The fireplace, unlike many other appliances in the home, is seasonal. The fridge, the cooker and the washing machine are utilised all year round, but the fireplace may only be “in action” for half the year, if not less. But a house wouldn’t feel right without one, so their inclusion is never in doubt either.
But it does bring into question what to do with fires and fireplaces during the summer months, when they aren’t likely to get turned on once. Most people may elect to simply leave them be, collecting dust between March and September, but something so prominent in living rooms across the land is surely able to adapt to the seasons with a little help right?Well that is what we’re here to discuss today, just in time for the start of the spring and summer decorating season. For those who don’t want to leave the fireplace alone for 6 months, there are a multitude of options you can choose from, that range from adding a few visual touches to suit the warmer weather, right up to a total transformation.
Dress It Up
In all likelihood, you’ll have a fireplace that you find aesthetically pleasing. While its main task is to heat whatever room it is in, you still likely picked a fireplace or stove you also found nice to look at. Therefore, you may not want to “hide” it for 6 months, especially if you feel it is still a nice centrepiece for the room.
Hide It
On the other hand, you may in fact want to mask the fireplace a little. Either it doesn’t fit the style of the room as you make other changes for summer, or you may want a visual break from it before it returns in the summer. One way to achieve this is by using drapes.
Remove It
This may not be a viable option for everyone (those with piped in gas, for example), but those who own a fireplace that can be removed, why not take the step of taking it out and storing itaway for a while? You will then be left with an empty fireplace, which may seem a little odd, but it opens up a lot of doors for decorating potential.
