Transform your living space with stunning built-ins around the fireplace! These custom shelves not only provide stylish storage but also enhance the cozy ambiance of your room. Explore creative ideas for displaying books, decorative items, and personal mementos, all while framing your fireplace as a stunning focal point. Whether you prefer a modern, rustic, or traditional aesthetic, these built-ins can elevate your home’s design and functionality. Get inspired to create your perfect cozy corner!
Adding built-ins around your fireplace creates a great space for storage and a way to display your favorite moments and memories.
I created built-ins around a tv in my basement family room and it was game changing for my business and personal needs. You too can add this to your home and today I am bringing you examples of different styles so you can find exactly what you need!
Traditional Built-ins Around Fireplace
This is a gorgeous showcase of transitional design, a combination of traditional with a modern twist. The stone face on a wood burning fireplace is beautiful. A great architectural element to ground the room.
The painted wood built-ins on each side are a beautiful example of symmetry. There is one element of modern design here, the lack of a mantel.
If you have a corner fireplace this is a great way to add built-ins to incorporate the fireplace into the focal point of the room.
This room is an amazing example of how to use decorative molding in your room, between the coffered ceilings to trim around the fireplace and built-ins. This is a gorgeous example of traditional design.
This traditional fireplace has a wonderful twist with the dark painted fireplace and the built-ins around being a light color. This ads a ton of interest and creates a stunning focal point.
Here we have the opposite of the previous photo. The fireplace wall is tiled with a very light subway tile in a straight stack design (a touch of modern). The built-ins are painted a dark color.
I love the use of a chunky wood mantel here. Very traditional in nature.
Modern Built-ins Around Fireplace
This is a gorgeous modern take on a traditional fireplace. It has gorgeous moldings painted all black which gives a modern look.
Grasscloth wallpaper behind the shelves allows the accessories to stand out in all the dark painted wood.
This is a gorgeous example of clean, modern lines. The fireplace has a smooth, modern tile with a simple small mantel. The shelves of the built-ins are chunky but linear and symmetrical on both sides of the fireplace.
This fireplace has a gorgeous tiled fireplace wall with a linear electric fireplace. The tv is mounted above with no mantel. No frills here. Very clean and linear.
The built-ins have floating off-set shelves that are very modern.
This is a gorgeous example of modern design. The electric fireplace, no mantel, and tv above is simple, clean and stylish.
The built-ins around are clean and simple and a gorgeous dark color opposite the lighter tile on the fireplace.
Unique Built-ins Around a Fireplace
Here is a traditional fireplace but the built-ins aren’t your traditional shelves. A gorgeous cabinet on one side and a bench on the other.
I love the symmetrical windows on each side. And the use of shiplap above the built-ins which adds some architectural interest.
What do you do when you want built-ins around your fireplace but you have two story ceilings. You add lots of trim moldings to break things up.
This is such a beautiful room I just want to grab a blanket and book and get cozy! This space is definitely Spanish style but the built-ins around the fireplace are very unique.
With large windows on each side the owner created a library around them, adding books and a bench to read. So pretty!
Another library of sorts but this one is richly steeped in the craftsman style. One side of the fireplace is a library wall and the other a bench to read those books.
The fireplace itself has gorgeous original green tiles with lots of decorative trim molding.
If you have a fireplace that is not in the center of the wall what do you do? You do built-ins on one side. by adding lots of decorative trim you can tie them together to make them feel like one large piece.
Other Architectural Elements to add to your home:
- DIY Beadboard Wall
- DIY Picture Frame Molding On the Walls
- How to Create a Focal Wall with Herringbone Stencil
- DIY A Wood Reclaimed Wall
- How to DIY a Board and Batten Wall Inexpensively
- How to Install Shiplap Walls for Cheap


As a licensed Real Estate Agent and an avid home decorator, I strive to give my clients the very best I can when it comes to staging, selling, and decorating their homes. I have lots of experience with paint color choices and love to DIY my home so I can have everything just the way I want it. I share my ideas and projects with the world in the hopes that I can help others have their homes just the way they want as well.