12 clever ways to style a living room without a fireplace

When designing a living room, a fireplace is often the natural heart of the space, a comforting focal point that sets the tone for everything else around it. But what if your home doesn't come equipped with this traditional centrepiece? You might wonder how to achieve the same inviting atmosphere without it.

Fortunately, a living room without a fireplace is far from a design compromise. Instead, view it as an opportunity to discover fresh living room ideas that feel imaginative and personal. Whether you choose statement furniture, sophisticated panelling or an eye-catching rug, there are plenty of alternative ways to establish a focal point that defines and anchors your space.

We asked design expert to share their insights and top tips to help you style a beautifully balanced living room that feels warm and carefully curated, no fireplace required.

The importance of having a focal point in a living room

"A focal point is the thing your eyes first rest on when you enter a room, the star of the show," explains Sophie Clemson, director and co-founder, The Living House. "Ideally it’s the fireplace, or a window, but it could be the wallpaper or a large piece of furniture. Every room needs a focal point to feel inviting and comfortable, and without one the room can feel confusing and jumbled as everything shouts for your attention."

Sophie Clemson

Sophie has worked in interior design for over eight years and co-founded The Living House: an affordable online interior design studio.

With that in mind, we asked interior experts to share their favourite ways to create a strong focal point and add style, warmth and structure to a living room without a fireplace. Here are 12 creative ideas to inspire your own space:

1. Make statement furniture a unique focal point

In the absence of a fireplace, your furniture can step confidently into the spotlight. A standout piece – be it a statement sofa, bold coffee table or striking media unit – can anchor the space and set the tone for the rest of the room.

"There are many ways you can create a focal point in your living room without a fireplace," explains Monika Puccio, buying director at Sofa Club. "One that we’ve seen rise in popularity over recent years is using sofas, particularly modular styles. Their versatility means you can tailor them to the space you’re working with, whether that’s small or large, creating unique shapes that naturally draw in attention from guests."

Alex Bridgman, CEO of Bridgman, agrees that furniture can be the foundation of the room’s design: "A beautifully crafted statement piece, such as a bespoke sofa or a handcrafted sideboard, can draw the eye and set the tone for the space."

Monika Puccio

Monika is the Head Buyer at Sofa Club, bringing extensive experience in trend analysis and merchandise planning within the retail industry. She has been instrumental in curating collections that align with contemporary design trends, such as the Art Deco revival, ensuring Sofa Club's offerings remain stylish and relevant.

Alex Bridgman

Alex Bridgman is the CEO of Bridgman, a family-run British furniture brand known for its timeless craftsmanship. He is passionate about combining his hospitality background with his desire to help people create beautiful, functional spaces. ​

2. Create a one-of-a-kind mural or statement wall

A statement wall is a brilliant way to express your style, especially if your living room is missing a fireplace or hearth. From painted murals to curated artwork, feature walls offer the perfect opportunity to showcase your personality.

Take inspiration from the retro-inspired space pictured above, styled by Hillarys. With its warm wood panelling, vintage-style curtains and eclectic mix of wall-hung hats, this room proves that a feature wall doesn’t need to rely on paint or wallpaper alone.

As Lisa Hensby, founder of Hensby Homes, puts it: "A bold paint colour, textured wallpaper, or even a wall with a striking pattern can create a dynamic visual anchor that grabs attention and sets the mood for the rest of the room."

3. Install wall panels

"Living room wall panelling is a major trend right now, no matter what the period of your home," says Sophie Clemson from The Living House. "It’s a great way to add character and a focal point to your new build, and is very versatile in style and design. From all-over square panelling to a more pared-back Shaker look, it’s a way to add texture and pattern without additional colour – unless you want to."

DIY wall panels are surprisingly easy to install by yourself, especially when using MDF strips or ready-made kits. If you're new to the look, try half-wall panels topped with a dado rail to add definition without overwhelming the space.

4. Use an area rug as a visual anchor

A well-chosen area rug will do more than simply add warmth underfoot. Jodie Hatton, design manager at Brintons, explains: “Making a rug the focal point of the living room is a strategic design choice – it lays the foundations for a scheme and subsequently informs the choice of paint, furnishings and furniture for a room. By selecting a rug with a striking pattern or bold colours that contrast with the surrounding décor, such as the vibrant hues inspired by nature’s greens and yellows, the eye is immediately drawn to the rug, elevating its importance in the space.”

Size and placement are equally important. “Go large with rugs,” recommends Sophie Clemson. “You want the front feet of the sofas to sit on top of the rug. A rug of this size will make the space feel bigger and anchor the furniture, while bringing in a cosy texture.”

Jodie Hatton

odie is a textile designer with over 10 years experience in bespoke design with a focus on high-end interior projects. She is the Design Manager at Brintons, purveyors of designer carpets, and she is currently working towards completing a masters in design research focussing on sustainable and regenerative design solutions.

5. Rethink your living room layout

Without a fireplace dictating where everything should go, you have the freedom to be more creative with your living room layout ideas. Instead of automatically centring your layout around the TV or pushing seating against the walls, consider how the space can promote conversation or relaxation.

“Creating a balanced atmosphere in a living room without a traditional hearth is all about using layers and thoughtful design choices,” says Lisa Hensby, from Hensby Homes. “If you want to replicate the hearth’s gathering point, think about adding a central element, like a large coffee table, where people can sit around and interact.”

Lisa also advises positioning your seating to encourage socialising, rather than facing everything towards a screen. “Placing your seating in a way that encourages conversation – rather than focusing it all around a TV – will create a more intimate and cosy feel.”

6. Embrace the power of houseplants

Houseplants can help soften hard lines, fill awkward corners and add life to a room that might otherwise feel a little bare without a fireplace. From large leafy statement plants to smaller trailing varieties, greenery can add depth, texture and a calming atmosphere to your living space.

"Adding greenery with houseplants can bring life into the room, further softening the space," says Lisa Hensby from Hensby Homes. When used thoughtfully, plants can also act as subtle focal points, particularly when placed in an empty alcove, on a raised stand or layered at different heights near windows or corners. Cluster groups of plants together for impact, or let a tall indoor tree like a fiddle leaf fig or olive tree draw the eye upward and add structure.

7. Invest in statement lighting

Without a fireplace, living room lighting plays a crucial role in shaping the mood of your space. A statement light fitting can act as a defining feature in its own right – whether it's a bold ceiling pendant, sculptural floor lamp or an elegant wall sconce.

“Lighting is a great way to add personality and mood to a room,” explains Monika Puccio. “It helps create a balanced atmosphere, as long as styling feels intentional.”

Ethan Fox, interior expert at Furniture World, adds: “Warm toned lighting can help to create a cosy and inviting atmosphere within your living room. When it reaches evening time, subtle ambient lighting is perfect for mimicking the glow of a fireplace. It can be helpful to layer lighting, using table lamps, accent lights, ceiling lights and floor lamps—this allows you to be flexible with different levels of lighting to suit certain activities and different times of the day.”

8. Install eye-catching window treatments

Without a fireplace to draw the eye, your living room windows have the potential to take centre stage, and well-chosen window treatments can soften architectural lines and introduce texture, pattern or colour to the space

“Choose curtains and upholstery in soft, neutral shades or gentle patterns to help reflect natural light and create a sense of openness,” advises Debbie Leigh, design manager at ILIV. “Sheer or linen-blend fabrics work beautifully to let light filter through while still offering privacy.”

If you want to make more of a statement, consider patterned curtains in a bold print, rich velvet drapes or layered blinds that add depth. Floor-length designs will add a sense of height, which is especially effective in small living rooms or terrace living rooms.

“Just make sure you keep patterns in proportion," cautions Kate Palmer, creative director of The Painted Furniture Company. "In smaller spaces, go for subtle prints or smaller-scale patterns that add interest without overwhelming the room.”

Kate Palmer

Kate Palmer is the creative director at The Painted Furniture Company, a company renowned for its support of British design and manufacturing.  With a background in fashion design and passion for colour and interiors, Kate has helped many customers to achieve the exact look they desired for their home.

9. Turn open storage into curated displays

In the absence of a hearth, modular open shelving can add structure, style and a strong sense of purpose to your living space.

“The best thing about modular furniture is that it really can be installed anywhere,” explains Bo Hellberg, CMO at String Furniture. “You can design a shelving system to suit any space with a range of shelving sizes."

It helps to think of your shelving like a curated gallery wall. Style it with a mix of books, framed art, ceramics, vases and greenery to create visual interest and showcase your personality. You may also want to add accent lighting or a painted backdrop to elevate the look.

Bo also recommends striking a balance between form and function: “Use a mix of open shelving and cabinet styles to create a display unit that is flexible enough to hide the things you don’t want on show.”

Bo Hellberg

Bo Hellberg is the CMO at String Furniture – the storage powerhouse hailing from Stockholm, Sweden. In 2020, String Furniture was awarded Furniture Supplier of the Year, but the basis of String's designs has shaped storage habits since 1949.

10. Experiment with bold wall colours

In place of a fireplace or a log burner, don’t be afraid to let your walls do some heavy lifting. Whether you opt for a single statement wall or wrap the room in a deep, saturated tone, your choice of living room paint and/or wallpaper can be transformative.

“A bold paint colour, textured wallpaper, or even a wall with a striking pattern can create a dynamic visual anchor that grabs attention and sets the mood for the rest of the room,” explains Lisa Hensby.

If you're wondering about the best colour for a living room, it depends on the mood you want to set. “Soft, light tones help open up the space and reflect natural light, while carefully placed pops of colour can add warmth and personality,” advises Kate Palmer.

11. Highlight unique architectural features

“While a fireplace is often a natural focal point, there are many other ways to anchor a room with elegance and purpose,” says Alex Bridgman. “Architectural elements such as arched doorways, built-in bookcases, or a statement window with luxurious drapery can frame the room beautifully.”

Drawing attention to these existing features – whether by painting a recess in a contrasting colour, fitting shelves into an alcove, or dressing a window with floor-length curtains – can help balance your living room scheme.

12. Buck tradition and make your TV a focal point

While it’s often said that the TV shouldn’t be the focus of a living room, in spaces without a fireplace, embracing it as a modern-day feature piece can actually work in your favour – especially if it’s styled with intent.

Rather than letting the screen dominate the space, integrate it into your living room design. This is where clever media wall ideas come into their own, blending storage, display and technology to create a look that feels polished, not purely practical.

“If you’re using your TV as a focal point, consider a Samsung Frame TV where you can display a picture when the TV is turned off,” suggests Sophie Clemens. “It’s a great way to incorporate the screen into the décor while still giving the room a curated, design-led feel.”

When designing a living room without a fireplace, it’s easy to play it safe or end up with a space that feels a little lost. One of the most common living room design mistakes is not creating a clear focal point. Without something to ground the room, everything can feel like it’s floating. Whether you go for a bold paint colour, a statement sofa or a curated gallery wall, the key is to make sure your choices feel intentional and tie the whole scheme together.