55 Fireplace Tile Ideas From Classic to Contemporary

Fire has always been a part of the human experience and it's something we've held onto as we've advanced into an era of modern creature comforts that heat and entertain us at the press of a button. What has changed in contemporary times is there are now more choices of fireplaces and tile designs to decorate them than ever before.

From brick tile, ceramic tile, specialty shapes, and hand-painted tile, get cozy as we show off 55 of our favorite fireplace tile ideas.

Brick Tile Fireplace Ideas

Brick is the material many first think of when envisioning a fireplace. It's a classic look but today designers have far more options than standard red brick. Glazed Thin Brick are real brick, only thinner and glazed with the same colors you'd find on ceramic tiles. Unlike painted brick, glazed brick allows you to still control the color and look of your grout lines and features a cleaner look overall.

Glazed Thin Brick is also more affordable and efficient. Glazed Thin Brick is substantially lighter than traditional glazed brick, resulting in potentially an 85% cost and emissions reduction.

Keep in mind that our Glazed Thin Brick can be used on fireplace surrounds and exteriors, but cannot be used on the inside of a working firebox.

1. Turquoise Tranquility

The soft blue-green shade of our San Gabriel Brick makes this soothing color as versatile as a neutral. The built-in mantel offers a convenient place to display plants and art.

2. Scaled Up Offset

Even though it’s a true neutral, this fireplace features a distinctly different personality thanks to the floor-to-ceiling scale and the white glaze's color variation. Luminous white grout helps accentuate the almost grey look of this glaze.

3. White and Tight

Variation doesn't just come from color. Length, width and thickness can all vary slightly, giving Glazed Thin Brick an artisan quality. This fireplace accentuates the range of variation with a super tight grout joint.

4. Modern Pink

This fireplace is pretty in pink thanks to our glossy Glazed Thin Brick in Antelope Canyon (discontinued). We love how the brick extends over to a clever built-in bench so you can take advantage of the warmest–and coolest–spot in the house.
 

5. Luminous Luxury

Brick typically has a rough industrial or rustic quality but with a veneer of white glaze, Thin Brick can adapt to any setting like this luxurious white living room.

6. Long Lines

Contemporary fireplaces come in all shapes and sizes and this one is no exception. Instead of brick scaling a chimney vertically, this fireplace hides the chimney behind the wall and instead draws long horizontal lines across the room.

7. Elevated Design

This white brick fireplace starts not at the floor but elevated above it, resting on a bench with seating available on either side.

8. Soothing Grey

Vertically stacked elongated grey Brick creates a luxe relaxing area around this modern fireplace, accented by a contemporary floating mantel.

9. Blend With Black

Set among walls of saturated green paint, this fireplace features bold black brick to add an anchor to the room of dark tones.

10. Minimalist Contrast

By contrast, the black brick of this fireplace is a focused focal point in a bright white minimalist living room.

11. Sweet Symmetry

Elongated green brick is ultra elegant on this columnal, straight-set fireplace flanked by a gorgeously geometric vignette of built-in niches.

12. Contemporary Centerpiece

Placed on a pedestal in a sea of turquoise brick, this modern black brick fireplace combines classic materials with contemporary design, echoing the idea behind the great room it finds itself in.

13. Midcentury Lines

This midcentury marvel shows off its clean lines with glossy red brick and bright white grout lines. Standing in the center of the room, the multi-tiered chimney and off-center firebox mean visual appeal from every angle.

14. Sky(light)'s the Limit

Another midcentury design, this gas fireplace surrounded by bookshelves features a wide column of turquoise glazed brick reaching up through the sunny skylight, setting the scene for the perfect reading spot.

15. Natural Beauty

Climbing up through the vaulted ceiling this wood burning fireplace is built with white brick and a natural beige colored grout, mimicking the look of the marble hearth.

16. Organic Modern

Floor to ceiling, this fireplace grounds the living space with an organic modern edge. Enhanced by notes of natural linen and warm stone courtesy of our Wind River Brick, the flame is just a small part of this shining focal point.

17. Pop of Blue

Set inside an original Eichler, this home is filled with big windows and bright white walls, making this fireplace of bold blue bricks the perfect pop of color to complement the midcentury aesthetic.

18. Black Beauty

With clean lines and noticeable texture, this black brick fireplace commands your attention as it rises to the slanted ceiling in this midcentury ranch home.

19. Two-Tones

When high variation glaze isn't enough, choose two similar colors like this gas fireplace that uses two shades of earthy brick for a speckled stone-like effect.

20. Cozy Color

One of the best parts of a fireplace is curling up in front of its cozy warmth so it makes sense to use a color of brick tile that creates a warm and inviting living space (with decor to match) even when there isn't a fire ablaze inside.

Ceramic Tile Fireplace Ideas

Ceramic tile takes a classic fireplace to the next level. Smoother than brick with more shapes and colors to choose from, ceramic tile is a true chameleon, able to adapt to any design style from classic to contemporary.

21. Traditionally Tiled

This traditional fireplace features some of the hallmarks of a classic brick fireplace, like wide brick-sized tiles, an offset pattern and a wrought-iron inlay. But the smooth, saturated navy blue colorway and the complementary ceramic architectural molding really move the needle on the overall design.

22. Shape Shifter

Framed by stunning woodwork, this clover-colored tile is a perfect choice to pair with the dark stained hardwood. But look closer and notice the assorted sizes of tile fitting together with a handmade quality, a design detail that shows off the overall craftsmanship of the fireplace.

23. Craftsman Values

Speaking of craftsmanship, Craftsman homes are famously known for their use of wood, tile and fireplaces, so it makes sense that this living room would feature a fireplace that uses handmade tile and trim that's elegantly noticeable without detracting from the turned columns and decorative mantle.

24. Color Drench

Soft colors make a powerful impression in this space, featuring a classic subway tile-clad fireplace that pairs perfectly with the sage-colored walls.

25. Sleek & Two-Sided

We love this way to frame your flame. Vertically stacked white tile makes this two-sided fireplace the foremost feature of this open space, exuding sleek serenity from every angle.

26. Glittering Evergreen

This stunning craftsman fireplace turns timeless deep green square tile on its side for a mesmerizing facade that creates a handsome focal point in the well-loved space.

27. Straight Up Scandi

With an earthy green color reflective of a boreal forest and a modern pattern of straight-set tiles, this fireplace fits right in with a Scandinavian living room, not to mention a Scandinavian winter.

28. Sheen That Shines

Taking straight set ceramic tile in a more contemporary direction, these square tan tiles feature an incredible sheen that makes the tiles come alive, a point that's punctuated by the playful disco ball mirror and sconces that adorn it.

29. Rustic Squares

A mosaic of squares decorates this rustic living room. Not just the sheeted ceramic tile with beautiful variation, but the firebox itself has a unique square symmetry to it. A reclaimed wood mantle rounds out the rough and ready vibe of this mountain lodge.

30. Intriguing Offset

The most common offset pattern for rectangular tiles is the 1/2 offset, straight down the middle, but this fireplace makes things a little more interesting with a 1/4 offset pattern giving an intriguing dimension to the deep blue tile.

Specialty Tile Fireplace Ideas

Specialty ceramic tile unleashes creative potential with an enormous variety of shapes to choose from. Combine that with over 100 color choices and the combinations are virtually limitless.

31. Pink Perfection

Star and Cross tile in a soft pink glaze is a stunner and fits right in with the warm tones of this living room. Pink tile is having a major resurgence and this fireplace makes a strong argument that it's not just for kitchens and bathrooms.

32. Creative Curves

This New Traditional living room combines comfort and creativity with an Ogee Drop tile in a Moroccan pattern that curls bright white grout lines throughout the neutral-colored glaze.

33. 45 Degree Fire

While the flame in your fireplace can reach up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, it's all about the 45-degree angles on this clean white fireplace that features a surround and hearth of handsome 6" triangles.

34. Pattern Play

Taking the triangle in a more contemporary direction, this narrow 3-sided gas fireplace builds a greyscale pattern with 3 shades of light to dark glaze.

35. Star Struck

This stunning fireplace is the star of the room thanks to our handmade Mini Star & Cross Tile in glossy blue Caspian Sea.

Hand Painted Tile Fireplace Ideas

For a truly one-of-a-kind fireplace, hand-painted tile turns a fireplace into unique works of art. Each tile is painted by hand by a skilled artist with their own distinct signatures and can be combined in an endless variety of artwork.

36. Customizable Configurations

This bold stone fireplace gets a Bauhaus-inspired hearth with hand-painted tile in a pattern of black and white geometric shapes. Configurations can be preplanned or arranged onsite for complete customization.

37. Minimalist Warmth

The rounded lines and subtle color of floor-to-ceiling Handpainted Summit Tile in White Motif adorning the fireplace surround exude serenity through this peaceful space.

38. A Maximalist Dream

Conversely, this star-studded fireplace brings the heat with maximalist style thanks to the statement-making Handpainted Vitoria Tile.

39. Monochrome Moroccan

Taking the idea of the fireplace above to an even more intricate level of detail, this fireplace surround features hand-painted tile in a Moroccan pattern in a monochromatic colorway that both blends into the white living room and stands out with its geometric patterns.

40. Farmhouse Foliage

A pattern of ginkgo leaves lends itself well to this farmhouse fireplace in a room full of organic allure. The green colorway matches perfectly with the sage green paint of the surround and molding.

41. Eye Catching Impact

Competing with a view like this, a striking fireplace design is a must to bring the focal point back indoors. This Pacific Northwest Modern fireplace uses two patterns of polka dots to lure the eye to the center of the room and flowing lines to allow your gaze to fall to the mountains beyond.

42. Lacy Spheres

A little pattern goes a long way on this contemporary fireplace as lacy geometric Kabuki Sphere in Cool Motif adds just the right amount of ornamentation, infusing the otherwise neutral space with artistic detail.

43. Transitional Timelessness

Transitional design, known for its warm beige tones and bridging the gap between traditional and contemporary, is at the heart of this fireplace with a custom neutral colorway applied to an old-world pattern that comes across refreshingly new.

44. Rings of Fire

A pattern of overlapping rings, hand painted in a custom blue colorway, rounds out this beautiful fireplace with an arched wrought iron firebox.

45. Bold Boho

With eclectic furniture and rare finds from around the world, there's no shortage of eye candy in this living room. But it's all about the mural of handpainted tile framing out this fireplace.

46. To the Max

This living room sets the standard for maximalist design with no shortage of color, pattern, shape and texture. The fireplace of handpainted tile in a custom black and yellow colorway draws on the design elements of the room while standing out as a true showpiece.

47. Full Circle

Step through the glass door of this cozy ranch and you’re greeted by an eye-catching fireplace courtesy of our Handpainted Fallow Tile in White Motif.

Wood Stove Tile Ideas

A wood stove is still prime for fireplace tile ideas. From surrounds to hearths to tiled platforms, a unique design around your woodstove will set your space apart–and the sky’s the limit when it comes to design.

48. Retro Mosaic

This stunning mosaic installation frames the fireplace surround and raised hearth with lush layers of green, inviting you to cozy up fireside and admire the view.

49. Coastal Charm

An old fireplace is reimagined as an alcove for an efficient wood stove in this coastal home. Blue herringbone tile brings home the seaside bona fides.

50. Herringbone Heat Shield

Woodsy Evergreen Tile arranged in a stairstep herringbone pattern provides protection and a perfect backdrop for this cozy wood stove.

51. Vintage Vibes

Nothing says retro cabin like a Malm fireplace. This legendary freestanding design sits on a colorful hearth of custom hand-painted tile that sets the stage for an evening around the fire.

52. Sea Change

This wood stove alcove gets a wavy accent with specialty wave tile in two colorways to create a decorative pattern that also cleverly conceals occasional ash and soot.

Outdoor Fireplace Tile Ideas

Fireplaces aren't just for the indoors. A patio fireplace is like having a classic backyard fire pit but with the design principles you lovingly put into your home.

53. California Cool

Outdoor living at its finest, this imposing fireplace clad with white brick creates a sophisticated focal point for cool California nights.

54. Fire Al Fresco

This patio fireplace is dressed in black brick overlaid with a cut metal hexagon pattern that not only combines shapes but also traditional and futuristic design.

55. Stars Under Stars

Enjoy starry nights even under a cloudy sky with this gas outdoor fireplace decorated in white Star and Cross tile.