• Revamping a fireplace can give your room an instant lift.Fireplace image by Mistik from Fotolia.com
  
  Fireplaces provide unique decorating experiences because they are basically blank canvases before any work begins. How you decorate them relates to how you will decorate the rest of the room. So consider how you want to decorate your entire room and have your fireplace complement that style.
  
  

Multifunction Fireplace

• The area above the mantel has long been a place to show things off. Large paintings and mirrors are favorites for filling this space. A practical idea is to place the flat-panel television in this space, which provides your home with a contemporary touch. Ensure the wall does not get any warmer than 90 degrees when the fireplace is burning before you mount your screen.
  
  

Decorative Fireplace

• In the fireplace and upon the mantel, you can display collections of your favorite things or rotate decorations with the seasons. Because the fireplace area is relatively small in relation to an entire room, you can change it around without going through a lot of trouble.
  
  

Fireplace Facelift

• Replacing a worn out mantel with a newer one or one that matches your décor can do wonders for your room. Mantels range from simple to ornate. You may want a contemporary pattern to go with your décor or you may want to tone things down with a simple mantel. You can replace plain drywall with stone, bricks or tile to bring texture and warmth into the room. Tiles are a popular choice because they are heat resistant and inexpensive.
  
  

Colorful Fireplace

• Sometimes a new coat of paint will work wonders. Your mantel is a place where you can add a splash of color to your room. Pulling from colors already in the room will give the room unity. Sometimes the best look is a shade or two lighter than the wall paint. Painting is an inexpensive way to change the way something looks without changing too much.