Each person strives for coziness and comfort. The hearth, its warmth - that's what warms the soul. And what could be better than an evening spent with the family by the fireplace in the living room? Owners of country cottages and houses are able to afford this luxury. And what about city dwellers?
The solution is to install false fireplace- this is a kind of design, the design of which repeats in full or in part the appearance of a real fireplace. Do not think that this is a difficult task, an experienced master, and an ordinary person, easilywith hercope.
What is it for
The absence of special ceilings and chimneys in the apartment does not allow building a real fireplace. But there is a way out, because you can make a false fireplace with your own hands, moreover, without having skills in repair and construction activities. This master class will help you.
A false fireplace in the interior is multifunctional decoration An that demonstrates the privileged class. The fire inside it is not necessary at all. In addition, the creation of such a structure is an entertaining job that leaves room for a flight of fancy. As a result, a false fireplace for the living room will be exclusive, which you can be proud of, in addition, it will give the interior a higher class.
Advantages of artificial fireplaces
False fireplaces have a range of benefits:
- The decorating process provides for budget-friendly, but beautiful and unusual materials.
- A fake fireplace can be made from many types of building materials that are available to everyone.
- A false fireplace is an inexpensive way decorate the living room space in the apartment. It will only take money to purchase the necessary building materials, and installation can be hold on your own.
- There is a unique opportunity to periodically change the decor of a false fireplace, whether it be painting or adding a new part.
Read also: We make a fireplace for the New Year with our own hands from cardboard
Types of decorative fireplaces
Depending on the structure and shape, false fireplaces can be divided into three types:
- Symbolic. They are built from simple improvised materials. But their specific feature is that they are strikingly different from conventional fireplaces. This includes pictures on the wall, beautiful stickers with various ornaments. The task of this variation is an abstract imitation, but without performing the main function.
- This type of fireplace must have protrusions relative to the living room wall. They are decorated in their own way. desire and taste. Firewood is placed in the fire hole or filled with candles. To achieve realism, an original forged grate is placed in front of the firebox. It will create a fictitious protection against flying sparks.
- The false fireplace has true dimensions and completely imitates a real fireplace. The design principles are the same. Installed in the middle of the furnace space. It will create a stunning effect of fire in the hearth. The false fireplace is characterized lack of a chimney. All other parameters clearly reproduce the proportions of a real fireplace.
What is it made from
To build a false fireplace, they resort to viewing the master class. You will also need ordinary building materials sold in any specialized store. A master who is fond of construction and repair will find home necessary materials such as the:
- plywood of medium thickness;
- a certain class of chipboard;
- simple cardboard;
- Styrofoam;
- brick;
- drywall.
If desired, you can use individual parts of the old furniture. It’s a pity to throw it away, but to make a false fireplace, it’s just right.
Polyurethane model
How to quickly and easily build a raised polyurethane fireplace? You will need to purchase a polyurethane base and study the master class. The main difficulty of the process lies in drawing up a work plan. In addition, it is necessary to prepare drawings for a false fireplace, think over its style, dimensions, corresponding to the parameters of the living room. All other work will take minimum time and effort.
Read also: Electric 3D fireplaces with steam
Before proceeding with installation, prepare the following materials:
- high-quality putty;
- polyurethane;
- contact adhesive;
- elements intended for finishing the internal firebox.
Installation procedure
Assembling a fake fireplace with your own hands will help step by step instruction master class:
- A false fireplace is best installed in the living room. A side wall will do. The corner option will also be ideal, because it will not interfere with the passage, and will not reduce the space of the living room. If you wish, you can see on the Internet how the master builds a false fireplace.
- If you plan to place an electric fireplace or lighting, you need to think about an additional outlet and wiring.
- For the frame of the furnace hole, several wooden bars are taken. The walls are constructed using drywall or plywood.
- Next, you can put a portal made of polyurethane. It is carefully attached with contact adhesive. All gaps between the portal and the inner firebox are cleaned with putty.
- The final stage of finishing. The white color of the material can be decorated in various ways.
The portal is also made of wood. It looks exceptionally harmonious in an ethnic interior. Of course, it is more expensive than polyurethane, but it allows you to make a real masterpiece, to show the highest class of craftsmanship.
Modification with foam
How to make a fake fireplace in the living room from foam so that it has an aesthetic and original look, but at the same time it is easy to perform and safe? The answer will not surprise you - you need to carefully consider the course of work, all the smallest details of the procedure, calculate the dimensions of the structure.
Do not forget about the installation location. Indeed, in order to build a false fireplace with your own hands, you do not need certain knowledge that an experienced master has. Only desire is required. The corner placement is most preferred. Modern design solutions in most works represent exactly corner mounting method. To present the full picture, you can sketch it on paper.
For phased installation, you will need a special Equipment and materials:
- instruments for measuring;
- pencil, brush for painting, water-based paint;
- putty;
- mesh made of polypropylene, counter-shoulders, special glue, a knife for construction needs;
- ordinary cardboard;
- the foam itself.
If you still have foam sheets that are used to pack household appliances, do not rush to throw them away - they will come in handy for creating a small New Year's fireplace. Not real, of course, but during the holidays this hearth will be the highlight of your interior. Gift boxes, souvenirs, candles will look great around it. Do-it-yourself false foam fireplace for the new year is easy to make, without any special accessories other than those listed below.
To make a decorative fireplace from sheet foam with your own hands, you will need:
- foam sheets, the size is not important, but large ones are better;
- toothpicks;
- PVA glue;
- textured braid;
- a sharp knife, you can use a clerical one;
- primer or putty;
- acrylic paint for decor, gold or silver is better, but other shades are also possible.
How to make a foam fireplace with your own hands: step by step instructions
Depending on the size of the foam fireplace, you need to cut out the main parts of it. In my case, with a decorative fireplace height of approximately 40-45 cm, the details are as follows:
- 2 sides (I have a size of 45 by 20 cm);
- 1 back wall (60 by 45 cm);
- 1 front wall (60 by 45 cm);
- fireplace cover (can be replaced with a cardboard cover if there is not enough foam), size 70 by 25 cm.
HINT. Dimensions can be changed depending on the dimensions of your foam sheets. The decorative fireplace will not suffer from this.
Scheme or drawing of a foam fireplace
The fireplace diagram is approximately the same as in the figure below, focus on it.
Before cutting out the fireplace surfaces according to the drawing, make markings on the foam sheet with a pencil. Use a sharp knife for cutting, but a clerical knife is better - it is thinner and less crumbles the foam.
On the front wall, you additionally need to cut an arch of a rectangular or rounded shape.
Styrofoam fireplace base connection
It is difficult to glue polystyrene, practically no glue “takes” it, so use toothpicks to connect the parts. Pierce through both parts at the docking points, driving the toothpick all the way in.
The box for the decorative false fireplace is ready. Prime the surfaces, paying special attention to the joints.
How to putty a foam fireplace
There are, of course, special mixtures for foam putty. But in our case, it makes no sense to buy them; not only special primer can be used for priming. Any putty will do, even ceiling paint if it has thickened to a creamy state. In extreme cases, use PVA glue in several layers, letting them dry for 1-4 hours.
Making a decorative foam fireplace portal
To make the fireplace look elegant, glue the braid along the border of the arch. It can be of any color, as long as it has convex details. To glue the braid, first soak it with PVA glue and then place it along the cut of the arch. PVA not only glues, but also replaces the primer.
Let dry for at least two hours. In the corners of the arch, I added cold porcelain roses. You can attach beautiful buttons or other decor to the joints.
Then with gold paint, with an almost dry brush, go over the surface of the braid, thereby leaving gilding on the relief.
If there is no gold paint, use any suitable one - blue, green or another color - you need to emphasize the embossed parts of the braid. You can even use nail polish.
With the same paint, paint the open sections of the arch and the end parts of the fireplace lid. Let dry for a couple of hours.
How to glue a foam fireplace for the new year
To decorate a decorative New Year's foam plastic fireplace, use decoupage techniques. And simply put - stick beautiful New Year's pictures, braid, pieces of bright fabric or paper snowflakes. I cut out snowflakes from ordinary table napkins and glued them with PVA to the base of the fireplace. And for the design of the arch I used textured braid.
How to stick paper pictures on foam
If you use napkins to decorate the fireplace, then first separate them into layers. Napkins come in two or three layers. You only need the drawing layer.
Cut out the desired pattern along the contour, attach (dry!) In the right place and spread PVA glue over the picture with a wide brush. Smooth the cloth over the surface and let dry.
Along the contour of the glued picture, you can shade with acrylic paints. I did it all with the same gold at the joints of the fireplace surfaces.
How and how to paint a foam fireplace
If you do not want to use pictures, then you can paint the fireplace. However, it must be borne in mind that the foam is such a material to which the paint does not adhere well. Gouache, watercolor, even acrylic roll into lumps on the surface. The best option is to first prime the foam fireplace surfaces, using, if not a special primer or putty, then at least ordinary PVA glue. And only after that proceed to painting. The ideal option is acrylic paints: they are odorless, dry quickly, and are non-toxic.
HINT. If you don't have colored acrylic paints, buy regular acrylic varnish from a hardware store. I always have on hand "Interior Acrylic Colorless Semi-Gloss Lacquer". Add gouache, mother-of-pearl powder, pigment to it - experiment with what is at hand. And with this mixture, paint the already primed foam.
Final assembly and decoration of an artificial foam fireplace
Place the lid on the finished styrofoam fireplace base and pin it with toothpicks.
Place candles (do not light, just for decoration), pin tinsel, beads, Christmas balls and other attributes of the new year.
Install a fireplace on a chest of drawers, on a windowsill, on a coffee table - the room will become cozier and there will be a place to put gifts.
Ready foam fireplace in the photo below.
Interior false fireplace made of polyurethane or foam
Using the techniques described above, and adding polyurethane moldings and other decorative elements to the materials, you can make a fake foam fireplace with your own hands already in full size. And not only for the new year, but in general for decorating the interior of your home.
Here are examples of fireplaces made of foam. The pictures are taken from the Internet.
In winter, there is a desire to create an atmosphere of comfort at home, correlated with the warmth of the hearth. This is due to the cold outside and the lack of comfort. Such a task is realized in different ways, but there is one that is low-cost from any point of view: to build a New Year's fireplace from foam, which is available to everyone. The construction of this type of structure is not difficult. A certain diligence and small expenses for the purchase of materials are enough to realize the plan.
Creating a hearth that is defined as decorative is available in different materials, but the cheapest option is when using foam and cardboard.
As a result, you can get a product that has many advantages:
- aesthetics of appearance;
- unusual;
- long period of operation;
- ease of installation;
- minimum costs for the purchase of materials.
The implementation of the proposed project for the arrangement of a false fireplace is possible only if:
- a fairly large cardboard box;
- foam (2 sheets);
- water-based paint;
- putties;
- construction tape;
- foam molding and other similar elements;
- assembly glue;
- paint knife;
- brushes.
After everything is provided according to the above list, you can proceed with direct installation, following the instructions:
If the installation of the structure is timed to coincide with the New Year, then it is advisable to use fir branches or a wreath with bells for decoration. This will create the desired holiday atmosphere.
Retro style
Consider how to make a retro-style foam fireplace with your own hands, following the recommendations below:
The portal is attached at an angle to a small board, to which a longer bar is then nailed. For direct fixation of the portal on the wall, corresponding holes are made in a long bar. The plank is attached with screws, and the entire frame with dowels.
- The next stage of the master class assumes that the countertop will be assembled and installed in place.
- Close the gaps that have formed between the wall and the portal. In practice, this is implemented through special strips. First you need to paint them to match the portal.
- Engage in the design of the structure under construction. Here, variability is possible according to the riot of fantasy. If you prefer vintage style, you can choose aged wood, old newspapers and the like to decorate the interior of the hearth.
The portal, aged with paint, will look original. It is implemented quite simply. We paint the surface with a pale gray color, wait for it to dry and scratch it with any hard object. Then we apply paint again, but in a darker tone. The result of such work is the image of an old hearth.
- Paint with matte paint and decorate the firebox. For example, consider placing an antique wooden chest filled with birch logs. If you put such a New Year's attribute as a garland on top, then the corresponding surroundings will be provided.
- The final touch of this guide can be the advice of decorating the wall above the fireplace, which will create the integrity of the composition. For this, family photos framed in wood frames, false windows, complemented by wooden shutters, etc., are suitable.
Styrofoam
To simulate the hearth, only foam plastic can be used as the main material for the construction of the frame. This makes it possible to add a sense of celebration to the interior for little money. The process of arranging a fireplace composition looks like this:
corner option
A fireplace as an imitation, where the material of manufacture is foam, does not require serious knowledge to build it, and experience is also not needed here. A prerequisite is only the presence of a corresponding desire.
A good option is a fireplace in the corner. Many designers adhere to the same opinion, preferring the angular method of its installation. For a complete understanding of how everything will look, you can make a preliminary sketch of the future design on paper.
In any case, you will need:
The expected front of work is easier to implement if the proposed step-by-step information is correlated with it:
- Creating a framework. Production material - cardboard. All the necessary parts are marked with a pencil. A knife is used to cut cardboard. A base is formed from the obtained parts by gluing, which is then attached to the wall.
- Frame sticker. Styrofoam parts are being prepared. A clerical knife can become a tool for cutting them. After that, the cut parts are glued to the frame.
- Giving the product strength. The alignment of the corners is carried out with their subsequent fixing with the help of counter-shoulders. Then reinforcement is carried out, which is provided by a mesh of propylene.
- Coloring. Application of water-based paint as a finishing stage of ongoing work.
Since the hearth cannot be without a flame, care should be taken about this. In our case, open fire is unacceptable due to the high combustibility of the materials used. You can create a semblance of an electric fireplace using an electronic frame, electric candles, etc.
Conclusion
Styrofoam is such a material that makes it possible to create an imitation of a fireplace. It's cheap and very easy. It does not require the presence of skill and special knowledge. This changes the atmosphere of the room, which is filled with warmth.
It is easy to make a foam plastic fireplace with your own hands, such decor is inexpensive, it will decorate any room, give it comfort. Safe analogues of real systems with live fire are easy to operate and very beautiful. Complex materials are not needed for work, everyone can master the technology if they wish.
Pros and cons of a foam fireplace
A foam fireplace portal is a practical, inexpensive, easy-to-arrange decor. It has these advantages:
- low price;
- high environmental friendliness;
- ease of processing;
- small mass;
- durability.
The solution looks attractive, and it does not lose its aesthetic and functional characteristics even during a long period of operation. One person can make and install a fireplace design - you only need to follow the rules and skill.
Important! Styrofoam cannot be in contact with fire, so there will be no flame. Alternative options for a fireplace are diode tapes, light bulbs, closed candles.
Styrofoam fireplace has its strengths and weaknesses
When heated, the foam releases toxic substances, sometimes quite a long contact with an ordinary incandescent light bulb. This drawback is relative, since it is leveled due to competent processing. It is impossible to spill liquids on the foam, they will be absorbed, violate its structure and appearance. Care products must be used special, without aggressive chemical inclusions. The design has a low resistance to mechanical stress.
Styrofoam Fireplace Styles
A photo of a false foam fireplace will help you choose the best stylistically option. It is style that is one of the main factors that should be considered when performing work. It is desirable that the fireplace is in harmony with other components of the interior.
Important! A fake foam fireplace can become the main decorative accent in a room, provided it is used correctly.
Main options:
Immediately you need to choose a place for installation, this will allow you to decide on the decor. At the same time, you can move the foam structure around the apartment or house - it is light, mobile.
Important! The built-in burner is an excellent decor for a foam biofireplace, the main thing is to comply with fire safety requirements.
The style of the fireplace is selected for a specific interior
How to make a decorative foam fireplace with your own hands
Styrofoam bricks for the fireplace can be purchased at a hardware store. What else is needed for arranging a decorative element, the correct placement of accents - will be discussed later.
Styrofoam Fireplace Based on Cardboard
To create a portal based on cardboard, use any box of suitable sizes, foam boards, decorative skirting boards or other decor. As tools, you will need scissors, a knife, glue, a brush, construction tape, a can of paint, putty.
Procedure:
- Prepare a drawing, immediately indicate the dimensions (width, height, length), transfer it to a cardboard base.
The drawing should convey the future project as accurately as possible. - In the areas where the hearth is located, make cuts, bend the edges inward at the places of the cuts, and secure with adhesive tape.
As cardboard, you can use any box from under the overall household appliances - Make a table top out of plywood or polystyrene foam, fix decorative skirting boards.
The more accurately the work with the base is done, the smoother the fireplace will turn out. - Apply putty, level it and wipe it clean, cover with water-based paint.
Styrofoam fireplace painting work is best done outside the home, for example, in a garage or outside, if weather conditions allow - Install a screen that simulates combustion in the fireplace hearth, or fix a garland, LEDs, and battery-powered candles.
The future "flame" in the foam fireplace must meet fire safety requirements - Stick decorative bricks along the contour of the hearth placement, make a putty layer on top (it will create an imitation of irregularities).
As a decor, you can use ready-made elements
To obtain a holistic image, it is desirable to cover the foam base with paint in the shade of a brick. The furnace space is arranged in the same way.
Retro Styrofoam Faux Fireplace
A do-it-yourself polystyrene fireplace in a retro style will look harmonious in an interior furnished with antique furniture. Scuffs, artificially aged surfaces - this is exactly what gives the solution an original semi-antique design.
Stages of work:
The chest is most conveniently installed on a mantelpiece made using pallets. Logs are used to simulate the hearth. You can use a couple of old boards, but not rotten ones, to build a shelf out of them to save the current scuffs, scratches, and errors. Equip false windows with vintage shutters above the fireplace lid, hang old photos placed in retro frames.
Important! Covered with “artificially aged” paint, a raised fireplace looks especially attractive. Optimally choose a pale gray shade, but be sure to let it dry.
Styrofoam fireplace for the New Year
A fake foam fireplace with themed decor will be an excellent decoration for an apartment or house for the New Year. You can make it with your own hands, it won’t take a lot of time for this, but you’ll have to be patient.
Procedure:
- Cut out a pair of 60*40 cm and a pair of 40*20 cm rectangles from foam sheets (they are needed to create the sides).
Since the foam does not adhere well to PVA, you additionally need to fix the parts with toothpicks - up to 4 pieces per cut. - Pin the sides with toothpicks to one of the rectangles.
The joints should be pre-lubricated with glue - Prime the seams, make markings for the firebox from the inside, make cuts with a sharp knife.
The thinner the blade, the more accurate the finished cut will be. - Secure the back of the fireplace with glue and toothpicks. Walk along the lower and upper perimeter with masking tape. Prime the frame that will turn out, let it dry for at least 10-12 hours.
If necessary, you can repeat the priming work, dry everything thoroughly, sand it using finely abrasive emery - Wet the braid in the PVA adhesive solution, press it against the furnace cuts and prime the surfaces, dry for a couple of hours. Attach small decorations to the corners, cover everything with a gold layer.
After priming the surface, let it dry. - Fix the lid on top of the finished box, prime the narrow sides again, cover them with gold. Finish the furnace sections in the same way.
Covering with gold paint - the basis of New Year's design - Leave the styrofoam base of the fireplace open or place it on a rigid cardboard sheet.
For decorative purposes, golden mother-of-pearl should be applied to the relief surface of the braid, the cut of the firebox, the ribs of the fireplace
Let everything dry, wipe off with a piece of soft cloth so that the paint gets into the recesses and highlights the relief pattern, and looks like natural wear on the ribs. Decoupage can be done on the pediments of the foam plastic fireplace. To do this, snowflakes cut from napkins are glued using PVA glue, then coated with acrylic-based varnish. When all surfaces are dry, it will be possible to assemble the fireplace into a single structure.
Important! On the chimney cover, provided there is no decorative braid, the paint is applied immediately to the sidewalls.
New Year's decor of a foam plastic fireplace includes chains, toys, decorative traditional boots that are hung by the firebox. Jewelry is usually attached to multi-colored stationery nails. Cones, if any, can be used in their pure form or after painting them under gold, so they will become even more elegant. You can also place soap cones in baskets, and put candles of various sizes and shapes in a decorative impromptu firebox. Christmas decorations, sweets and boxes are usually placed on the mantelpiece. Sizes are adjusted according to personal preferences. If you make a small false fireplace, it will even stand on a coffee table.
Conclusion
A foam plastic fireplace with your own hands can easily be made in a couple of hours. This is a purely decorative piece of furniture, it does not involve the use of open fire. If you wish, you can add a retro model or New Year's decor using the appropriate accessories. It will be more convenient to use a cardboard frame, stick foam plates on it. You can buy materials at any hardware store.
A beautiful fireplace can bring zest and a certain amount of comfort to any home interior. And under the warmth emanating from it, it is always comfortable to spend the evening after a busy day. But in a city apartment, installing a fireplace is associated with several insoluble problems:
- lack of chimneys - conventional ventilation in an apartment building is not designed to remove smoke from burning wood;
- floor and wall coverings are not suitable for high temperatures, they may not withstand the mass of a fireplace portal made of natural stone, brick or artificial materials;
- it is impossible to obtain permission for the construction of such a complex structure from the utilities.
But it is possible to use a false fireplace, which is free from these problems. This option is also suitable for a country house, if you do not want to spend money on redevelopment, expensive materials and the work of a stove maker.
A false fireplace in the house is a heat source decorated with various materials: electric, gas or from central heating. Of course, such warmth will not replace an open flame and the smell of wood fires, but high-quality imitation can create a very cozy atmosphere. You can purchase ready-made models of electric false fireplaces or make arrangements to your liking.
Varieties
There are a large number of electric fireplaces on sale that are easily transported and installed in the house, they do not need anything other than a 220 V voltage supply. But it is better to make a design with a finish according to your own project. There are several varieties of materials and decor.
It is very easy to make imitations of a fireplace from ordinary cardboard. For the frame, only cardboard boxes are required, for example, from large household appliances: TVs, refrigerators, washing machines. Their corrugated structure will provide structural strength with low weight. To give the desired shape, only a clerical knife, a pencil and a ruler are used. You can fasten the elements of a cardboard false fireplace with tape or paper glue. Work can be done with children, for them it will be a very exciting and developing activity.
After creating the shape of a cardboard fireplace, you need to decorate it. Finishing can be done with acrylic, oil or spray paint, colored cardboard, foam, self-adhesive paper with a wood structure or decorative stone. You can put light souvenirs on the portal of such a fireplace. The advantages of cardboard structures are that they can be given any shape and a beautiful interior detail can be made from improvised materials in a few hours. But in such fireplaces you can’t put a real source of heat, they break easily, especially if there are small children in the family.
Styrofoam fireplaces also cannot have a heat source inside due to the special sensitivity of this material to high temperatures. It is possible to arrange only a decoration in the apartment. But on the other hand, the foam is easily cut, and with the help of clerical glue, decorative materials can be fixed on its sheets. In hardware stores, curly elements made of this material of various shapes are sold. Having bought them, it is possible to make stucco decor on a false fireplace, which will look very elegant in a city apartment.
False fireplaces made of natural wood are represented by many original projects. This material, after processing and varnishing, can fit into any interior style, both classic and modern. From bog oak, aspen, conifers, corner and wall models with different sizes are made. Inside, you can place a heat source or simulated flame. The tree tolerates high temperatures well, but is not immune from open fire. To protect against heat, the surface is treated with a special heat-resistant varnish.
The frame of such a fireplace can be made of boards or timber with a profile of 50x50. This design can be fastened with nails or wood screws. Its strength will allow you to decorate the facade with heavy finishing materials, such as ceramic tiles or plaster. The block frame for a false fireplace is remarkable in that you can make any shape and size with a regular saw, jigsaw, wood saw or grinder. In general, wood materials are the most harmless and environmentally friendly.
Chipboard - wood chip boards, which are obtained by pressing at high temperature with the addition of formaldehyde resins for gluing fibers. These materials can be either rough, requiring external finishing, or laminated or with an outer layer of natural veneer. There are many texture and color options. Chipboard panels can be easily sawn with a regular hacksaw, and have a low cost compared to natural wood. A fireplace made of such building materials is a good choice for an apartment or cottage.
Polyurethane is a synthetic material that is highly resistant to wear and does not oxidize or rot. With the help of additives, you can give it any color. A false fireplace made of polyurethane can be made by cutting with an ordinary knife, and the parts are fastened with glue or screws. The result is a strong structure that does not deform at high temperatures and will last for many years.
Due to the cheapness and availability of the material, plywood fireplaces will cost quite inexpensively. For manufacturing with subsequent finishing, you can use multi-layer unpolished sheets with a thickness of 5-10 mm, and without finishing - laminated grades.
Designs of decorative fireplaces made of chipboard are similar in their properties to those made of laminated chipboard, they only require additional finishing. The advantages of the material are that it will cost less than laminated boards, and you can choose the decor to your taste.
Durable and beautiful false fireplaces can be made from drywall with a metal profile frame. Inside the portal, it is possible to install a heat source or an imitation of an open fire using candles. The main thing is to use fire-resistant drywall for this purpose, it is easy to distinguish it - sheets of pinkish color. The material is easily cut with a clerical knife, even complex rounded shapes can be given to it and a fireplace with an arch can be created. A metal frame made of angular or U-shaped profiles is fastened with self-tapping screws, and plasterboard sheets are fixed on them. Finishing the fireplace can be done with ceramic tiles, plaster or artificial stone.
PVC panels, like drywall sheets, are best mounted on a metal profile frame. This material is durable and not subject to any adverse effects. It is unpretentious in care, to clean it from dust and dirt, you just need to walk on the surface with a damp cloth. For the manufacture of a fireplace, it is best to purchase heat-resistant varieties of this material. The advantage is that there are a large number of colors of PVC panels on sale - you can choose according to your taste. These sheets are cut with an ordinary clerical knife.
Step-by-step instruction
A step-by-step instruction for creating a fake fireplace in a house in general consists of the following steps:
- choice of device type, dimensions and location, materials for the frame and exterior finish;
- creation of a design drawing with dimensions;
- preparation of tools and materials;
- frame installation;
- installation of additional elements (shelves, niches, countertops, etc.), if provided;
- decoration with decorative materials;
- connection of heat sources or artificial lighting.
Projects made from lightweight materials such as cardboard or styrofoam require little to no complex blueprints or step-by-step plans. But if you plan to create a fireplace with a serious electric or gas heating with a solid frame, then it is simply necessary to think through all the details in advance. Sometimes, before installation at the installation site, it is required to carry out communications - heating pipes or an electric cable, and only then make a frame.
Fire for an artificial fireplace
To create the illusion of a flame in a false fireplace, many methods have been invented. They differ in technology, cost and effect.
Steam imitation is the most difficult, but impressive. It requires LED lights, ultrasonic foggers and a fan. Connecting the system is only possible with certain electrical skills, and the cost of equipment is high.
Theatrical imitation is so named because it is often used in performances. It is constructed from lightweight fabric, which is blown by a stream of air from a powerful fan. For lighting, 3 halogen lamps with reflectors and colored filters are used.
A simple version of a false fireplace with a "live" fire is made from a New Year's garland. For decoration, you need to use a small amount of cut tree branches. They are wrapped in foil and lace, then placed in a hearth made of stones stacked in a circle. A garland is placed inside the ball of branches and connected to the network. The result is an image of burning brushwood surrounded by stones, like a fire.
If you do not want to be smart with the manufacture of decorations and electricity, then you can use ordinary wax, polymer or scented candles. They are simply placed in the niche of the decorative fireplace on a candlestick and set on fire. A romantic atmosphere and a beautiful image of a burning hearth will be guaranteed.
Salt lamps not only create a bizarre image of a flame in a fireplace, but also have a beneficial effect on the body due to the neutralization of harmful radiation from household appliances. So in a room where there are TVs, home theaters and speakers, this option is very preferable. Their work is based on conventional electrical illumination of raw salt crystals. You can use different forms of these translucent minerals, and for the illusion of flickering, lamps of different power are connected to a relay, approximately the same as that used for New Year's garlands.
The simplest, but not the cheapest option for the illusion of natural fire is to use a monitor. It is only required to choose a plasma or LCD panel that is suitable for the size of the false fireplace insert, connect it to the power supply and set the desired picture. But using a full-function display for only one image is somehow irrational. On sale there are special holographic systems that display an image of a flame on their screen, moreover, it is voluminous and very realistic. Their price may exceed the cost of the same diagonal monitor.