A fireplace can absolutely be the cozy heart of a small living room—you just have to keep the scale and layout working for you, not against you. Over the years in my tiny apartments, I’ve learned that the right small living room fireplace setup makes the whole room feel more intentional (and way more inviting).
Let the Fireplace Be the Focal Point
In my smallest living room, I stopped fighting it and aimed my seating toward the fireplace focal point, and the whole space instantly felt calmer. Even a simple rug and a centered coffee table helped the fireplace feel like it belonged there.
Give these a look:
- Textured Area Rug: Anchor your furniture and define the focal point with a neutral, textured rug that adds warmth.
- Woven Storage Basket: Store firewood or blankets stylishly in a natural woven basket to reduce clutter near the hearth.
- Tall Floor Vase: Draw the eye upward and frame your fireplace by placing dried decorative grasses in a statement vase.
Try Symmetrical Flanking Shelves
When I added matching floating shelves on both sides of my fireplace, it looked custom without eating up floor space. I keep the styling light—books low, a couple taller pieces up top—so it doesn’t feel cluttery.
You might give these a try:
- White Floating Shelves: Instantly create versatile display space for books or decor with these clean, minimalist wall-mounted shelves.
- Woven Storage Baskets: Hide clutter and add natural texture by placing these woven baskets on your lower shelves.
- Ceramic Decorative Vase: Add a touch of organic warmth to your mantel or shelves with a simple, neutral ceramic vase.
Choose a Slim, Minimal Hearth
In tight rooms, I always prefer a minimal hearth (or a shallow one) because every inch of walkway matters. One of my rentals had a chunky base, and I swear it stole half my “comfortable pacing space.”
You might like:
- Concrete Peel and Stick Tiles: Update an existing bulky hearth with thin, modern concrete-look tiles to create a sleek, minimal aesthetic instantly.
- Low Profile Fireplace Screen: Maintain visual flow and save floor space with a single-panel, minimal glass or metal screen that sits flush.
- Floating Wood Mantel Shelf: Balance a low hearth with a floating wood beam that draws eyes upward without cluttering the floor space.
Go Light and Neutral Around the Fireplace
Whenever a fireplace felt visually heavy in my small living room, I balanced it with light neutral colors nearby to keep things airy. I’ve done soft white walls plus warm beige textiles, and it made the fireplace feel cozy instead of dominating.
Useful items to consider:
- Beige Woven Storage Basket: Store throws and pillows stylishly with a textured woven basket to add warmth and organization to your hearth.
- Large Dried Pampas Grass Decor: Add height and natural texture to your space with fluffy dried pampas grass for an effortless, airy look.
- Neutral Textured Throw Pillow Covers: Refresh your seating area instantly by swapping in soft, textured pillow covers in calming cream or beige tones.
Add a Large Mirror Above the Mantel
A big mirror above the fireplace is my go-to trick when a room feels cramped, because it bounces light and adds depth. I learned to hang it lower than I think—I like it just a few inches above the mantel so it reflects the room, not the ceiling.
These products might help:
- Gold Arch Mantel Mirror: Reflect natural light and create the illusion of more space by centering this elegant focal point.
- Decorative Dried Grass Vase: Add organic warmth and soft texture to your mantel display with a ceramic vase full of pampas.
- Taper Candle Holders: Enhance the festive ambiance of your hearth by arranging these tall, slender brass holders near the mirror.
Use a Round Coffee Table for Easy Flow
I switched to a round coffee table in front of my fireplace seating and immediately stopped bruising my hips on corners. It’s one of those tiny changes that makes a small living room feel more spacious day-to-day.
May just do the trick:
- Round Wood Coffee Table: Upgrade your layout with a natural wood table that eliminates sharp corners and improves room flow effectively.
- Jute Round Area Rug: Define your cozy seating area and frame your new table with a durable, natural fiber rug.
- Minimalist Ceramic Vase: Add a simple, elegant touch to your table styling with a matte ceramic vase for dried stems.
Create One Vertical Moment Above the Fireplace
When I want my small living room to feel taller, I stack the visual weight upward with tall art or a vertical arrangement over the fireplace. It’s like giving your ceiling a little lift without moving a single wall.
A few choices to try:
- Large Framed Vertical Wall Art: Draw the eye upward with a tall, statement art piece to instantly make your ceilings feel higher.
- Minimalist Wood Picture Frame Set: Create a layered effect by leaning varied frame sizes against each other for casual, effortless vertical height.
- Small Potted Artificial Greenery: Add life and texture to your mantel display with small potted plants that soften the framed edges.
Style the Mantel With Leaning Art
I’m a big fan of leaning frames on the mantel because it looks relaxed and you don’t have to commit to nail holes. In my last studio, I layered one larger piece behind a smaller one and it felt styled, not fussy.
A few relevant products:
- Set of Wood Picture Frames: Choose natural wood frames in various sizes to create that relaxed, layered look effortlessly on your mantel.
- Abstract Line Art Prints: Add visual interest to your space with modern abstract line art that complements minimal and neutral decor styles.
- Textured Ceramic Vase: Place dried grasses in a tall, textured ceramic vase to add height and organic warmth beside your fireplace.
Blend It In With Color Drenching
When a fireplace felt too bold for my tiny living room, I painted the surround the same color as the wall for a blended fireplace look. It kept the cozy vibe, but visually quieted the architecture so the room felt bigger.
These products might be useful:
- Beige Matte Interior Paint: Choose a matte finish paint in a neutral beige tone to seamlessly blend your fireplace surround into the walls.
- Angled Sash Paint Brush: Use a high-quality angled brush to cut in precise lines around molding and trim for a professional finish.
- Painters Tape for Delicate Surfaces: Protect your tile or insert with delicate surface tape to ensure clean edges without damaging existing finishes.
Make It Pop With a Bold Surround Color
If your space is mostly neutral like mine usually is, a bold fireplace color can be the perfect personality boost. I tried this in one apartment and kept everything else simple, and it made the whole room feel designed on purpose.
Possibly handy products:
- Terracotta or Clay Paint: Transform your fireplace surround with warm, earthy hues to create a striking focal point in your neutral room.
- Natural Dried Pampas Grass: Add texture and height to your fireplace decor with a tall, natural arrangement that complements bold colors.
- Rustic Weathered Vase: Complete the organic look with a distressed, large floor vase that anchors your decorative dried florals perfectly.
Tuck It Into a Corner for Extra Wall Space
A corner fireplace can actually be a gift in a small living room because it frees up a main wall for seating or storage. I angled a compact chair toward the corner and it created a cozy “fireplace nook” without blocking traffic.
A few helpful options:
- Large Round Woven Storage Basket: Keep firewood or cozy blankets organized nearby with a natural woven basket that adds rustic texture.
- Compact Upholstered Accent Chair: Create your cozy nook by angling a comfortable, neutral-toned armchair towards the fire without blocking pathways.
- Minimalist Wood Picture Frame: Decorate your mantel simply with a natural wood frame to display calming art that complements the clean aesthetic.
Combine the Fireplace and TV Vertically
In my 450 sq ft place, I stopped trying to give the TV its own wall and stacked a TV above the fireplace to avoid competing focal points. Keeping the mantel decor minimal made the whole setup feel cleaner and less cramped.
Some handy options:
- Floating Wood Mantel Shelf: Add warmth and separate your heat source from electronics with this sturdy, space-saving wooden ledge.
- Minimalist Ceramic Vases: Style your mantel sparingly with textured, neutral ceramic vases that complement rather than clutter the space.
- Low Profile TV Wall Mount: Keep your screen flush against the wall for a sleek look that maximizes your small living area.
Tile Floor to Ceiling to Stretch the Room
One of my favorite high-impact looks is floor-to-ceiling tile around a small living room fireplace because it draws your eye upward like magic. I’ve seen even basic tile look luxe when you keep the grout lines clean and the styling simple.
Consider these options:
- Ceramic Subway Tiles: Recreate this clean, vertical look by using classic rectangular tiles to visually heighten your living space.
- Floating Wood Mantel Shelf: Add warmth and contrast to your tiled fireplace with a natural floating shelf that is easy to install.
- Tile Leveling System Kit: Ensure professional results and perfectly even grout lines for your DIY tiling project with this essential tool.
Turn an Unused Fireplace Into a Candle Glow Box
In one rental with a non-working fireplace, I filled the firebox with pillar candles at mixed heights, and it became the coziest feature at night. It gave me that fireplace ambiance without any renovation, and it looked intentional year-round.
Check if these fit your needs:
- Set of White Pillar Candles: Create immediate warmth by layering these classic wax candles in varying heights for a cozy, authentic fireplace glow.
- Flameless LED Candle Set with Remote: Enjoy a safe, worry-free ambiance perfect for rentals with realistic flickering flames that mimic the real thing.
- Rustic Wooden Serving Slab: Elevate your candle display and protect your fireplace floor with a natural wood base that adds rustic charm.
Make the Firebox a Mini Library Surprise
This is my favorite unexpected trick: I once lined an unused firebox with peel-and-stick paper and stacked books in the fireplace like a tiny built-in library. It turned an awkward dark hole into a total conversation piece while still keeping the fireplace as the star.
A few things you might like:
- Woven Storage Basket: Keep smaller paperbacks organized and add natural texture by tucking a sturdy woven basket into the corner.
- Decorative Bookends: Prevent your book stacks from toppling over while adding a stylish, structured look to your display.
- Peel and Stick Wallpaper: Brighten up a dark, sooty firebox interior instantly with an easy-to-apply, patterned adhesive wallpaper backing.
