A fireplace is a great start if you are thinking about remodeling your home. While there are a lot of different ways you can decorate a fireplace to make it look good, a tile pattern for the wall is a way to make it unique and feel like a natural part of your home. In the following post, we’ll give you 15 different ideas for creating a tile arrangement of your own for your fireplace.
Why is a fireplace design using an electric fireplace better than wood or gas when making a fireplace surround using tiling?
Unfortunately, wood and gas fireplaces come with many issues that are bad for you and your home. There is no point in building a tile arrangement for a wood or gas fireplace if you’re just going to have to change it later on when you decide to switch to electric. This is why it is best to start with an electric fireplace right away. Here are all of the advantages of electric fireplaces:
- No Added Fire Risk – Unlike wood and gas fireplaces, you don’t have to worry about these being a fire hazard.
- No Harmful Emissions – Electric fireplaces won’t emit smoke or carbon monoxide.
- No Staining or Smell – With the complete lack of smoke, smoky smells or wall staining won’t be an issue for you.
- Using it is Easy – There is no hassle in using electric fireplaces like there is for traditional fireplaces.
- Easy Installing – All you need is a nearby 120-volt outlet to effortlessly install your electric fireplace.
- Apartments and Condos – Unlike wood and gas, realistic electric fireplaces are easy to put in apartments and condos.
- Install Them In Any Room – You aren’t limited to only the main room of your home.
- TV Safe – You can mount TVs above electric fireplaces without any worry of damage to the TV.
- Heat Efficiency – They are highly efficient due to the infrared heating coils.
- Supplemental Zone Heating – You can use multiple realistic fireplaces and warm big homes efficiently.
- Remote Control – You don’t have to bother getting up to turn on your fireplace.
- Flame Effect Ambiance – Quality electric fireplaces can simulate realistic flames that look like the real thing.
How many different varieties of electric fireplaces are commonly available? Which one of these types of fireplaces is the most versatile for homeowners to build a tile surround to match their living space?
There are several different styles of electric fireplaces, and many will work well with a tile arrangement, but some work better than others. Here are the different electric fireplace options:
- Fireplace Wall Mantel Package – These come with a mantel but you can still arrange tiles on the wall to match the mantel.
- Corner Electric Fireplace – Similar to the mantel package above, you can do a tile arrangement on the wall in the corner of the room instead.
- TV Stand Fireplace – The fireplaces in these TV stands tend to be weak, and there isn’t much of a way to make a custom tile arrangement.
- Corner TV Stand Fireplace – These have the same problem as the standard fireplace TV stands.
- Wall Mount Fireplace – These are great if you want to build an arrangement of tiles all around your embedded hanging fireplace.
- Freestanding Fireplace Heater – You should avoid these due to poor reliability.
- Electric Stoves – Considering these are supposed to mimic a wood stove, these aren’t really good for tile patterns.
- Fireplace Electric Insert – These are the most versatile electric fireplace and are perfect if you want to design your entire tile pattern and mantel surround to fit around it.
Is there a best fireplace tile you can choose when coming up with eye-catching fireplace tile ideas for your living room?
In the end, there really isn’t a best tile. The best tile depends on your own personal preferences and what matches the style of your home. If you’re unsure what type to go with, there are countless resources you can find online to seek inspiration.
Where are some good places to look online if you want to find inspirational examples of fireplace tile ideas for your living room home décor remodel?
Beyond the ideas we share below, you can search on Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube or do a Google image search for inspiring ideas. Not only will these pictures give you a good understanding of how the tiles might look in your home, but you may see additional elements you can place in your family room that will complement the fireplace’s tile arrangement.
What are 15 DIY fireplace tile ideas that would make a great focal point or centerpiece in the main room of your house?
There are countless types of tiles and tile combinations you can go with. While these ideas are just a starting point, they may help inform your design choices with your contemporary fireplace. Here are 15 ideas for tiles to use with your modern fireplace:
- Herringbone – A herringbone pattern is a beautiful yet simple design that is easy to pull off. You can use completely monochromatic tiles for this type of design and let the lines and shapes speak for themselves. Or you can create a fun color scheme that will also work with this tile pattern. Make sure to choose longer, rectangular tiles for the best effect when designing this classic interior design pattern.
- Mosaic Tile – If you genuinely love colorful and intricate designs, then you can make a fireplace backsplash out of this mosaic style of tile. Because you’re letting the stencil designs on the tile do most of the talking, this is a straightforward job to complete. There is no complex geometry you need to worry about since the tiles will usually be square. If you get multiple different types and colors, make sure to spread them out evenly so that one color isn’t too focused on one area. Thinking of it like balancing decorations on a Christmas tree.
- Porcelain Tile – Porcelain is great if you want a clean look that matches well with white walls. While other types of tiles are shades of white, porcelain has a distinct look. Just make sure they are kept clean as it is more obvious when they are dirty. These can look modern and classy when done right and kept clean.
- Subway Tile – Subway tile typically has a rectangular shape and is staggered as if you were laying bricks. You would usually pick a more neutral color for subway tiles. You don’t need bright-colored tiles for this style. Instead, let it be a basic backdrop design that adds texture to the room while allowing the fireplace to be the star.
- Ceramic Tile – Ceramic tiles are great because of the varieties of colors that they come in. If you feel crafty, you can mix and match colors to create a design of your own. Be the architect of your own fireplace work of art. However, make sure to plan it all out ahead of time and stack it together against the floor or another surface before installation. You don’t want to make any mistakes if you are using multiple colored tiles for a specific pattern or design.
- Glass Tiles – Glass tiles can add an extra layer of depth due to their transparent nature. You can find clear tiles of different shapes, but you can also get them as transparent colored tiles. For a bonus, you can mix glass mosaic tiles in an arrangement with solid tiles. However, just like the previous example, ensure you thoroughly plan your steps beforehand.
- Marble Tile – Marble such as Carrara marble is great if you want to add a bit of luxury to your room. These are perfectly paired with a white fireplace mantel. To elevate it further, use wall sconces above the mantel that match your chandelier or other luxurious room elements.
- Natural Stone – If you want a natural look, try a stone fireplace. Wall tiles made from stone can be square, round, or even smaller pebbles. There are even faux versions of all of these that you can use. Keep in mind that while faux versions may be cheaper and quicker to install, they usually won’t last as long.
- Cement Tiles – Surprisingly, cement tiles can add a lot of texture and even color to the fireplace. Texture patterns imprinted in the cement are common, as well as color marbling patterns using special powders when the cement is first laid to dry. Look for these types of tiles and mix them in a style you like.
- Terracotta Tiles – Terracotta is great if you want a natural look that is common in many parts of the world. This style is especially found in warmer climates. There are several different types and shades of Terracotta, so you can find the right look for your home.
- Chevron Tiles – You can use asymmetrically shaped tiles like chevrons if you want a slightly different pattern than your average tile layout. Just remember that if you go with something like this, you are placing everything correctly and spacing things right. It can be a little trickier when you use tiles that aren’t square or rectangle, but the result can be beautiful.
- White Tile Modern Style – Like the porcelain tiles, other white tiles can certainly lend themselves to a beautiful modern look for your home. Of course, you can mix different shades of these white and off-white tiles if you want to mix it up. You can go for a random look with color, a specific pattern, or even a gradient style look.
- Moroccan – Very similar to mosaic style tiles, but even more specific. The Moroccan style tends to feature a lot of rich blues, greens, and even sometimes some gold or yellow. Typically, these won’t be installed so randomly but will instead fit a very intricate, ornate pattern. Like many tile arrangements, make sure to lay out your tiles perfectly before beginning.
- Spanish – This is another mosaic version, but with more vibrant colors. Instead of the Moroccan-style tiles, these will feature warmer colors such as reds and yellows. These also may look good mixed with Terracotta tiles.
- Fish-Scale – Similar to chevron, these tiles can be difficult to install. However, if you pull it off, the resulting look of your fireplace can be incredible. A pattern featuring this kind of tile is perfect if you live near the ocean or are a nautical themed kind of person. Do you like to sail? Consider this style of tile.
Do you need a home builder or interior designer to help with your tile design or is tile installation something most people can handle by themselves?
Part of the fun of working with tiles is doing it yourself. It doesn’t require expensive tools to work with tile, and it is pretty easy to learn. It just takes patience and a good attention to detail. Luckily, the essential skills you need, like grout work, you can find tons of tutorials and videos online to point you in the right direction. In fact, you can look up a video and see an example of someone installing tiles that are similar to the style you will be working with.
What brand of electric fireplace insert has the most realistic built-in fire effects for a new home or existing home’s fireplace makeover?
The beautiful arrangement of tiles you create deserves to have the best electric fireplace insert as part of it. For this reason, you should get a MagikFlame electric fireplace. While they have models with mantels and surrounds of their own, the insert is the same powerful fireplace, but you can use it with your custom creation. Here are all of the MagikFlame fireplace features you can benefit from:
- Ultra Realistic 3D Fire Effects – Holographic flames look incredibly realistic and are projected onto a log set that physically sits inside of the firebox of the MagikFlame electric fireplace. 30 different styles of flames are at your disposal to match whatever mood you are in.
- Crackling Log Sounds – Realistic crackling log sounds will help make the realistic experience that much more authentic. On top of the realistic crackles and pops produced by MagikFlame, you can also choose to turn on sounds of nature.
- 5,200 BTU Heater – Inside of MagikFlame fireplaces is very efficient infrared quartz heating device. It uses a minimal amount of electricity to easily warm an area of 1,000 square feet.
- Smartphone App – Enjoy effortlessly controlling every single part of your MagikFlame fireplace with an app that can be installed on your smartphone or tablet. Control your fireplace from anywhere in your home.
A few more resources you might find helpful:
- MagikFlame Story: Enjoy learning how it all began.
- MagikFlame Reviews: Hear what real customers are saying about MagikFlame.
- Most Electric Fireplace Buying Guide: Dive deeper into the details of how electric fireplaces work.
- How MagikFlame Is Built: Check for yourself how MagikFlame fireplaces are built.
- Payment Plans and Financing: Check out these helpful financing options.
- MagikFlame Warranty: All MagikFlame fireplaces are covered by a full warranty.
