Moving into a historic home can be very exciting! After all, you can’t replicate the character and history of an old house in a new construction project. There are, however, also some challenges that come with living in an older residence. Fireplaces can be one such issue.

While most families enjoy having fireplaces, they are sometimes very unhappy with the appearance of older ones. They often look outdated and bring down the overall appearance of an entire room. This guide will give you a few ideas for how you can bring new life to an old fireplace. There are dozens of different kinds of updates you can do; you are only limited by your creativity! Here, however, we will look at three awesome options.

1. Paint – If your budget is tight, but you want a quick, dramatic change for your fireplace, a little bit of paint can go a long way! Painting a red brick fireplace bright white, for example, will completely change the look of your room. Paint is actually an especially good option for brick fireplaces because the paint will adhere easily. To further update your old fireplace, consider adding a new mantle made from affordable materials, such as pallet wood.
2. Tile – Cool tiles don’t have to cost an arm and a leg. In fact, you can find gorgeous, affordable tiles at salvage yards, thrift stores, and even brand new from home decor shops. Tile work can be a bit challenging, but if you do your research, you should absolutely be able to DIY your fireplace project. If, however, you think you need professional help, don’t hesitate to hire a contractor to help.
3. Stone Veneers – Stone veneers are a great way to update an older fireplace because they’re incredibly easy to install and are relatively affordable for a small space like a fireplace surround. These veneers give the look of real stone without all of the efforts, plus they’ll completely change the appearance of your outdated fireplace. They are especially good for homeowners who are going for rustic or Northwoods themes in their houses.

Your fireplace should be a source of enjoyment for you and your loved ones. Don’t let the idea of updating it stress you out! Hopefully, these ideas have gotten you thinking about what you can do to make your fireplace truly fit into your home for decades to come.

Contact New England Hearth & Home!

At New England Hearth & Home, we have some of the best fireplaces in all New England & Massachusetts as a whole. Fireplaces can provide all the benefits above and MORE! If you are interested in getting a new fireplace, contact us today at New England Hearth & Home by filling out our contact form, or by giving us a call directly at 781-562-0771.

Painting fireplaces made of brick and other materials has been a huge trend this year, with a more artistic aesthetic than we have been seeing in the past. By painting your fireplace, you can allow for a bit more of a pop of color than before. Let’s take a look at some of the color trends for this year so far.

• Bright Yellow: These tones of bright yellow are amazing in that they can really make your fireplace pop more than normally. With bright yellows, you can see that the room really brightens up by attracting light, as well as matching perfectly with tones such as greys.
• Bright Blue: Dark, ocean-colored blues can be the perfect way to really add some depth of color to the room. If the room is extremely light, sometimes a darker color is what is needed to really pull the room together.
• White: This classic color is amazing for almost any kind of room, including rooms with slightly muted colors. The white on a colorful background can really make your fireplace the centerpiece of the room and allow you to really highlight the fireplace as the hearth of the home.
• Burnt Orange: a nice burnt color is perfect if you are looking for a more colorful room. From reds to yellows to warm colors in general, the burnt orange is the perfect complement to these colors.

Contact New England Hearth & Home!

At New England Hearth & Home, we have some of the best fireplaces in all New England & Massachusetts as a whole. Fireplaces can provide all the benefits above and MORE! If you are interested in getting a new fireplace, contact us today at New England Hearth & Home by filling out our contact form, or by giving us a call directly at 781-562-0771.

Often you see that living areas have the opportunity to upgrade over the years. From kitchens making the switch from homey to more modern, as well as rustic kitchens versus a more industrialized area. This also plays into specific items in your kitchen, including countertops and appliances. While it is easy to upgrade your kitchen, there are also some things you can do to upgrade other parts of your home, such as your living room, such as flooring, and similarly, adding a fireplace. Fireplaces can add a lot of home value, which you may not expect. Let’s take a look at some more information pertaining to fireplaces adding home value.

How Much Value Does A Fireplace Add?

On average, fireplaces can add up to 12% more value to your home. This is an immense amount that can really make a difference in how much you get for the home you are moving onto. If you think about it, if your home is worth $300,000, you could get that home value up to $336,000, which is a difference of $36,000. Some of the top items for increasing your home value is fireplaces, wood floors, carpets and granite countertops.

Similarly, one of the things to take into consideration is that you could make a larger or smaller return depending on where you are geographically located. If you are in the north, for example, you will want to cozy up to a warm fireplace in the wintertime, whereas you may not want a fireplace if you are in a place that is hot year-round, such as Arizona.

Contact New England Hearth & Home!

At New England Hearth & Home, we have some of the best fireplaces in all New England & Massachusetts as a whole. Fireplaces can provide all the benefits above and MORE! If you are interested in getting a new fireplace, contact us today at New England Hearth & Home by filling out our contact form, or by giving us a call directly at 781-562-0771.