Decorating
Something's Happening in ... Empty Fireplaces
We've spotted an ingenious way to transform redundant fireplaces into something surprising – character-filled bookshelves!
Innovative homeowners have been known to fill fireplace cavities with firewood as decoration, or even an assortment of candles, but we think storing and displaying books is an even better use of this untapped space … and you’ll soon see why.
If you live in an older house, chances are there’s a fireplace in more than one room – Victorian and Edwardian homes, for example, were built prior to the advent of central heating, and mimicked English homes designed for colder climates. Many homeowners choose to keep the fireplaces they have in place, to retain some period character. But if a fireplace never gets used as a place for a fire, it may be time to bring out its best with books.
If you live in an older house, chances are there’s a fireplace in more than one room – Victorian and Edwardian homes, for example, were built prior to the advent of central heating, and mimicked English homes designed for colder climates. Many homeowners choose to keep the fireplaces they have in place, to retain some period character. But if a fireplace never gets used as a place for a fire, it may be time to bring out its best with books.
Eclectic aesthetic
Intentionally not revamping the fireplace can work its charm on a room too, especially if you’re not afraid to give your home some distressed character. Go for a staggered fireplace display using books of varying heights to enhance the effortlessly stylish vibe.
Intentionally not revamping the fireplace can work its charm on a room too, especially if you’re not afraid to give your home some distressed character. Go for a staggered fireplace display using books of varying heights to enhance the effortlessly stylish vibe.
Young hearts run free
In a child’s or teen’s bedroom, any extra storage you can squeeze in is likely to mean less mess ending up strewn across the floor. Built-in shelves and a splash of bright blue paint have given this otherwise stately bedroom some youthful energy, and made the books stand out. Hang a bubble chair beside the fireplace and you’ve just created an uber-cool reading nook.
Book nooks for budding readers
In a child’s or teen’s bedroom, any extra storage you can squeeze in is likely to mean less mess ending up strewn across the floor. Built-in shelves and a splash of bright blue paint have given this otherwise stately bedroom some youthful energy, and made the books stand out. Hang a bubble chair beside the fireplace and you’ve just created an uber-cool reading nook.
Book nooks for budding readers
Kitchen connection
Many kitchen renovators will empathise with the dilemma of what to do in the spot that used to be taken up with an old wood stove – should you remove it, fill it in, or somehow put it to another use? In this kitchen, it serves as a way to display cookbooks, an oft-used recipe box, and storage jars too.
Many kitchen renovators will empathise with the dilemma of what to do in the spot that used to be taken up with an old wood stove – should you remove it, fill it in, or somehow put it to another use? In this kitchen, it serves as a way to display cookbooks, an oft-used recipe box, and storage jars too.
TIP: Place cookbooks with brightly coloured spines in the most visible shelf positions for maximum impact – the top shelf, in this case.
See more of this home
See more of this home
If you’ve already claimed the fireplace to create extra storage, there’s no reason you can’t add a few books into the mix – it’s details like these that make a home feel lived in.
Mags matter
It’s a shame to throw out magazines you love, just because you’re short on space or don’t like to accumulate clutter. The redundant fireplace in this Melbourne house provided the extra storage this homeowner needed to stash her fashion mags.
If you’re interested enough in a particular field to subscribe to a magazine about it, consider reflecting your passion in other ways around the house – facing a couple of books towards the room on the mantelpiece can inject some of your personality, and the covers of your favourite coffee table books are likely to be pretty spectacular too.
It’s a shame to throw out magazines you love, just because you’re short on space or don’t like to accumulate clutter. The redundant fireplace in this Melbourne house provided the extra storage this homeowner needed to stash her fashion mags.
If you’re interested enough in a particular field to subscribe to a magazine about it, consider reflecting your passion in other ways around the house – facing a couple of books towards the room on the mantelpiece can inject some of your personality, and the covers of your favourite coffee table books are likely to be pretty spectacular too.
Countless fireplace grates in older homes around Australia are sitting empty and gathering dust, but even a few books can add a special something to a room. Experiment in more than just children’s rooms to see what could work at your house.
Pride of place
The people who live in this house just love books. In fact, their renovation was designed to accommodate their ever-growing book collection (complete with a library hidden behind a secret door). But a big, old, rare book deserves better than just sitting on a shelf; here, the fireplace is the perfect place to showcase it. Flanking a standout book such as this with sentries standing guard gives it an extra sense of importance.
Where book lovers like to read
The people who live in this house just love books. In fact, their renovation was designed to accommodate their ever-growing book collection (complete with a library hidden behind a secret door). But a big, old, rare book deserves better than just sitting on a shelf; here, the fireplace is the perfect place to showcase it. Flanking a standout book such as this with sentries standing guard gives it an extra sense of importance.
Where book lovers like to read
Treasure chest
This old Victorian schoolhouse would once have relied on the fireplace for warmth, but now its purpose is to add character to a renovated home. Yes, you could stack books in the fireplace, but why not stack them in an old trunk instead, then put that inside the fireplace. You’ll protect treasured tomes for generations to come, and a closed lid adds a little intrigue to the space as well. If you have kids, stashing their books in a ‘treasure chest’ could make reading time all the more revered.
This series is inspired by the great ideas we come across every day in the projects and homes of Houzz users and professionals. Over the weeks ahead, we’ll explore how best to make use of little-used spaces around the house.
How have you made the most of disused nooks around the house? Share your ideas in the Comments.
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This old Victorian schoolhouse would once have relied on the fireplace for warmth, but now its purpose is to add character to a renovated home. Yes, you could stack books in the fireplace, but why not stack them in an old trunk instead, then put that inside the fireplace. You’ll protect treasured tomes for generations to come, and a closed lid adds a little intrigue to the space as well. If you have kids, stashing their books in a ‘treasure chest’ could make reading time all the more revered.
This series is inspired by the great ideas we come across every day in the projects and homes of Houzz users and professionals. Over the weeks ahead, we’ll explore how best to make use of little-used spaces around the house.
How have you made the most of disused nooks around the house? Share your ideas in the Comments.
MORE
Fabulous Shelving Solutions to Frame Your Fireplace
Have a Hearth: Make Your Fireplace Look Smokin’ Hot All Year Round
8 Everyday Treasures and How to Share Them
Picture books brighten up any child’s bedroom and, arranged like this, are at just the right height to encourage regular story time. A lick of fresh, white paint and some colourful new tiles make this fireplace all the more welcoming.