Three Christmas Fireplaces
We’ve lived in many homes with zero fireplaces and now live in a home with three. None of them work though, so now that I think about it, it’s like having zero fireplaces. The good news is these beautiful holes in our walls can be decorated for the holidays! Let me show you my three Christmas fireplaces.
Similar in the tiniest of ways to the three wise men, these three fireplaces bring different gifts to our family.
The first Christmas fireplace is in our dining room and it brings us the gift of winter whimsy with its gingerbread houses. It’s a reminder to have fun and not take ourselves too seriously this holiday season.
This is the oldest fireplace in our home. When this house was originally built in the 1780s it was just this 16×16-ft room with a sleeping loft above. That’s a tight fit for a family!
The fireplace has been modified over the years. We know for sure the height of the hearth has changed. If I had to guess, I’d say the mantel was made a little fancier in the last 125 years.
No complaints from me though. This is my favorite fireplace to decorate for the holidays because there are only 24 inches between the ceiling and the mantel. This makes it easier for me to fill the space.
This year, I made gingerbread houses out of cardboard boxes and a paint pen and placed them on the mantel. They are a bit playful and I enjoy that for this space.
If I ever do this again, I want to try using caulk instead of a paint pen to give the houses even more dimension.
The second Christmas mantel is in our living room and it gives us the gift of quiet simplicity amid the chaos of the holiday season.
This is the more formal area of our house, especially with those built-in benches on either side of the fireplace. The millwork is fancier here than it is upstairs and delights me to no end.
I’ve wondered how many holiday parties have been held in this room. Did they push the furniture against the walls and dance in the middle? Did they sing Christmas carols around a piano? Did they decorate a real Christmas tree with actual candles?
Our Christmas tree is fake and I certainly would not put real candles on it because that is not the way I want to meet the fire department. The one thing I have kept historically accurate is that there aren’t electronic distractions like a TV or gaming system in here.
We have not hosted a big, raucous Christmas party, but this room is where the kids come to do homework or draw. I like to sit in here at night to read. All of those everyday things are a little less mundane when we can do them next to the warm glow of Christmas tree lights.
By the way, please don’t think we’re living some puritan life. It’s true we don’t own a television, but we have plenty of computers. We just keep them out of sight upstairs so they don’t ruin my chill vibe.
The third Christmas fireplace is in our bedroom and it brings us the gift of Christmas cheer.
I still haven’t gotten over how special it feels that we have a bedroom with a fireplace. I don’t even care that it doesn’t work.
If I had a nickel for every time I’ve thought about how people living here in the 1800s would have had to haul firewood up the stairs to heat this room, I wouldn’t constantly be looking for hidden treasure.
Can you imagine the amount of work that would take? Oh, and the mess! The mess would do me in before the hard work.
I spotted the winter painting I hung over the fireplace at the thrift store last year and knew it had to come home with me even though it is a little brighter and cheerier than my usual style.
Every time I look at this painting, it makes me smile. How often do you say that about art in your home?
I decorated the mantel with two trees I made from old denim jeans. The small mint green candles are ones we hand-dipped as a family while visiting Old Sturbridge Village earlier this year.
The more I think about it, the real gift these fireplaces bring is a backdrop for my creativity.
I can decorate and redecorate them to my heart’s content. Or not.
Either way, they’ve stood as silent sentinels for centuries as family after family has celebrated the holidays in this home. If only these fireplaces could talk…I have questions.
Do you decorate a fireplace for Christmas? I’d love to see a picture of it! You can always leave a comment on this blog post, email me pictures here, or message me via Instagram or Facebook.
Happy Christmas!
P.S. Getting the fireplaces in working condition is low on the priority list. There are things I’d like more than a wood-burning fireplace, like a new kitchen.
Thanks for sharing part of your day with me. If you are curled up by a fireplace and would like another blog post to read, let me suggest one of these:
Christmas Fireplace With Three Wreaths
Snowflake-Themed Christmas Tree
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