Bring A Modern Touch To Your Living Room With This Sleek Fireplace Trend

The warm and cozy glow from a fireplace adds maximum hygge in winter when the hearth is lit, but for most of the day — and indeed, most of the year — your fireplace probably sits idle. You may try to turn up the charm with string lights, candles, or other easy fixes, but if your fireplace still feels a little lackluster, consider upgrading the surround. While classic materials like stone and brick will always have a nostalgic feel, these once-popular fireplace trends can also feel bulky and overwhelming in more modern homes. They might make your whole living room feel a little stale and outdated, collect a lot of dust, or simply not match your style. For a modern fireplace look that still reads cozy, consider installing a stone slab or tile surround. 

Tile and stone slab fireplace surrounds are gaining popularity. This is especially true for large-format tiles with natural variations in texture and pattern, such as marble, slate, or travertine panels. If you prefer a polished slab, choose white or black marble for a classy look, or venture into unexpected shades like Breccia Arrabida, Yellow Sienna, or Rainforest Green marble. Of course, traditional tile and marble have been incorporated into fireplaces for centuries, but with updated, unique surface textures and flat pattern profiles, these materials feel like a fresh new trend.

Designers are loving the luxurious statement that a natural stone surround makes, especially in floor-to-ceiling fireplace surrounds. Plus, the smooth surface allows for easy cleaning — no more dusting the nooks and crannies between your bricks or stone facade. Whatever style or material you choose, look for soothing colors and unique veining. Trending natural colors like creamy beige, warm gray, burgundy, and soft brown will help you achieve a clean and modern look without sacrificing warmth, even when the hearth is empty.

Unfortunately, there are some tradeoffs with this trend. Real quarried slabs can be expensive. Quartz, granite, and grade A marble can reach $60 or more per square foot, while slate and soapstone slabs typically run for $70 per square foot. Due to their weight, fragility, and the need for precise cutting, natural stone slabs aren't a very DIY-friendly material, so you may also need to factor in the cost of professional installation. 

For a more budget-friendly way to embrace this sleek fireplace trend, opt for large-format tiles instead of solid stone slabs. Remodeling your fireplace with tiles may cost as little as $1 to $40 per square foot, especially if you opt for a lower-grade cut stone tile or a stone-look porcelain tile, which is suitable for a fireplace surround. Matching thin grout lines can help you create that more cohesive slab-like look. Unlike a massive stone slab, tile is also more DIY-friendly, so experienced DIYers may be able to skip the installation fees.