HGTV Star Christina Hall's Advice On When To Consider Getting Rid Of Your Fireplace

A fireplace is a home feature that is typically considered a selling point and is sometimes even a non-negotiable requirement for those seeking a new home. With all the luxury and nostalgia associated with fireplaces, it can be difficult to imagine a situation where it would feel appropriate to remove one. This was exactly the situation faced by Christina Hall on "Christina on the Coast," however, when the designer found herself faced with an awkwardly placed fireplace that threatened to interfere with her plan to open up her clients' living space. Ultimately, Hall decided to remove the fireplace as it didn't mesh with the new layout.

While making the call to remove a beloved feature like a fireplace is never easy, there are scenarios where it makes sense. When having a fireplace is no longer useful or practical, placing your focus on other more valuable features is a reasonable — and even desirable — direction to take your renovation in. If you've been debating on whether or not to remove your fireplace, here are the factors to consider before making a final decision. 

In the episode of "Christina on the Coast," Christina Hall removes a wall between the home's living room and kitchen to open up the space and allow the natural lighting to shine through. This leaves the fireplace — which is significantly dated in appearance — sitting right next to the kitchen's new cabinetry. "It's inches away from the pantry," Hall said of the old-school brick fireplace. "It's completely competing with everything." After much debate, the fireplace simply had to go.

If you find yourself facing a similar conundrum, try to remain practical when considering if owning a fireplace truly works with your lifestyle. If you've lived in your house for ten years and you've never thrown a cozy dinner party around the fireplace before, there's no reason to think that you'll start now. If this is the case, it's better to replace it with a feature you'll actually use. The fact that fireplaces are desired by other homeowners doesn't mean that it necessarily makes sense to keep yours. 

A fireplace may add perceived value to your home, but does it add actual value? According to Homelight, in this day and age, keeping a fireplace will only increase the value of your home by a maximum of $1,000. This means that there is a plethora of features you can replace your fireplace with that will offer a significantly higher return on investment. For instance, an open floor plan — according to Realtor.com — will boost the value of your home by an average of 7.4%. That's an extra $18,500 on a $250,000 house.  

Christina Hall made the right call when she prioritized an open floor plan over a fireplace, and the same would be true of nearly any modern upgrade. If you have the opportunity to gain a modern amenity like built-in shelving, deck space, or better natural lighting at the cost of your old fireplace, it's officially okay to say your goodbyes.