If you don't plan to use the fireplace very often what you can do is cut a piece of plywood in the shape of the fireplace and tile over that.

I don't think the tile is that bad. Just live with it and don't damage your landlord's property with temporary solutions.

Yes, it's hideous. Since it's a rental, I'd get a bunch of plants for the bottom (big bushy ones) and put something really eye-catching on the wall above the fireplace. If the stuff on the mantle is yours, it's nice, but it's never going to match the fire place so you should probably move it elsewhere.

You can try tile tattoos - http://www.2jane.com/Mibo-Tile-Tattoos

They are removable and won't damage the tile when you take them off. The only tricky part might be getting the right size.

Are you going to use the fireplace? If so, I would not do anything to the tile--you don't want to risk any chance of putting something flammable over the tiles.

If you aren't going to use the fireplace, consider getting a large piece of foamboard to cover the whole thing and wallpapering or stenciling it or otherwise faux-finishing it to blend in with your style.

Or get a large piece of plywood and paint it with chalkboard paint. Then chalk in a picture of a roaring fire.

You can cover the hearth with whatever you use on the vertical surface of the fireplace, or a non-flammable hearth rug or a fire guard or a collection of baskets or plants.

The fireplace is clean and the tile has been perfectly applied. The color is hideous and the style is non-descript. The white walls emphasize the pinky-brown color. Would you be allowed to paint them, green maybe? I agree with changing the mantle decor to something more proportional to divert the eye, and second the bushy plants idea. Cover-ups usually stick out like a sore thumb. Create another focal point for the room.

Get a large/tall decorative fireplace screen and some green plants. Once you start adding your own decor into the room, the fireplace will recede into the background. You're going to need something more substantial above the mantel to direct the eye away, though. Simply setting small things on the mantel is forcing people to look at the fireplace too.

Compared to most fireplaces in rental properties, this is actually pretty nice (although not your style) and at least the tile is in good shape and a fairly neutral color.

Stretch a couple yards of fabric over a panel or wood frame and fasten it over the whole surround with small squares of Velcro; remove the panel when you want a fire. You'll probably want a light color to held make it blend visually with the walls.

Hang a curtain rod from the underside of the mantel & sew a couple custom (fireproofed) curtains that you can easily move when you want to use the fireplace.

Or you could get a bunch of fake cacti and coyote sculptures and just decorate around it...

How about just getting a nice decorative room divider to put in front of it?

Simple just create a cheap plywood frame and paint it white. Cheap, easy, removable. You can even put little rubber furniture pads on the bottom so it doesn't slide around. I you are going to use it for a fire make sure you take it off though!

I agree with mcintyree; buy a nice decorative fire screen and some plants.

Just work with it. Play up the Southwestern theme. Get some humorous, tacky thing---like a jackalope or something---and own that shit.

The large brown tiles aren't so bad, it's the southwester-y triangles that make me gag. I feel like most of the cover-up ideas would look obvious so I agree with the idea of getting a really nice fire screen that's tall enough to cover the decorative tiles. And also oomf up your mantle decor to something larger scale to take the focus.

One trick I learned long ago is to find something you like a lot that goes really well with the things you don't like. For the fireplace, I would look for a big piece of art (or a hanging textile, or whatever) that you really love and that has some of the color of the tiles in it as an accent color, perhaps. Then, look for other accessories that go well with the fireplace - cushions, lamps etc. - things you like, but which also 'go.'

With the firescreen and plants suggested elsewhere as further camouflage, you'll hardly notice it.

One thing, though. Are you going to use it for fires? If so, check out fire safety codes first. The firebox looks lower than the hearth. That might be perfectly safe, but I'd check before using it.

Move. This isn't your property, i wouldn't risk sticking or applying anything on it.

build a temporary frame around it and fill the whole thing with round firewood logs from the hearth up.

i don't think it is ugly.
you could probably get a bookcase or set of shelves about the same size and shape to put in front of it and then decorate with books or plants and pretty things you like.

If you weren't planning on using it at all, I'd suggest maybe peel and stick tiles... I just covered my ugly countertops with them and I'm happy with the results, but they're removable with heat from a blowdryer, so you don't want them to be by a heat source.

They sell them online at Home Depot (and maybe in the store, I never checked).

Not sure how it was done, but you might be able to put up something like the leather tile fireplace re-do that was featured on AT a few years ago:
http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/052208alan/item/43251

I agree with macintyree, too. Go for a fireplace screen large enough to hide the triangles, and who doesn't like big green plants?

I'd def do like others are saying... accessorize around it. A nice fireplace screen, plants, a big mirror above the mantle to take attention away from the fireplace will also work.

The tile isn't horrible though, a few things around it will def help in making it not so much the center of attention.

Plants - Faux or real. You can use very dense faux bamboo or trees to hide it, put faux or real trailing plants on the mantel. You can have them as dense or as sparse as you want. I'll bet you could hide it completely. I don't see the tile as being in bad shape. There are temporary, easy remove wallpapers that I'll bet you could cover it with if you really felt a need.

I think a lot of the problem can be solved by hiding the smaller patterned tiles that directly enclose the opening with a fireplace screen flanked by plants.

What about vinyl? There are tons of great vinyl decal accent options on etsy. You can create something beautiful that peels right off when you move out. No damage whatsoever.

South Western creeps me out as much as Country pink & blue - you poor thing! Painted plywood covering with a stained-to-match-the mantel custom book case would be an effective cure for not much money if you can sling a hammer. Not everyone has a green thumb.

Here's an easy, affordable way to make a fireplace screen. This is the same lady that made that fake transom everyone loved. She has some great ideas.

http://inmyownstyle.com/2011/07/decorative-screen-practically-made-for-you.html

I think this would be a good and easy solution. You could adjust it to fit both the fireplace and your style. This is a wonderful and helpful site.

http://inmyownstyle.com/2011/07/decorative-screen-practically-made-for-you.html