I’ve tackled this subject before, Gentle Readers — In 2010, to be exact! Corner fireplaces — and angled ones — are just incredibly difficult to work with.
As I type, I’m sitting in the left chair in the picture below.
We’re at my MIL’s weekend house, and we’ve never really cracked the code on what to do with the furniture in this space. (I say space instead of room because it’s fairly open.) Most of the time, two chairs flank the fireplace, with small drinks tables and footstools at the ready. When there’s a fire going, you want to be in one of these chairs, believe me. But the sofa is far away, relatively speaking, and ideally, more than two people would enjoy the fire at a time.
Anyway. In looking for inspiration, I found some pretty pictures you might find helpful if you find yourself in a similar predicament.
Obviously the room below is quite large, if there’s enough space for two sofas in the middle of it. I love it — and I’m not always Miles Redd’s biggest fan. (Don’t get me started on the TV-over-the-fireplace thing. I’m against it, but I recognize that sometimes it’s the only option.)
Soul-sucking lack of color palette notwithstanding, I think this room has a successful furniture arrangement. Proof that a sectional can be a viable option in a room with a corner fireplace.
The first thing to consider when you’re trying to figure out a room with a corner fireplace is (duh) whether you’re actually going to have fires in it.
Next is how you’ll use the room. Maybe it’s fine to have only two chairs flanking the fireplace if the room is used primarily for reading and two-person game playing. Maybe the room doesn’t need to be able to seat six or eight people.
Funnily enough, when a room is fairly small, it’s easier to deal with a corner fireplace. While I’m a color gal, I think the room below is very cozy looking. It’s ivory and brown, not chalk white, gray, and more gray.
The room below doesn’t look huge either. I’m confused by the light fixture, but I think the room is quite lovely.
You have no choice but to ignore a corner fireplace in a dining room, which is kind of a relief.
And sometimes, you just choose to ignore a corner fireplace no matter what room you’re in.
That’s what I do, anyway.
Annie Elliott Design is based in Washington, DC, and we have offices in St. Michaels, Maryland, and Middlebury, Vermont. Don’t miss our thoughts about kids’ bedroom trends in this article on HGTV.com.