Farmhouse Fireplace Tile Ideas – 11 Ways to Enhance a Fiery Focal Point

Fireplaces are one of the most impressive focal points in a home. Whether they’ve got a burning fire in them or not, they draw the eye in, adding character and depth to any room and, of course, they’re perfect for accessorizing.

Farmhouse fireplaces are typically large and can be quite imposing. Often taking up a fair amount of space in a living area or kitchen, farmhouse fireplaces are traditionally clad in brick, wood or stone.

Whether you have a traditional or modern farmhouse fireplace, keep reading to discover the secrets to creating a fabulous, fiery focal point in your home.

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What tiles are suitable for a farmhouse fireplace?

Although you might be worried about tiles cracking around a fireplace, porcelain tiles are fired at temperatures between 1,200 and 1,400°C (2,200 and 2,600°F). A typical household wood fire burns at around 600°C so there’s no risk of an escaping ember or heat generated by the fire damaging these tiles.

It’s always a good idea to use stone or porcelain tiles around an open fire or wood-burning stove. Porcelain tiles can absorb heat like fire-resistant bricks, making them a safe and durable material to use around a fireplace.

Can I tile-clad an existing fireplace?

Yes, you can! If you want to give a facelift to an existing fireplace, you can use stone or porcelain tiles. You can tile over the chimney breast, whether it’s plaster or brick, fit tiles over an existing hearth and tile the walls of the fireplace firebox too. Just make sure that the tiles you choose are resistant to heat if they’ll be in close contact with flames.

Farmhouse fireplace tile ideas

Whether you want to tile the whole chimney breast or the inside of your farmhouse fireplace alcove, we’ve put together some inspirational traditional and modern fireplace tile ideas to ignite those imaginative flames:

Modern wood effect tiles

Think of a farmhouse fireplace and a large, traditional fireplace most likely springs to mind. Farmhouse fireplaces can also be sleek and modern and one of the best ways to get the look is by using contemporary tiles somewhere in the design.

Wood effect tiles are perfect for floors, but they’re also a stunning addition to walls, Whether you’re giving an existing fireplace a modern makeover or creating a brand new farmhouse fireplace, these versatile tiles can help you in your endeavor.

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Tiled hearth

If you’ve inherited a traditional, brick-clad farmhouse fireplace, you might want to leave the bricks as they are. You can modernize an old fireplace by adding a beautiful new surround and a tiled hearth.

Make sure the tiles you choose can take the heat and that the thickness of the hearth is correct then pick tiles to suit your style. Changing up the hearth is one of the easiest ways to refresh a fireplace and it’s easy on your budget too.

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Herringbone tiles

Another idea, if you want to keep a traditional brick fire surround, is to change the tiles in the fireplace firebox. The firebox is the open area of the fireplace where the fire burns. Farmhouse fireplaces usually have deep, wide fireboxes to allow plenty of space for large open fires or hefty log burners.

These fireboxes provide the perfect space for tiles and you can totally transform the look of your fireplace by fitting feature tiles. Metro and patterned tiles work especially well inside fireboxes.

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Terracotta tiled hearth

Terracotta tiles are a popular choice for farmhouse fireplaces. Suitable for modern and traditional style fireplaces, they’re ideal for tiling fireboxes and hearths.

You don’t have to stick to traditional, square terracotta tiles, you can experiment with hexagonal and rectangular terracotta-style tiles too.

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Patterned tile fireplace surround

Pep up a plain farmhouse fireplace by using patterned tiles as part of the surround. Perfect for adding interest and character, you can choose from a huge range of patterned tiles. From subtle, neutral-coloured patterns to bold Moroccan style and colourful geometric designs, using patterned tiles is one of the most effective ways to enhance your fireplace.

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Marble clad fireplace

Marble is one of the most beautiful and luxurious natural stones and it can make a huge impact in your home. Revamp a dated farmhouse fireplace by cladding the whole chimney breast in elegant marble or choose this versatile stone for a new build fireplace.

Marble suits all styles of interior and has been used around fireplaces for centuries. We love this modern take on the more traditional marble fireplace surround. You can get the look with marble-effect porcelain tiles too.

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Penny tile fireplace surround

Penny tiles aren’t just for floors, they can look pretty spectacular when used around fireplaces too. Penny tiles are hugely popular and you can choose tiles from a range of materials, including natural stone, glass and porcelain.

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Simple stone fireplace tiles

a modern farmhouse fireplace by choosing matching tiles for the fireplace surround and hearth.

Opt for tiles made from stone or stone-effect porcelain for a timeless look that will suit all styles of home.

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Hexagonal fireplace tiles

If you’d like to do something a little different with your farmhouse fireplace, consider fitting hexagonal tiles. These beautiful tiles are available in a range of different colours and sizes and they’re a great choice if you want to create a characterful farmhouse fireplace surround. Hexagonal tiles work exceptionally well for hearths too.

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Splitface fireplace tiles

Splitface tiles are perfect for creating a rugged aesthetic in your home. With similar qualities to brick, they’re ideal for a fireplace surround and they’ll look great in all styles of home.

You can choose from real stone or porcelain splitface tiles in a range of natural colours.

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Stone brick fireplace tiles

Brick is the most traditional material for farmhouse fireplace surrounds. If you’re not keen on red brick, choosing a brick-style tile in stone or stone-effect porcelain will give you a subtler look that’s perfect in more minimalist homes.

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Farmhouse fireplace tile tips

Old or new, large or on the smaller side, whatever style farmhouse fireplace you have, think about the following when choosing tiles to go around, inside or in front of it:

● Stick to tiles that will be able to withstand the heat from the fireplace. Porcelain and stone tiles are the best choice.
● Think about tile texture, if you want a rugged-looking fireplace surround, splitface and natural stone tiles are an excellent choice. You can also add texture with mosaic tiles.
● There are many ways to tile a farmhouse fireplace, if you’re going the whole hog and tiling the entire surround from floor to ceiling, you might prefer to pick tiles in neutral colours and materials. You can use bold colours and patterns on the hearth, inside the firebox and on the surround.

Check out our Fireplace Tile Ideas article for even more inspiration.

If you’re inspired to tile your fireplace, Atlas Ceramics has a wide range of tiles to choose from. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.