Different Designs for Hearths Without a Fireplace

Accessories

• There are several different accessories and decorative tools that can be bought in a uniform color to place in and around your fireplace in an organized manner. Decorative screens with different design patterns can be placed in front of your fireplace to keep sparks from flying out. These screens can be found at many home and garden stores, as well as online. There are also fireplace tool sets, log racks and bellows, all of which can be neatly arranged around the fireplace. These tools and accessories can actually be used, or they can simply be decorative.

Mantel

• Merely decorating the mantel will take care of the bare or dull look your fireplace may be plagued with. Your mantel is like an open canvas and can be accented with just about anything. If it's not already painted, you can paint it a shade that would coordinate with your furniture. You can also place knickknacks, heirlooms, framed photos, artwork or votive candles on top of it to truly make an impression on the entire room.

Holidays

• During the holidays, and particularly the Christmas season, a whole new set of decorating options opens up. You can decorate your fireplace area with stockings, wreaths and tiny Santa Clauses, but during the fall, you can create arrangements of autumn vegetables such as pumpkins, gourds and stalks of Indian corn around your fireplace. You can also collect dried leaves and place them into wooden baskets that can be included in the arrangement.