Concrete Balls to Decorate Your Fireplace
A crackling fire in the fireplace instantly creates a warm, inviting atmosphere. But plain old firewood can get boring after a while. Concrete balls are a creative way to decorate your fireplace that adds striking visual appeal.
Groupings of sphere-shaped concrete forms in different sizes and textures create depth and dimension around real or gas flames. They complement traditional decor as well as modern styles. Keep reading to learn all about using concrete balls to make your fireplace a true showstopper.
What Are Concrete Balls for Fireplaces?
Concrete balls, also referred to as fireplace balls or fire balls, are solid spheres made of concrete and other composites. They have a smooth finish and come in a range of neutral colors like gray, brown, black, white, and natural concrete.
Manufacturers use high-heat resistant composites so the balls don't crack from the heat of gas or wood fires. The balls have holes through the middle so flames can poke through and dance around the spheres for striking visual effects.
Differences from Other Fireplace Decor
Concrete balls offer unique advantages over the usual fireplace decor like ceramic logs or pebbles. The weight and solidness of concrete spheres allow you to neatly stack arrangements that stay put. Mixing different sizes and shapes together creates distinctive groupings.
Concrete as a material also withstands heat better than ceramic or clay options. The color and appearance of natural stone can change drastically from fire exposure. But concrete only develops an aged patina over time.
Benefits Over Natural Stone or Logs
Concrete fireplace balls offer creativity that natural stone, crystals or firewood simply can't match. You can find concrete balls in nearly any color or texture to match your existing decor.
The smooth concrete material also resists moisture and mildew much better than natural wood or other porous stones. Cleaning and maintenance are easier because concrete doesn't degrade as quickly from heat or moisture.
Reasons To Use Concrete Balls In Your Fireplace
You may be wondering, why add concrete balls instead of regular firewood or gas logs? Here are some of the best benefits of using concrete spheres and orb shapes to decorate your fireplace.
Visual Appeal
The organic shapes and neutral earth tones of concrete balls add lovely visual interest to a fireplace setting. Flames dancing through and around the stacked concrete forms look intriguing and elegant at the same time.
Creative Flexibility
Concrete balls allow you to get creative with shapes, textures, sizes and color combinations. Go for neat symmetrical stacks or artful asymmetric arrangements. Blend neutral colors with bright pops of color. The options are endless!
Durability
High heat and moisture resistance makes properly made concrete fireplace balls extremely durable. They resist cracking far better than ceramic or earthenware alternatives. The color may slowly age over time, but concrete holds up well overall.
Easy Maintenance
Concrete balls simply need occasional dusting to keep their appearance pristine. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners. Water and gentle scrubbing easily removes soot and debris without damaging the concrete surface.
Tips For Selecting Concrete Balls
If you're ready to add concrete spheres to your fireplace, here are helpful tips for choosing the best options:
Size Considerations
Consider the size of your fireplace opening when selecting concrete balls. Measure the width and depth. Small fireplaces tend to look best with smaller balls you can neatly stack. Larger spheres make more of an impact in bigger fireboxes.
Shape Options
Traditional sphere shapes work well, but you can also find artfully shaped ovals, cubes and orb shapes. Mixing in different shapes creates visual interest. Just be sure shapes stack evenly and don't topple over.
Color Choices
Mix neutral and natural concrete colors for a blended effect. Black, white, gray, taupe and brown work well together. Or create a monochromatic look with similar tones. For a pop of color, add one bright orange, blue or green ball.
Textured vs Smooth
Consider both smooth and textured concrete finishes. Smooth balls feature seamless concrete with an almost polished or sanded appearance. Textured balls have varied surfaces with indented lines or high-contrast aggregates mixed in. Combining textures makes attractive groupings.
Where To Place Concrete Balls In A Fireplace
Deciding where to artfully place your concrete balls depends on what looks best. Try out a few different placements ideas.
On the Hearth
Stack various sizes of balls neatly on the hearth just in front of the fireplace opening. Place them far enough on the hearth so balls don't heat up enough to scorch or damage your flooring.
Among the Logs
For a cosy arrangement, nestle a few balls right into the firewood. Or alternate each log with a ball. Just be sure to use fire-resistant gloves when handling hot concrete balls.
Around the Edges
Balls placed neatly around the interior edges of the fireplace bring visual interest to the whole surround. Just avoid contact with the back wall of fireboxes, which can get extremely hot when in use.
Styling Concrete Balls In A Fireplace
Now for the fun part--experimenting with size combinations, material textures, colors and placements to find a pleasing arrangement! Here are useful styling tips:
Complementing Your Decor
Choose neutral concrete ball colors that complement your existing fireplace materials. For a rustic hearth, stick to earth tones like brown, gray and cream. Go bold with black in a contemporary setting.
Creating Depth
Vary both the sizes and height placement of your stacked balls. This creates depth and multi-dimensionality. Just be sure to nestle or anchor balls into place so they don't fall over when you light the fire.
Balancing Dark and Light Colors
A completely random arrangement of different colored balls often looks haphazard. For a polished effect, mindfully blend both light and dark tones throughout your display.
Where To Buy Quality Concrete Balls
You may be able to find basic concrete fireplace balls at some hardware stores. But for the best selection, prices and custom options, specialized online retailers are the way to go. Here are the main places to buy:
Local Hardware Stores
Check hardware stores like Home Depot or Lowe's for concrete fireplace balls. But you often only find basic shapes, limited sizes and neutral colors. Prices also tend to be higher than online.
Online Retailers
For the most selection across sizes, custom shapes, special finishes and color choices, online concrete ball retailers offer the best experience. Customize orders to your exact specs. Prices are often better too.
Concrete Ball Alternatives
Don't overlook decorative filler options that create a similar look for potentially less cost. For example, lava rock, marbles, crystals, sparkling glass pebbles or fire glass offer creative alternatives to designer concrete.
Displaying Concrete Balls On The Fireplace Mantel
In addition to placing in the fire itself, decorating your mantel with concrete balls creates a coordinating focal point:
Alternating Shapes and Sizes
For an artful mantel display, consider alternating shapes and sizes. For example: Large sphere, small cube, medium oval--repeating down the whole length. Just be sure to anchor securely so balls don't roll off!
Placing balls in coordinating color groups along the length of the mantel provides another pleasing option. For variation, mix up sizes and textures within those color groups.