5 Ways to Turn Your Fireplace Into a Focal Point

A fireplace is the natural focal point for any room lucky enough to have one. From cosy log fires to providing a place to display your most treasured belongings, making the most of your mantel will enhance your space's mood and feel – whether you have a working fireplace or not.

Inject instant colour into your mantelpiece by painting candleholders of contrasting heights in rich shades. Then play and display to your heart's content.

Chimney out of action? Panic not. Channel a rustic, Scandinavian vibe by stacking logs in the hearth with their ends on show. You can even paint the ends with leftover tester pots to bring a pop of colour to your space.

There's no smoke without fire, but there is fire without smoke when using a gel fireplace. A hassle-free way to get that cosy glow, they come in all shapes and sizes – from wall-mounted designs to freestanding numbers that sit in existing fireplaces.

If you have a brickwork fireplace, a quick whitewashing can do wonders. Pair with a black grate and fireside accessories for a cool, monochrome look. Even if you don't have a working fire, a whitewashed brick fireplace looks great. Image via Minted.com.

Short on time? Place a bundle of LED fairy lights onto the grate, dim the lights, and settle back into snug winter nights. Get creative by wrapping fairy lights around logs or placing them in bell jars for a magical winter wonderland look. Image via Pinterest.