Known traditionally for providing warmth, the fireplace has evolved and become the gathering spot of the home. Cold winter nights have been lit by flickering flames in the hearth. Holidays have been marked by seasonal decorations announcing the arrival of birthdays, Thanksgiving and New Year’s along the mantel. It has witnessed story times and sleepovers shared by children and adults alike.

The fireplace has remained a pivotal part of daily family life for centuries. However, it can easily play a key role in interior design as well. Simple tweaks, like a fresh coat of paint or new tile, can spruce up your fireplace in a matter of hours. Think your fireplace could use a little something extra? Here are nine ideas to get you started.

Creative Conversions

The modern fireplace is no longer restricted to housing logs and ashes. If you shy away from lighting fires or don’t have a need for extra warmth in a warmer climate, consider converting your fireplace into a creative storage solution. This wine bottle display from SF Girl by Bay is easy to imitate. To convert your fireplace, consider blocking it off with brick, then hanging and painting drywall over it. Finish the design with a mounted wine rack.

You can never have too many places to display knick knacks and decor. If you need more room to show off your treasured items or a little extra space for books, try converting your fireplace into a shelving unit. This project from Better Homes and Gardens allows for a lot of freedom with the design- after fitting in a plywood insert, get creative with the backdrop. Patterned wallpaper can provide great visual interest, while contrasting paint can make your updated fireplace pop. Finish by screwing in custom shelves.

Great Design Built Brick by Brick

Brick tends to be the material of choice when building a fireplace. Aside from its practicality, brick can become aesthetically stunning with the right accents. This fireplace from DIY Network takes red brick from ordinary to beautiful with a bright white mantel. A segmented mirror mounted above pulls double duty by reflecting light and providing an additional focal point.

You’ve probably heard that plain white walls are boring and add little pizzazz to a space. Not the case with this painted brick fireplace from Better Homes and Gardens. Exposed brick can often make a room feel dark and cave-like, especially in a smaller home. A quick coat of white paint will instantly open up the room and make it feel more spacious. Design that’s far from boring.

Stunning Surroundings

The surroundings of a fireplace can make or break a space. The black tile of this fireplace from HGTV is certainly eye-catching on its own, but the addition of built-in shelves takes this design above and beyond. Together, the fireplace and shelves create a feature that is equal parts practical and sophisticated.

Sometimes the key to updating your fireplace lies in the elements around it. The taupe tile and white paint of this fireplace featured by Candie Anderson are a gorgeous combination, but the real show-stopper is the contrast of the turquoise wall behind it. With a predominantly neutral palette, a pop of color is a perfect way to bring life into a room.

A Point of Focus

The mantel of a fireplace is the ideal place to display family photos and artwork. Extend the artsy quality of your fireplace by exhibiting decor on the hearth as well. House to Home‘s DIY takes simple flower vases and turns them into a mini gallery. To keep the finished project interesting, vary the heights and colors of the vases.

The most amazing part of this fireplace from The Rooster and the Hen is the permanent display of logs stacked in the firebox. This idea is well-suited for a seldom used fireplace that needs a little something special. To make the logs appear more real, mix up the sizes as you arrange the wood.

Take your mantel to new heights with a display that scraps the ceiling. While unusual, the antique iron door featured above this fireplace from HGTV looks right at home in a charming great room. The white limestone behind it draws attention up to magnificent ceiling beams.

A few changes here and there can quickly transform your fireplace and home. No matter the method, a clear vision and confidence are all you need to get started. Have a great idea for your fireplace? Tell us about it in a comment below.