Few things can really setoff a mood as much as a warm, beautiful fireplace. Often the centerpiece of any living area, there are many different ways to design a fireplace when building or remodeling your home. While fireplace design may seem like a daunting task at first, the process of designing a fireplace is actually quite simple and it's probably not as costly as you might at first think.

So follow along as you learn some really great fireplace design ideas that you may incorporate into your own home's decor. Just a few bits of detail is all it takes to really liven up a dreary living room, or give a great new modern or contemporary look to an existing fireplace.

This is probably the most important question to ask yourself. Of all the mistakes made when designing a fireplace, or home decorating in general, is mixing and matching traditional with modern designs.

Of course, some homes do a wonderful job of incorporating both types of designs, however they do this on a room to room basis. Meaning, if your living area is traditionally styled - your fireplace should be the same. Most fireplace designs lean towards being traditional, but whichever you decide it's best to ensure that your living area's decor follows suit.

Once you decide the style of fireplace that would best suit your home's decor, it's time to go over the basics of design a fireplace. There are three primary parts that compose a fireplace - the hearth, firebox and the opening. Generally speaking, the hearth is the outside of firebox, the firebox is the area where the fire is burned and the opening is the shape surrounding the box (usually a rectangular opening). Styling these components together, along with the design of the rest of the living room, is critical to bringing together a warm, comfortable and 'feng shui' atmosphere.

When it comes to fireplace design, you should probably spend the most time deciding on the hearth. In fact, replacing this is also a great way to refurbish an old fireplace on a tight budget. There are many designs available, and you don't necessarily have to go with a rectangular opening.

Of course, the finish is very important as well. If you've got the more common flat block type fireplace, or at least a smooth surface, you have many great options from different types of stone or rock. Many people use brick or tile to style their fireplaces as well.

When it comes to the firebox, you can go with a dreary color and I've even seen 24k gold plated fireboxes. In general, this is the most important piece when it comes to energy efficiency and the warmth of your room. So this piece goes beyond just the design aspect, and the costs of a fire box (sometimes called a pit) can get quite expensive.