In previous periods of history, the fireplace was always the central focal point of a room design. This would be the place where families would gather around, and this was for both functional reasons and for design purposes in more upscale properties. When we went into the mid-20th century, the focal point of living rooms became the television. This is what people pointed their furniture at! Now, however, things are changing back again, and new design aesthetics are once again returning focus to the fireplace.
‘Gathering Around the TV’ is Becoming an Outdated Concept
The main reason why this is happening is that the concept of a family gathering around one television together is becoming somewhat outdated. Many people no longer even have a television; they watch everything on their computers. Others who do have a TV tend to use it for multi-purpose things like gaming and even internet, so it is not so much a passive thing that you just sit and look at. It is now more common for families to watch different things on different devices in other rooms, such as tablets and laptops, rather than gather together to watch the same thing as a group.
Because our relationship with the television has changed, and because computers don’t make very good design focal points, we now look for something else to use as the central point of a living room when people are gathered sitting on couches.
Fireplaces Can Set the Tone for a Room’s Decorative Style
The fireplace is a very good choice for this kind of purpose because it can not only create a good feature to look at but is also something that can be used to set the tone of the whole room. You have many choices, from a rustic look to something modern with an electric fireplace, or even a very ornate traditional fireplace that will give your room a lavish period look.
A Functional Design Feature
In most cases, the fireplace is also functional. It doesn’t have to be. Some people choose to use old fireplaces that were an original feature of an older property but no longer work, or even create fake fireplaces simply as an ornamental design feature. However, in most homes with a fireplace feature, this is also used to provide warmth in the winter, and so is not only an important part of the home but can also look attractive in a different way when it is in use. Whether you have a modern electric fireplace, log fire, or a stove of some kind, it will not only keep you and your home warm but also have an important role in the general design and layout of your living room.
It is interesting to see how something traditional like a fireplace is replacing the television as a central point for living room layout and design. It is good though because this will result in a timeless look that will never go out of fashion, despite the addition of more and more technology to our homes.
