Hole in the wall fireplace ideas

For some, the bulk of a traditional surround makes the thought of a fireplace feel impossible.

But no one should have to go without heating because of property restrictions. With a hole-in-the-wall appliance (recessed into the wall), you can enjoy powerful performance in flats and smaller homes where floor space is limited.

Our hole-in-the-wall fireplace ideas focus on three things: different fireplace types, properties, and your flame preference (gas or LED). The choice will ultimately be determined by suitability.

Luckily, when you shop with the Fireplace Warehouse, you can compare your favourite options in person at our Aintree showroom. See flame effects, sizes, and finishes in action, and don’t forget to bring pictures and measurements of your chimney breast.

In 2026, there’s often no need for a chimney or flue.

Many appliances are suitable for rooms where a traditional fireplace would be difficult to install. Our hole-in-the-wall fireplace ideas include units that sit flush within a standard cavity wall or a custom false chimney breast.

More often than not, you’ll see fires installed into a purpose-built media wall. However, these appliances can be difficult to visualise in your own home. That’s why we display industry-leading options that deliver unbeatable realism.

In our Aintree showroom, you can find products from the sought-after British Fires New Forest range, alongside premium designs from Solus, Celsi, and Vision electric fires.

The flexibility to run the flame effect independent of heat means you can enjoy LED ambience 365 days a year.

Working with a wider area? A long landscape fire is often better suited to a new extension (or an open-plan kitchen-diner). Some of the best hole-in-the-wall fireplace ideas are about surveying your area and settling on a fire that best suits the space.

Wide-format designs can stretch a plain chimney breast horizontally, and to get this expansive look, we recommend panoramic centrepiece-style designs by Solus and Vision Fires, or appliances from the ultra-realistic DRU Virtuo Evolve electric fire range.

Depending on the wall layout and chosen model, many electric media wall fires can be styled as one-sided, two-sided or three-sided designs. If you’re unsure, bring a picture of your current set-up, and a member of our team could advise on the best options.

When you love genuine flames and a powerful heat output, nothing will do but the realism of gas.

Hole-in-the-wall fireplace ideas for lovers of authentic flames include high-efficiency models from industry-leading brands, including DRU, Gazco, Kinder, and Global gas fires (now available at our Aintree showroom).

As gas appliances often require a specific installation route, there’s a lot more to consider when choosing the right model. It’s worth bringing photos and measurements into the showroom: the team can help you, so you don’t have to rely on pictures alone.

When your home doesn’t have a traditional chimney (for example, if you live in an inner-city apartment or a new-build), a balanced flue gas fire could still help you put our whole-in-the-wall fireplace ideas into action.

These fires are designed to work with their own flue system, installed into a custom false chimney breast which our talented gas safe installers can build for you

While this technology offers brilliant design flexibility, balanced flue installations do require specific venting and aren’t suitable for every wall layout. Again, we recommend having a professional survey conducted before choosing your model.

Once you’ve settled on an appliance, you’ll soon realise the fire itself is only part of the design. The wall around it can completely change the final look.

The difference between a plastered chimney breast and marble-effect panels is night and day, and you might find that a dark feature wall can make your flames stand out even more.

Something else worth considering is proportion: matching the width of your fireplace to a flat-screen TV above it, or aligning it with the rest of your furniture, will make your hole-in-the-wall fireplace ideas feel curated and architectural.

The best hole-in-the-wall fireplace ideas are well thought out, and there’s no better way to be sure on a purchase than seeing it in real life.

With over 200 live displays of leading UK and European brands, you can experience the heat output and flame effects firsthand at The Fireplace Warehouse.