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Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Maybe you’ve heard of them, and maybe you haven’t. Regardless, you’ll find a lot of value in this article. what is a hearth room in a house, There’s a lot to learn about these cool and relaxing rooms, so I’ll do more than just provide a quick definition here.
In the article, you will learn about the hearth room and how it came to be. We will also look at interesting features of hearth rooms, design ideas that you can take with you, and alternative options that you can consider!
What is a hearth room in a house?
Also known as a keeping room, the term hearth inspires hearth room. In case you don’t know, hearth refers to the area around a fireplace and the floor surrounding it. This is a very old concept. In fact, for a while it was quite out of date in modern homes. However, it has now re-emerged as a popular home architectural interior design trend.
The main components of a hearth room include a central heat source (usually a fireplace) and a nearby kitchen island that can be seen from the room.
Connected: What is a keeping room?
History of hearth rooms
How you would describe a hearth room today has hardly changed compared to when it first arrived in the 18th century. Since their introduction in Colonial America several hundred years ago, hearth rooms typically described a living room near the kitchen with a fireplace and a nice comfortable seating area (1).
With the fireplace as the central focal point, they were often considered the warmest rooms in the house. Hearth rooms encourage gatherings with loved ones and promote a family room vibe where people can sit back and relax.
Other names for these rooms include a flex room, free room, or keeping room. These words have only grown in popularity in recent times by modern day construction workers. While they resemble a living room, this cozy and versatile space is usually a den-like second living room in a home.
Of course, your living room can be your hearth room, provided a fireplace is featured and located adjacent to the kitchen. Nevertheless, many living rooms these days are away from the kitchen and cannot be considered storage rooms.
Connected: What is a den in a house? den room vs family room vs living room
Features of hearth rooms
Modern rooms have many optional features, but some have generally remained unchanged over the centuries. Of course, the central fireplace and proximity to the kitchen are still two essential conditions of the hearth room. However, some other features have also stood the test of time.
Decorative furniture such as comfortable chairs and sofas and one or more wooden coffee tables also remain as main features.
While not a distinctive feature, it is an unsaid rule that these rooms encourage a warm, cozy and comfortable vibe.
However, there is a growing demand for tiled homes with a neutral color scheme and modern design layout. This style promotes design aesthetics and sustainability over comfort and “homey” vibes.
Still, what goes comes comes. There is also a growing demand for old-school comfort combined with a modern twist. The homeowners are trying to find the best of both worlds.
Another common feature in the hearth room is a mini library that includes bookshelves and reading lamps for leisurely reading time. Alternatively, many homeowners make their hearth room a crafting room to create accessories such as sewing, knitting or making model kits.
Of course, some of these activities may seem out of date for the modern family. However, using your stove for modern-day activities such as playing mobile games or designing a piece of art on a tablet or iPad is not a problem.
Other modern hearth room ideas include a game room featuring gaming consoles, pool tables, dart boards, board games and/or ping pong tables.
Connected: Living Room Essentials Checklist: 50+ Essential Items You Need for the Living Room
Hearth Room Design Ideas
There are many design ideas and decor options for modern hearth rooms.
First, many have a television above the fireplace attached to the wall. Some homeowners also choose a wood-burning fireplace to capture the vintage vibes of the 18th century.
In contrast, others feature fireplace hearths burning with a modern gradient pattern which looks more contemporary. Of course, many homeowners also revere the original interior design, adding more furniture and comfy sofas in country-style accents (2).
Other decorating ideas include hanging a large painting above or near the fireplace mantel. This enhances rather than diminishes the focal point of the central fireplace. If you want to boost safety or have children in the area, it may be a good idea to have a log-burning stove instead of an open fireplace to prevent direct contact with the flames.
After all, the hearth room is only as good as its furniture and decorative design. Therefore, you’ll want to take extra care with your home plan to make sure each room’s amenities are thoughtfully placed.
For example, you may want to place coffee tables closer to the fireplace and comfortable sofas closer to these tables. It may also be wise to have a window with nice curtains in these rooms to contribute to the cozy atmosphere.
During the Christmas season, the hearth room can provide the perfect setting for setting up your Christmas tree and Santa stockings. Plus, it’s an extra cozy spot to chill out in the chill of the holiday season.
In fact, around the end of the year is a great time to experiment with different lighting decorations around the hearth room. For example, you can set up Christmas lights along the side of a natural fireplace and choose the perfect spot for the tree and gifts.
stove room options
Truthfully, having a fireplace in the home is an outdated concept, albeit still a great idea for a warm and cozy vibe. If you’re reading this, you probably don’t have a chimney, more than likely you do.
For this reason, I’d like to offer some alternatives to hearth rooms that can still give you a similar vibe. It will not need to be adjacent to the fireplace or kitchen.
open floor plan
As its name suggests, the open floor plan is a concept that promotes “doorless” home design. This is where there are few or no doors separating the various living spaces in the house. So, for example, you can have a dining room, kitchen and living space, all connected to each other and viewable from each space.
The open floor plan grew in popularity for its multi-functional capabilities. These include cooking in the kitchen while maintaining communication with people in the dining or living room.
great room
A great room is often part of an open floor plan, which promotes openness and is a relaxing area as an alternative to a keeping room. As its name suggests, they are usually quite large rooms in which large seating arrangements, coffee tables and TVs can be fitted. Depending on the taste of the homeowner, they may or may not have a chimney.
These rooms are usually more comfortable than standard living rooms. They can be found in convenient spots near a stairway or kitchen, providing a more playful family space for the home.
Connected: What is a flex room in a house? should you have one?
Final Thoughts on Hearth Rooms
Hearth rooms are an old classic idea that’s seen a raging resurgence recently, offering coziness and comfort with a modern twist.
Whether you want it to double as an entertainment room, library room, or a combination. A hearth room may be exactly what you need to spice things up and even increase the home value of your property.
I hope this guide will help those who want to install a hearth room in their home or want to redesign an existing hearth room. Learn more about the concept of hearth rooms, at least, to excite the imagination!
What is a hearth room in a house? Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a hearth and a fireplace?
Hearth refers to the area around the fireplace rather than the fireplace itself. It often refers to the base on which the firewood rests and the surrounding walls.
What is the living room away from the kitchen called?
The sitting room adjacent to the kitchen is commonly referred to as the hearth room, provided a fireplace is visible in the surrounding area. Otherwise, depending on their characteristics, they are often referred to as living rooms, great rooms or even family rooms.
What is the chulha used for?
Hearths are used to keep a fire going safely, traditionally made of hearth stone that surrounds a chimney and contains open flames. A hearth room is essentially a room with a central fireplace or hearth area as its central focal point. It often incorporates a country-style interior design, comfortable furniture, and soft carpets and rugs to promote a cozy vibe.
What is the meaning of hearth zone?
The hearth area is the area around a fireplace and the floor surrounding it. It derives from the traditional material called Hearthstone that was originally used to build this confinement.
sources say
(1) – https://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/colonial/jb_colonial_subj.html
(2) – https://interiordesignu.org/country-style/
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