Beyond Brick: Explore the 8 Best Materials for Fireplace Surrounds

Picture this: Sitting by your fireplace enjoying the warm flame, listening to your wood crackling, you look up, and what do you see? While fireplaces are a timeless way to stay cozy in the cold months, they serve another important role—fireplaces are a focal point of your living space. And besides the fireplace itself, the fireplace surround also adds an architectural charm that transforms your space. In this guide, we’ll cover the different materials you can choose from for your fireplace surround.   

Marble

With its beautiful, timeless look, you can’t go wrong with a marble fireplace surround. Its design allows it to fit into most homeowners’ home decor seamlessly. Want to add greenery and pops of color to bring your fireplace to life? Marble fireplaces shine in this setting. Or want to let your marble fireplace surround speak for itself? The aesthetic possibilities that marble brings to the table are endless. Also, these fireplace surrounds are easy-to-clean, one-of-a-kind, and heat-resistant.  

Granite

Granite fireplace surrounds provide a balance of charm and durability in the colder months when you’re relaxing with your family by the fireplace. It’s a low-maintenance material that’s heat-resistant, offers a unique design, and can hold its own against chips, scratches, and stains. And because of the different types of granite, you can easily find one to incorporate into your decor. 

Wood

While most homeowners don’t immediately think wood would make a good fireplace surround (since it’s what the fireplace is burning), a properly built fireplace wouldn’t make it an off-limits option. Wood is a cozy fireplace surround material that’s easy to install and can be painted or stained to your preference. Though it’s important to note that you’ll need to check with your local building codes to make sure you can have a wood fireplace surround. It’ll also need to adhere to the National Fire Code, which states any combustible material, like wood, used for fireplace mantel must maintain a clearance of at least 6 inches from the firebox opening and an additional inch for every eighth inch of protruding trim. 

If you’re not sure if your fireplace surround meets code requirements, contact your local fireplace installation pro to come take a look.

Steel

A steel fireplace surround can bring a modern look to any space, and it’s durable, heat-resistant, and comes in various finishes and styles. Steel is another material that’ll make a great statement piece alone or enhanced with a few wooden decor elements.  

Tile

Tile material has multiple design options, is durable, and in certain cases (like ceramic tile) are heat-resistant. Because of their design options, you can add visual depth to your home through pattern contrast, textured tiles, or glass mosaic tiles. Or, if you prefer a more straightforward design to bring more attention to the surrounding decor, tile offers that flexibility. 

Brick

Let’s not bypass the obvious! A traditional fireplace surround, brick is a versatile material that can fit seamlessly into modern-, rustic-, farmhouse-, or bohemian-style homes and with different types of fireplaces. Whether you’re after a natural exposed brick, all white, stained, or painted design, brick is a beautiful material that’s one of the best options for a fireplace surround due to its design options and high heat resistance. 

Concrete

A concrete fireplace surround is an elegant addition to your home that can transform your fireplace and take it up a notch. It’s also durable and offers versatile design options. These fireplace surrounds are low maintenance, fireproof, rot-resistant, and are sturdy against excessive shaking and shifting, common during earthquakes. Some homeowners choose to make their concrete fireplace surround a noticeable focal point from their floor to ceiling. At the same time, others prefer to keep it simple and closer to their fireplace. Whether you’re looking to go big or keep it subtle, this material is worth considering. Plus, because concrete holds heat, it can help keep your home warm over time.   

Natural Stone

Natural stone is a classic fireplace surround that adds a little rustic charm to any space. Aside from granite and marble, other natural stone fireplace options such as limestone, stucco, and slate can also give your fireplace a makeover. Stone comes in multiple patterns and colors to help you make your fireplace surround a custom design that’s unique to your home. It’s also a durable, low-maintenance material, can increase your home value, and is heat-resistant. And it’s a great option for long-lasting warmth.