Best Hearth Ideas for Bioethanol Fireplaces

Looking to transform your fireplace into a show-stopping statement piece that commands attention every time you walk into the room? The hearth perfectly frames the flickering flames, and has the power to turn your fireplace into the true focal point of your home.

Traditional wood burners often require bulky hearths to resist the heat, but bioethanol fireplaces open the door to limitless design freedom. With no flue, no chimney, and no soot or ash to worry about, you can think beyond the ordinary and incorporate a huge range of hearth styles that elevate both the look and feel of your space.

Here are some of our favourite ways to create the best hearth for your bioethanol fireplace.

Our top bioethanol fireplace hearth ideas

1) Minimalist glass platforms

If you prefer more modern interior design styles, tempered glass is a solid choice for your bioethanol fireplace hearth. A transparent base helps to keep the focus solely on the flame itself, while also protecting your flooring from wear and tear. Glass hearths are great for small apartments, as they help to keep the room feeling open and airy, without the visual bulk of stone or brick. 

Top tip: Pair the glass with white walls, polished concrete, or minimalist furniture to create a weightless, floating effect that feels right at home in contemporary spaces.

2) Brushed steel for an industrial edge

Drawn to a more industrial urban loft style look? Brushed steel could be the ideal option for your fireplace hearth. Its cool, metallic finish perfectly complements the clean, modern look of a biofire, giving your fireplace an almost sculptural quality. Steel hearths work particularly well beneath our freestanding biofires, or in open-plan living areas where you want the fireplace to double as a design statement.

Top tip: Pair brushed steel with exposed brickwork, dark wood furniture, and soft lighting for the ideal industrial-chic aesthetic.

3) Concrete bases with character

Concrete might sound a bit severe, but with the right finish it can actually make for the most beautiful modern hearth style. Opt for polished concrete for a sleek and contemporary feel, or add a raw, textured concrete surface to bring warmth and depth to your room. Unlike traditional log burners, a bioethanol fireplace doesn’t need a thick, raised hearth – so you can choose a slim, low-profile concrete platform for a clean and uncluttered look.

Top tip: Concrete works really well as a continuous surface. You could extend the hearth into a built-in bench or shelf for a seamless, integrated look.

4) Natural stone for timeless appeal

Are you a lover of organic textures? If so, natural stone offers the most elegant material for your bioethanol fireplace hearth. Slate, marble, or limestone can form a solid grounding for your fire, blending beautifully into both classic and modern interior design schemes. Slate gives a soft, matte finish that complements darker colour palettes, whereas marble creates a luxurious, polished surface that reflects the warm glow of the flames.

Top tip: Stone hearths work particularly well in homes that combine traditional features (like timber beams or flagstones) with modern furniture to strike the perfect balance between old and new.

5) Floating hearth designs for small spaces

If your living room isn’t big enough for a full hearth, that doesn’t mean you need to compromise on style. Floating hearths are ideal for small spaces, allowing you to enjoy the ambience of a real flame even if you live in a compact city flat or studio apartment. Our wall-mounted bioethanol fireplaces pair beautifully with slimline floating hearths made from wood, stone, or steel, creating a chic ledge that frames the fire without taking up valuable floor space.

Top tip: Choose a lighter-toned material for your floating hearth to enhance the sense of space and keep the overall look bright and open.

6) Frameless hearths for a seamless look

Sometimes, it actually looks better to have no hearth at all. Many of our bioethanol fireplaces, such as the Globus and Boston, are designed to sit flush with the floor and create a frameless, seamless look. This works beautifully in ultra-modern settings, particularly when paired with polished concrete, tiled flooring, or continuous wooden planks. It’s a minimal approach that lets the fire itself shine, and is ideal for open-plan layouts where less is more. 

Top tip: Opt for continuous flooring materials beneath and around the fire to maximise that uninterrupted, seamless effect.

Hearth decor inspiration: styling around the base

Once you’ve chosen your favourite fireplace hearth look, it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll style the base. Check out our top fireplace base ideas to help spark your imagination:

• For the perfect soft furnishings, try layering rugs, throws, and cushions in complementary tones to create warmth and texture, and make the area around the fire feel inviting and lived-in. Just make sure that there is no risk of any soft furnishings coming into contact with the flame, or heating up excessively.

• Add some natural accents like plants, logs (for decorative effect only), or stone sculptures nearby to bring an organic touch that helps soften those sharp lines and introduces calming greenery.

• When it comes to lighting, introduce some candles, lanterns, or discreet LEDs to highlight the base and draw attention to the fire. This adds a subtle glow that further enhances the ambience after dark.

• And don’t forget the artwork and accessories! Place some framed prints, mirrors, or decorative objects above or around the hearth to create visual interest and tie the design into the rest of the room.

The great thing about bioethanol fireplaces is that they can be styled to your heart’s content.  With no soot or ash to worry about, you can add soft furnishings and objects much closer to the hearth itself, without worrying about them getting damaged.

Need help choosing the perfect bioethanol fireplace for your space?

At imaginfires, we’re proud to offer a wide range of bioethanol fireplaces to suit every interior – from traditional style country home fires, to more sleek, modern biofires. But we also know that choosing the right model and hearth style can feel overwhelming, which is why our team is here to guide you every step of the way. From exploring materials to visualising how different designs will fit into your room, we’ll help you narrow down the options and create a look that’s both practical and inspiring. 

Browse our collection of bioethanol fireplaces and start designing your perfect fireplace hearth with imaginfires.