10 corner and tunnel fireplace ideas
Open-plan lounges are some of the best suited to corner and tunnel fireplaces.
That’s why Fires2U has pulled together 10 smart ideas (each anchored to real models) so you can pick a look that works well in compact flats to hotel-style spaces. We’ll cover see-through room dividers, extra-wide partitions and L-corner fires from DRU.
A quick UK note on safety: new gas fires must be installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and installations are subject to Building Regulations' notification.
1. Open-plan room divider
A double-sided ‘tunnel’ fire can transform a slim stud wall into a see-through flame feature that separates a kitchen from a living or dining area without blocking light.
The DRU Maestro 75 Tunnel Eco Wave Balanced Flue gas fire is a great example of this in action.
As the Maestro 75 is a balanced-flue, room-sealed appliance, it draws combustion air from outside and expels flue gases outside via a concentric flue. That means no room air is used for combustion – excellent for open-plan layouts.
Beyond the look, this fire delivers serious performance. You get DRU’s Dynamic Flame Burner® embedded in ceramic logs for lifelike flames, a high net efficiency rating (up to 93%) and a punchy heat output up to 9.5 kW.
2. Tall, dramatic centrepiece
Do you have tall ceilings? Draw the eye upwards with a tall tunnel fire like the DRU Maestro 75 Tall Tunnel Eco Wave.
Designed exactly for this job, the Maestro 75 tall is a see-through, room-sealed balanced-flue model with an extra-high glass window that turns a slim partition or stud wall into a dramatic flame column between spaces.
As a centrepiece, this fire affords control over flame height and heat for year-round ambience. It’s equally efficient: the Tall Tunnel delivers a net efficiency quoted at around 91.6% with up to 9.2 kW heat output, plus remote and app control.
For placement, consider using it as a divider at the end of a sofa grouping, or aligned with a stair gallery, so both floors get the same flame picture.
3. Extra-wide statement partition
For long, open walls, a super-wide tunnel fire can turn a simple partition into a ‘flame ribbon’ that connects two rooms without breaking up the space (one appliance we recommend is the DRU Metro 150XT Tunnel Eco Wave Balanced Flue Gas Fire).
It’s a frameless, see-through, balanced-flue gas fire that’s 1.5 metres wide, so both sides enjoy the same panoramic view. The Metro 150XT Tunnel uses DRU’s Eco Wave for varied, natural-looking flames and convenient remote/app control.
Plus, with a heat output up to 10.8 kW, it’s more than capable of becoming the central source of heat in a large, open-plan room.
4. Slim stud-wall divider for compact homes
For compact, open-plan flats, a shorter, narrower tunnel fire lets you build a modest stud- or nib-wall that subtly separates zones.
The DRU Metro 80XT Tunnel Eco Wave is purpose-built for this role: a balanced-flue, see-through model that gives both sides the same flame picture in a footprint sized for smaller rooms.
What makes it so easy to place is its smaller proportions: the viewing aperture is roughly 80 cm wide with the taller ‘XT’ glass for a generous flame picture, while the engine depth is 434 mm (plus finishes), so the divider remains visually slim.
5. Hotel-luxe two-sided feature
When you want the hotel-luxe impact in big lounges and open lobbies, scale up to a statement tunnel.
At 1.8 metres wide with a see-through firebox, the DRU Cosmo Tunnel Eco Wave Balanced Flue Gas Fire would work beautifully as a glazed room divider between reception and lounge seating areas.
Its grand size is matched with performance: this balanced flue fire boasts a massive 16.3 kW heat output and A-class efficiency (89%). It’s also manual or remote-controlled, so you can reduce the heat while keeping the flames lively.
6. Sightline-friendly L-corner
An L-corner gas fire opens up an L-shaped room by wrapping the flames around an internal corner, so you get clear sightlines along two axes instead of one. That’s what makes fires like the DRU Metro 130XT/2 Eco Wave so unique.
This extra-wide, two-sided corner model can be specified as either a left- or right-hand corner fire, and with the option of anti-reflective Clear View glass, reflections from pendants and downlights are kept to a minimum.
7. Family room focal point
Two-sided corner fires are equally suited for family homes. Appliances like the DRU Maestro 105/2 Eco Wave tuck away into an internal corner, so the flames read from both the sofa side and the dining/play zone.
DRU’s Eco Wave control varies the flame picture at lower gas input for ambience on milder evenings, and you can add Eco Glow (a separately adjustable LED ember bed) for that warm glow when you don’t want extra heat.
8. Space-savvy corner upgrade
Some homeowners may hold off on shopping for corner and tunnel fireplaces because they think their space is too small.
But a compact two-sided corner gas fire like the DRU Global 100 Corner BF wraps neatly around an internal corner, so the flames read from two directions.
With 94% efficiency and a 7.5kW heat output, you get access to eco-friendly heat without eating up too much of your floor plan.
9. Wider corner for open lounges
When you’ve got a generous, open lounge–diner, a wider corner fireplace can bring a sense of zoning to the area.
The DRU Global 120 Corner BF is a sweet spot for larger rooms: a two-sided, balanced-flue design with an expansive 1-metre wide viewing window, left- or right-hand corner options, and a choice of log, pebble or anthracite-glass fuel beds to suit your scheme.
If you love the corner look, but your footprint is a touch smaller, the DRU Lugo 80/2 Eco Wave gives a similar two-sided effect at 80 cm wide.
10. Hybrid peninsula: corner meets tunnel
For the best of both worlds, models like the DRU Metro 100XTL Eco Wave are a hybrid of a corner and a tunnel fire. It projects from a wall or stud like a slim peninsula, so you can see the flames from three sides and both zones at once.
This luxury 3-sided frameless gas fire can be designed as a half-height peninsula to connect a lounge and dining area, or floated within a media wall so the flames wrap around the return.
Shop for corner and tunnel fireplaces with Fires2U!
There’s a corner or tunnel gas fire for every kind of open-plan layout. Slim tunnel dividers work in compact spaces, tall room dividers suit double-height areas, and extra-wide tunnels deliver that cinematic ‘flame ribbon’ that you see in magazines.
So, if you’re interested in creating your own panoramic, two or three-sided set-ups, start shopping today with Fires2U.
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