Decorative fireplace do it yourself +100 photo ideas

A real fireplace can bring incredible comfort and coziness. But such a home is available not only in private houses and some townhouses, but also in ordinary apartments. Here comes to the aid of the decorative hearth. It can be made independently of various materials or bought in a store. To make an artificial fireplace look relevant and stylish, you will have to think through many details: starting from its appearance and ending with its location in the space of the room. Correctly made hearth is able to completely change the appearance of the room, complement the interior of the living room, create a romantic bedroom atmosphere.

Features and types

There are several options for decorative stoves. They differ in size, materials, similarities with real ones. It is customary to distinguish 3 groups of false fireplaces:

Authentic;
Conditional;
Symbolic.

Whatever option is used, it will be highly functional. In addition to making changes in the interior design, an artificial hearth will allow you to hide the imperfections of the wall, hide the wires, and also create additional storage space.

Reliable

This type of artificial stoves looks the most genuine among all false-fireplaces. Its size and appearance imitates the center so well that the difference to an uninitiated person is not immediately obvious. The only thing missing is the chimney. Such similarity is made possible thanks to the materials from which a reliable fireplace is created. For this purpose, profiles made of metal, wood, stone, ceramic tile, parquet, drywall, even brick are used. Specific material is selected based on the design style of the room, financial capabilities, as well as the willingness to use inside a false fireplace a real source of heat. Reliable fireplaces are often made to order, since some building materials require professional processing. Therefore, such a focus is significantly different in price from other species. It is also worth noting that a reliable fireplace is the only kind of artificial hearth within which you can put a burner or electric fireplace.

If you plan to install a real heat source inside the hearth, select heat and heat resistant materials to create it.

Conditional

With such an imitation of the focus, the artificial portal protrudes directly from the room partition, so its depth is significantly less than that of the authentic. Install inside a real burner or electric fire, as with a reliable false fireplace, it becomes impossible. Therefore, small firewood, candles, and other decorative trifles are put in the furnace niche. A small deepening of the conditional fireplace is compensated for by the mirror surface inside the portal. External similarity with the real hearth is achieved with the help of decorative elements outside the false fireplace. These can be bulky candlesticks installed on the shelf or carved siding imitating tiles of medieval stoves.

Symbolic or drawn

As follows from the name of this type of decorative hearths, it serves exclusively the role of decor, complementing the overall style concept of the room. Making a fireplace with your own hands is the easiest. To do this, even the most simple materials will fit, for example, a box from a TV. Some designers do not make a symbolic false-fireplace, but paint it on the wall and decorate it with ceiling plinth or other material. When you create a painted fireplace you need a minimum of cash and special skills, so this version of the artificial hearth is available to every family and every apartment.

The advantages of decorative fireplaces

The advantages of artificial fireplaces over the real ones are obvious:

They can easily be installed in any apartment without obtaining permission for redevelopment and installation of the chimney.
A false fireplace can be installed in all parts of the room, and some types can even be moved to another place if necessary.
The artificial centers are available at the price and service, do not demand additional expenses after installation.
Decorative stoves are safe, and therefore they can even be used by families with small children.
You can change the appearance of the false fireplace, even after it is installed, without being tied to a specific design style for many years.

Location

As mentioned earlier, a huge advantage of a decorative fireplace is that it can be positioned in any part of the house or apartment, focusing solely on convenience and home interior. As a rule, the future owners of an artificial hearth prefer to place it on one of the walls, but it is possible to build a false fireplace in one of the corners or even in the middle of the room. The main rule that must be observed when installing a decorative fake is free access to it. Indeed, in addition to the aesthetic function, this part of the decor also has a relaxing function. There is not a single person who would not like to sit next to the fireplace, even if artificial, in a comfortable chair and with a book in his hands. Spending quiet family evenings in such an environment is very nice.

Near the wall

The wall placement option is relevant in several cases:

If you want to emphasize the classic interior room.
If it is part of the wall furniture complex.
If the hearth will be used as an additional source of heat in the apartment.
If the free space of the room where the raised fireplace is installed, is limited.

Before installing the wall decorative sample, you must make sure that the wall is flat. Only then between her and the hearth will not remain an ugly gap. The location for the location of the false fireplace is best to choose the center of the wall. In this case, the fireplace will emphasize the harmonious design of the room.

In the corner

Corner decorative hearth is ideal for rooms with a small area, because it takes up little space. More functionality has a fireplace, installed in the opposite corner of the entrance. Next to it you can place a soft area with a sofa or chairs. In addition, when entering a room with such a false fireplace, it is he who will attract priority attention. Particularly interesting angular focus looks in rooms with uneven corners, protrusions of the bearing beams. With proper decoration, these designs will look like a chimney, which will add realism. The structure of the corner fireplace is such that even the conventional version will have a fairly wide portal and a shelf, which means not only saves space, but also provides a fairly large storage area.

Island

The island artificial center for its installation requires much more free space than the wall or corner, and therefore this option is used in large rooms, studios. Its peculiarity is that it is possible to approach the heat source from any side, but at the same time you will not notice any discomfort or tightness. There is such a fireplace much less often than the others, but if it is installed, then a burner or an electric hearth is placed inside it. Decorative island pattern successfully complements the design of the Scandinavian or any other minimalist style. In order to make an island-type false fireplace on your own, it is necessary to make a lot of effort, therefore, most often they are ordered from professionals or bought ready-made.

Materials and methods of making the portal do it yourself

There are many photos and videos of master classes, telling how to create different types of foci with their own hands. In many cases, even a dabbler of design art is capable of making a false fireplace. The hardest part is making the portal. Before starting work, you need to select a specific design and find the materials to be used. More often than others, when creating decorative furnaces, drywall, brick, stone, plastic, laminated plates, wood, and cardboard are used. It is necessary to choose materials based on several parameters: the general style of the room, the size of the building, the type and purpose of the fireplace. Work will also require special tools.

From plasterboard

Drywall is the most popular material for creating a decorative fireplace. In addition to it, you will also need metal profiles, screws, putty and some tools (screwdriver, grinder, etc.). The creation and installation of drywall goes through several stages:

Sketch drawing.
Determining the place of installation and applying appropriate marks on the walls.
The frame parts are cut from the metal profile, after fitting them to the place where the raised fireplace is installed, the complete design is assembled using screws.

If a reliable fireplace is assembled from drywall, in which an electrical installation is planned to be installed in the future, then at this stage of creation it is necessary to take care of leading the electrical outlet to the installation site.

The finished frame is sheathed with plasterboard.
Sheathed frame mounted in the wall.
The finished portal is puttied, painted and decorated.

Brick and stone

For the manufacture of a false fireplace from a brick or stone, it is required to ensure the high quality of the materials used. Save on the purchase of bricks is not worth it, to create a portal they will not need very much. The work is carried out according to the following scheme:

A sketch is drawn and marks are placed in the installation location.
Laid out a small brick pillow under the entire area of the fireplace.
Launched portal, starting with the corners of the hearth. In this case, the next row can be started to be laid only after the previous one has dried. In addition, each row should be checked using a level, and when gaps between rows appear, carefully close them with sand-cement mixture. This will make the fireplace smooth and neat.
The top of the fireplace is covered with worktop.
The decoration of the finished portal is performed.

Polyurethane

Polyurethane allows you to make a very durable and fire-resistant decorative hearth. At the same time, the material is suitable for creating artificial fireplaces of completely different styles: from classic to modern.

Stages of creation step by step:

Create a sketch.
Preparing the installation site, namely, marking the walls, leveling and drying.
Then a marking is applied on the polyurethane, along which parts of the fireplace are cut.
Structural elements are fastened together with screws and glue.
The portal is being decorated.

From plates with laminated coating

A raised fireplace made of laminated panels is rare. Firstly, because it is rather difficult to cut such plates yourself. Secondly, due to the high cost of materials. In general, the technology is very similar to the manufacture of decorative fireplace from plasterboard:

Draw a sketch of the hearth.
Making tags on the walls.
Cut the details of the frame. If you cannot do it yourself, you can contact a specialist for help.
The frame of the cut parts is assembled into a single portal, while the corners and the joints are plentifully filled with assembly foam.
The dried foam is shaped to fit the sketch.
The fireplace is decorated.

Out of carton box

Decorative fireplace, cut out of a cardboard box, is made so easily that even children can help you. The best thing for this job is a box from a large TV, if you want to make a wall hearth, and a box from a refrigerator and other large household appliances, if the fireplace is angular. To create a false fireplace, located near the wall, you will need:

Come up with a sketch.
Draw on the box line folds.
Further, in the center of the box, a furnace hole is cut out, the necessary sides are bent into the box, imitating a recess in the portal.
The resulting frame is carefully glued with tape and glue to the surface was as smooth as possible.
The finished portal is painted and decorated.

Corner artificial hearth is done in the same way, with small features:

The box is installed directly in the corner where the fireplace will be located, the dimensions of the corner are adjusted and given a triangular shape.
A furnace hole is cut in the front wall, the necessary parts of the box are bent inwards.
The triangular shape is carefully fixed on all sides with glue and tape.
From above, as a table-top, plywood keeps within.
Ready fireplace is decorated.

It is worth noting that the fireplace, made of cardboard, is very short-lived. It will easily decorate your apartment during the New Year and Christmas holidays, however, if you want to use a false fireplace for a long time. We recommend to make it from other materials.

From wood

Plywood, chipboard, timber and other materials can be used as wood materials when creating a fake fireplace. Before starting work, as in other cases, you need to draw a drawing and make a markup on the wall. Further, the course of work will vary slightly, depending on the selected material. If chipboard is used:

The plates are cut into elements in accordance with the sketch.
The edges are smoothed with a special tape.
From the metal profile is going to frame the portal.
The finished frame is sheathed chipboard.
The decor is made.

The same principle is going to the hearth of plywood. If it is based on a bar or board, then the course of work is as follows:

Materials are sawn in accordance with the sketch.
The frame is going into a single structure.
Then moldings or other decorative elements are cut out of individual bars and nailed to the frame.
The decor is made.

Decorative trim

No matter what material your decorative fireplace is made of, the process of decorating will be the last stage of its creation. The methods of decoration vary, depending on the type of fireplace, its size, purpose and style of the room. Symbolic fireplace, made of boxes, beautifully decorated with wallpaper, foam, borders. With their help, you can come up with a relief of a fake hearth. Ceramic tile, tiles, mosaic will be suitable for decoration of authentic fireplace from plasterboard. Conditional fireplace can be decorated with siding, plastic panels.

Flame inside the portal

A fireplace without a flame, even a fake one, will not bring the pleasure that real fire brings. To simulate the fire, you can use several different options:

Draw a fire on a paper canvas and stick it on the back wall of the portal. This option is especially good for false fireplaces made of cardboard, because the use of even lit candles in it can lead to tragedy. If the artistic talent is not peculiar to you, order a picture from the artist or print a ready-made version from the Internet.
Install a small LCD display inside the hearth that broadcasts a burning fire. Such devices, designed specifically for artificial foci, are sold in furnaces and hardware stores.
Highlight the furnace hole with a small decorative lamp, such as a salt lamp.
Use Christmas lights or LED strips. In this case, the light bulbs are placed in the very center of the portal and slightly covered with thin branches.
Use lighted candles.

Examples of the use of the decorative hearth in various rooms

An artificial fireplace, unlike the present, can be installed not only in the living room, but also in any other room. In the children's room during the New Year holidays, you can build a hearth out of the boxes and decorate it in accordance with Christmas traditions: hang socks in which to fold treats for kids. At the same time, it is better to install a fireplace in front of the crib so that it draws attention to itself immediately after waking up. In the bedroom next to the window will fit a reliable fireplace. You can put a rocking chair next to him and spend long winter evenings reading books in a cozy atmosphere. If the hearth is installed in the living room, then it is desirable to do so opposite the soft zone. On the floor in front of the fireplace itself, you can lay a small carpet with a long nap. Such an imitation of the hearth will delight not only the owners, but also the guests of the apartment.

Unusual design

In addition to the above classical methods of decorating an artificial fireplace, designers have long used more unconventional options that match the style of the room. Various vases, plates and figurines will decorate the fireplace, located in a room with ethnic interior. Pictures and photos inserted in frames add a highlight to modern styles. Romantic setting complement the fireplaces decorated with flowers, pillows, various beads. With the external design of the focus, you can not be afraid of experiments and look for the most suitable option for yourself.

Conclusion

A fake fireplace is not just a tribute to fashion, but a real designer find, which is available for every person in any apartment. And the sooner you think about installing a decorative hearth, the more different options you can realize. Ideally, think of a fireplace before the completion of apartment renovation when moving. Then it can be easily entered into the interior with minimal economic costs. Но даже позднее придумать и реализовать интересный эскиз в своей квартире вполне в ваших силах.