“Quiet luxury” characterized by pared-back design is now a major interior design trend, Spear’s Magazine reports. Now more so than ever, people prioritize “bespoke and tailored interiors, longevity, a sense of ‘liveability,’ and a compelling design narrative. Collectively, these elements contribute to timeless and elegant interiors”. A simple way to achieve this sense of understated elegance in your living room is with a marble fireplace. A gorgeous natural stone, marble adds inherent warmth, charm, and beauty, while the fireplace as a whole becomes a focal point that ties the entire room together. As long as you opt for the right size and color to suit your space, you’ll successfully choose a fireplace that creates the luxurious space you crave.

Get the size right 

Although huge fireplaces are currently on-trend, it’s important to choose the right-sized marble fireplace for your own living room. If you go too big, the fireplace will look out of place and dwarf the rest of the room. Or, if you go too small, it’ll fail to make an impact altogether. So, do your due diligence and pick a size in proportion to the room. This is how you can really create a luxurious and intentional feel. A good general rule to follow is that the body of the fireplace should take up a maximum of one-third of the length of the wall. You can then leave slightly more room for the mantle. As this isn’t a decision you want to rush, you can create an outline of the size you think will work on the wall with masking tape. Leave this up for a few days to give yourself time to decide if it needs to be adjusted. 

Install a raised marble hearth 

An alternative to a standard floor-level hearth, a raised marble hearth is a visually-striking feature that can help your fireplace stand out even further. It also doubles as a handy fireside seat for a truly special living space. Keep in mind, a raised hearth of around 17-18 inches is ideal height for comfortable seating. So, try not to go any higher than that. If you like this idea, but are hesitant to opt for a real marble hearth, consider marble-look tiles instead. As marble’s porous in nature, it can stain fairly easily, whereas marble-look tiles made of porcelain or ceramic, for example, have a low moisture absorption rate (under 0.5%). This means they’re resistant to both cracks and stains. Plus, marble-look tiles are also just as beautiful as the real thing. You won’t be able to tell the difference. 

Go for richly-colored marble 

Although white marble will always have its place, richly-colored marble simply exudes opulence. Intense shades, such as, burgundy, emerald green, and magenta pink, for example, can add unexpected warmth, depth, and color to the room. They also work effortlessly with both classic and modern designs. “It’s remarkable how something so timeless will blend so beautifully into the most contemporary interior”, interiors expert, Will Fisher, tells Country Life. ”What is exciting is not only the textures and hues, but that they have completely different qualities that depend on how they are cut”. As a marble fireplace in a richer color deserves center stage in any room, it’s easiest to first choose your fireplace, and then base your overall room color scheme off of that. The fireplace will then automatically become the focal point of the room.

A marble fireplace is the perfect way to set a luxurious tone for your entire living room. As long as you opt for the right size and color to suit your space, your chosen fireplace will effortlessly create an elegant space.