Do-it-yourself decorative false fireplace. Do-it-yourself decorative fireplace Do-it-yourself false brick fireplace

The beauty of the flame of fire enchants and attracts. You can look at it without stopping for hours. And you rarely meet a person who would not dream of installing a fireplace at home. But what if you live in an apartment and you cannot install a fireplace in it? Here a decorative plasterboard fireplace will come to the rescue.

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Advantages

Decorative fireplaces are becoming more and more popular day by day. If earlier they emphasized their wealth, now it is a frequently encountered decorative element. This is because such fireplaces bring harmony to the house and have a number of positive aspects.

A decorative fireplace will add chic to any interior, acting as the main accent in it.
A false fireplace is not only a decorative element, but also a heating device that will bring warmth and comfort to your home.
It is pleasant to spend time with loved ones around him.
Not dangerous for children.
A do-it-yourself decorative plasterboard fireplace does not require large investments.

And these are just the main advantages of installing a false fireplace at home.

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Place for a fireplace

If you decide to install a flash fireplace at home, then first you need to determine the place. The choice of its location is very important so that you can qualitatively create the illusion that the fireplace is quite real.

First, we determine the room where we plan to install such a fireplace. Everything is simple here. Most likely, it will be a living room or hall. Less often, decorative fireplaces are installed in the bedroom.
Secondly, we are planning its placement. It is usually installed in the middle of a longitudinal wall. But here it all depends on your wishes and the project of the room, as well as on its technical capabilities.

Do not place the fireplace in places where it will interfere. For example, near cabinets, doors and batteries. This will not only complicate the installation work, but later the fireplace may be damaged.

How to make

To make a decorative fireplace yourself, you will need a little drywall skills, the ability and desire to create, and, of course, a tool.

Initially, you need to make drawings. First, draw a diagram of the location of the future fireplace, or even several, and then draw the fireplace in two projections, apply all the necessary dimensions. It is better to carry out the drawing in full size, so that it is easy to try on the wall. We develop a sketch to the smallest detail, so that later you do not have to redo anything.

Based on the drawing, we make a model of the future fireplace from cardboard boxes or foam. It is necessary to create all the details of the fireplace, and install them on tape where you plan to place this decor element. Perform the layout carefully, completely in accordance with the project, in order to analyze errors in advance and eliminate them.

We proceed to the construction of the structure. During construction we need:

Bulgarian;
puncher;
screwdriver;
cutter;
putty knife;
stationery knife;
scissors for metal;
roulette;
building level;
pencil.

Initially, we transfer all the details of the future fireplace to sheets of drywall, and cut it out with a grinder. We mark all parts of the fireplace on the wall, use the building level to maintain a clear horizontal and vertical line. We install guides on the wall where it is planned to place the false fireplace. We do this with a puncher and dowels.

If you do not plan to install a false chimney and are thinking of organizing a shelf for photographs and figurines at the top, then you need to immediately strengthen the side racks for structural reliability. Lead a cable with electricity into the structure, so that later you can insert and connect an electric fireplace or LCD TV into the portal. You can assemble the frame separately, and only then install it on the wall. This option is more convenient if your fireplace is near a wall.

Now we sheathe the frame with plasterboard. We do everything carefully, remembering that a deviation of a few millimeters can distort the whole picture and make it impossible to fill the portal in the future. If the facing of the false fireplace is supposed to be massive and heavy, then it is necessary to sheathe the future fireplace with two layers of drywall. Plasterboard sheets with a thickness of at least 1.2 cm are suitable for cladding a fireplace.

Next, we move on to the putty. Why it is necessary to process the edges of the drywall with an abrasive, prime and fill the fireplace completely. We produce the putty inside and outside. We use tape and perforated corners to connect the sheets to each other so that the grout adheres well and the surface becomes perfectly flat.

The next stage is finishing the false fireplace. You can decorate it with any material. Tiles, artificial stone, gypsum finishes, granite, marble, simple painting and much more are suitable here. It all depends on your imagination and the stylistic solution of the room as a whole.

But first you need to finish the inside of a decorative fireplace, especially if a heat appliance will be installed in it. Thermal insulation is necessary in this case. We trim the portal with magnesite and cover it with foil on top. Such a layer will reflect heat and will not allow the inner walls of the fireplace to heat up.

If the heating device is not provided in the false fireplace, then inside it can be trimmed with a mirror.

If the fireplace is finished with artificial stone or marble, then finishing work in the form of a putty can be omitted. In this case, you just need to prime the drywall, and then glue the stone with special glue. Let the glue dry well and process all the seams between the stone with a special grout.

Another great way to decorate a drywall fireplace is with decorative plaster. We apply it to the fireplace, and, without waiting for the coating to dry, we simulate brickwork with a spatula.

Can be pasted over with decorative foil, choosing a suitable pattern. A huge selection of textures will make your fireplace unique.

After the fireplace has been finished, it is necessary to decorate it. To do this, we use various columns, stucco moldings, moldings. Such decor will add naturalness and completeness to the artificial fireplace.

A decorative shelf can be installed on the upper part of the fireplace, an electric fireplace or a TV can be installed in the firebox.

Interior design

The design of a decorative fireplace can be performed in any stylistic solution, and it is possible to equip it in different ways. From what you fill the portal at the false fireplace, the function of this decor element will be determined.

A fireplace, decorated in a classic style, decorated with marble or granite, with an electric fireplace in the portal, will bring not only warmth to your room, but its presentable appearance will become the central accent in the interior.
A false chimney will add naturalness to the fireplace.
A brick-built fireplace with a TV in the firebox is suitable for a high-tech stylistic solution. Its clean lines and simple shapes fit perfectly into this style.
Decorating in the form of Greek statues will add chic and fit into the bohemian style of the living room.
For an apartment decorated in Art Nouveau style, a fireplace with minimal decoration is perfect.
The candles in the portal will add a romantic touch to the decor of the room.
This decorative fireplace can be used as a shelf for books.
A corner false fireplace will be a decoration even in a small room.
The top shelf can be decorated with statuettes for hours, giving English chic to the interior.
A decorative fireplace, finished with stone, is perfect for a rustic room.

Owners of city apartments can only dream of a real fireplace with cozy crackling firewood - the floors of typical houses may not withstand such a load, and chimneys in high-rise buildings are almost always absent.

But this is not a reason to abandon the design in the style of a classic living room! Decorative false fireplaces create an atmosphere of comfort and warmth, especially if you equip them with an electric firebox with an imitation of a flame.

It is quite simple to build a false fireplace with your own hands, just find or draw a sketch, choose the material of the frame and finish. A variety of building materials are suitable for the manufacture of a false fireplace: drywall on a wooden or metal frame, polyurethane decorative elements, tiles and porcelain stoneware, MDF and chipboard, plywood, foam and even ordinary cardboard. The shape of a decorative fireplace can be completely different, from an imitation of a classic hearth to an original design, complemented by other decorative elements.

In this article we will try to describe in as much detail the process of creating a false fireplace with our own hands, we will provide all the drawings, photos from different angles and videos with the finished product, good luck in construction!

The fastest way to do this is to buy a ready-made polyurethane. The range of portals is wide enough and you can probably choose the style and size that suits your room. An electric fireplace can be built into a ready-made polyurethane portal, for this you need to know its overall and installation dimensions, as well as the requirements for providing ventilation and connecting to the mains. If you want to do everything with your own hands as much as possible, you can go shopping and take measurements from ready-made portals; by purchasing a piece of polyurethane, you can make a similar model much cheaper than its ready-made counterpart!

To create such a fireplace, you need purchased polyurethane, contact adhesive, putty and finishing materials for the firebox, for example, decorative bricks.

Step-by-step process of installing a false fireplace

Ready-made portals can be made not only of polyurethane, but also of wood. Their price is much higher, but among them there are real masterpieces, for example, with a bar inside.

False plasterboard fireplace, simple and fast

To make the budget for a filsh fireplace as cheap as possible - use the drywall and profile remaining from the repair. Such a decorative fireplace will easily fit into any niche or corner, and can also be an element of a whole composition of shelves.

False plasterboard fireplace - photo

To create a false plasterboard fireplace, you will need: a galvanized drywall profile or wooden blocks, sheets or scraps of drywall or plywood, a screwdriver and a jigsaw, metal scissors, putty and acrylic paint, decorative stone or brick.

Manufacturing technology of a false fireplace made of plasterboard

The main key to success is a well-thought-out sketch of the future, indicating all dimensions and the connection point of the frame. Measure the room and decide where to install the fireplace. Calculate the required amount of material, and feel free to get down to business.
A frame is made of a galvanized profile, connecting its elements using self-tapping screws for metal and a screwdriver. Cut the profile using a hacksaw or metal scissors. For stability, the frame elements are connected with transverse jumpers. The frame must be attached to the walls and floor if the structure turns out to be cumbersome, heavy or too narrow - i.e. if there is a risk of instability of the structure.
Sheets of drywall are cut out according to a sketch, tried on. Trim and fasten with hardened black self-tapping screws to the profile. The caps of the self-tapping screws are slightly buried in order to putty later. Drywall is easy to cut with a knife.
Joints and attachment points are putty and leveled with a putty for internal work in two layers, the corners are additionally reinforced with a painting net.
Level the surface of the sheets, if necessary, using a putty.
The resulting structure is painted or finished with other materials: artificial stone, tiles or stucco. They are glued to the glue intended for this material, diluted according to the instructions on the package.
The firebox is decorated with materials that imitate brickwork; a mirror can be installed on the back wall of the firebox.
Candles or an imitation of a backlit hearth are placed inside the firebox.
Such a false fireplace is absolutely safe; it can be installed even in a nursery. The mantelpiece serves as a stand for photos, toys and knickknacks, while the softly shimmering hearth creates a cozy atmosphere.

Corner decorative plasterboard fireplace (video)

The most budgetary option, allowing you to make a false fireplace with illumination from an old unnecessary sideboard or cabinet. To work you will need:

jigsaw;
sander for wood;
screwdriver;
plywood sheets;
putty;
acrylic paint;
finishing materials: stucco molding and finishing stone from plaster, decorative elements.

Technology for making a false fireplace from an old sideboard:

The doors of the old-style sideboard are removed and the lower cabinet is removed, leaving only the upper section. They put her on her side.
The facade is sewn up with plywood so that a firebox and a firebox are obtained. Plywood is attached to self-tapping screws using a screwdriver.
Polished surfaces are sanded with wood to make them roughened. The walls are primed with an adhesive-based primer, and after the primer has dried, putty and level the surface. The putty is dried, the irregularities are sanded and painted with acrylic paint, the corners are finished with artificial stone or brick. Decorative elements are glued - stucco moldings, a mantelpiece made of MDF is installed.
They decorate the firebox: a red or yellow LED strip is glued around the perimeter, and the bottom is decorated with pebbles, colored sand or shells. Candles can also be installed inside the firebox.

Reading time ≈ 3 minutes

Evening, twilight and dancing flame in the fireplace, which does not get boring to look at. The room is unusually cozy, a cup of hot cocoa in hand, what could be better? Many people think that a fireplace is a luxury available only to wealthy private homeowners. This is not so, it can be installed in an ordinary apartment, even a one-room apartment, although it will be decorative without a chimney, pipes and valves, but the main details - a firebox, a portal, a shelf will be present. Even a woman can make a decorative fireplace with her own hands. Many ladies handle construction tools as well as men.

What can be used to make a decorative fireplace?

Brick will do, and not necessarily fireproof; lovers of eco-style will prefer wood. If an edged board remains after the repair, it can also be used. A board with pieces of bark will look interesting, it will create a feeling of unity with nature. A transparent vase, an old aquarium that has already been thrown away - everything can turn into a cozy hearth. Sometimes a fireplace is required for a children's party, creating a Christmas atmosphere. It is above him that the kids hang stockings for gifts. In this case, you will need cardboard, plywood. It will take very little time to build a hearth. The easiest way out is to purchase decorative items and glue them to the wall.

Drawing

Asking yourself the question of how to make a decorative fireplace with your own hands, you first need to draw a sketch, calculate the amount of material required. The hearth should look harmonious, fit into the interior of the room, not be a foreign element in it. It is placed in niches, near the wall, in the corner, where it does not interfere. For a small room, an almost flat hearth with a firebox depth of up to 30 cm is suitable; it is visually enlarged due to a mirror installed inside. In order to fully enjoy the play of light, the firebox must be at the level of the seated person's face. The optimal portal width is one and a half meters.

You can see a photo of a decorative fireplace with your own hands on our website. For someone, this will give an impetus to action, help determine which hearth is suitable for your apartment.

The best material for a fireplace is drywall

Most often, drywall is used for an artificial hearth.

It is easy to cut with an ordinary clerical knife. After wetting the part, you can give it the desired shape. For the "skeleton" of the falshkamin, you will need a profile, its trimmings will go to the stiffening ribs, braces.

Plasterboard sheets are attached to the frame with self-tapping screws.

The seams between the sheets, the ends of the fireplace, the attachment points of the self-tapping screws are putty, and the decorative fireplace with your own hands from drywall is almost ready.

The most exciting stage of work begins - decorative finishing.

The hearth can be painted, pasted over with foil, applied with artificial stone, pieces of glass or porcelain. Polyurethane stucco molding will look spectacular, especially if it is painted in bronze and silver.

The video posted on our website will help you make a decorative fireplace with your own hands. The grill will give the hearth authenticity.

The mantelpiece is made of artificial or natural stone, MDF, wood, plasterboard with tiles or porcelain stoneware trim. A backlight is mounted in the firebox, or candles are placed. And you can enjoy the play of light or flame.

This article is not typical for a site that deals with heating and ventilation, since it will talk about a popular homemade homemade product - an imitation of a full-size fireplace. Of course, the dummy is not able to fully replace with burning firewood. But the beautifully designed portal fits perfectly into the interior of the apartment and can decorate the free space along the wall or in the corner of the room. So let's see what of the available materials will go to the manufacture of a false fireplace and how to make it yourself.

What can be used to make a decorative hearth

To answer this question, we have collected scattered information, photos and videos published on the Internet by home craftsmen. If you set a goal to make an artificial fireplace yourself, then you will surely find a suitable material from the list compiled:

cardboard boxes (for example, from a TV set) or sheet corrugated cardboard used as packaging;
Chipboard, plywood and OSB, fiberboard;
drywall sheets (gypsum plasterboard), fixed to a frame made of wood or galvanized steel profiles;
facing brick.

This is how simple corrugated cardboard crafts look

The easiest and fastest way to make a fireplace portal is from a box from a TV or other household appliances. The fake hearths shown in the photo are of little use for many years of operation, but they are easily installed in the right place. As a rule, a cardboard fireplace serves as a decoration for the New Year and on other holidays, after which it is removed to the pantry.

From other materials, including polystyrene, stationary models of false fireplaces are made that can serve for many years. They are decorated in accordance with the interior of the apartment and in various ways create an imitation of fire or furnish with candles. We propose to consider the manufacture of each option separately.

Advice. Whichever method of manufacturing you choose, first determine the place for the artificial hearth and sketch by hand a drawing with dimensions. This will simplify the calculation of the amount of materials and the selection of the design style.

Carton box dummy

To work, you need a simple set of tools - scissors, a tape measure with a ruler and a stationery knife. Prepare PVA glue, old newspapers or paper and scotch tape from additional materials. A homemade false fireplace is made in different ways, depending on the source material:

On the left is a dummy from a solid box, on the right - from 9 identical boxes

A large TV box is folded to fit, as shown in the photo. An opening is cut in the middle to simulate a hearth, and the former front panel of the package, divided in half, now serves as the walls of a niche - a fake fuel chamber.
From several cardboard boxes of the same size, it is easy to assemble a portal in the form of the letter "P" by gluing them together with PVA and tape.
From sheets of corrugated cardboard, it will be necessary to glue individual elements of a decorative fireplace - a framing, a pre-heating platform with a base and an upper shelf, and then assemble them into one whole. How to do this correctly is shown in the diagram below.

To hide the joints in the corners and in the middle of the portal, cover them with old newspaper or paper. Another option is to buy a polyurethane imitation of gypsum stucco molding and close all problem areas with decorative elements.

If it is necessary to reinforce a homemade structure so that it does not "fold" along and across its axis, install cardboard stiffeners on the back side, placing them on glue. Reinforcement of thin walls is easily performed using strips of the same corrugated cardboard folded "accordion", as shown in the photo.

Options for strengthening the body - gluing internal ribs (left) and accordions on a sheet (right)

Note. The manufacturing technology of the corner version of the fireplace does not differ from the wall model. Only a large package will have to be folded differently, and sheets of the same type will be formed from boxes of the same type, and only then - portal elements.

So it is necessary to bend a large drawer to get a corner pseudo fireplace

The finished body of the false fireplace remains to be finished in any chosen way, for example:

paste over with wallpaper imitating brickwork;
revet with bricks cut with your own hands from thin foam;
decorate with polyurethane or foam stucco molding;
sheathe with plastic panels with imitation of artificial and natural stone, masonry and so on.

Use a polymer adhesive or an inexpensive glue gun to securely attach finishing materials. The final design is painting the product in the desired color (or several) with an acrylic or silicate compound intended for interior work. A master class on how a decorative fireplace is made from boxes at home, watch the video:

Fireplace portal made of wood and plywood

In this case, you will need the following lumber:

wooden beam with a section of 4 x 4 cm - on the main (corner) racks of the frame;
the same, measuring 4 x 2 cm - for jumpers;
solid wood worktop or laminated chipboard - on the top shelf;
any cheap plywood - for cladding;
suitable finishing material - artificial stone, plastic panels, polyurethane moldings, tiles and so on.

Also available tools are used - hacksaw, drill, measuring devices. For fasteners, take regular black self-tapping screws, if necessary, perforated steel corners and strips. If you plan to paint a false fireplace, purchase an acrylic composition of the desired color.

Wooden frame assembly with mantel

Measure and cut to size. At the same time, take into account the thickness of the plywood, otherwise the product will turn out to be larger than you expected.
Assemble the product frame by twisting the beams with self-tapping screws and maintaining 90 ° angles between the uprights and horizontal elements. Make an extended base from below, and on top of the rack, immediately attach it to a wide board that plays the role of a shelf.
Install stiffeners on the sides in the form of jumpers or jibs. Form the arch of the portal by attaching a horizontal bar at its top.
Attach the frame to the wall or floor in the chosen location and sheathe it with plywood, including the niche. If you want an arched vault, cut out the corresponding rounding on the front sheet.

Finishing with plywood sheets

An important point. In the event that it is necessary to put an electric firebox with an imitation of a flame inside an artificial fireplace, the dimensions of the opening must correspond to its dimensions. Another nuance: be sure to maintain a distance of at least 5 cm between the wall and the firebox from behind.

The easiest and most inexpensive cladding option is to cover the gaps between the plywood sheets with putty, sand it with sandpaper, and then paint it. Another cheap way is to finish with PVC panels that imitate brick, as shown in the photo. How to properly fix this material is described in the corresponding article.

The mantel should be sanded and varnished if it is made of solid wood. Then it only remains to design the portal so that the impression of burning in a pseudo-fuel is created. The assembly process is briefly and clearly shown in the video clip:

Making a fake plasterboard fireplace

Here you can go in two ways - to assemble the portal on a wooden frame, as described in the previous section, or on a frame made of galvanized steel profiles. Since the future structure carries minimal loads, the choice of material for the frame does not play a special role.

But the installation sequence is changing - the racks of this capital structure are initially attached to the wall. The procedure is as follows:

Using the drawing, draw on the wall with a pencil the outline of the future decorative fireplace.
Using dowels, attach horizontal and vertical profiles (wooden blocks) along the lines marked on the wall.
Assemble the frame from wall and ceiling profiles for the installation of gypsum board, starting from the side walls. The firebox niche is formed last.
Sheathe the frame with drywall and seal all joints with putty. Take your time to install the fireplace insert - it is installed after finishing.

When installing an electric firebox, sockets in a niche will come in handy

Note. In principle, nothing prevents you from first assembling the frame, and then screwing it to the wall and sheathing the gypsum board. But there is one point: the angle between the floor and the wall is probably different from 90 °. Then one of the planes of your product will not adhere to the building structures.

A false fireplace lined with plasterboard has one important advantage - it can be finished with anything, including tiles, which looks very presentable. Therefore, we will not list the ways of finishing the portal (there are too many of them), but suggest that you familiarize yourself with the next video on its assembly:

Almost real brick fireplace insert

Regardless of the laboriousness in the construction of such a structure and its cost, brickwork will give the maximum approximation to a natural living hearth. Plus strength and durability - unlike gypsum plasterboard, the stone is not afraid of accidental shock loads.

Reference. The structures described earlier are fire hazardous to one degree or another. As soon as a child knocks over a lighted candle in a niche, a cardboard or wooden product will quickly ignite. A decorative candle fireplace built of brick will not catch fire under any circumstances.

Portals made of various types of bricks

Of course, a reliable foundation is needed for brickwork, so residents of apartment buildings are strongly discouraged from building such false fireplaces on ceilings. Another thing is the first floor of a private house, where, in the process of repairing floors, you can lay a foundation in the form of a concrete slab.

To work, you need a standard tool - a trowel, a wide spatula and a building level with a plumb line. To beautifully lay the decorative brick “in the wasteland”, rent the special masonry template shown in the picture.

The template allows even a beginner to lay stones beautifully - in a wasteland

A brick imitation of a fireplace is laid out in the following sequence:

Determine the dimensions of the building and adjust it to the standard brick length - 25 cm. Recalculate the amount of building material and buy a ready-made mortar based on cement.
Clear the base, prepare the mortar and lay out the first continuous row, keeping a horizontal line across the entire plane. Then lay the second row with the bandage using the template. The bottom of the hearth is ready.
Constantly controlling the vertical, build the walls of the false fireplace to the height of the firebox (about 60-70 cm), then cover the opening from above with steel corners.
Lay the last 4-5 rows of bricks and let the mortar in the masonry harden for 3-4 days. Then install the top shelf made of wood or other material.

An example of a masonry scheme for an English fireplace. You don't need such a large dummy, but the principle of erecting a stone hearth is displayed here.

Advice. You can build such a fireplace from any brick, including used and old ones. Only it will have to be thoroughly cleaned, and at the end of the work - painted or covered with colorless varnish. Take the orders of a real English fireplace as a basis, but without a chimney and internal partitions: put only external walls and a pseudo-fuel.

In conclusion - about imitation of fire

Making a decorative fireplace cannot be called complete without creating the appearance of a burning flame in the firebox. We offer a choice of several options for how to organize such an effect:

a popular way is to place a mirror near the back wall of the niche and put burning candles;
use the products of new technologies - LED strips or candles (there are some);
mount an electric fireplace, a decorative firebox or a biofireplace with a real flame into the portal;
embed small lamps;
put an electronic photo frame equipped with a large liquid crystal display in the opening and load an image of a burning fire into its memory.

New-fashioned LED devices simulate heat well, the main thing is to arrange everything correctly. The photo shows a good example with a glowing ribbon spread around the perimeter of the firebox. The composition can be supplemented with artificial wood and other commercially available accessories.

If a few years ago an artificial fireplace was a symbol of luxury and an element of an elite interior, today this kind of construction is available to almost everyone. Moreover, you can assemble an artificial fireplace with your own hands as soon as possible. First you need to choose the optimal material specifically for your interior, and then equip a decorative fireplace in accordance with simple and understandable instructions.

An artificial fireplace can be built from a wide variety of materials. First of all, think about exactly how the finished faux fireplace should look. Choose the appropriate style, size, shape and decor.

Then take a close look at your pantry. It is possible that you have enough of some material left, suitable for arranging an artificial fireplace. For the rest, focus on your own preferences, remembering to take into account the important characteristics of each available material.

If a traditional wood-burning fireplace needs to be lined with exceptionally high-quality bricks with high refractory properties, then absolutely any brick can be used for laying an artificial fireplace - even facing, at least some colored decorative, at least ordinary silicate.

You can immediately embroider the masonry joints and your fireplace will have an attractive appearance. In the end, all that remains is to install the mantel. Brick faux fireplaces are best for country-style spaces.

Consider the fact that the finished structure made of the material in question will have a fairly large weight, therefore, before starting work, objectively assess the quality and reliability of the existing floors.

Lovers of environmentally friendly materials should pay attention to wood structures. You can use parquet, unedged and edged boards. To give an aesthetic appearance, the wood is covered with wood stain or varnish. The fireplace itself is best placed on a site made in the form of a pre-furnace sheet.

Wood is a light material, so the dimensions and shape of such an artificial fireplace for home can be almost anything, completely to your taste. It is allowed to use glue to connect the boards in the case of assembling a small structure. If the device is rather massive, use self-tapping screws, or even better - a complex connection of self-tapping screws and glue.

If you wish, you can come to the nearest furniture store, buy ready-made panels there and lay out an artificial fireplace from them. High-quality MDF and chipboard are suitable. Plywood also works well.

The boards can be pre-painted in the desired color or pasted over with decorative foil. A fireplace portal of the desired size and configuration is easily assembled from ready-made shields.

Chipboard can even be revetted with tiles or decorative stone. Here, focus on your preferences and available budget.

Diy wood fireplace

Boards, furniture boards and slabs are all fastened in approximately the same way.

First step. Assemble the faux fireplace frame. It is best to use a galvanized profile for this.

Pre-sketch at least an elementary drawing of the future fireplace indicating the main dimensions. Cut the profile into pieces of the desired size using a hacksaw or special scissors.

Attach the vertical frame posts to the floor and walls using a screwdriver and self-tapping screws. Attach horizontal crossbars to the uprights for greater stability.

In the process of planning the step between the frame posts, pay attention to the dimensions of the selected material for sheathing, i.e. the width of boards, wood-based panels, boards, etc.

Second phase. Try on the sheathing boards to the frame. Trim the bottom, top, or outer planks as needed to fill the entire space nicely.

Stage three. Attach the sheathing to the frame with self-tapping screws. An electric screwdriver will help you with this. Screw the self-tapping screws so that their caps go a little into the wood, and in the future they were not noticeable after finishing.

Stage four. Cover the mounting locations with decorative plugs. Paint the paneling, varnish it or use a different finishing material of your choice.

Fifth stage. Install the mantel. You can place various decorations on it.

Do you have the skills to work with metal products? Then it will not be difficult for you to make a wonderful metal artificial fireplace. This design will look truly stylish and original.

The shape and other design features depend solely on your personal preference. Metal fireplaces fit best with high-tech interiors and other modern styles.

Metal artificial fireplaces are more difficult to assemble than their counterparts made from other materials. Therefore, you need to take the work as responsibly as possible and do everything in full accordance with the recommendations received.

The first step is preparing a plan. Determine the preferred shape of the fireplace, the optimal dimensions of the structure, think over the decorative finish. Display all your ideas on paper with important dimensions.

The second stage is marking work. Mark the wall for the location of the mounts. Whenever possible, try to make the markings as accurate as possible, observing all the levels.

The third stage is the assembly of structural elements. The support of such an artificial fireplace will be an aluminum profile frame. Cut the profile into pieces of the desired size and attach them to the wall in accordance with the previously marked markings.

Cast on the frame and attach it to the wall with anchors.

Install the protruding structural elements. Sheathe the frame with sheets of the selected material. Usually, aluminum or stainless steel is used for cladding. For a more effective and beautiful design, you can use metal sheets of different colors.

For example, you can make the main edges from a light material, and the ends from a dark one, or vice versa. With proper execution, this technique allows you to abandon the finishing of the fireplace. Alternatively, you can sheathe the frame with the most common sheet metal, and then simply paint it in the desired color.

The fourth stage is the installation of equipment. Place an artificial fire in the assembled base.

If the fireplace you have chosen is not just a decoration, but also gives warmth, fix a layer of heat-insulating material on the inner metal walls of the base before installing it. Mineral wool heaters are perfect.

The most popular and easiest to implement option. The only difficulty for a beginner may arise at the stage of designing a metal frame, you just need to practice a little.

Drywall is extremely easy to handle and install. You can effortlessly cut the sheet into blanks of the required shape, bend drywall and perform other necessary actions.

Do-it-yourself drywall fireplace

First step. Make a frame using wood beams or metal profiles. Assemble a box with dimensions 130x120x30 cm from plasterboard sheets. The box must be without bottom and back walls. Use a sharp knife or hacksaw to cut drywall. Glue the parts of the box with assembly glue.

Second phase. Prepare a plasterboard base 150x40x20 cm in size. Install the finished "foundation" near the wall. For added security, glue the box to the floor with mounting glue.

Stage three. Glue the previously assembled fireplace structure to the "foundation". Place a mantel of a suitable size on top.

Stage four. Make a decorative chimney 80x15 cm from drywall and wooden slats (frame). Determine the height yourself - from the mantel to the ceiling surface. Glue the chimney to the wall and directly to the fireplace. Do this part of the design at your discretion, if you wish, you can do without it.

Fifth stage. Gently glue the skirting board to the “foundation” and the main body of the structure. In the case of the main part of the structure, the plinth should be glued under the mantelpiece. Here it is better to place it in steps, using products of different widths to obtain a beautiful smooth transition.

Sixth stage. Install your artificial firelight inside the plasterboard structure.

Seventh stage. Finish your faux fireplace. Do what you want here. For finishing, you can use water-dispersible paint, wallpaper, foam tiles and other suitable materials.

Fireplace decoration. Possible variant

Pay attention to the correct decoration of the surrounding space. The wall near the fireplace should be in harmony with it in style.

Artificial fireplaces lined with stone look very elegant, stylish and expensive. Decorative tiles will add a unique charm to the environment and will become a worthy decoration for almost any interior.

DIY decorative stone fireplace

Artificial fireplaces with stone cladding look truly chic. At the same time, the stone can be attached to almost any surface - even to a brick, even to drywall, even to any kind of other materials. The main thing is that the base is able to withstand the weight of the finish.

First step. Thoroughly clean the base from any dirt. If the stone will be attached to brickwork, first deepen the seams between the building elements using any sharp object.

Second step. Fasten the masonry mesh over the entire surface to be tiled.

Third step. "Try on" the cladding elements dry. It is most convenient to do this on the floor or some other plane. Simply transfer the projection of the fireplace to the surface and lay out the cladding elements on it. This way you can adjust the stones in shape, color and other indicators.

Fourth step. Move on to fixing the cladding elements. To obtain the highest quality and most durable coating, start cladding with the installation of the thickest tiles. You will be guided by them and will be able to understand which layer of glue to apply to thinner stones.

Attach the first tile in the lower corner. Lay out the corner completely and move on to the device for the upper horizontal row of cladding. The stones will be attached from the top of the fireplace to the base of the fireplace. For fixing the tiles, it is recommended to use an adhesive specially developed for such materials.

Usually the glue dries for 2-3 days. Check the exact time in the instructions for your product. Wait until the glue is completely dry and rub the seams. Make sure the grout you choose does not leave marks on your veneer beforehand. This can be done on some third-party piece of stone.

Decide on the material most suitable for your case and proceed with the arrangement of an artificial fireplace.

If none of the materials considered suits you, you can show your imagination and create a truly original design. For example, some craftsmen make beautiful hearths from large aquariums. It is enough to cover the bottom of the container with pebbles and install a biofireplace in it.

Happy work!