5 Modern Chimney Breast Ideas Without A Fireplace

Due to my own home renovation, I’ve thoroughly researched chimney breast ideas without a fireplace and wanted to share some of my favourite chimney breast designs. This post will provide inspiration for how you can beautifully decorate a chimney breast.

Whether it’s due to your renovation budget, due to your own interior design approach or simply because the fireplace isn’t - or you don’t want it to be - functional, you may find that you have a chimney breast without a fireplace that presents an opportunity to create a stunning chimney breast feature within your home.

I hope these chimney breast and alcove ideas provide you with insight on how you can approach decorating your own chimney breast.

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#1 Chimney Breast Ideas Without Fireplace

Chimney Breast Tiles

Tiling is an effective way to bring character and charm to your chimney breast.

This beautiful home, belonging to Martin Brûlé, has blended minimalism with a monochromatic approach. The top of the chimney breast has been stuccoed - a construction material made of aggregates, a binder and water that is applied wet and hardens to a dense solid – creating the impression that the chimney breast has been covered in limestone or travertine.

The different shaped tiles used on the lower half of the chimney breast adds detail and intrigue for the eye, whilst keeping the colour palette consistent helps to support the illusion of a larger room and helps display the vibrant painting and unique pieces of furniture in the room.

Image courtesy of The New York Times Style Magazine. Photography by Angela Hau.

Get The Look

There are numerous tile options available to transform a chimney breast, ranging from plain designs to geometric patterns. The way in which tiles are placed on the chimney breast can become a feature in itself. These two examples use a chevron pattern to showcase the opening, and the addition of bold artwork on the front of the chimney breast creates a stylish focal point.

Get The Look

Images courtesy of Anthology Creative Studio.

#2 Chimney Breast Ideas Without Fireplace

Painted Brickwork

You may have been thinking what to put on a chimney breast wall but exposing the brickwork is a great way of enhancing a flat wall, the natural texture creates a characterful finish.

However, exposing brickwork doesn’t mean that you must work with the red palette of the bricks or are limited to a solely rustic or industrial aesthetic. There are so many other alternatives, including painting the chimney breast in the same colour as the rest of the room to achieve a luxe modern approach, through a very simple and cost-effective process.

Take this example, from Earthborn Paints, showcasing the bold colour ‘Bobble Hat’ in a room designed with a plush art deco approach. The monochromatic colour used on both the chimney breast and walls helps to draw the eye all around the room without interruption, helping to create the illusion of a larger space.

Image courtesy of Earthborn Paints.

Get The Look

For those who’d prefer to not have the brick texture from floor to ceiling, this example showcases how a smaller area of painted brickwork can still reveal texture and create a more understated focal point within a room.

The subtle coordination of the painted black brickwork, with the black artwork above, makes an edgy impact whilst not overpowering the room.

Image courtesy of Anthology Creative Studio.

#3 Chimney Breast Ideas Without Fireplace

Chimney Breast Cladding and Panelling

There are a wide range of options available when it comes to chimney breast cladding and panelling, from tongue and groove to period designs, there’s a style to suit every aesthetic.

Reeded cladding on a chimney breast suits those looking to take a more modern approach. In more contemporary homes this approach to panelling can impact the space by adding texture, character and warmth.

Images courtesy of Alto Interiors.

Using more ornate and portrait panelling helps to compliment period properties. This example showcases how you can create your own personalised design on the chimney breast. By painting all the woodwork the same dark, rich colour as the rest of the room, it creates a cosy cocooning and immersive atmosphere.

For more tips on injecting personality with panelling or wallpaper, take a look at my post on 8 Seriously Stunning Hallway, Stairs And Landing Ideas.

Images courtesy of Agathe Convert.

#4 Chimney Breast Ideas Without Fireplace

Plants

The use of luscious ferns and deeps greens on this chimney breast, by interior designer Leanne Ford, creates a texture-rich and cosy environment.

Not only do indoor plants help to enhance the overall appearance of a room, but they’ve also been shown to help reduce stress, increase creativity and reduce air pollutants - making for a happier and healthier home.

Image courtesy of Architectural Digest. Photography by Reid Rolls.

#5 Chimney Breast Ideas Without Fireplace

Wood (But Not Like You Know It)

You most likely have seen the classic route of piling logs in the fireplace to aid creating a scandi and hygge feeling room. However, this isn’t the only approach with logs that you can take.

An easy and striking way to decorate is to position seasoned logs inside the chimney breast, that have a strong colour contrast with the tone surrounding them.

Take this example of the white birch logs against the backdrop of a rich black colour. It creates a dramatic focal point and instantly makes the room feel more stylised.

Image courtesy of Domino. Photography by Charlotte Lea.

You can also use branches to create elegant and calming sculptural vignettes inside the fireplace, like this beautiful example from Mise en Scène.

Image courtesy of Mise en Scène.

One of the reasons why I fell in love with my Victorian terrace house was because of its period features, that included the chimney breasts and alcoves in each of the rooms.

Three out of the four chimney breasts have been boarded up, and only one original cast-iron fireplace remains in the living room. I know that I want to make the most of each chimney breast, as they’re part of the identity of my house and I see it as an opportunity to create a different focal point in each room.

If you’d like to see how I approach decorating my own chimney breasts then be sure to follow my renovation diaries on my YouTube channel and progress updates on my Instagram account.