What Color to Paint a Bookcase Next to a Fireplace

Stains

• Wood stains come in a variety of light and rich colors that can complement the look and style of a fireplace in the room. Try matching the stain to the wood stain on the fireplace mantle or other pieces of furniture to create a balanced look. Choose from stains such as oak, cherry wood, maple and redwood. Staining the book case maintains the look of natural wood while adding a hint of light or dark color to your furniture.

Neutral Colors

• Paint your bookcase with a neutral color if you want a basic shade that blends well with modern decor. These colors work especially well if you already have other neutral colored items in the room, such as couches, rugs or walls. A neutral bookcase can blend well with almost any type of fireplace. The neutral color wheel contains shades, such as beige, ivory, light brown and slate.

Pastel Colors

• A variety of pastel colors can also work as long as the other decor accents in the room feature pastel shades. A lavender bookcase blends well in a deep purple and lavender-colored room. Pastel green, baby blue and yellow can also work in some rooms. If you want to use pastel colors, you could also include a few pastel colored decor pieces on the mantle of the fireplace. Some examples include a photo with a light yellow frame, a lavender-colored vase filled with flowers or light colored figurines.

Dark Colors

• Dark colors may also work best in a room that contains both a bookcase and fireplace. The colors may not exactly match the mantle of the fireplace, but many dark shades blend in well with dark wood stains and modern decor. Choose colors, such as plum, maroon, forest green, dark red or even black. Black matches almost any piece of furniture and a black bookcase has a simple, modern look. Avoid painting your bookcase with dark colors if the room contains mostly pastel colors.