramic, marble, and glass. They can be suspended from the ceiling or have hearth on the floor with a floating canopy. Their very versatility lends itself to however you want your room to look and feel.