Ideas for a Kitchen Fireplace

Hanging Items

• Use the existing space above the kitchen fireplace. Install a simple shelf and use it to store extra pots and pans, kitchen utensils, plastic storage containers and other kitchen items. You can also hang a decorative shelf and add a simple vase of fresh flowers, or use the space to hang your favorite painting. Gather a group of family photos and hang those over the fireplace, keeping the pictures away from the top if you plan on using it. If you have several extra pots and pans that you still use frequently, install a hanging rack above the fireplace for easy storage.

Fireplace Paint Job

• Dress up the fireplace and give the rest of your kitchen a new look by simply painting the fireplace. Use a complementary color if you want the fireplace to blend into the rest of the room. For example, use plain white in a kitchen painted pale yellow. If you want to make more of an impression and make the fireplace the focal point of the room, paint it in a contrasting color. Remember that darker colors tend to make the room look heavier and smaller, while brighter or lighter colors open up the room.

Mantle Decorations

• Decorate the fireplace mantle with a few items that match the theme or style of your kitchen. If you have an apple theme, for example, place an apple-decorated cookie jar in the center, with a few other accessories on the side. Set a few wicker baskets on the mantle and use those to hold items you might otherwise hide away. Rusty utensils that still function or stained dishes slip perfectly inside the baskets. You still have easy access to the items, but they remain hidden.