Do-it-yourself false fireplace

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

Do-it-yourself false fireplace

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

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

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

Polyurethane fake fireplace

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

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

Step-by-step process of installing a raised fireplace

• When choosing a place to install a false fireplace, try to install it on one of the side walls of the room - this will achieve the greatest harmony.
• The fireplace should not interfere with the passage and clutter up the room.
• If you plan to install an electric fireplace or lighting inside the portal, take care of the electrical wiring and the installation of an outlet in advance.
• Make the frame of the firebox from wooden bars or a profile and the walls of the firebox from drywall or plywood.
• Install the portal and secure it with contact adhesive. Carefully fill the gaps between the firebox and the portal with finishing putty.
• Install an electric fireplace or finish the firebox in the chosen style.
• Plug in the backlight.The soft and warm tones of the backlight are perfect for a classic-style fireplace, for more daring compositions, you can use a multi-colored LED strip.
  

  Illumination for a false fireplace

• If you do not want to install an electric fireplace, you can decorate the back wall of the firebox with a mirror, and lay decorative logs on the bottom or fill it with pebbles, shells, glass balls. If you install several candles of various heights and shapes inside the firebox, then a safe live fire will appear in your fireplace.
  

  Decor of the back wall of a false fireplace

• Decorate the portal with paint, patina or gilding, or decorate it with decorative elements. Install a wood or artificial stone mantel.

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

Decorative portal for a fireplace made of wood

Drywall false fireplace, simple and fast

In order to reduce the cost of the budget for a filsh fireplace as much as possible, use the drywall and profile left over from the repair. Such a decorative fireplace will easily fit into any niche or corner, and can also be an element of a whole composition of shelves.

False drywall fireplace - photo

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

Manufacturing technology of a false fireplace made of drywall

• The key to success is a thoughtful sketch of the future fireplace with an indication of all dimensions and the junction of the frame.Measure the room and decide on the location of the fireplace. Calculate the required amount of material, and feel free to get down to business.
• A frame is made from a galvanized profile, connecting its elements with the help of self-tapping screws for metal and a screwdriver. Cut the profile with a hacksaw or metal shears. For stability, the frame elements are connected by transverse jumpers. The frame must be attached to the walls and floor if the structure is bulky, heavy or too narrow - i.e. if there is a risk of structural instability.
  

  we make a frame for a false fireplace from a metal profile

• Sheets of drywall cut out according to the sketch, try on. They trim and fasten with red-hot black self-tapping screws to the profile. The caps of the self-tapping screws are slightly deepened in order to putty later. Drywall is easy to cut with a knife.
  

  We fasten sheets of drywall to the frame

• Joints and attachment points are puttied and leveled with putty for interior work in two layers, the corners are additionally reinforced with a paint grid.
  

  We putty the edges and joints of drywall sheets

• Level the surface of the sheets, if necessary, using putty.
  

  Leveling the surface with putty

• The resulting structure is painted or finished with other materials: artificial stone, tile or stucco. They are glued to the glue intended for this material, diluted according to the instructions on the package.
  

  Finishing with artificial stone

• The firebox is decorated with materials imitating brickwork; a mirror can be installed on the back wall of the firebox.
  

  Decorative design of a false fireplace

• Candles or an imitation of a hearth with illumination are placed inside the firebox.
  

  Imitation of lighting inside the fireplace

  Such a false fireplace is absolutely safe, it can be installed even in a nursery. The fireplace mantel serves as a stand for photos, toys and knick-knacks, while the softly shimmering hearth creates a cozy atmosphere.

Corner decorative plasterboard fireplace (video)

False fireplace from old furniture

The most budget option, which allows you to make a false fireplace with lighting from an old unnecessary sideboard or cabinet. For work you will need:

• jigsaw;
• wood grinder;
• screwdriver;
• plywood sheets;
• putty;
• acrylic paint;
• finishing materials: stucco molding and gypsum finishing stone, decorative elements.

False fireplace from old furniture

Technology for making a false fireplace from an old sideboard:

• At the sideboard of the old model, the doors are removed and the lower cabinet is removed, leaving only the upper section. She is placed on her side.
  

  We make a fake fireplace from an old sideboard

• The facade is sewn up with plywood so that a firebox and firewood are obtained. Plywood is attached to self-tapping screws using a screwdriver.
  

  We sew up the facade of the fireplace with plywood

• Polished surfaces are processed with a wood grinder to make them rough. The walls are primed with an adhesive-based primer, and after the primer dries, putty and level the surface. The putty is dried, the irregularities are sanded and painted with acrylic paint, the corners are trimmed with artificial stone or brick. They glue decorative elements - stucco, install a mantel made of MDF.
  

  Finishing a false fireplace from an old sideboard

• They decorate the firebox: a red or yellow LED strip is glued around the perimeter, and the bottom is decorated with pebbles, colored sand or shells. You can also install candles inside the firebox.
  

  Decorating the fireplace insert

A decorative fireplace will perfectly fit into the interior of a city apartment. You can make a false fireplace from almost any material, and their shape and design depends only on your imagination, because, unlike a wood or gas fireplace, decorative hearths are absolutely safe, do not require the mandatory use of fire-resistant materials and compliance with fire safety measures. You will not need to buy firewood and kindle a flame - just light candles or lights, and the room will be filled with soft light and comfort.

Do-it-yourself false wood fireplace in one working day:

Photos of finished false fireplaces, would they be distinguished from the real one?

False fireplace in the attic of a residential building

False fireplace in guest room

False fireplace in office

False fireplace in the hall

Video instruction for the process of creating a false fireplace with your own hands

One of the simplest and most beautiful drywall false fireplaces: