Have you noticed that electric fireplaces are almost always black? They have a black background and a black frame or black glass around the viewing window. Occasionally, a customer will ask if they can get any other colour for the surround. Over the years, some manufacturers have made other finishes available, but they invariably drop those and revert to simple black. The reason for black interior panels is that the flames really ‘pop’ against a dark background, like a light glowing in the dark. Likewise, framing the viewing area in black helps to draw attention to the flames by providing contrast. If you find it challenging to drop something big and black into your décor, consider this advantage of having a black electric fireplace:
- A black electric fireplace balances out a black TV above. If you are planning to install a TV above your fireplace, then it will be black, so having a black fireplace below will not seem out of place. It also means that you can emphasize the width of the fireplace with that dark outline, to show that the fireplace is as wide or wider than the TV, and is well-balanced on the wall.
Not only have most of our clients accepted that their electric fireplace will be black, many have actually gone a step further and designed their fireplace wall with black. This has several advantages:
- Installing a TV above the electric fireplace, with a black finish on the wall, allows the TV to blend into the dark background. This minimizes the TV, while allowing the fireplace to stand out. This is important for balancing the design, because the TV is almost always taller than the fireplace below.
- Adding black wall materials just around the fireplace visually expands the fireplace size. This is a clever way to get the appearance of a larger electric fireplace without the added expense. Sometimes, you just don’t have the space for the next size up, or that size doesn’t exist, so this is a trick of the eye that takes advantage of a black electric fireplace surround.
Over the years, we have collected images of client projects, from both homeowners and their designers and contractors. We’re sharing a few here, with lessens you can learn from their black electric fireplace designs.
Black Electric Fireplace Design provides contrast
This fireplace wall by Inspire Homes has been finished with dark shiplap, which provides a striking contrast to the pale room décor. This draws attention to the 3-sided fireplace. By making the wall wider than the fireplace, it appears that the fireplace is more substantial than it actually is. This trick also draws attention to the glass on the sides of the fireplace, while providing distance between the flames and any glare from the windows on either side. Fireplace: Amantii TRV-45-Bespoke
Black Electric Fireplace Design plays with light and shadows
In this cabinet design by Resource Furniture, the electric fireplace and strategically lighted niches stand out from the dark background of the surrounding cabinets. We love how they have played with light and dark, as well as the contrast of woodgrain with the charcoal cabinets. The recessed TV literally sits in shadows, thus minimizing it until it’s needed. The TV and the fireplace are also well-balanced in size, with the fireplace being slightly wider than the TV above. Fireplace: Modern Flames OR60-Multi
This condo fireplace design was sent to us by our customer Jason in Vancouver. We can see that there are other ebony elements in his space, so the black fireplace wall fits right in. To keep it from getting too repetitive, he has incorporated another material in the back wall, as well as LED lighting effects behind the TV. It’s a very dramatic wall, with the visual warmth of a fireplace to make it inviting. The TV is perfectly balanced with the electric fireplace. Fireplace: Modern Flames OR76-Slim
Black Electric Fireplace Design grounded with contrast
In this light, bright condo, adding black to the base of the fireplace wall provided the perfect platform for the vibrant flames to stand out. This is especially important in a space with so much natural light coming into the room. The black backdrop also camouflages some of the mechanics required for the water-vapour flames. If you look closely, you can just make out the air intake grilles below the flames. Extending the black base beyond the flames makes the entire fireplace look wider, thus balancing the large TV above. Fireplace: Dimplex CDFI500-Pro
Black Electric Fireplace Design anchors a large lobby
At Story condos in Brampton, the designers at GCBI used black to draw attention to the 100-inch electric fireplace. It’s also a clever way to fix the scale of the fireplace, which could otherwise get lost on such a big wall. Because it’s surrounded by so much white on the walls and floor, the black fireplace stands out by contrast. When the flames stand out so well, it’s much more inviting as guests enter the lobby space. Fireplace: Dimplex XLF100
Summary
Electric fireplaces are predominantly black in order to make the flames stand out. Designing the fireplace feature wall in black builds on this concept to create classic and inviting fireplaces that will be enjoyed for years.