I'd put a hearth back, doesn't have to be too deep so that it takes up floor space, running the length of the chimney breast (tiled/slate/marble)....then you can put objects on the hearth to balance the offset fire opening.....eg pile of logs/coal scuttle or how about some oversized vases, a big plant or even a lamp.

Question. Is this a ground floor room or first floor? If it's first floor or above it could be a wide breast with off centre fireplace because the breast contains another flue from a lower floor fireplace. If that is the case you would not want to knock through to enlarge or move the existing fireplace.

Consider bricking up the fireplace that is there and fitting a modern surface mounted flueless gas fire, take a look at these for example ( http://www.fireplacesareus.co.uk/shop/fires/gas-fires/flueless.html )

Use some stick-on wall art or script and place a really comfy chair on front, leaving the fire free to be appreciated. You could also add a mantle shelf and extend it almost the full width, a small table below it and beside the fire and that gives the whole width of the wall above the shelf and keeping the off centre below as a feature.

Wall art

Script

I love it. Embrace the quirky. Cover the entire wall with frames, mirrors and pictures. The fireplace being just one of many quirky items on the wall.

Personally I think putting shelves up would be boring! love the idea of the full length hearth and various hanging objects on the wall. One large mirror or picture is I reckon predictable and done by most people. A feature of an outsize vase or large unusual plant on the hearth. Is the fire real? if so it would be so sad to board up and replace with an electric version, real fires are a feature of their own. Love A J Interiors ideas. Good luck with your eventual plan.

You can put a TV or pictures in the right section to make it balance out. Or an expensive option is if you built alcove units in and make the right alcove come over the right side of the chimney breast so that the fireplace is in the centre of

More shelving ideas here.

shelves although useful would I personally feel be preditable the fireplace is unusual/quirky so it might be more apt to enhance the quirkyness rather than hide it by making it into a feature.

I would not put shelves on the same part of the wall as the fireplace - you will make the room feel smaller. You could put a big piece of art (a long framed poster for example) next to it to balance it out, or a mirror, or a grandfather clock. Embrace the asymmetry! I would put a mantle over it so you can decorate above with candlesticks or pictures too. At the moment it looks quite stark, but that's because you've not yet put your stamp on it.

Interesting comments about the back to back and downstairs flue - been wondering why the two fireplaces in our bedrooms were, like this one, off centre!

I don't think the heavy white frame helps. You could remove this and go for a more mid century feel with a full length bench height sill, an aperture flame effect gas fire or similar wall hung electric fire on the left of the breast using the existing fireplace and then have cushions and maybe some logs on the right. Might also help if you pulled the electric stove to the front of the fireplace and installed a false smoke pipe.. You could then balance this with log basket or similar to the right. These could be pulled together if both sitting on a full length slim hearth which could be cheap to do if you just use a wooden platform painted slate black.

I would keep a stove there, definitely not replace it with a modern electric one. I love that its off-centre. A real feature! I think just a mirror above with pictures spaced around with ore to the right, and a large basket off logs. I would probably open the fire space a bit though for a better proportion to the wall size.

All the structural ideas sound great but a more cosmetic solution would be to use a single drop of wallpaper in the empty space to the right of the fireplace. It would need to be placed bang centre in the bare area to the right of the fireplace for the sake of symmetry but could look great. This would give you two features on the chimney breast and a bit of balance.

A wider wide roll of 21" paper looks like it would fit great there. A standard width paper looks like it might be a little out of proportion of the overall wall but I could be wrong. The choice of design would obviously be key here.

I've just noticed the alcoves have the "Linear Stem" wallpaper by Orla Kiely for Harlequin so one of the bolder designs from the same collection which run along a similar theme would look great. Hopefully they would be to your taste!

https://www.harlequin.uk.com/shop/wallpaper/orla-kiely-wallpapers/

Think it looks great being off centre! Perhaps an interesting statement chair angled to the right, line up of stunning colourful paintings over full width : three would create a balance?

I would think to have a tall copper vase containing an even taller dried arrangement and perhaps a few stacked logs - would look pretty amazing and make the most of your lovely, unique fire place.

Hi, from reading this week's article about loving the imperfections of our home, I pictured a wall sitker of a tree or even some fairy lights display as a feature wall.

Oh and same storage in each of the alcoves to balance out the look.

unfortunately I've not had time to read all of the comments above so hope I'm not repeating something already suggested.

I would leave it as it is and add onto the wall a removable wall decal sticker, Look at these on Amazon, there are some tremendous sets on there from views of a beach or country lanes through an open window, to trees, ornate bird cages, wonderful wording, and so much more. Maybe you could just have some logs at the bottom. You would know what to do with the rest of the wall, if anything, if you looked at these art sets. I would love a blank wall like this with an open fire as this is the line I definitely would go down.

I hope this is helpful.

I would suggest removing the existing fireplace, as an off centred fireplace loses its fundamental essence of being a focal point of the room. You could create symmetry by using a traditional freestanding fireplace that can be placed flat against the wall without any installation. Bio ethanol fireplaces are fuelled by bio ethanol liquid which you fill into a container, hidden by logs. Looks just like a traditional gas fire, and gives you heat. For great ideas, take a look at our profile!

Or alternatively offset it with some stylish shelves or pictures, this could create a modern look.

It looks great off centre..you could do all sorts of good stuff with this

If building work is too much to contemplate, Tree wall art sounds a great idea, working with it in the simplest way , quirky unusual original clean and quick!

What a great feature with great potential. Has the chimney breast been extended and can you insert shelving or boxes?

Have you thought of using Venetian Plaster to give this feature a bespoke facelift, giving your room a luxurious and fresh facelift? Polished plaster is easily applied and can make a real statement in your room.

Just found your question and noticed how long ago it was... Interested to see the end result, like so many of the comments, I love it for being off Centre too

I have a very similar fireplace to this - the chimney is shared with my adjoining neighbour, my fireplace being on the left as this one is, and theirs on the right. I am just at the stage of replacing my fire and would like to install a wood burning stove.

If anyone has photos of a finished project similar to this, please would you share them? And any ideas will be gratefully received.

Thank you guys - but I don't think wood paneling would really 'go' in a sixties bungalow. I would love that in a period property though.

phyllylittleit is an old post. You want to post your own one and you get more ideas.

Thank you - will do

We had Exactly the same problem when we moved into our house. Our configuration is opposite to yours (our neighbours fireplace is on the left and ours on the right) I'll go take a pic now to show you what we did.

Thanks for the advice - I will see if either of these options can be done in my room

Hi, Can I recommend You concrete solutions??

Anna · More Info

Anna · More Info

Robin - Fireplace · More Info

Ingenious. Youve done just the right thing imo. Looks fab.

It's odd that we have an issue with symmetry. Your off centre fireplace looks fabulous now you have created a composition with artwork and furniture - amazing.

Oh what you did looks great, very classy!

Love what you've done. You've turned a negative into a real feature

This thread has been revisited which is lovely. I still love what we did.

That looks simply wonderful.