BEAUTY IN EVERY DETAIL
It might seem slightly strange to be discussing fireplace tile ideas now that the weather has finally started to improve after a long, wet and chilly spring. But now is actually the perfect time to embark on this type of project. Boilers, radiators and living room fireplaces are best serviced, replaced or renovated when they aren't regularly in use. Prioritising your fireplace now means that it will be ready for action – and looking absolutely amazing – by the time autumn arrives again.
Key Points
- Choose heat-resistant materials: For functional fireplaces, select tiles rated for high temperatures — porcelain, ceramic, and natural stone such as marble, limestone and granite are all strong choices.
- Match your style: Consider the overall aesthetic of the room — terracotta and encaustic tiles suit rustic interiors, while geometric patterns and bold colours work better in contemporary spaces.
- Scale matters: The size and shape of your fireplace should guide your tile selection. Small areas suit brightly coloured or patterned tiles as a pop of interest; larger chimney breasts often work better with more restrained palettes.
- Keep flames at bay: Even heat-resistant tiles should not come into direct contact with flames — keep tiling at least 30cm from the main heat source.
- Always sample first: Order physical samples and view them in your space at different times of day before committing — tile colours and textures look very different depending on your room's light and scale.
Choose your material wisely
New tiles are a fabulous way to transform your fireplace surround, and create a stand-out focal point in your living room. They can be used on the chimney breast, in the alcove, around the grate, and in the hearth. First and foremost, you'll need to take into account some practical considerations. If your fireplace is functional, you must make sure that the tiles you choose can withstand high temperatures.
Transform your living room with a modern fireplace design. This wood burner creates a striking effect thanks to our Fired Earth Bert & May Black Alalpardo tiles used to create the hearth.
In other words, fireplace tiles need to be durable and easy to clean, so select your materials wisely. Heat and smoke can cause all sorts of issues, including cracks, damage to glaze, grout and adhesives, in addition to discolouration. So when it comes to choosing tiles, it's best to ask an expert for their advice first to make sure your tiled fireplace will be fit for purpose.
Faux fireplace
If you've moved into a home with an old gas fireplace, you can get the gas capped off then ask a professional to check the chimney breast, if you're planning to have a real fire. If you find you can't use it, you can still add a tiled fireplace to your home to create a focal point. Often, in living rooms, a fireplace tile idea could be one of your best options, whether it's working or not.
Elevating your living space with tiles
Thanks to their durability and heat-resistant properties, porcelain and ceramic tiles are popular picks. Natural stone (such as marble, limestone and granite) can also work well for a fireplace surround, as they conduct and retain warmth very efficiently.
Think safety with tile designs for living rooms
But even a suitable fireplace tile should not come into direct contact with flames. As a guide, keep everything at least 30cm away from the main source of heat. If, however, your fireplace is purely decorative, get ready to unleash your imagination, because really, anything goes!
Our Fired Earth Urban Axel tiles are crafted from glazed porcelain and feature a matt, patterned finish with a bold geometric design. Their industrial-inspired look adds character and movement to floors and walls.
Evaluate your style with an original fireplace tile idea
When you're considering fireplace tile ideas, do consider the style of the rest of the room (and maybe even your home in general). Is the interior setting modern or traditional? That's not to say that you shouldn't mix and match in order to update a fireplace surround. A subtle clash of styles can look fantastic, especially if you choose a contemporary tile to transform an original feature.
Rustic living room design ideas
But you don't want the finished effect to be jarring, or to look completely out of place. Certain combinations are tried and tested for a reason! Terracotta and encaustic tiles always complement a rustic aesthetic, for example. Fireplace tile ideas incorporating brighter colour schemes, geometric shapes and bolder patterns might suit a modern home much better.
Fireplace tiling ideas with sizes and shapes
Our Waxman Ceramics Ardesia Ocre Muro tiles are made from porcelain and feature a matt finish with a warm, natural stone-inspired appearance. Their rich ochre tones and textured look bring depth and character to walls.
It sounds obvious, but the size and shape of your fireplace should also guide your tile selection. Which areas will you actually be tiling? If you're planning to tile a wall-to-ceiling chimney breast, plain and/or paler tiles that tone with your wall colour will avoid overpowering your space. Conversely, if you prefer to make a statement, you could use fireplace tiles in a contrasting colour or design to transform your chimney breast into a mini feature wall.
Making a bold statement
If you're updating an original Victorian or Edwardian fireplace, the area available for tiling might be quite small. But you can still make the most of this by choosing a brightly coloured fireplace tile to add a pop of colour and draw the eye. Accents like this are a fast, effective way to add interest to neutral room schemes, especially. If not, consider handmade tiles with a natural texture, a subtle pattern or warm tones for classic appeal.
Pick the right pattern
Of course, fireplace tile ideas don't have to be plain. Patterned tiles – both modern and traditional – can be completely transformative. Monochromatic, geometric designs work especially well in decorative alcoves and on hearths, as do vintage star motifs. Whichever you choose, tile designs can make a fabulous feature for living rooms with the wow factor.
Decorative pattern ideas for fireplace surrounds
You can also mix and match plain and patterned tiles, perhaps selecting the latter solely for your fire surround, for contrast and more visual interest. This creates a gorgeous, period look – and allows plenty of scope to experiment with different tile sizes and layout.
Patterns are a great way to create a fabulous feature and add texture with a tiled fireplace too, either sparingly, in selected areas, or to create an eye-catching backdrop.
Outdoor fireplace tile ideas
Nowadays an indoor living room isn't the only location for a fireplace. As more and more of us create outdoor kitchens – or simply connect our interior and exterior living areas – outdoor fireplaces are becoming more commonplace. It's good to have a heat source outside and why not transform a small garden space into an outdoor retreat?
One fireplace tile idea – thanks to our unpredictable British weather – is to create an outdoor traditional fireplace design with bricks to keep you warm on a summer's evening. Our Ca' Pietra Cabana Porcelain Havana tiles create a striking statement in this patio area.
Just as the right outdoor floor tiles can completely transform your garden, the right tile choices can elevate an outdoor fireplace too. Create an attention-grabbing hearth and/or surround with eye-catching patterns and colours, or keep things more subtle with a plain fireplace tile and a nature-inspired palette.
Turning fireplace tile ideas into reality
If you're looking for some 'real-life' inspiration, feast your eyes on customer Charlotte Cannon's fireplace renovation. Charlotte's colourful home is featured extensively on her @homeofcharl Instagram account. We were thrilled to provide the fireplace tiles she chose, as part of her living room renovation.
The original fireplace was boarded up when Charlotte moved into her home in 2021. She opened up the space and worked with a stove installation company to discuss her options and see how large the opening could be.
“When we moved into our first home back in 2021, the whole house came complete with white walls and grey carpet,” Charlotte recalls. “All of the lovely details that we knew the house would have had originally had been stripped, leaving the property feeling cold and empty.”
She continues: “We knew there was so much potential as soon as we walked into the first room: the living room. The lovely high ceilings, alcoves and boarded-up fireplace gave us inspiration and a chance to add so much character, colour and warmth back into the space.”
Once the fireplace area was open, Charlotte was able to choose the correct fireplace surround and pick all of the fun parts, from the tiles to the stove.
Charlotte's fireplace tile idea for being creative with colour
Charlotte is hesitant to define her interior design style – although it's a topic she's often asked about. Rather, when she's planning a project, she thinks about the feelings she'd like the space in question to evoke.
“In my living room, I wanted to use warm and cocooning colours to make a cosy atmosphere, but add in fun and personality with mixtures of colour, patterns and decor pieces,” she explains. “I also wanted to add in more traditional design by adding back in the crown moulding, adding panelling, and incorporating a statement fireplace to centre the room.”
The stove installers helped Charlotte tile the area using heat-resistant tile adhesive and grout. She chose a pink tile for the hearth; our Ca' Pietra Lily Pad Porcelain Bubblegum tiles create a similar effect.
Charlotte, who is studying interior design at KLC School of Design, regularly scrolls social media – primarily Pinterest and Instagram – in search of inspiration. “One of my all-time favourite websites for inspiration is Dezeen,” she confides. “It showcases the best of the best interior designers, architects and artists.”
A suitably statement fireplace tile
Before embarking on her dream fireplace renovation, Charlotte sought expert advice from a stove installation company, to ascertain which size stove would be suitable for her living room space, and how large the opening would be. “This allowed me to choose the correct size fireplace surround, as well as all the fun elements, such as the fireplace tile and the stove itself.”
Charlotte's Memphis Porcelain Coral tiles complement her yellow Arada stove perfectly for a striking pink and yellow combination. Now's the perfect time to transform a working fireplace area as the weather warms up.
She continues: “Once the fireplace was opened up, the stove installers helped us tile the area using heat-resistant tile adhesive and grout, ready for the stove to be installed. Porcelain tiles are great for a fireplace, as they are heat-resistant.
“I wanted to choose a pink tile to complement the yellow Arada Stove, so the Memphis Porcelain Coral Tiles were perfect for the space. We sourced the limestone fireplace online, and sealed it to protect it from dirt.”
Personality and longevity
Charlotte had always wanted a traditional log burner, but added a contemporary twist by choosing one in a bright shade of yellow. And she thought long and hard about the best fireplace tile to complement it.
“I picked these tiles because the repeating pattern of the Memphis Coral will never go out of fashion,” she explained. “I don't tend to pick trends when it comes to the more permanent fixtures of the home, as you can tire of them so easily...I wanted something that I felt would still look good in 50 years.”
In Charlotte's living room, our porcelain square tiles create a focal point in the hearth in a pretty star-shaped pattern. She picked a light-coloured grout to complete the look.
Charlotte's top tip? “Always get a few samples, to see what your tiles look like in the lighting of your room, as the colour will vary according to which way your room faces.”
She concludes: “The tiles and fireplace are a real focal point for my living room, and they make the space feel so homely. The fireplace tiles especially have added so much personality to the space...They have made the room so special and make me want to spend time in it.”
Design Tip: Before committing to a fireplace tile, order samples and hold them against your fireplace surround and wall colour in your actual space. Natural light levels change dramatically throughout the day and can completely alter how a tile reads — what looks warm and characterful in a showroom may feel cool or flat at home, and vice versa.
Fireplace Tile Materials: Quick Reference
| Material | Heat Resistance | Best For | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porcelain | Excellent | Hearths, surrounds, functional fireplaces | Low — wipe clean |
| Ceramic | Good | Decorative surrounds, faux fireplaces | Low — wipe clean |
| Marble | Good | Elegant surrounds, chimney breasts | Medium — seal regularly |
| Limestone | Good | Traditional, rustic surrounds | Medium — seal to protect |
| Terracotta | Moderate | Rustic, country-style hearths | Medium — seal before use |
| Encaustic / Patterned | Moderate | Decorative surrounds, faux fireplaces | Medium — check manufacturer guidance |
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