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Having your own fireplace in a city apartment is a dream of many people. But this dream seems impossible. When installing a real fireplace, the owner of the apartment must go through more than a dozen instances. And not every urban housing can install a real wood-burning fireplace. This situation is solved simply - you need to install an imitation of a fireplace in the interior.

On store shelves, the choice of false fireplaces is impressive, but the prices are very high and not everyone can afford it. With a small list of tools, you can make a homemade hearth. In our article there are videos and photos of a fireplace imitation that will help in the process of creating a decorative hearth. With a reasonable approach and compliance with all recommendations, the result of the work will certainly impress, and the saved finances will please.

What is an imitation of a fireplace in an apartment?

The design imitating the firebox and the portal is a false fireplace that cannot be immediately distinguished from the original. Its most important advantage is that it is not necessary to build bulky fireboxes and exhaust pipes. A decorative fireplace is made in various stylistic directions and they are conventionally divided into the following groups:

1. conditional;
2. authentic;
3. symbolic.

Any imitation of a fireplace in the interior will favorably emphasize the dignity of the apartment and hide the flaws.

Imitation of a plasterboard fireplace

All work can be divided into several stages. The first is to determine the exact location and form of future imitation. As a rule, the main material used in self-manufacturing hearth drywall and MDF. Next comes the process of manufacturing a portal and a firebox.

It will take a certain amount of time and a little effort, but the process itself will surely captivate the owner of the apartment. You will need:

1. sheets of cardboard;
2. self-tapping screws;
3. putty;
4. profiles;
5. moldings;
6. glue.

At the preliminary stage, it is necessary to draw up a drawing and calculate the required amount of material. Next, a frame is assembled from a metal profile, designed to fasten sheets of cardboard. Then, sheets of drywall fitted to the size are attached to it, using self-tapping screws. After that, the joints of the structure are sealed with putty and primed, the surface is painted. The last stage is the installation of decorative moldings. If the project provides for the use in the furnace decorative candles it is important to equip the firebox in the upper part with a heat-resistant sheet. Plasterboard imitation is ideal for mounting in the corner of a room. It will be interesting to look at the imitation with decorative stone lining. It is necessary to carefully draw and calculate the scheme of future installation. The material is attached with a dry adhesive mixture.

Imitation of a fireplace, a decorative fireplace, a false fireplace or a bio-fireplace, whatever you call it, this is a great thing, especially for urban residents, for whom a fireplace is at first glance an unrealizable dream. Of course, it’s not realistic to make a real fireplace in an apartment, but a false fireplace is easy to make, even with your own hands. So, how and from what you can make a decorative fireplace with your own hands, see below.

DIY decorative cardboard fireplace

You can make a fake fireplace out of an ordinary cardboard TV box.

For this you will need:

• cardboard box
• foam plinths and figurines

Auxiliary materials:

• drawing plan
• scissors
• stationery knife
• pen or pencil
• ruler
• construction tape
• special glue (moment assembly for gluing foam)

To complete:

• putty and spatula (optional - if you decide to putty the fireplace before painting)
• water-based paint white color(you can take a different color paint)
• brush

Having prepared the necessary materials, you can safely begin to make a false fireplace. First you need to transfer the drawing from the drawing plan to the box: use a pencil and a ruler for this.

Do not use a marker as it will show through the paint and even if you do not want to mess with the putty, you will have to putty the box before painting.

At the future place of fire, we make cuts with a clerical knife, it should turn out as in photo No. 5 - 2 labels that we bend to the side rear wall boxes and glue them with construction tape (carefully glue them with tape on all sides, including the bottom of the box).

Now we glue the foam parts in accordance with your sketch (we cut the borders at the junction of the corners at an angle of 45 degrees). We glue a wide patterned plinth on top - this will be the basis of the future fireplace shelf.

We place foam supports behind the plinth (photo No. 10) and lay a foam plate on top - you will have to work hard with the corners to glue it without gaps.

As we glue all the details, we carefully putty our false fireplace. Let the putty dry, then paint the fireplace water-based paint. That's all we admire the finished false fireplace. Such a fireplace will perfectly fit into the location for photography.

You can just as easily make a false fireplace out of cardboard in a corner wall ( corner fireplace). To make this false fireplace, you will need: again a cardboard box, adhesive film or brick-like wallpaper, scissors, adhesive tape and a garland.

From a cardboard box we make a triangular base, as shown in the photo. Next, we paste over with wallpaper or film (in fact, in this case, you can also use foam parts and paint everything at the end). But the tabletop for the future fireplace can be made not only from foam, as an option, in this case, several layers of cardboard are glued together, which are then pasted over with wood-like film. We place a garland or battery-powered candles in the firebox of the finished fireplace or admire the result.

By the way, if you want to make a fake fireplace out of cardboard, but it seems to you that you don’t have a box of the right size, don’t forget that you can just glue a few boxes together. The further course of work according to the above principles.

By the way, if you are making a fireplace not for a couple of photo shoots or especially for Christmas, but plan to leave it in your interior for a long time, it makes sense to use the space in the fireplace walls. It can turn out to be an excellent hiding place or just shelves for manual creativity.

Creating a fireplace with hidden shelves begins with the formation of a “skeleton” - its device is shown in the photo below No. 1 (the skeleton device will directly depend on what size you want the shelves). The finished skeleton is glued on all sides with sheets of cardboard (photo No. 2, 3, 4). Next, we make a podium No. 5 and a tabletop No. 6 (the bed is made of 6 sheets of cardboard glued together). For reliability, we glue all the joints with a newspaper with pva glue.

Now we finish the countertop: glue it on top of the fireplace ceiling plinth so that its top is flush with the previously glued 6 sheets of cardboard. And already on top of the cardboard sheets and the plinth we glue the seventh sheet of cardboard - as shown in photo No. 8 (No. 9 - the countertop from the wrong side, No. 10 - carefully evenly glue the tabletop from the wrong side).

We close all the corners of the fireplace with a special construction corner No. 11. We cut out “bricks” from cardboard and glue them into the furnace, imitating brickwork No. 12. On the bricks we make an uneven relief with putty or ordinary crumpled paper soaked in glue, as soon as the brickwork dries, we paint it in the desired color. We glue the shelves with paper or self-adhesive film. We putty the fireplace from all sides No. 13, 14.

But that's not all! Decorations will bring to perfection an almost finished fireplace. Glue the plinth around the firebox, we also make it with our own hands: we simply glue together three newspaper tubes No. 15, 16 in a slide. We glue the top of the countertop with a sheet of crumpled wallpaper No. 17, 18 - it turns out beautifully. If you still have any bumps on the fireplace, they are easy to level thanks to liquid wallpaper (if all sides are even, you can just paint it). And the final touch - on the podium with glue "stones" from polystyrene No. 20. That's all, a beautiful false fireplace with hidden shelves is ready.

As you probably guessed, such a fireplace can be made by gluing together several boxes of different sizes - each box will serve directly as a shelf.

A false cardboard fireplace will be stronger if you first make a reliable U-shaped frame from glued wooden boards (as shown in photo No. 1). Next, we glue sheets of cardboard to the finished frame on liquid nails. Then we glue the entire surface with a newspaper on PVA glue No. 4, try not to soak it too much - the cardboard is deformed. In the lower cavity, we glue the supporting racks and cardboard on them, then we also glue them with newspaper sheets. Let's dry.

The next step is putty. You will have to putty and sand a lot - because of the uneven cardboard.

Next, we make the countertop and the bottom: from the bottom and top on the pva we glue the foamed substrate for the laminate, on top of the substrate we again glue the newspaper scraps No. 9. After drying, we glue the plinth No. 10, cut off the excess from the cover No. 11 and putty. We do the same with the bottom, the plinth can be used without a pattern.

Once again we skin the entire fireplace - the finish. We decorate the portal with a narrow plinth No. 13. When everything is dry, thoroughly wash the entire fireplace, give it another time to dry. And you can prime. Then we paint in the desired color, after the main painting, the stucco molding can be painted in white.

The inner surface of the portal can be painted with white paint with the addition of sparkles - everything will flicker from the candles. That's all, a decorative cardboard fireplace on a solid basis is ready.

How to make a fake drywall fireplace with your own hands

A do-it-yourself decorative cardboard fireplace is, of course, beautiful and easy, but still it cannot be compared with a more reliable counterpart in the form of a false plasterboard fireplace. So, how to make a fake drywall fireplace with your own hands?

First of all, let's start with what you need:

Main elements:

• aluminum profile (the basis of the future fireplace)
• drywall directly (you can use trim if available)
• shelf (you can buy a wooden step for stairs)

Decorative:

• tile
• mirror panels (for finishing the walls of the hearth)

Auxiliary:

• screws
• screwdriver
• tile adhesive
• liquid Nails
• grout
• tile varnish and paint (optional)

First you need to decide on the size of the future fireplace. To do this, it is better to draw a fireplace - the way you want, and then in order to determine the size of a real false fireplace, it is better to first select a decorative tile and a shelf and, based on their size, modify the dimensions of your fireplace.

Having decided on the dimensions, you need to make a structure from profile No. 1, 2, which is then sheathed with plasterboard No. 3, 4. Moreover, it is better to pre-draw the floor and walls, and also transfer the markings from the working drawing to the details of the fireplace.

Next, we fix the shelf on glue or on screws No. 5. On the side walls of the hearth we glue mirrors No. 6 on liquid nails. Before laying the tiles, we plaster the entire structure with a thin layer of tile adhesive and let it dry No. 7 (this will improve the adhesion of the tile to the drywall surface). Well, in fact, you can start laying tiles No. 8. After a day, you can start grouting, and after a while, varnishing the tiles (if you wish).

In addition, with the help of a sponge and acrylic paint, you can somewhat transform the look of your fireplace (the main thing to remember is that after dipping a sponge in paint, you need to blot dry on paper).

That's all, a beautiful false plasterboard fireplace is ready! We admire the photo and come up with our own decor.

Fireplace dimensions: height 100 cm, width 90 cm.
Leg width and depth 24 cm;
Shelf: 90*30 cm, tiles: 20*6 cm.

Drywall fireplace can be made in any size, different shapes, yes, and finishing the fireplace can be done different ways- It all depends on your imagination. In a niche, you can make an arch, paste a mirror into it or make glass shelves on which to put candles. And you can insert an electric fireplace or a screen with the image of a flame, however, for this it is prudent to conduct electricity to a niche. At the same time, if you will fasten the profile to the walls, remember about the routes of electrical cables so that you do not inadvertently damage the electrical network with screws.

You can make a corner false fireplace with your own hands, and decorate the walls of the fireplace not with tiles, but, for example, with Venetian plaster.

If you decide to install an electric fireplace, pay attention to the bulging ears for ventilation - you will need to cut holes opposite the ears for ventilation.

If possible, you can build a cast-iron fireplace into a drywall base. It will turn out a very unusual false fireplace.

My attention was also drawn to the option of “hiding” the soot cleaning holes. The false fireplace is made according to the above principle, see the beauty of the idea in the photo below. Great idea for those who have a stove.

In addition, you can not stop exclusively at creating a decorative fireplace, various designs are perfectly combined with a false fireplace: shelves, cabinets, etc. By the way, they are also easy to make from the same profiles and drywall.

By the way, it is worth noting that a decorative plasterboard fireplace does not have to be screwed to the wall, you can make a completely “independent” piece of furniture that will be easily rearranged.

In this case, the main detail: smooth floors and walls.

Do-it-yourself wood fireplace

If you do not like working with profiles and drywall, you can use timber and plywood. Again, you need to calculate in advance the dimensions of the future false fireplace based on the number and size of tiles (do not forget to take into account the space for grouting). From a bar (a bar with a section of 40 by 40 mm is taken in the photo), we make a frame. Which is then sheathed with plywood sheets. The vent of the future fireplace is cut out electric jigsaw. The most important stage of work is gluing artificial stone to plywood. Modern adhesives and mastics allow you to do this flawlessly.

Please note that in no case should the adhesive solution fall on the front surface of the stone ... It will be almost impossible to clean it ...

As a countertop, a wooden canvas for window sills was used. Thickness 4 cm.

Painted with mahogany English water-based lacquer.

To finish the vent, a smaller stone was taken, painted with water-based paint.

It turns out a beautiful fireplace from a bar.

Looks good fireplace attached to the windowsill.

But these fireplaces made of timber and plywood in the end are practically no different from a fireplace made of plasterboard and profiles. Noteworthy is another false fireplace made of wood (carved wood fireplace). You can make a fireplace out of wood from blanks for ladders (as an option, beech).

In order to make a fireplace from wood presented below, it took: 3 steps 140 cm, 3 steps 90 cm, 2 risers 140 and 1 riser 90 cm, 2 stair poles and a Chinese electrical insert for the fireplace (photo No. 1, 2).

Quantity necessary materials depends on what kind of fireplace you decide to make (first draw a future fireplace, calculate the required amount of materials and only then go to the store).

On the existing parts, cut off everything superfluous (No. 3), mill, sand. Next, apply stain on all parts (2 layers with an interval of 6 hours) the next day varnish (also 2 layers with intermediate sanding with the 220th and 400th sandpaper, photo No. 8, 9). After you need to let them dry for two days.

And you can start assembling. A beautiful wood fireplace is ready.

Of course, in order to create such a decorative fireplace, certain skills and special tools are needed: a drawing board, a manual circular saw, a belt grinder, a milling cutter, a jigsaw, a drill and a delta grinder.

You can make a decorative wood fireplace in another way - as shown in the photo below. It turns out a very nice imitation of a fireplace, and most importantly, such a false fireplace is easy to make with your own hands.

By the way, from wood you can make not just a false fireplace, but an original shoe stand.

Or you can buy a beautiful textured board only for the top, and make the entire base out of plywood sheets, but in the end this version of a false fireplace is not like any of the previous ones. First you need to cut strips 7-8 cm wide from plywood sheets, sand the edges and paint them in different colors. While they are drying, we nail the base boards to the wall. Next, using wood glue, glue the plywood strips to the base on the wall and glue them together. And so that the structure does not fall apart during drying, you can use a press - you can press the entire structure using railings, boards and sticks from the shower curtain (or a mop). As a result, you will get such an unusual decorative fireplace.

For those who cannot afford the above methods to make a false fireplace, or simply have little free time, we can advise false polyurethane beams. In this case, a lot of effort will not be needed, the main thing is to buy a beam (one if you buy a long enough one, or 2 shorter ones), cut it into 3 parts of the required size, and simply glue them together. Such a false fireplace can be supplemented with stucco molding, paints to create the effect of aging, attach a glass shelf and admire the result. In addition, on the wall near which the fireplace will stand, you can make an imitation brickwork. It turns out a spectacular decorative fireplace, and most importantly, making such a fireplace with your own hands is very simple.

DIY desktop biofireplace

And for those who certainly want a fireplace with real fire, whose hands grow from where they need to and at the same time have enough free time, we can advise you to make a desktop biofireplace with your own hands.

In order to make a desktop biofireplace you will need:

• transparent sealant
• 4 glasses
• metal box (ceramic, terracotta)
• metal grid
• pebble
• metal can with fuel for biofireplaces

Prepare all materials, glasses must match the size of the box. The edges of the glasses must be degreased with alcohol (the better the surface is degreased, the more reliable the connection will be). We apply sealant to the edge of the glass and place another glass on top. Press lightly and hold for a few minutes. We give the U-shaped structure time to dry and glue the last glass.

Don't worry if the sealant comes out of the edges, it can be easily cut off with a razor after it dries completely.

Now the screen needs to be attached to metal box photo No. 6. We apply sealant to the glass and install it on the base (the metal surface must first be degreased).

We install a jar of fuel in the box and cover it with a metal mesh.

If the mesh is small, then several parts can be used: the surface will still be covered with stones.

We lay out the pebbles over the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe grid, leaving a free part above the can of fuel.

That's all, the biofireplace is ready, you can set it on fire and admire the fire.

To ignite the fuel, use a long torch. You can get by with spaghetti.

In general, as you can see, there are many ways to make a false fireplace with your own hands. Good luck with your experiments!

A fireplace in a house or apartment is the dream of many people. This antique piece of furniture can make any room cozy and romantic. A fireplace is a beautiful and stylish element that gives the home a special flavor and status. But the installation of a hearth, especially in multi-storey buildings, is fraught with great difficulties and problems, and in many rooms it is impossible to equip a fireplace for technical reasons.

Imitation fireplace

But there are no hopeless situations: imitation of a fireplace is a great alternative that you can implement yourself and install such an object in any room.

It is easy to make a false fireplace, the work does not require much building experience. The design of the hearth will depend only on your imagination. A fake fireplace with your own hands is a great opportunity to install a spectacular home that will become the “highlight” of the interior of your home.

In a city apartment, there is no way to create a hearth with an open fire. You can, of course, use one of the many models of modern electric fireplaces, or you can create an artificial hearth with your own hands.

Advantages of an artificial fireplace:

• minimum costs for its equipment;
• the ability to make a structure from almost any material, suitable: chipboard, wood, foam concrete, drywall, brick or stone, cardboard, sea pebbles;
• the decor in the area of ​​​​the fireplace insert can be changed at will, this will make it possible to bring new notes to the interior of the room;
• the absence of an open fire will allow you to decorate a false fireplace with any materials, including those that are afraid of high temperatures;
• the ability to have a live fire using candles or biofuel burners.

Types of false fireplaces

By design features false fireplaces can be divided into three groups:

Reliable. Accurate imitation of real antique hearths with the preservation of dimensions, shape features, design, use of traditional materials in decoration. The fire is produced using a block burner with biofuel, which ensures the presence of a burning hearth in the house. Biofuel burns completely without forming soot and soot. This is the most beautiful, but expensive option. Read also the article about the portal for in addition to this material.

Special fuel bioethanol (alcohol) with additives for coloring the flame yellow or orange colors poured into the burner. One gas station is enough for the fireplace to delight with its warmth and beauty of the flame for several hours.

Today, more and more attention is paid to the issue of interior decoration. Fireplaces are installed more and more not to heat the room, but to create an atmosphere of comfort. Familiar materials for the firebox are gradually being replaced with biofuels and electric heating. In this case, decorative firewood will become an actual acquisition. What are their features?

Conditional. They have a fireplace portal protruding from the wall. There are many design models for this group of fireplaces. The firebox is filled with firewood or candles are placed. Often this area serves as a stand for souvenirs, photographs, flowers.

Decorative (symbolic). It can be a drawing, an appliqué or some kind of design that is made of various materials, reminiscent of a fireplace. We advise you to read an article about in addition to this material.

Do-it-yourself false fireplace

A simple and affordable way to imitate a home is to create a design on metal frame. It can be placed on one of the walls of the room or make a corner structure.

Decide on the location of the fireplace, determine the overall dimensions of the structure. A flash fireplace should harmoniously fit into the space of the room, its dimensions and proportions should correspond to the size of the room.

Electric fireplaces are the highlight of the interior. They are different in size, models, styles and principles of operation. Let's look at all the intricacies of choosing to create a designer interior.

Like any creative work, the installation of a decorative hearth begins with a sketch. Gotta come up with appearance, evaluate the technical side of the implementation of the idea, determine the size of each detail.

Next, you need to make a sketch of the general view of the product and drawings of parts indicating the exact dimensions. This will allow you to calculate the amount of materials (profile and drywall) and fasteners (self-tapping screws). And it is also necessary to take into account putty, primer and finishing materials.

A correctly executed sketch will relieve many of the difficulties during installation, make your work more productive and enjoyable, and the finished product will be of high quality.

A false plasterboard fireplace on a metal frame is a great do-it-yourself project

If you have problems with the drawings, you can use special software on the Internet.

Installing such a design is a fairly simple process, but certain skills and experience will be required.

Important. If the plans include the installation of an electric hearth, bring reliable electrical wiring to the location of the fireplace in advance.

Step-by-step instructions for arranging a false fireplace

To create a frame and a box body, you will need:

• metal profiles (or wooden slats);
• drywall;
• self-tapping screws for fastening profiles and drywall;
• dowel;
• putty;
• reinforcing tape.

The video shows the manufacture of a fake fireplace with your own hands

Tools needed to assemble and install the box:

• knife for cutting drywall;
• pencil for marking sheets;
• spatula for processing seams;
• spatula wide for puttying sheets;
• screwdriver for tightening self-tapping screws;
• level;
• roulette.

The profile and sheet of drywall are cut according to the prepared drawings. Pre-draw the location of metal profiles on the wall and floor. In the place designated for the installation of a false fireplace, a frame is mounted.

Sheathe it with plasterboard. Close up the seams and plaster the box. Draft work is ready.

Important. Do not forget to slightly sink the heads of the self-tapping screws into the thickness of the drywall so that they do not protrude.

Further work will be determined by the finish that you planned when developing a sketch of the fireplace. It can be Italian plaster, mosaic, decorative stone (natural or artificial), marble slabs, wood.

If a bio-burner or candles are planned in the fireplace insert, then its space must be finished with heat-resistant materials.

Most finishing materials (stone, tile, wood) do not require box finishing. They are fixed on the surface of the portal using adhesive mixtures, liquid nails or fasteners.

If the mantelpiece is to be covered decorative plaster or red, then after sealing the seams and putty, they perform a primer, after a day they carefully plaster and grind. Re-primed for painting and painted.

Important. The design of a false fireplace should be in harmony with the overall style of the room, but at the same time become a bright design accent that attracts attention.

The painted portal can be decorated with moldings or polyurethane moldings. This decoration is appropriate for the room classical style. The English style of the interior can be emphasized with wood panels and carved decor of the portal.

You can place a flat-screen TV above the fireplace, put photographs, candlesticks, various souvenirs on a traditional mantelpiece, and form a relaxation area in front of the fireplace.

A high-quality imitation of a fireplace with your own hands is a great opportunity to make a hearth, a symbol of family warmth and comfort.

Many people like to look at the fire. At the same time, not every person can afford to have a real fireplace in the house with a real flame in the hearth. But today, thanks to the presence of such material as drywall, you can make a decorative fireplace with your own hands.

But when all the installation work is completed, the question arises of how to create an imitation of a real fire in a fake fireplace. This article will tell you how to do it yourself in various ways.

A decorative fireplace made of plasterboard requires compliance with fire safety standards, since this design is not designed for real fire. In addition, the apartment completely lacks the possibility of assembling a real fireplace.
But a fireplace, even if it is decorative, requires imitation of a real fire. You can do it yourself in several ways. The most commonly used in this situation is the following imitation:

• ferry;
• creation of "theatrical fire";
• use of salt lamps;
• imitation of fire with a Christmas tree garland;
• installation in the center of the TV;
• use of candles.

Let's take a closer look at each of these options.

Steam instead of fire

Ferry simulation

The most difficult way to simulate fire in a decorative fireplace with your own hands is considered to be precisely this method. Not every person can make such an imitation, since it requires a specific set of components and equipment, as well as electrician skills.

To create this kind of fire, you will need the following components:

• special DMX controller;
• fan with a diameter of 90 mm;
• LED RGB lamp;
• DMX decoder;
• three pieces of ultrasonic fog generators.

These components can be selected according to the parameters of the fireplace you have, as well as the manufacturer and characteristics. It all depends on what end result you want to get.
All these components are included in the equipment for steam electric fireplaces, as well as concert devices for creating a steam effect.
At correct connection components, you can create an imitation of the type of cold glow, which allows you to create an indistinguishable
from a real game of fire. If you plan to use this particular type of fire simulation, it is important to provide the necessary equipment parameters and mount the hearth of the right size.
The principle of operation of this installation is as follows:

• at the bottom of the container into which water will be poured, we put the assembled fog generator;
• This generator is equipped with a membrane that vibrates at a certain ultrasonic frequency, thus creating a reduced pressure. The result is an almost vacuum;
• due to this, water evaporates at room temperature;
• then cold steam, with the help of a fan, rises to the top;
• at the top it is illuminated by an installed LED - lamp;
• we put a diaphragm over this whole structure;

Note! Near the diaphragm, Bernoulli's law works. According to him, the speed of air movement near the hole increases the more, the smaller the hole was. Therefore, the simulation of the flame takes on a more realistic look. You can try different apertures to get the most desired simulation result.

The assembly of such equipment can be carried out according to this scheme.

Scheme

Proper assembly of components will allow you to make the most realistic imitation of fire with your own hands in a decorative fireplace.

"Theatrical" version

As the name implies, this imitation is most often used in various theatrical productions. But it is also good for making an imitation of a flame in a false fireplace.

"Theatrical" imitation

To make such an imitation with your own hands, you will need the following components:

• a piece of light white silk;
• three halogen lamps with reflectors;
• quiet and large fan;
• three color filters. It is necessary to take red, orange and blue filters;
• a box or a special bowl for assembling an imitation structure.

When all the necessary components are available, we proceed to assemble the false fire according to the following scheme:

• install a fan on the bottom of the box / bowl;
• the cord from it is brought out;
• then we fix halogen lamps above it in one axis. They must give light upwards;
• further, at a distance of 2 cm above the halogen lamps, we install light filters;

Note! We fix the light filters as follows: blue in the middle, and orange and red along the edges. Placing filters in this way will give the simulation more brightness and relief.

Installation of filters

• from the prepared shred we cut pieces of fabric different sizes. Triangles are the best shape. They will give the flame more realism;
• we attach pieces of fabric to the box / bowl along the edges of the fan.

When connecting a fan to electrical network you will have an artificial fire in the fireplace.
This method is easy to implement and allows you to create an almost real flame in the fireplace.

Salt lamp

The use of salt lamps in decorative fireplaces to create an artificial flame is considered the most useful and effective way.

Salt lamp

The salt lamp is a special lamp, the ceiling of which is made of raw salt crystal. Inside such a ceiling is a standard light bulb. When the lamp is connected, the ceiling heats up and begins to emit negative ions into the air. They bind positive ions (come from household appliances), which negatively affect the human body, thereby contributing to a better well-being of all households.
The disadvantages of this method include the rather high cost of salt lamps, and the advantages are ease of installation.
Using shades of different colors, you can effectively and very easily make an artificial fire in the fireplace with your own hands. In addition, using several lamps of various sizes at once, you can create an imitation of a fire.

Christmas garlands

Branch preparation

All people love New Year. Therefore, each person in the house has more than one Christmas tree garland. But few people know that with its help you can easily and quickly make an artificial fire in a decorative fireplace with your own hands. That's why this way considered one of the simplest and most effective. Moreover, anyone can handle it, and at a cost it will be very cheap.
To make the flame look like a real one, you will need the following materials:

• tree branches of various sizes;
• aluminium foil;
• lace. It is quite possible to cut it off from an old dress;
• stones (several pieces);
• glue;
• Christmas tree garland with a color background in red, orange or yellow. The best solution would be to use a flickering garland.

The simulation structure is assembled as follows:

• wrap branches with foil without gaps;
• coat the lace with glue and attach to the branches. Next, wait until they are completely dry;

Note! It will take about a day for it to dry completely.

• then you should carefully cut the lace case and remove the blanks from them;
• after that, in the hearth of stones, we lay out the stones in a circle;
• in the middle of the resulting circle we put a garland, and bring the cord with a plug out;
• we put the resulting "lace" firewood in the manner of a fire.

Stages of forming a fire

We plug the garland into the socket and enjoy the imitation of fire!
As you can see, this method is very simple to implement and will cost you much less than all other methods.

TV as a fireplace

TV in the fireplace

Another one of simple methods Realization of artificial fire in the fireplace is the use of a flat LCD TV. But this method will be very costly, since such a technique is not cheap.
There are special TVs designed to be built into decorative fireplaces. They have a recording with fire, which is played in the hearth of the fireplace.

Sometimes a TV can be supplemented with a special optical system, which consists of light filters. With its help, the image of the flame will become more expressive and voluminous.
Apart from this optical system you can use the mirror system. They are located at the corners of the focus, thereby making the image more voluminous.
In rare cases, you can also use holographic installations. But this is not a very cost effective way.

Candles and romance

The easiest, but also the most dangerous, way to create the illusion of fire in a decorative fireplace is to use ordinary lighted candles.

Candles in the fireplace

But here it should be remembered that the fireplace should be sheathed with plasterboard sheets with fire-resistant properties. This will minimize the risk of fire.
Among other things, candles will be smoked, which makes this method less popular than all of the above.
This method is considered one of design solutions giving the room romance and fabulousness. In this situation, candles can be placed individually around the perimeter of the hearth, or placed on a low candelabra.
As you can see, imitation of a flame in a decorative fireplace with your own hands is possible in a variety of ways. You will only have to choose the most suitable option for yourself, implement it correctly (if it is difficult to implement) and enjoy a decorative fireplace even in an apartment.

AT modern apartment it is not possible to build a classic fireplace, but you can always build an imitation of this structure. A false fireplace in the apartment will play a decorative role, it will help create a comfortable and cozy atmosphere, especially since there are no such problems with space heating, the batteries do an excellent job.

In this article we will talk about how to build an artificial fireplace from plywood, from chipboard, from various kinds do-it-yourself trees, we will consider in detail several master classes on their creation.

Original wooden portal for electric fireplace

Preparatory work

It is worth noting that the false fireplace is exclusively a portal of impressive size, which is properly decorated inside and out. This portal can become a separate decorative element or a frame for an electric fireplace that gives warmth, a biofireplace that allows you to create a real fire in the furnace.

• If a portal is created for a bio-fireplace in which a real fire will burn, then you should carefully consider the choice of materials for the firebox, since they must be fireproof.
• If a false fireplace is designed to decorate an electric fireplace, then the size of its firebox must correspond to the dimensions of the device. Additionally, electrical wiring should be carried out and sockets should be placed in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe proposed structure.

Portals for false fireplaces can be purchased at the store, or you can make it yourself, for example, from drywall, boards, bricks, and even cardboard. A variety of materials can be used to create the base, for example, original solution can be . If you want to assemble a solid structure that will serve for a long time, then it is better to make a wooden analogue. To build a fake wood fireplace with your own hands, you will need: plywood, chipboard, boards and timber.

Luxurious handmade wooden fireplace portal

At the preparatory stage, it is important to choose the right place for the future fireplace, as well as decide what its appearance will be. Keeping in mind that this decorative element will dominate the interior of the room, you should choose key places. In this case, a false fireplace will attract attention, set the right tone in the atmosphere of the room.

The interior of the room should certainly be taken into account when choosing a sketch of a future building. At the same time, the classic look of a false fireplace will allow you to fit it into almost any interior. It's great if there is a relaxation area near the virtual fireplace, where you can enjoy the comfort of home to your heart's content.

Having chosen a suitable sketch of a decorative fireplace, you should decide on the dimensions of the structure. It is advisable to build a large portal in a large room, and a small one in a small one, so that harmony in interior design is observed. will save space in the room. If it is difficult for you to imagine the dimensions of the product, then you can cut out a cardboard layout or draw a selected area on the floor and wall using a raised fireplace drawing.

Note that the design of a decorative fireplace can be very different. For example, portals with a firebox raised above the floor look interesting, in which it is convenient to place candles, LCD screens, and, if necessary, it is easy to place a burner from a biofireplace or an electric fireplace in the cavity.

A well-drawn sketch and detailed dimensions of the future product will help you to correctly navigate the quantity building material. Everything you need should be purchased at construction stores, while some fireplace parts, such as fasteners or hardware, can be searched at home.

Application of chipboard

Chipboard will become a strong and easy-to-use material for creating a structure. In our case, the laminated version is perfect - laminated chipboard, which will minimize the finish of the future false fireplace.

Chipboard and chipboard panels are available in many construction and furniture stores, so it will not be difficult to choose the right color and purchase material for construction. Permissible to use old furniture, but the appearance of these panels leaves much to be desired. Try to choose a color that matches the rest of the furniture in the room, because there are a lot of shades of laminated film.

The only drawback that immediately comes to mind when chipboard is used is its vulnerable appearance. Care should be taken when storing the elements of the plate and building a structure from it, so as not to damage the laminated surface, since it will no longer be possible to repair it.

Cutting the material into pieces of the required size can be done independently, or ordered from a suitable furniture workshop. If we are talking about chipboard or plywood, then doing the work yourself is not difficult, the main thing is to use a good electric jigsaw. With laminated material it is a little more difficult, here it is important not only to cut, but also to take into account the pattern of the fibers, so it is more convenient and easier to order the cutting of the sheet into the desired pieces in the workshop. Moreover, you will not need to take away a huge sheet of laminated chipboard, you will immediately pick up the finished elements.

Portal for a fireplace made of laminated chipboard

In addition, you should ask to process the edges of the slab so that the elements look monolithic. At home, edge processing can also be done, for this an iron and a special tape are used. However, the accuracy of this method is entirely up to you.

When you have all the structural elements, fasteners and hardware on hand, you should proceed with the assembly:

• Focusing on the sketch, it is necessary to prepare the frame of the false fireplace. It is most convenient to put it together from a bar or fasten it from a metal profile. When assembling a fireplace with your own hands from improvised materials, you should pay attention to the rigidity of the structure and its solidity, therefore we securely fasten the frame to the wall and floor.
• Then the resulting structure should be sheathed with chopped chipboard parts. When performing work, you must be extremely careful not to damage the decorative coating.
• If the cabinet for the fireplace is made of laminated chipboard, then further decoration will affect only its inner part, while creating a false portal for the fireplace from ordinary chipboard or plywood with your own hands, you should be puzzled by finishing the structure. Finishing a raised fireplace can be done different materials, for example, you can paste over the structure with plastic brick panels or wallpaper with a similar pattern, or use a decorative stone that is glued to the portal on the mortar. Permissible to apply ceramic tiles, mosaic and other tiles, especially if you plan to install a bio-burner inside the portal. If you stick to the wooden style, then in specialized stores you can roll the corresponding wooden elements with carved patterns and decorate your decorative fireplace with them. Subsequently, wooden elements can be coated with stain, varnish.
• At the final stage, you should decorate the false fireplace insert. There are many ways, but you can do without it, for example, by putting decorative firewood in niches or by placing candles. Everything here will depend on your imagination and the thoroughness of the approach.

Using conventional chipboard to build a false fireplace

Building a decorative fireplace with your own hands is very simple, the most important thing is to clearly preparatory work, correctly measure the dimensions of the room, calculate the dimensions of each element, then there will be no problems during assembly.

wooden version

If you want to build a more solid structure, you can build a decorative fireplace made of wood. A tree is understood as a bar and a board. It is perfectly acceptable to build a fireplace out of wood with your own hands, because, as in the case of chipboard and plywood, there are no particular difficulties in this.

The method of assembling a wooden structure is as follows:

• A correct and well-formed drawing will allow you to purchase the necessary material and saw it into parts. If you make a short description and indicate the dimensions of each element, it will be even easier to assemble a false fireplace.
• Next, the main frame is assembled from a bar, to which the remaining elements are attached. When assembling a fireplace from boards with your own hands, you should use several methods of fastening materials: somewhere tongues, somewhere gluing, and somewhere connecting with hardware. The connection is selected based on the required strength and influence on the entire structure.
• If you put together the entire portal from the boards, then it will turn out to be too massive, so in some places we use plywood. To make a wooden false fireplace look decent, we create from bars decorative elements, moldings and nail them to the frame.
• When the body is assembled, you can begin to finish it. How to finish a false fireplace, the easiest option is to paint it with white paint in several layers. It will turn out a stately building of a classic look. You can use the methods described earlier, they will also be relevant.
• To make your fake wood fireplace look complete, you should start decorating its firebox. The best option in this case is the use of natural and decorative accessories, for example, you can fill a niche with fir branches, cones and candles, or put real dry firewood.

Building a wooden fireplace with your own hands is somewhat more difficult than a chipboard product, since in this case more physical strength and time will be required. However, the building will look very solid and colorful, therefore it will certainly become the main focus of your room.

If you are not able to build such a structure on your own, then you can always contact a workshop that works with wood. Professionals according to the specified data from the drawing will easily assemble your