When it comes to designing and decorating your home around a wood-burning stove, there are many options available. Depending on the size of the room, the type of stove you have, and your own personal style, you could go for a classic country look, a pared-back Scandinavian feel, or something altogether more contemporary. Whatever direction you take, the stove itself will end up being the heart of the room.
Make the stove the focal point
Resist the temptation to compete with it. Arrange your seating in a gentle horseshoe facing the hearth, keep the wall behind it relatively clean, and let the flames do the talking. A simple oak mantel or a reclaimed beam above the stove adds character without distraction.
Choose materials that love heat
Stone, slate, brick and tile all work beautifully around a stove and give the room a tactile, grounded feel. A slate or limestone hearth is practical as well as handsome — easy to sweep, and quietly elegant.
Layer warm textures
Once the stove is in, lean into the cosiness. Wool throws, linen cushions, a chunky knit blanket draped over the arm of a chair, a thick rug to take the edge off a hard floor — all of these soften the room and reinforce the warmth the stove is generating.
Style the storage
Logs are part of the look. A built-in alcove stacked with neatly cut wood, a woven basket beside the hearth, or a steel log holder in a more modern interior all work brilliantly. It’s storage that doubles as decoration.
Light it gently
Dim the overheads in the evening and let the firelight take over. A pair of low table lamps either side of the stove, or a floor lamp behind a reading chair, creates the kind of atmosphere you’ll never want to leave.
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