10 Stacked Stone Fireplaces to Inspire Cozy Vibes

Candace Nelson
Written by Candace Nelson
Updated February 10, 2022
Cozy fireplace
Photo: Jenna LeBlanc / Jenna Sue Design

Light up your downtime with these unique ideas

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Stacked stone is a superb design finish if you want to create a charming focal point in a room. If you’re up for the DIY project, you can upgrade to a stacked stone fireplace by installing faux stone on a mesh backing, like tile. If you’re stacking natural stone, you might want to hire a local fireplace installation company to help with the project.

Here are 10 ideas for stacked stone fireplaces from DIYers, to help inspire your project.

1. Mountain Retreat Warm-Up

A cozy fireplace is a must when your home is in the mountains, as Jenna over at JennaSueDesign.com knows. 

“This is one of those things where you just have to be standing in front of it to really get a sense of scale and the way this changes the entire feel of the room. It truly is the heart of our home now,” she wrote.

Installing stacked stone is a project you can DIY to update a dated fireplace surround. Find more ways to give your fireplace a modern makeover.

2. Practical With a Touch of Whimsy

Stone rustic fireplace
Photo: Erin Wetzel / Practical Whimsy Design

Erin at Practical Whimsy Design chose a modern stone with a rustic mantel for her family room. 

“It took about a day to frame and install cement board,” she said. “Then another day to install the fireplace and hearth. The mantel we installed in an hour or so, though we had to stain and seal it first. The stacked stone veneer took an afternoon.”

3. A Light-Weight Stacked Stone Fireplace

Stacked stone fireplace
Photo: Binkies and Briefcases

If the weight of stone is too much for a wall to carry, a product like AirStone is a good alternative. The product gives you that stacked stone look with only about a quarter of the weight of real stone. It looks just as good (as evidenced by this example from Binkies and Briefcases). Apply an adhesive putty to the back and stick it to the wall. One caveat: It can be tough to get the stones lined up just right.

4. Stacked Stone and Floating Shelves

Fireplace with floating shelves
Photo: Davia Anne Gallup / HomeFront Interior Design

Davia Anne Gallup at HomeFront Interior Design replaced a plain fireplace surround with this stacked stone stunner. In addition, she considered the whole room and added dark wood cabinets and floating shelves to complete the modern look. Stacked stone is commonly used around gas or electric fireplaces. 

5. Sky-High Shades of Gray

Gray stone fireplace
Photo: Dennis Oetzel / Pinterest

This floor-to-ceiling stunner from Dennis Oetzel uses a variety of gray tones to create a contemporary look. When choosing stacked stone, consider varying the rectangle height and length. If you’re arranging the stone pattern yourself–rather than using tile-style on a mesh backing—make sure to place heavier stones on the bottom.

You can design your room around your fireplace if you want to. Oetzel and team considered television placement when designing this fireplace focal point.

6. Stacked Stone Paired With Reclaimed Wood

Stacked stone and wood fireplace
Photo: TCD Homes / Pinterest

This showpiece from TCD Homes is giving off serious rustic farmhouse vibes. The mixed media design combines sycamore flats to make up the stone bottom and vintage ranch parchrood flats add richness to the upper section. In the middle is a reclaimed barn beam mantle.

Stacked stone is commonly used on vertical surfaces like fireplaces, but you can also get creative and use it as a kitchen backsplash or behind a basement bar. 

7. All-White Skyscraper

White fireplace
Photo: Amber Hardy

Amber Hardy thought big when she reached out to an online community for advice on creating this tall fireplace. 

A few tips for installing stacked stone:

  • Cut your bricks or tiles outside.

  • Start tiling from the bottom and work your way up.

  • Keep the factory edge along your fireplace for a tidy look.

8. Take It Outside

Outdoor fireplace
Photo: Iriana Shiyan / Adobe Stock

In a world where houseguests ask about the ventilation at your home, why not extend your living space outdoors? This patio boasts a gorgeous gas fireplace to make the outdoors feel even more inviting. On a chilly night, just leave some knit blankets around for guests to snuggle into.

9. Two-Sided Stunner

Two-sided fireplace
Photo: Iriana Shiyan / Adobe Stock

If you’ve got the space, enjoy the fire from both sides. This stacked stone fireplace sits in the center of the home, so it can be viewed from the living room and the dining room. Everybody, gather ‘round.

10. Small Profile

Small profile fireplace
Photo: Tatty / Adobe Stock

You can maximize your stacked stone fireplace’s impact even when you’re tight on space. This fireplace prioritizes the fire box then adds thin columns of stacked stone alongside. The glass top gives the illusion of more space. 

Expect to pay $10 to $30 per square foot for faux stone sheets. The rectangle pieces are arranged on a mesh backing, like tile, to make them easy to install.

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