Fireplace Makeover & Remodel Ideas for Wisconsin & Minnesota Homes

In the Midwest, long winters and humid summers make your fireplace more than just a design feature—it’s a key element of your home's comfort, efficiency, and value. Yet, many homes still rely on outdated units that underperform and negatively impact indoor air quality.

From high-efficiency inserts to custom surrounds and modern design features, we’re sharing fireplace remodel ideas that blend beauty, performance, and long-term value so your fireplace remains a functional centerpiece year-round.

Why a Fireplace Makeover Matters in Wisconsin and Minnesota Homes

Fireplaces contribute to energy efficiency, air quality, and resale value. With older units often lacking performance or proper ventilation, upgrading your fireplace can provide practical and long-term benefits:

• Enhances Home Value and Curb Appeal: An updated fireplace in competitive real estate markets like Hastings elevates your home's aesthetic and resale potential.
• Improves Energy Efficiency: High-quality inserts and gas units help homeowners reduce heating costs and energy use during long winters. These upgrades offer dependable warmth and long-term savings in places like Osceola, where winters can be bitter.
• Promotes Healthier Indoor Air Quality: Many homes throughout Ellsworth and Hudson still rely on older, wood-burning fireplaces that release fine particulates and smoke. Replacing them with cleaner-burning alternatives supports a healthier indoor environment.
• Responds to Regional Climate Needs: With harsh winters and summer humidity levels often reaching 60–70%, homes in the Midwest need fireplace systems that integrate seamlessly with their HVAC systems. These systems can better regulate indoor temperature and humidity, enhance energy efficiency, and support healthier indoor air conditions, improving overall comfort and safety year-round.

With so much opportunity to enhance form and function, a fireplace renovation is one of the most impactful home improvements you can make.

Fireplace Remodel Ideas

Whether you're considering a fireplace makeover for style, energy savings, or indoor air quality, these fireplace remodel ideas offer lasting benefits and aesthetic solutions:

Install a Gas Fireplace Insert

Replace an outdated wood-burning unit with a gas insert to enjoy cleaner air, greater efficiency, and instant warmth. Installation typically ranges from $2,500 to $5,500, depending on unit features and labor needs. It's a smart, low-maintenance solution, especially for Osceola homes facing rough winter conditions.

Switch to a Modern Electric Fireplace

Wall-mounted or freestanding electric fireplaces offer sleek design and safe, vent-free performance. It is perfect for families and homes in tightly sealed environments across the region. Electric fireplace installations are more budget-friendly, usually costing between $600 and $2,500 based on the model and setup.

Revamp with Natural Stone or Brick

Elevate your space with a custom surround using fieldstone, slate, or vintage brick. Custom stone or brick fireplace surrounds typically range from $2,000 to $7,000, with costs influenced by material and craftsmanship.

Apply a Bold Accent Wall

A fresh coat of paint or textured shiplap can turn a plain fireplace wall into a design centerpiece. It’s an affordable, high-impact project homeowners can tackle in a weekend.

Incorporate Custom Built-In Shelving

Add built-in bookshelves or cabinets around the fireplace for both storage and style. This upgrade maximizes space and creates a visually striking focal point that ties the room together.

Install a Double-Sided Fireplace

Professionally installed, a see-through fireplace can connect living and dining areas while increasing light flow. It brings luxury and efficiency to open-concept floorplans. This upgrade often costs $4,000 to $8,000 or more, depending on framing, venting, and structural modifications.

Incorporate Décor

Sometimes, less is more. Elevate the space by styling your mantel with mirrors, artwork, greenery, or candles. Simple additions can make an existing fireplace feel purposeful and current.

Highlight with Lighting or Trim

Frame your fireplace with integrated lighting, crown molding, or minimalist trim to enhance architectural interest and draw the eye upward. This is ideal for tall ceilings in newer construction.

How Fireplace Replacements Can Boost Indoor Air Quality

Old wood-burning fireplaces may look charming, but they often harm the air you breathe. These systems release pollutants such as:

• Smoke
• Fine particulates
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) 

These pollutants can accumulate indoors, especially in tightly sealed homes across Minnesota and Wisconsin, aggravating respiratory conditions and increasing the risk of long-term health issues.

Whether you're aiming to reduce pollutants, improve efficiency, or modernize your space, an updated fireplace can significantly impact your home's air quality.

Reduce Emissions with Gas or Electric Fireplaces

Modern gas and electric models burn cleaner than wood, reducing the release of harmful particulates, carbon monoxide, and VOCs into the air. These fireplaces help improve indoor air by significantly reducing pollutants, making your indoor space safer to breathe.

Enhance Ventilation Where It Matters Most

Professionally installed ventilation systems from Comfort by Design help control moisture, mold, and allergens. This is especially important in areas like Hudson, where pollen levels can be high in spring and fall. These systems work to circulate fresh air and prevent the buildup of indoor pollutants, which can trigger asthma, allergies, and other respiratory issues. Systems typically range from $1,500 to $3,500.

Support Healthier Indoor Air

Replacing your outdated fireplace with a modern, cleaner-burning option reduces indoor air contaminants, including airborne irritants like dust, smoke, and ash. This leads to a healthier indoor living space that promotes easier breathing, less coughing, and fewer allergy flare-ups.

Breathing easier starts at home. Replacing an outdated fireplace is a simple yet powerful step toward creating a safer, cleaner, and more comfortable place to live. With the right fireplace makeover, your home can feel balanced, welcoming, and comfortable in every season.

Ready to Reimagine Your Fireplace?

Schedule a consultation with Comfort by Design online today and explore customized fireplace renovations that match your home’s style, needs, and climate. Let’s build a fireplace that works as beautifully as it looks all year.