Ask Joshua: How to Decorate a Wall Where a Fireplace Will Be Added Later

Hi Joshua,

We moved into our house about six months ago and recently furnished the living room with two sofas facing each other and a coffee table between them.

The previous owner removed the fireplace from the wall between the windows, although the chimney remains. We eventually plan to install a new fireplace when our budget allows, but the wall currently looks empty and unfinished.

What can we place there temporarily without spending a significant amount of money?

Thank you,

Kyle - San Jose, California

A modern-organic living room with two facing sofas and oversized artwork creating a temporary focal point on a former fireplace wall, styled by virtual interior designer Joshua Jones of JJones Design Co. This image is an AI-generated rendering.

Hi Kyle,

Thank you for writing in. Your two facing sofas already create a strong conversation area, but the former fireplace wall still needs a focal point to complete the furniture arrangement.

Since you plan to reinstall the fireplace later, I would avoid investing in built-ins, permanent paneling, or furniture selected specifically for that wall. My recommendation is to use one large piece of artwork as a temporary focal point.

Choose One Large Piece of Artwork

A substantial artwork will give the eye somewhere to rest and make the living room feel complete without requiring a complicated installation.

Look for a piece that relates to the width of the open wall between the windows. It should be large enough to hold its own above the coffee table and between the two sofas without appearing lost on the wall.

Before purchasing anything, use painter’s tape to outline the proposed dimensions. View the outline while seated on both sofas and from the room’s entrance. This will help you determine whether the artwork has enough presence for the space.

You could select a painting, framed print, photograph, textile, or dimensional wall piece. If a single oversized artwork is outside your budget, two or three coordinated pieces can create a similar visual impact.

Select Art You Can Use After the Fireplace Is Installed

If possible, choose artwork that could eventually hang above the new mantel. This will allow your temporary purchase to become part of the finished fireplace design rather than something you need to replace.

However, do not limit yourself to a piece that fits a fireplace that has not yet been designed. The future firebox, mantel, surround, television placement, and required clearances may affect how much room remains for artwork.

Choose something you genuinely enjoy and could display elsewhere if it does not work above the completed fireplace.

Consider Leaning the Artwork on a Console

A simple console table beneath the artwork can give the wall more visual weight and provide a surface for a lamp, books, or a few decorative objects.

To keep the cost down, use a console you already own, purchase a versatile secondhand piece, or choose one that could later move behind a sofa or into an entryway.

You could hang the artwork above the console or lean it against the wall. A leaning arrangement is particularly useful if you want to avoid making holes in the area where future fireplace construction may occur.

Keep the styling simple. One lamp, a small group of books, and a decorative bowl or vase will be enough to make the wall feel finished without competing with the artwork.

Use the Future Fireplace Location as Your Guide

Center the temporary arrangement where the fireplace will most likely be installed so the room feels balanced between the windows.

You can also use the approximate width of the future fireplace and mantel to guide the scale of the art or console. This will help you visualize how the completed wall may eventually relate to the facing sofas.

Do not make permanent changes until the fireplace design and installation requirements have been determined. The existing chimney will also need to be evaluated by qualified professionals before it is reused or incorporated into a new fireplace.

My Recommendation for Your Living Room

I would place one large piece of artwork between the windows and, if the wall still feels empty, add a simple console beneath it. This will establish the focal point currently missing from the room without requiring an expensive or permanent solution.

When you are ready to install the fireplace, the artwork may be used above the mantel or moved elsewhere in the house, while the console can be repurposed in another room.

If you need help planning the future fireplace and coordinating it with your furniture, artwork, lighting, and architectural details, my virtual interior design service can help. I can create a personalized design that makes the fireplace feel like an intentional part of the living room.

I hope this helps you complete the room now while leaving the wall flexible for your future fireplace.

Warmly,

Joshua

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