Decorating Your Modern Fire For Christmas

Nothing quite says cosy Christmas like gathering the family around a warming fireplace. But what if your fireplace is a modern gas or electric style rather than a traditional open fire or wood burner? Not to worry! You can still create a gorgeous Christmassy focal point with some festive touches.

In this post, we’ll share plenty of tips and inspiration for beautifully decorating around your gas or electric fire this festive season. From adding twinkling lights to displaying Christmas cards, we’ll show you how to make your modern fireplace the heart of your home this Christmas.

The role of the fireplace at Christmas

While gas and electric fires may not burn real wood, they still provide flickering flames and a comforting glow. Turning on your fire creates a cosy spot for the family to snuggle up with hot chocolate and watch festive films.

Like old-fashioned hearths, modern fireplaces often serve as the living room's centrepiece. Decorating the space around your gas or electric fire sets the scene for Christmas magic. With stockings hung, garlands draped, and lights aglow, your fireplace display spreads cheer throughout the room.

So, although Santa might not always have a chimney to climb down, you can still make your contemporary fireplace a Christmas favourite with some creativity!

Preparing the fireplace

Give your gas or electric fire and surround (if you have one) a thorough cleaning before dressing it up for Christmas. Carefully dust the firebox and any glass screens to remove dirt and smudges so your decorations stand out.

Use a vacuum extension hose to remove dust from around the fireplace and from between any concrete, stone, or brick. Also, give metal or wood mantels and surrounds a good polish.

If your fire has imitation logs or pebbles, remove and clean these according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Finally, ensure you have a sturdy fireguard for safety, especially in homes with young children or pets. You might choose a guard with a Christmas motif or colours to complement your decorations.

Hanging Christmas stockings

You may not have a mantelpiece above a contemporary fireplace—like a media wall fire—but that doesn’t mean you can’t carry on the beloved tradition of hanging Christmas stockings!

If you have a mantel or surround, hang stockings from hooks across it as usual. For a modern fire without a mantel, hang stockings from wall mounts, pictures, or shelves above the fire, or attach pieces of ribbon to command hooks.

Red velvet or faux fur stockings trimmed with white fur look gorgeously classic. You can inject fun with patterned Christmas socks featuring festive characters and shapes.

Before hanging stockings, stuff the tops with treats like mini tree baubles, candy canes and chocolate Santas. Imagine the kids’ excitement on Christmas morning!

Mantelpiece alternatives

While you may not have a traditional mantelpiece, you can still create striking displays around your modern fireplace. Consider these ideas:

• Drape garlands around the fire surround or along media unit tops
• Arrange groupings of candles on the hearth or on shelves within the media unit
• Prop Christmas cards up on shelves, hang across the wall above the fire, or display them against candle holders
• Place figurines like snowmen, carol singers or wise men on the hearth or shelving
• Create mini vignettes inside alcoves using trees, wreaths, pinecones, etc
• Position your Christmas tree next to the fireplace (ensure a safe distance, of course!)
• For media wall fireplaces, dress any shelves across the top or sides to mimic a mantel display. Candles, Christmas cards, light-up stars, nutcrackers, pinecones and mini trees make for lovely arrangements.

Hearth and surround designs

Traditional hearths are made from stone or brick, but modern fireplaces may have hearths made from marble, concrete, or ceramic tiles. Some gas and electric fires are inset or wall-mounted with no hearth at all.

Use battery-operated candles or stand light-up Christmas decorations to illuminate a glass hearth safely or set them around a concrete one.

For fire surrounds, drape tinsel or leafy garlands around the edge, or lean Christmas wreathes against the sides. Decorate with mini light strands using command hooks or clips.

Set out Christmas figures like reindeer, snowmen, or carollers on your modern hearth. Then, use the space to display greeting cards propped against votives or ornaments.

The tree as a focal point

One of the best ways to get your fireplace in the Christmas spirit is to place a fabulously decorated tree next to your modern fireplace. A sparking tree with gifts placed underneath and a glowing electric or gas fire creates a magical heart in your home.

You can choose between a real or artificial tree based on your preference—ensure it’s placed at a safe distance from the fire. A perfect position is in an alcove to the side. If you have limited space, opt for slim or potted trees. Decorate it with lights and cheerful decorations in your chosen colour theme.

Fill the base with wrapped gifts and empty gift boxes for the complete festive effect. Top with a glittering tree topper – silver and gold work well with contemporary schemes.

Inspiring colour schemes

When decorating your modern fireplace for Christmas, the possibilities for colour schemes are endless! Here are some inspiring ideas:

Classic red and green

You can’t go wrong with combining deep red and rich green for a traditional Christmas palette. Adorn garlands and wreaths with red berries, pinecones and gold accents. Fill red stockings with green fir sprigs. Display jewelled red and green candles around the fire. Dress the tree with classic red, green and gold baubles. Timeless!

Icy blue and silver

For a cool, contemporary look, pair icy blue with shimmering silver. Frosted blue garlands and tinsel look striking against glossy silver decorations. Hang glittery silver or snowy white stockings and dot them with blue pompoms. Surround pillar candles in silvery white with clusters of silver beads and baubles. And decorate the tree with cool lights and blue and silver ornaments. Elegant and icy!

Jewel tone glam

Rich jewel tones make a dazzling colour impact. Drape garlands in deep purple, emerald green, and sapphire blue. Hang matching coloured velvet stockings. Create candle vignettes by mixing pillars in jewel tones with gold. Dress the tree in royal purple, ruby red, emerald, and sapphire ornaments—like gemstones glittering in the firelight—stunning!

Nature-inspired neutrals

Create a relaxed, neutral scheme using elements from nature. Opt for burlap or jute garlands with pinecones, acorns, and cinnamon sticks. Hang simple cream stockings with plaid cuff details. Arrange black pillar candles with natural pine sprigs and cones. Decorate your tree with warm white lights, wooden decorations, and neutral ribbon for a perfectly organic look.

Have fun with themes

As well as playing with different colour schemes, you can create extra magic by decorating your modern fireplace around fun Christmas themes. Some ideas include:

Rustic woodland

Channel the outdoors with natural woodland-inspired decorations: pinecone and burlap garlands, twig wreaths, and red check stockings filled with pine sprigs. Felt woodland characters, mini pine trees, and snowy owls on the mantel. Finish with a snow-flocked tree with pinecone decorations for a rustic, hygge feel.

A Christmas carol

Bring Charles Dickens’ classic tale to life with Victorian-inspired décor. Plaid ribbons, red roses, holly berry garlands, velvet stockings, nutcrackers, period carol singers, a Scrooge figurine, stacked books, lanterns, and bells, and an elegant tree dressed in vintage baubles, feathers, and beads complete the look. Bah humbug, no more!

Santa’s workshop

Get playful with characters from the North Pole. Snowy white garlands with elves peeking out! Felt and stripey knit stockings with naughty elves climbing inside—Santa figurines hauling sacks of toys with elves helping. Mini felt trees, toyshops, reindeer and snowmen. And finish with a fun tree covered in elf decorations, Santa baubles, and candy canes.

Frozen wonderland

Embrace icy elegance with frozen décor. Delicate white and silver garlands accented with snowflakes. Glittering snowflake stockings and glass icicle ornaments. Place snowy owls, polar bears, penguins and deer on the mantel. Fill the tree with icy blue, silver and white ornaments. And use spray ‘snow’ to blanket everything! Winter magic.

Getting creative with ornaments

When decorating your contemporary fireplace, have fun with unique ornament ideas:

• Use command hooks to hang ornaments from mirrors or artwork above the fire
• Connect ornaments with ribbon or mini garland swags
• Attach fairy lights around mirrors or art hanging above the fire
• Group mini trees on the mantel filled with quirky character ornaments
• Display geometric terrariums holding mini trees, deer, houses, etc
• Fill glass cloches or lanterns with trees, baubles, and battery fairy lights
• Craft dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks and pinecones into rustic tree ornaments
• Create mini mittens, socks and jumpers to use as tree decorations
• Knit tiny stockings in festive colours and patterns to hang on the tree
• Make glittery paper chains from wrapping paper scraps to drape on the tree
• Cut out sparkly paper snowflakes to use as non-traditional tree decorations

With some imagination, you can quickly turn your gas or electric fire into a magical Christmas centrepiece – even without a traditional mantel or hearth! Just add twinkling lights, festive trimmings, and plenty of Christmas cheer!

Here at Direct Fireplaces, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!