Make an artificial fire for the fireplace. How to make imitation brickwork

People living in apartment buildings, people often dream of a real fireplace, but it is impossible to build such a structure in such conditions. In this situation, the false fireplaces shown in the photo come to the rescue, with the help of which you can create a cozy atmosphere in the room.

For such a design you will need drywall, wood, metal carcass or tiles. Thanks to the wide selection of materials, you can build an imitation fireplace with your own hands in a certain style.

Features and varieties

The false fireplace is an imitation of the firebox and portal, which will become great decoration interior A similar design can be created in different styles with the addition of various decorative elements. Often, false fireplaces are used to hide interior imperfections.

Overall stands out three types of imitation fireplaces:

Imitation of a fireplace in the interior

The main advantage of this design is its versatility. If desired, such fireplaces can only be used to simulate fire, which can be seen in the photo. Some designers prefer to focus on the artificiality of the structure.

To decorate the portal are used different materials and objects. Most often, several candles are placed here. To make the design more realistic, just place a few logs in the fireplace insert.

The imitation fireplace looks great with firewood on a metal grate. In this case, it is recommended to organize additional yellow-red lighting.

A good everyday option would be to use the mantelpiece as a book holder. You can also place figurines, family portraits or a vase of flowers here.

False fireplaces are really appropriate in New Year's interior. On the portal you can lay out garlands, hang socks for gifts, and also arrange multi-colored balls and spruce wreaths with candles. Thanks to the use of a ready-made fireplace portal, after the end of the holiday, the structure can be stored in the basement.

Making a fake fireplace with your own hands

The easiest way is to purchase a ready-made portal. Thanks to the wide selection you will be able to choose suitable size. If desired, it will be possible to integrate an electric fireplace into such a design, having previously taken into account the dimensions and ventilation requirements.

Options for imitation fireplaces

Polyurethane construction

Of course, you can make a false fireplace made of polyurethane with your own hands. To do this, you will need a ready-made portal, special glue, putty and any finishing materials.

Installation:

1. First you need to decide on a place. It is best to install an imitation fireplace near the side wall. If you plan to install an electric fireplace or provide lighting, you must first carry out the electrical wiring and install an outlet.
2. From wooden beams or profile, a frame is made. You should also build plasterboard walls, which are attached to the portal with special glue. All gaps are filled with finishing putty.
3. The next stage is installing an electric fireplace and finishing the firebox. If desired, instead of an electric fireplace, you can decorate the back wall with a mirror, and lay out several decorative logs at the bottom.
4. Paint or gilding is suitable for decorating the portal.

Plasterboard construction

The simplest option involves creating a false fireplace do it yourself from plasterboard. This design will be appropriate in any room.

First you need to prepare the following materials:

When making a structure with your own hands, first of all you need sketch a fireplace taking into account dimensions and connection points.

Made from galvanized profile you need to make a frame. In this case, all elements are connected with self-tapping screws. To make the structure stable, the parts are fixed using transverse bridges. The bulky structure is additionally attached to the floor and walls.

Next, you need to cut out the sheets of drywall and secure them to the profile with self-tapping screws. All joints are puttied, and the corners are strengthened using a painting mesh. If necessary, the surface of the false fireplace should be level with putty.

The finished structure is finished using tiles, artificial stone or stucco. An imitation of a hearth or candle is installed inside the firebox. This fake fireplace is safe. Accordingly, it can even be placed in the room where children sleep.

Construction from old furniture

If desired, you can build an imitation fireplace from an old wardrobe or chest of drawers. This design is different in that it allows you to avoid extra costs for materials. In addition to furniture, you need to prepare several sheets of plywood, acrylic paint, various finishing materials, putty, grinder, jigsaw and screwdriver.

Doing the work yourself:

How to make an imitation fire

• The simplest option is to make a drawing. You can also put an electronic photo frame with a picture of fire.
• It is worth installing several candles in the inside of the fireplace. To enhance the effect, you should attach it to interior wall fireplace mirrors.
• You can place firewood on the shelf and attach an LED strip to the sides.
• The most realistic option involves installing an electric or bio-fireplace.

Artificial fireplaces are great fit into any interior. To create such a design, many finishing materials are suitable. Wherein ready product turns out to be completely safe. To create indoors cozy atmosphere using a false fireplace, just turn on the backlight or light a few candles.

What is imitation stone made of, and how to properly decorate a room using this method? What are the advantages or disadvantages of imitation, how to care for it, how to make it yourself - all this is in this article.

Create an imitation of stone on the wall

Stone is often used to decorate walls, because it creates a completely different feeling, giving the room coziness and completeness. But what to do when a natural stone for some reason - not an option? The solution to this problem is its imitation.

Relevance

Natural or artificial stone can take up a lot of space, so it is not recommended for decorating small rooms. And for imitation, materials that are completely different in size and texture are used, so you can choose the one that suits your needs. small room option.

Advantages and disadvantages

Among the advantages are the following:

• natural material is not always a budget solution. Imitation can be much cheaper;
• imitation sometimes requires less effort and time;
• a well-simulated stone creates almost the same impression as a natural one;
• you can create an option that suits your requirements and fits perfectly into the design.

• in the absence of skills, the result may not meet expectations;
• To learn how to produce such finishing yourself, you will have to be patient and read the relevant materials and tips.

Peculiarities

This method has a lot different options and corresponding nuances. But there are also many master classes that will help you make an imitation yourself.

How to apply decorative coating for stone walls

Before finishing, completely clean the wall of the previous coating and dirt, because the strength of the finished finish depends on this. Then apply primer to the surface. For greater strength, some use reinforcement mesh.

The finished mixture is applied in equal parts to small area walls and hands create the necessary shape, imitating stone. In addition, you can use tools such as a scarpel, a trojan or bush hammer, and special stencils. After drying, the surface is sanded and painted if necessary. To give additional volume, convex areas are painted more light color, and the recesses are dark.

The plaster is not applied to the entire area at once, because it will begin to dry out and you will not have time to form the texture.

Do it yourself plastering a wall to look like stone

The base consists of water, cement and sand. Depending on what the imitation is being created, various mixtures are added to the plaster (marble or quartz chips, lime, mica).

The resulting result depends on the additives. If additives are used in powder form, the surface will be smooth and vice versa.

Forms for finishing stone walls: what are they?

Special forms are used into which the solution is poured. The following types of these forms can be distinguished:

• elastic (made of silicone or rubber; the most commonly used option);
• rigid (plastic or metal is used as a basis);
• semi-rigid (polyurethane).

How to make an imitation stone on the wall with your own hands

Options:

1. Polystyrene foam will help create an imitation of masonry or stone.
2. If you need to issue small plot– create an imitation using acrylic paints.
3. Well, the simplest solution is wallpaper.

A more complex technique is papier-mâché.

1. First, parts corresponding to the shape of the stones are cut out of cardboard.
2. Then take the egg trays and cut them into pieces measuring about 7 by 7 cm. Stick them on the base, overlapping each other.
3. When all this is dry, you need to dilute the putty with water to the consistency of sour cream.
4. Cover the resulting workpieces with the composition.
5. After drying, paint with a roller, starting with dark and ending with light shades.
6. Then all that remains is to varnish them and glue them to the wall.

Finishing walls with stone-like plaster: photo examples

Plaster can be used to decorate an entire wall, for example, in a living room, thereby highlighting a recreation area. The color is chosen depending on the style in which the room is decorated, but it is still recommended to choose warm colors.

The finished version looks more interesting if you use several colors for painting.

To create a glossy surface, you can use the glazing technique, which will noticeably change the result.

One of fashion trends in interior decoration - Brick wall. Good for those who have a brick house. All they need is to knock off the plaster and slightly “tamper” what is available. What should the rest of us do? There are wallpapers and brick-like tiles, but not all of them are plausible, and good ones cost almost as much as a natural brick wall. The best option in this case - a self-made imitation brick for interior decoration. Moreover, “bricks-tiles” can be made separately, or you can decorate the entire wall in one go.

How to make an imitation brick wall: a short list of methods

The easiest way is if you have brickwork hidden under the plaster. Beat the plaster, clean the seams, prime and paint. The result is a natural brick wall. Moreover, it will look quite “old” and vintage. Those who are less fortunate will have to imitate this brickwork. The good news is that there are many ways available inexpensive materials, you can make a “brick wall” on concrete, plasterboard, plywood... any more or less durable surface. By the way, most techniques take little time. So, here's how to make imitation brick for interior decoration:

This is just a short list. There are several technological differences at each point. So imitation brick for interior decoration can be done in at least a dozen ways. Let's talk about some in more detail.

sawing brick

The idea of ​​replacing expensive “brick-like” finishing tiles with bricks loosened into plates seems reasonable. But you need a brick good quality, without voids, inhomogeneities, underburning or overburnt areas. In general, you need an expensive brick. Or old.

An example of sawn bricks... but these are two “beautiful” parts

It's better to cut it circular saw with water cooling. It will work out decorative tiles“brick-like” in natural color. The thickness of the tiles is at least 8-10 mm. The advantages are clear: low price, no need to paint - there is a natural color. This homemade tiles under the brick, they are then glued to the walls using regular tile adhesive.

We lay out any texture from sawn bricks. And this is for decorating external corners

But there are also disadvantages: you need a good quality brick, but you still have to find it. When cutting, the plates may break. Only two of them are obtained with a beautiful surface - the extreme ones. The rest will have to be modified manually, creating relief. It’s tedious, dusty, time-consuming, difficult, and it’s not a fact that brick imitation will actually be learned “at the level.”

Despite all the shortcomings, this method is used. And this is, perhaps, the only option for homemade imitation brickwork, which can be used for exterior finishing . For these purposes (finishing the facade of a building), by the way, you can cut the brick into two halves. Everything is cheaper than buying tiles.

How to draw brickwork on a wall

If “wet” or “dusty” work is not your thing, but you know how to draw at least a little, you can paint a brick wall. You will need acrylic paints, brushes, a pair of natural sponges, masking tape, and thick paper plates for mixing paints. When thinning paints, remember that acrylic paints darken as they dry. And one more thing: they dry quickly, but freshly applied ones can be removed with a clean cloth soaked in water.

First we prepare workplace: cover the baseboard and adjacent floor with polyethylene or old wallpaper (it’s better to fix it with tape). Use masking tape to outline the boundaries - at the top, on the sides. At the bottom there is a limiter - a plinth, although in order not to get dirty, it can be removed.

Drawing bricks on the wall

1. Paint the wall white semi-matte acrylic paint. Leave to dry.
2. Preparing the background paint. In one of the paper plates, mix 1/6 part umber, 1/6 black paint and 4/6 titanium white. Immediately prepare a little paint, apply it to the wall using a sponge, simply applying the surface soaked in paint to the wall. You shouldn’t try to make a solid background - it should be torn and textured. In some places we apply the paint more densely, passing twice, in some places we apply a more transparent layer.

   

3. On a dry background, draw several rows of bricks by hand, not using a ruler. We focus on the standard for masonry: 25 * 6.5 cm, seam thickness - 0.8-1.2 cm. When marking, keep in mind that using this technology it is easier to make the seam a little narrower by painting it, than to try to widen it later.
4. To paint “bricks” you need to mix ocher and sienna in different proportions, getting different shades“brick” colors - from yellowish-orange to brownish. We got some shade, painted several “bricks” in random places. We mixed a new batch and painted over the other bricks. We apply the paint with a brush, without trying to get a uniform surface or a dense layer of paint - the background layer is visible. The edges of the “bricks” also should not be smooth.
5. For a traditional red-brown color, to sienna and red ocher, add a little light ocher and a little white. You can paint several bricks in a row with this color.

   

6. One more shade - to the above composition we will add brown mars and a little water. Apply with a brush or sponge - as desired.
7. If you add white and burnt sienna to ocher and sienna, you get another color.
8. We paint all the bricks in random order with these shades.
9. We dilute white and a little ocher, add water. Apply the composition with a sponge, acting as a tampon.
10. We take the old one toothbrush and burnt bone paint. We dip the bristles in paint and spray them on the wall, imitating the heterogeneity and texture of clay bricks.

    

11. We add volume to the bricks: dip a thin brush in a mixture of umber and white. We bring all the bricks from below and to the right or left. Everything is on one side, depending on where the window is located (on the side opposite to the window). The thickness of the liner varies, since the masonry and the bricks themselves cannot be ideal.

It takes much longer to describe than to do it all. A beginner can draw about 30 squares of imitation brickwork in a day. For maximum verisimilitude, there are several secrets, which we will discuss below.

Final touches

To ensure that the brickwork painted on the wall is as close to natural as possible, there are several little secrets:

With some skill and effort, you can ensure that the painted brickwork looks like the natural one. The main rule: imperfection and heterogeneity.

Imitation brick for interior decoration using plaster mortar

The general idea is simple: a layer of plaster or tile adhesive is applied to the wall, and a seam is cut/pressed into it. After processing the edges of the “bricks” and seams, painting, you get something like brickwork to varying degrees credibility. Everything is simple, but there are significant differences and nuances.

What and how to make a solution from

The first question that arises is: what kind of solution is needed and from what? There are many recipes. Here are some options:

Regardless of what you make the solution from, it should be semi-dry and should not leak under any circumstances. It will not need to be leveled, so its plasticity is not important to you, and the adhesive ability will be provided by additives - tile adhesive and PVA. To adjust the consistency, add water in small portions.

Surface preparation

The wall on which we will imitate brickwork does not have to be even. It should be free of dust and dirt, crumbling fragments and particles. This is where the requirements end.

The process of preparing the wall is a careful approach: first they make markings

Before starting work better wall prime. The type of primer depends on the substrate. If the wall is concrete or loose, walk with “concrete contact”. It will bind crumbling particles and create an adhesive surface on which any composition fits perfectly. If we are decorating plywood, gypsum board or other similar material, we can do without a primer, or we can coat it with diluted PVA.

Technology No. 1. We use thin tape to draw seams

First, we paint the wall to match the color of the seams between the bricks. Some are planning gray-brown, others white-gray. We cover the wall with paint of a suitable shade. On the prepared base using a narrow masking tape(1 cm or a little less/more), apply markings. The tape will mark the seams between the bricks, so stick it horizontally, at a distance of about 6-6.5 cm from each other. When the horizontal lines are pasted, glue the short vertical ones. They are 23-25 ​​cm apart from each other - this is the length of a standard building brick, but decorative ones can be shorter.

Now we take the solution and apply it to the wall. The layers are unequal, the thickness is 0.3-0.5 cm. We apply it “as it happens”, without achieving flat surface, smooth transitions... As it turned out, so be it. We only avoid obvious bald spots through which the wall shines. We filled the area, took a flat trowel (grater), and slightly smoothed out what we got. Leave until slightly dry: so that when you press with your finger, the composition is slightly pressed through.

We pry up the ends of the horizontally pasted strips of adhesive tape in any place (when gluing, leave the “tails”), pull, removing along with the solution adhering to the tape. We remove the entire mesh. The edges of the “bricks” turn out to be torn and uneven. This is fine. Even good.

Take a toothbrush or paint brush with fairly stiff bristles. Use a toothbrush to go along the seams, removing any remaining mortar. At the same time, the edges of the bricks are rounded. Then we take a wider brush and use it to go over the surface, adding naturalness and removing too sharp edges. Leave to dry at room temperature for about 48-72 hours. Do not force dry it - it will crack. Although, if you want to have cracks... If the composition was not painted in bulk, it's a matter of painting.

Technology No. 2: cutting the “seams”

This method of simulating brick for interior decoration takes less time: no tape is required. Apply the solution to the surface of the wall. Everything is exactly the same as described above, only the layer can be thicker - up to 0.8-1 cm. After waiting until the solution “sets” a little, we mark the seams. Here again there are options:

The second option is more accurate. But you have to be careful not to make it too smooth. Although, due to the fact that the hand trembles, the seam “walks” slightly, which gives a more believable look.

Having made the horizontal seams, we proceed to cutting the vertical ones - also by hand. The width of the bricks is about 6 cm, the length is around 23-25 ​​cm. Having finished, we wait for 12-14 hours. Until the composition has set enough to be picked out. When the concrete begins to crumble under strong pressure, take a wide screwdriver (the usual one with a “spatula”) and use it to pick out the solution between the cut strips.

In progress…

When the seams are cleaned, take a stiff brush or brush and remove the remaining mortar and crumbs. The bristles on the brush should be fairly stiff. If the solution is dry, you can try more drastic measures - a wire brush.

Technology No. 3: saw seams

This method of making imitation brickwork for interior decoration differs only in that instead of a knife we ​​take an old hacksaw blade.

After waiting until the solution sets and does not slide, we use a saw to mark the boundaries of the seams. Here you choose one of the methods described above. But you don’t have to wait any longer: use a hacksaw to paint out the seams little by little. Long horizontal seams are quick to make, but vertical ones are not very convenient, since the fabric is not very suitable for short distances.

This method is good because there is no danger of “over-drying” the solution. You can do the “jointing” as soon as the solution hardens a little. In this state, it is easier to round the edges of the bricks, giving them a natural “old age”. The downside is that you have to get used to it, otherwise you might end up doing something bad.

Making a mold for casting brick tiles from plaster

An imitation of brick for interior decoration in an apartment or house can also be cast: you can make gypsum tiles in the form of bricks yourself. To do this, an impression is taken from interesting specimens of bricks (a mold is made to form an artificial finishing stone), and then a gypsum solution is poured into it. The resulting tiles are used for wall decoration. This technology is good because it allows you to prepare several forms in which you can make bricks different colors for different rooms.

We find interesting shaped bricks and several almost ordinary ones, but with different minor defects. We will use them to cast the mold. It is desirable that there be at least a dozen of them, or better yet, more. “Artificial brickwork” will be more varied.

On the side that we will “multiply”, apply grease or heated wax mixed with kerosene. This is necessary so that the silicone does not stick to the surface. When everything is dry, apply a layer to the treated side silicone sealant. The layer thickness is 1-1.5 cm. Leave until the silicone is completely polymerized (the time depends on the type, it is written on the package).

When the silicone has hardened, take polyurethane foam and coat the mold without removing it from the brick. After the foam has hardened, remove the brick and level the bottom of the mold so that it stands level. Can be used by filling with gypsum mortar. It sets quickly; if you have a dozen molds, in 2-3 days you can make tiles for a couple of squares simulating a brick wall. By the way, gypsum mortar can be painted in bulk. Then new cracks and chips are not a problem - just like a brick.

How and what to paint

IN Lately The white brick wall has become fashionable. If you are going to do just this, there are no problems: apply the seams with a brush, use a roller to apply the surface. If you want something that is not too monochromatic, add a little tint to the base color composition - gray, brown, yellow... or even pink or blue. Paint with this paint. Add more white to the remainder and add highlights with this lighter composition using a semi-dry roller, sponge, or brush. If desired, you can apply the top “shadows” with silver, bronze, adding a little gold. Here's how you like it best.

Imitation brick in the bedroom - looks very stylish

If the seams in the imitation brickwork should be darker, go over them first with a brush. Then, using a roller with short or medium pile, we paint the very surface of the bricks. If you take a roller with even shorter pile, dip it in paint of a different shade (lighter or darker - it depends), in bronze, silver, gold, etc. and with this roller, quickly, lightly touching, paint over the most protruding parts, you will get an even more interesting effect. In general, you can experiment. With this approach, imitation brick becomes a design object and the main interior decoration.

This article is atypical for a site that discusses heating and ventilation issues, since it will discuss the popular homemade homemade- life-size imitation fireplace. Of course, a dummy cannot fully replace flaming wood. But a 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 available materials will go to making a false fireplace and how to make it with your own hands.

What can a decorative hearth be made from?

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

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

This is how they look simple crafts corrugated cardboard

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

Stationary models of false fireplaces that can last for many years are made from other materials, including polystyrene foam. They are designed in accordance with the interior of the apartment and different ways create an imitation of fire or decorate with candles. We suggest considering the production of each option separately.

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

Dummy from a cardboard box

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

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

1. A large TV box is bent over the right sizes as shown in the photo. An opening is cut out in the middle to simulate a fireplace, and the former front panel of the package, divided in half, now serves as the walls of a niche - a fake fuel chamber.
2. From several cardboard boxes of the same size, it is easy to assemble a portal in the shape of the letter “P” by gluing them together with PVA and tape.
3. From sheets of corrugated cardboard you will need to glue individual elements decorative fireplace - frame, firebox with base and top shelf, and then collect them into one whole. How to do this correctly is demonstrated in the diagram below.

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

If you need to strengthen your homemade structure so that it does not “fold” along and across its axis, install cardboard stiffeners on the back side, placing them on glue. Reinforcing thin walls is easily done using strips of the same corrugated cardboard folded like an accordion, as shown in the photo.

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

Note. The manufacturing technology for the corner version of the fireplace is no different from the wall-mounted model. Only large packaging will have to be folded differently, and sheets will have to be formed from boxes of the same type, and only then - portal elements.

This is how you need to bend a large box to get a corner pseudo-fireplace

The finished body of the false fireplace can only be finished using any chosen method, for example:

• cover with wallpaper imitating brickwork;
• veneer with bricks cut with your own hands from thin polystyrene foam;
• decorate with polyurethane or foam stucco;
• sheathed with plastic panels with imitation artificial and natural stone, masonry and so on.

To securely attach finishing materials, use a polymer adhesive or an inexpensive glue gun. Final design - painting the product in the desired color (or several) with an acrylic or silicate composition intended for interior work. For a master class on how to make a decorative fireplace 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) posts of the frame;
• the same, size 4 x 2 cm - for jumpers;
• table top made of solid wood or laminated chipboard– on the top shelf;
• any cheap plywood - for sheathing;
• suitable finishing material– artificial stone, plastic panels, polyurethane moldings, tiles and so on.

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

Wooden frame complete with mantel

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

Finishing with plywood sheets

Important point. In the case when you need to put it inside artificial fireplace an electric firebox with imitation flame, the dimensions of the opening must correspond to its dimensions. Another nuance: at the back between the wall and the firebox body, be sure to maintain a distance of at least 5 cm.

The simplest and inexpensive option facing - cover the gaps between the plywood sheets with putty, clean it sandpaper and then paint. Another cheap way is finishing PVC panels, imitating brick, as shown in the photo. How to mount correctly this material, is described in the corresponding article.

Mantelpiece should be sanded and varnished if it is made of solid wood. All that remains is to design the portal to create the impression of combustion in a pseudo-fuel tank. The assembly process is briefly and clearly shown in the video:

Making a false fireplace from plasterboard

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

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

1. Using the drawing, draw the outline of the future decorative fireplace on the wall with a pencil.
2. Using dowels, attach horizontal and vertical profiles(wooden blocks).
3. Assemble the frame from wall and ceiling profiles for installation of gypsum boards, starting from the side walls. Lastly, the firebox niche is formed.
4. Cover the frame with plasterboard and seal all joints with putty. Do not rush to install the fireplace insert - it is installed after finishing.

When installing an electric firebox, sockets in the niche will be very useful

Note. In principle, nothing prevents you from first assembling the frame, and then screwing it to the wall and sheathing it with plasterboard. 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.

The 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 to finish the portal (there are too many), but will suggest that you watch the next video on its assembly:

Almost real brick fireplace insert

Despite the labor intensity of constructing such a structure and its cost, brickwork will provide the closest possible approximation to a natural living hearth. Plus strength and durability - unlike gypsum plasterboard, the stone is not afraid of random shock loads.

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

Portals made of various types of bricks

Of course, brickwork requires a reliable foundation, so it is strictly not recommended for residents of apartment buildings to build such false fireplaces on the floors. Another thing is the first floor of a private house, where in the process of repairing the floors you can lay a foundation in the form of a concrete slab.

To work, you will need a standard tool - a trowel, a wide spatula and a plumb level. To put it beautifully decorative brick“to the wasteland”, rent a special masonry template shown in the picture.

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

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

1. Determine the dimensions of the building and adjust it to fit standard length brick - 25 cm. Recalculate the amount of building material and buy ready-made mortar based on cement.
2. Clear the base, prepare the solution and lay out the first continuous row, keeping it horizontal across the entire plane. Then lay the second row with the dressing using the template. The hearth part is ready.
3. Constantly monitoring the vertical, build the walls of the false fireplace to the height of the firebox (approximately 60-70 cm), then cover the opening from above with steel corners.
4. Lay the last 4-5 rows of bricks and let the mortar in the masonry harden for 3-4 days. Then install a 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 here is the principle of constructing a stone hearth

Advice. You can build such a fireplace from any brick, including used and old. You just have to clean it thoroughly, and after finishing the work, paint it or cover it with colorless varnish. Take as a basis the layout of a real English fireplace, but without a chimney and internal partitions: install only the outer walls and pseudo-fuel tank.

In conclusion - about fire imitation

The manufacture of a decorative fireplace cannot be called complete without creating the appearance of a burning flame in the firebox. We offer several options to choose from on how to organize this effect:

• a popular way is to place a mirror near the back wall of the niche and place lighted candles;
• use the products of new technologies - LED strips or candles (there are such);
• install an electric fireplace, decorative firebox or bio-fireplace with a real flame into the portal;
• install small lamps;
• place 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.

Newfangled LED devices imitate heat quite well, the main thing is to arrange everything correctly. The photo shows good example with a luminous tape laid out around the perimeter of the firebox. The composition can be supplemented with artificial firewood and other commercially available accessories.

Initially, the fireplace in the house was intended primarily for heating. Nowadays, it saves city residents from the cold central heating. At the same time, a fireplace is still associated with home comfort, a place for rest and relaxation. Therefore, in modern interior I want to get my own fireplace, but solely for the sake of beauty. To do this, a false fireplace is erected, in which fire is present as heat for the soul, and not for the body.

You can make a home decorative portal yourself or hire a specialist, or you can purchase a ready-made dummy. It all depends on your desires and capabilities. To create a complete decoration, you need to pay attention to the main attribute of the fireplace - fire. Naturally, a real flame is not possible for every fireplace. But anyone can create an imitation of fire on their own.

Types of decorative fireplaces

Available on the market big choice ready-made portals. Do you prefer ready-made option or you want to do it yourself - decide for yourself. Before doing this, familiarize yourself with the features of each type.

1. The most democratic option is a portal made of cardboard and foam. They are easy to manufacture and affordable. Imitating fire in a fireplace with your own hands is only permissible from sources without a flame as such. Such materials are highly flammable and require careful handling. Keep in mind one more feature of cardboard and polystyrene - they will not support heavy objects. Therefore, all decorative attributes should be extremely light.
2. Building a fireplace from plasterboard is not difficult. The material is easy to process and affordable. Its feature is fire resistance, so you can easily place candles in it. But, like previous types, drywall cannot withstand heavy loads.
3. Plywood is easy to handle, unique in its naturalness and environmental friendliness. It is important to know that this material does not like moisture.
4. Brick and stone are aesthetically beautiful materials that will last for a long time. When creating a fireplace hearth, you will need basic skills in laying bricks and stones. You will have to set aside a considerable budget for construction. In addition, the final work can be quite heavy and not every floor in a high-rise building will withstand construction.

Creating a fireplace

A dummy fireplace is not intended to heat a room. For this function, there are special electronic hearths of the most different sizes, shapes, materials. For those who need a fireplace as a design solution, decide on the type of fireplace and consider options for fire impersonations. Let's start with the simplest ones.

Fairy lights

You will need the garland itself, a source of energy and decorative decorations for it in the form of logs. It is better for the lamps to flicker in yellow, orange and red colors.

Do-it-yourself lace branches will help add a realistic effect. To create an unusual decoration you will need: tree branches, foil, lace, glue, stones.

We wrap the branches with foil without gaps, and glue lace on top of the foil. Let it dry for about a day. Afterwards, we cut and carefully remove the tree branches. We form a circle from the stones (if desired, the stones can be painted any color), lay out a garland in the middle, and form the resulting lacy branches like a bonfire. Turn on the garland and the logs will sparkle with glimmers of fire colors. This is an amazingly simple and effective way to create a dummy fire in a fireplace.

Candles

You can use candlesticks, candelabra, or simply arrange large candles according to your design. We emphasize that this option is not suitable for every light fireplace, because the flames can leave a black mark.

Exists interesting way effective presentation of candles in the fireplace. To do this you will need several medium, neat logs. In each we cut out 2-3 recesses the size of a small candle in metal stand. The result will be a sophisticated imitation of a fireplace fire with minimum costs finances and time.

photos

Salt lamps

Special lamps made of salt crystals look great in a false fireplace. A salt lamp will be an interesting embodiment of a real fire in a fireplace. The main “disadvantage” of this design solution is the high cost. But there is a big “plus” - salt crystals will benefit the health of the whole family.

LCD screen

Putting a screen in a fireplace is quite an expensive solution. The main difficulty with this replacement for a real fire is installing the screen. The image of the flame will dance elegantly and crackle soothingly in the fireplace portal.

To increase the effect of fire burning on the screen, several mirrors placed in the hearth at different distances and under different angles. The screen image will perfectly imitate fire, and the mirrors will create an illusory effect of a three-dimensional image.

Do you prefer more interesting solutions your interior idea, then you will have to make some efforts. Let's look at how to make fire more realistic and fascinating with your own hands.

Woodpile made of cardboard or real wood with LED lamp and fabric fire

For self-made To make logs you will need cardboard, glue, scissors, paint, and a brush. We form logs from cardboard, paint them in the color you like, lay them out in the form of a well and glue them together. A well made from real wood is created a little easier: we take prepared logs and glue them together with construction glue.

You will need a cartridge for fire LED lamp, flickering randomly different colors(ideally it would be to combine red and yellow colors), a lampshade, a light, uniform lightweight fabric that transmits light, four strong wires from 15 to 30 cm long.

We insert the lampshade and fix the woodpile on top, fasten the wire to the logs, and the other ends to each other. We fasten the fabric over the wire. Turn on the LED and enjoy the resulting small fake fire

Theater fire

A very impressive type of artificial flame. It will require the following elements: a silent small fan, diodes of different colors (ideally red, yellow and blue colors), a reflective surface (this could be fragments of a mirror, foil, etc.), scraps of silk of different sizes and shapes, a small box where we will place everything.

The box should be decorated, then:

• install a fan in it;
• place the diodes next to each other;
• attach the finished scraps next to the fan

The fire will turn out to be alive. All that remains is to place the box in the portal and enjoy beautiful view with a cup of aromatic tea in your hands and in good company.

Aquarium as an imitation of fire

The play of water and light is always fascinating. You can use this successful ensemble in the fireplace instead of a fire. Prepare the following equipment: an aquarium of any shape and size (the main thing is that it fits into the fireplace), a fiery LED strip, water. Place a tape on the bottom of the aquarium and pour water into the aquarium. Decorate the structure at your discretion with shells, tree branches, pebbles, glass, pebbles, etc.