The Once-Popular Fireplace Trend That Feels Bulky & Overwhelming (& How To Update It)

There's nothing like a fireplace to quickly warm up your space and grant your living room a cozy ambience. But despite its functionality and aesthetic appeal, the wrong kind of fireplace can actually cramp your home's style. As a large, dominant design feature, a fireplace requires some careful consideration to truly enhance the space instead of harming its aesthetic. For example, overusing fieldstone in fireplace design can result in a bulky, overwhelming attention hog rather than a trendy focal point.

While the imposing look of large, multi-colored fieldstone fireplaces had its moment during the '90s and early 2000s, some design experts now see it as decidedly outdated. Being massive and eye-catching, the idea is that they dominate the style of the room they're in, leaving little space for complementary decor. That's not to say stone fireplaces are now unpopular, though, as they're still valued for the natural vibe they bring to any living room. It's just that you need to find a creative fireplace makeover that will blow you away and upgrade your setup.

To modernize your outdated stone fireplace, consider going for a sleeker design that will make your space feel more contemporary. Instead of the layered look of fieldstones piled together to evoke a rustic, country feel, look into options like stacked stone. With this style, the stone is neatly arranged into clean, even rows with minimal interruption. This helps achieve a more polished, sophisticated look, perfect for minimalist settings that favor less visual clutter. It also opens up more decor opportunities, letting you incorporate different styles of artwork, candles, and personal items without the fear of clashing with the fieldstone's cabin aesthetic.

If switching up the stone style is a bigger upgrade than you've bargained for, a simpler solution might be to paint your natural stone fireplace. Traditional fireplace designs like classic fieldstone highlight the natural stone features, like the multitude of different, organic stone shades. Meanwhile, contemporary styles lean towards more evenly colored white or lighter-hued stones that give the space a bright and airy feel. A coat of paint can help refresh your fireplace, but you'll need to choose the right kind of paint so you don't botch the project. When it comes to painting stone, latex or chalk-based paint is your best bet to ensure good coverage and adhesion.