Fireplace needs to be balanced with substantial furniture or window treatment

A fireplace has substantial presence in just about any room - it is both a focal point and architectural feature in one.

But in order to balance the "weight" of a fireplace within a room's décor, homeowners should consider placing an equally weighty piece of furniture - such as a large bookcase or hutch - to counteract it across the room, according to HomeDecoratingRoomByRoom.com.

"If you have a natural focal point, such as a fireplace, your largest piece of furniture should be placed in relation to this," states the website. "Furniture does not necessarily have to be facing it, but should be arranged around it to underscore it's importance.

For instance, having two loveseats face each other in front of the fireplace is often more inviting than placing one long sofa along a wall.

An interesting window treatment can also bring balance across from a fireplace. A simple roller blind in combination with other window coverings - custom drapery or an overlay of sheer panels - works well to create such balance and can be tied into the main space by picking up a pattern or color.