Do you have a property with a chimney breast or an alcove?
Chimney breasts and alcoves can be tricky to make use of. However, they have loads of potential and can help to shape the whole room when used correctly.
Period features like these needn’t be neglected. They can be incorporated into the home and experimented with to make the most of the space.
Lounge Chimney Breasts
The most obvious place to find chimney breasts and the alcoves that come with it is the lounge. However, to spruce it up, why not add a wood stove and ditch the traditional fireplace? Not only will this add value to your home, but it can also be a safer and cleaner option than an open fire. Moreover, it creates a focal point and a feature to the room.
Additionally, stripping the wall back to brick around the stove or fire can help to bring character to the home and add a rustic touch.
Alcoves are the ideal place for building in storage shelves too. Furthermore, this adds value and character – but can be costly initially. As an alternative, freestanding furniture, like a bookcase, can also fill the space effectively.
Kitchen
If you have a chimney breast in the kitchen, use it to open up the wall. Add a freestanding cooker to the space and build worktops to the sides to create a continuation.
Hallway
A lot of homes benefit from alcoves or chimney breasts in the hallways. Painting them with a pop of colour can make them stand out. Adding furniture and picture frames to the wall can also create a designer style feature.
Bedroom
Alcoves are apparent in a lot of bedrooms, particularly those of period properties. Wardrobes can fill the space perfectly, and provide ample storage whilst not taking up much-needed floor space.
If you have a chimney breast in your bedroom, use it as a headboard for your bed. It can be used as a feature to make the perfect backdrop for your cosy bed.
Other Alternatives For Chimney Breasts
Tiling around the fireplace in the chimney breast can add a modern and fresh appearance to any room. If you don’t have a working fire, how about filling the space with logs to create an eye-catching centrepiece?
Create a media wall from your chimney breast if it’s no longer in use, by building in the television to make the room appear sleek and contemporary. Or build it out into the centrepiece it deserves to be.
Wallpaper the walls to create a real feature, or add a pop of colour to attract attention.
