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You’ve finally found the perfect candlesticks for your mantel and arranged your living room so that your fireplace, deservingly, is the center of attention. But there’s a catch: You won’t be lighting fires in your hearth anytime soon. When your fireplace doesn’t function, it can feel like a letdown—but it’s actually a great opportunity to have some fun.
Firewood and flames are by no means your only options for filling the empty space, and you don’t even have to go the expected route of covering it with a screen. These eight ideas make use of things you probably already have around your house to transform your fireplace into a focal point that beats the heat by a mile.
Stack Some Logs
Here’s the most traditional method to take: Get some firewood, stack it up, and simply never light it, as seen in Dallas’s Hotelette, designed by Allison Crawford.
Play Around With Pillar Candles
Just because your fireplace isn’t connected to a chimney doesn’t mean you have to totallyrule out the possibility of an open flame. Room for Tuesday arranged white pillar candles of varying heights to create a point of architectural intrigue. Light them up and things will get cozyquick.
Pop in a Plant
Dare we say an especially lush fern is just as dramatic—if not more so—than a crackling fire? In this space by The Pink Clutch, Cousin It–esque greenery is a welcome contrast to the ornate, stark-white mantel.
Consider the Cactus
Alternatively, if you want to tap into desert style, position a few cacti and succulents in coordinating pots together. In this California home, the sculptural (and low-maintenance) plants are a perfect match for the sleek, simple fireplace
Go Full Jungle
When it comes to plants, more is more—just take a look at all that greenery in front of Serena Mitnik Miller’s fireplace. White containers keep it cohesive, and a sheepskin rug just in front of the setup adds a warm touch.