While they may be a rarity in warmer climes, most houses in the colder parts of the United States almost always have a fireplace in the living room. They can range from energy efficient gas versions to stately stone or brick edifices that rise majestically from the floor and continue right up to the ceiling.
If you’re planning to decorate a living room with a fireplace, it’s hard to get around the fact that it’s going to be the major focal point. Unlike other architectural elements in your home, it’s hard to ignore or cover up a fireplace. In fact, it’s far cheaper to remove a bay window or a load bearing pillar than a fireplace.
But how do you decorate a living room with a fireplace that wants to be the center of attention whether you like it or not? The best option, of course, is to surrender to its desires and make the best of it.
This is a simple choice if the fireplace works. It’s easy to arrange your key furnishings so that they can take advantage of a roaring fire on a cold winter’s night. In most cases, putting the sofa in front of the fireplace or putting the sofa and loveseat in parallel to it will be the trick. This second option allows you to create a nice place for conversation. You can add a coffee table and complete the focal point for your room.