Do-it-yourself decorative fireplace 100 photos

Dreaming about how to equip a cozy hearth in the living room in your house or apartment, a modern person, probably, should first of all think about how to make a decorative fireplace with his own hands. This option is not difficult to translate into reality, and this does not require the receipt of special permits from supervisory authorities.

In general, the arrangement of a classic fireplace is the prerogative of residents of private houses, and it is important to plan its construction at the design stage of the cottage. For owners of city apartments, this is an almost unattainable goal.

Although a decorative fireplace can be considered an ersatz, it is quite capable of filling the house with cosiness, giving or emphasizing its design style and even becoming the center of the house, around which the family gathers in the evenings. And in order to enjoy the game of flame, there are many different techniques and technologies, so such a hearth will not be devoid of the charm it needs.

Reasons for the popularity of false fireplaces

The fireplace in the interior is always a powerful accent, with which you can give solidity and respectability to the room. And this effect can be achieved not only with the help of a hearth with real fire, but also by installing a false fireplace with your own hands, for the erection of which you can use various materials: drywall and other sheet products, as well as brick, stone, polyurethane, etc.

A decorative fireplace can be an independent element in the interior, but it can also be used utilitarianly, for example, by constructing a small shelf for various objects: vases, books, clocks, etc.

It is very important, starting work on the fireplace, to think about what it should be in size, how to choose the right place for its installation, from which materials to finish. Therefore, you should first prepare a detailed plan drawing with all the necessary dimensions.

Additionally, you can try to “fit” it into the room on the plan in order to make sure that its dimensions are commensurate with the size of the room, especially taking into account how it is planned to organize the space around it. This is important not from the point of view of fire safety, but from the point of view of the convenience of operating the room.

Decorative fireplace in the interior

In coming up with a sketch of the future fireplace, you will have to take into account the style of decoration of the room in order to prevent excessive eclecticism. This is especially important to consider when installing a fireplace in a finished space, but even if the room is under repair, this factor must be taken into account when choosing finishing materials for both the walls and the fireplace itself.

General rules that can be followed, in this case, are as follows:

1. For interiors in a classic simple style, the laconic design with strict lines can be considered the most suitable, while for the decoration you can use various types of natural stone, including marble.

2. Art Nouveau style, on the contrary, prefers natural soft, without sharp corners, lines, but at the same time tends to use modern functional materials. Therefore, for a fireplace in this style, you can choose a mirror finish, natural stone or even wood.

3. If the interior of a country house is made in a rustic style or country, then you can think about using unprocessed natural materials or use the simplest cladding that supports the general direction of the room. In this case, the form should be massive and "heavy". The use of finishing bricks for facing the portal may well solve this problem.

4. For a modern and functional hi-tech style, the best choice for a fireplace is its non-standard shape, and materials with a mirror surface or cast with a metallic sheen should be used for decoration.

Materials for a decorative fireplace

Creating a cosiness in your home by installing a fireplace imitation is not particularly difficult and does not require large financial expenses, since for its manufacture you can use a variety of materials, including those remaining after construction and repair work.

Of course, no one forbids the use of expensive materials, but still it makes sense to increase costs when buying facing materials - in this case you can achieve maximum similarity with a real fireplace, for the decoration of the portal which is often used marble, clinker, etc.

For the manufacture of a decorative fireplace, you can apply:

sheet materials: drywall, plywood, fiberboard, particleboard, OSB, MDF and others,
brick,
a rock,
polyurethane,
Styrofoam,
lumber, etc.

In principle, there are practically no restrictions on the choice of materials for such a fireplace, given that it has a purely decorative and aesthetic function. But in the event that an open flame source, for example, a candle, is planned to be used as an imitation of burning, or it is planned to install an electric fireplace, lamp in a prepared portal, then fire safety should still be considered.

And yet, despite the fact that you can make such a fireplace from almost any material, the choice most often remains with modern building material No. 1 - drywall. And there are reasons for this, since he:

Based on all this, it makes sense to consider the manufacture of a fireplace from this material, especially since when using other sheet products, the principle and procedure of work will be similar.

Drywall artificial fireplace: work procedure

Making a fireplace from drywall begins with preparing a place for its installation and purchasing the necessary materials.

To work, you will need:

After everything you need is prepared, you can begin to apply markings on the wall to which the structure will be attached.

Making the frame of a decorative fireplace

For convenience, it is recommended to transfer the contours of the future structure to the wall and, guided by them, install the profiles, screwing them with self-tapping screws.

There is also an option in which the future fireplace is assembled separately, and then installed and attached to the wall. But this method is suitable for small structures, in addition, you need to be sure that the wall to which the fireplace will be installed is absolutely flat - otherwise it will be very difficult to subsequently adjust its position and mount it without distortions.

This option is not suitable even if the false fireplace is installed in the corner. Next, you can install a small podium in front of the firebox, which will give the structure a greater resemblance to a traditional fireplace and the necessary solidity.

In the event that you want to make a fireplace portal with rounded shapes, the use of a metal profile for drywall easily allows you to cope with this task. Given its small thickness, it easily bends, but in addition, to obtain a beautiful shape, it is recommended to make small bilateral cuts after 3-6 cm, depending on the required curvature of the element.

After the metal box is ready, you should check the level of accuracy of its position, and then you can proceed to sheathing the frame using pre-prepared drywall parts.

Gypsum plasterboard casing

1. Drywall is easily cut with a paint knife or saw, but if it is necessary to make parts that are curvilinear or complex in configuration, it is better to use a jigsaw: not only will it be possible to cope with the job faster, but also get more accurate in size and neat in size performance elements.

2. You can fix the fireplace lining with the help of fasteners or with the use of adhesive compounds, but in the second case, it is still recommended to fix it with self-tapping screws. Further, work on sealing joints and holes is surely carried out, and you can proceed to finishing the fireplace.

3. For plating a curved arch, it is best to use a special flexible drywall, but not necessarily.

Further, these parts are attached like all the others, only the distance between the screws should be reduced from 10-15 cm to 5-10 cm, depending on the curvature.

4. Particular attention should be paid to corners: they are best designed using a special angular profile, which will not only give them strength, but also will not allow the edges of plasterboard parts to crumble over time as a result of mechanical stress.

5. The final stage is fireplace mantel, for which you can choose a variety of finishing materials: the structure can be painted, papered with imitation of natural materials, veneered with decorative plates. It is allowed to use ceramic tiles, artificial stone or bricking the structure with masonry.

When choosing materials, their weight should be considered: because of this, the use of natural stones is problematic. The brick, although it has an impressive mass, is laid on an independent foundation, so there is no additional load on the structure.

Imitation of a fireplace in an apartment: features of using various materials

In addition to drywall for the manufacture of an ersatz fireplace, you can use other materials, the choice of which is determined, first of all, by design features and sizes.

1. For small "foci" it is quite possible to use polystyrene, which is easy to work with, and it is recommended to use special glue for fixing parts. There is no need to manufacture a frame in this case, but there will also be no possibility to use the structure, for example, to install a mantelpiece.

For decoration, you can use stucco made of polyurethane, finishing types of paper, various moldings.

2. It is possible to make a fireplace from polyurethane, but in this case it is most often a question of creating a decorative portal on the wall and making a small firebox-recess, for a visual increase in the volume of which you can install a mirror or foil on the back wall.

3. The manufacture of a fireplace from sheet materials, such as MDF, chipboard and others, has much in common with the design of drywall construction.

But, using these materials, you can do without a frame, and assemble the fireplace separately, then install it in place and attach it to the wall.

4. The use of panels with a laminated coating has a certain advantage, since it allows you to perform decorative finishes, but, choosing this option, you should consider how much the pattern and color of the sheet fit into the interior of the room.

5. A more complicated construction is a brick fireplace: decoration or clinker. Using this material allows you to achieve naturalness, but requires more time and effort to implement the idea. In addition, if you do the work yourself, you will need certain knowledge and skills to perform masonry work.

It is also important to consider that the weight of such a fireplace will turn out to be impressive and can create a critical load on the supporting structures of the house, the state of which should be taken care of in advance.

When creating an imitation of a fireplace, there are practically no prohibitions on the use of materials, a lot in this case depends on the imagination and skill of the master himself, and the possibilities for creating additional coziness and comfort in the house are not limited.

The final touch or how to make a "fire" in a decorative fireplace?

Making the design of the fireplace itself is only half the battle, it is important to choose the option of creating an imitation of fire, as well as give the desired surroundings to the room.

Depending on the type and size, for it, as well as for a real hearth, it is possible to purchase protective screens, firewood and other accessories for the fireplace, with which you can give the "solidity" of the design. But still, the main thing is to choose a method of simulating fire in a furnace, for which the choice of tools and methods is also unlimited.

1. For small fireplaces, you can even use decorative candles or a New Year's garland, which for greater effect can be placed on previously beautifully laid ordinary firewood.

An additional play of light will be added by a mirror mounted on the back wall of the hearth.

2. To simulate fire, you can use the picture, especially preferred drawings in 3D. For the effect of playing the flame, lighting is additionally installed, for example, using LED lamps.

3. It is easy to create an imitation of the hearth and using materials from plastic or ceramic made in the form of firewood. The advantage of this method is that such a fireplace can be turned on as desired and create the illusion of real fire in the hearth.

4. Electric fireplaces, which are easy to install in a prepared portal, can become a more expensive option for simulating a flame. Their only drawback is the rather high price, which is perfectly compensated by the maximum similarity with a real fireplace.

Most models have several modes of operation, including the heating function, which additionally adds to their attractiveness. When choosing an electric fireplace, you should take into account the dimensions of the portal or make the latter taking into account these parameters, and, in addition, you need to take care of installing the outlet in the immediate vicinity of the structure.

Features and types

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

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

Reliable

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

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

Conditional

With this imitation of the focus, the artificial portal protrudes directly from the room partition, so its depth is much less than that of a reliable one. Installing a real burner or electric fireplace inside, as with a reliable false fireplace, becomes impossible. Therefore, small firewood, candles, and other decorative trifles are stacked in the furnace niche. A small depression of the fireplace is compensated by a mirror surface inside the portal. External resemblance to the real hearth is achieved with the help of decorative elements outside the raised fireplace.It can be bulky candlesticks mounted on a shelf or carved lining imitating tiles of medieval stoves.

Symbolic or painted

As the name of this type of decorative hearth implies, it serves exclusively as a decor, complementing the overall style concept of the room. DIY is the easiest way to make such a fireplace. For this, even the simplest materials, for example, a box from a TV, are suitable. Some designers do not make a symbolic false fireplace at all, but draw it on the wall and decorate it with a ceiling plinth or other material. When creating a painted fireplace, you need a minimum of money and special skills, so this option of an artificial hearth is available to every family and any apartment.

Advantages of decorative fireplaces

The advantages of artificial fireplaces over real ones are obvious:

They can be easily installed in any apartment without receiving permission for redevelopment and installation of the chimney.
You can mount a false fireplace in all parts of the room, and some types can even be moved to another place if necessary.
Artificial foci are affordable and affordable, do not require additional costs after installation.
Decorative stoves are safe, and therefore you can use them even for families with small children.
You can change the external design of a false fireplace even after its installation, without being tied to a specific design style for many years.

Location

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

Near the wall

The option of placing against the wall is relevant in several cases:

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

Before installing a wall-mounted decorative sample, you must make sure that the wall is flat. Only then will there be no ugly gap between her and the hearth. The best place to place a false fireplace is in the center of the wall. In this case, the fireplace will emphasize the harmonious design of the room.

In the corner

The corner decorative hearth is ideal for rooms with a small area, since it takes up little space. The fireplace installed in the corner opposite to the entrance has more functionality. Next to it you can place a soft zone with a sofa or armchairs. In addition, when entering a room with such a false fireplace, it will be he who will be given primary attention. The corner focus is especially interesting in rooms with uneven corners, protrusions of load-bearing beams. When properly decorated, these structures will look like a chimney, which will add realism. The structure of the corner fireplace is such that even a conditional version will have a fairly wide portal and a shelf, which means that it will not only save space, but also provide a fairly large storage area.

Island

An island artificial hearth for its installation requires much more free space than a wall or corner, and therefore this option is used in large rooms, studios. Its feature is that you can approach the heat source from any direction, but at the same time you will not notice any discomfort or crowding. Such a fireplace is much less common than the others, but if one is installed, then a burner or an electric hearth is laid inside it. A decorative island pattern will successfully complement the design of the Scandinavian or any other minimalist style. To make an island-type false fireplace on your own, you need to make a lot of effort, so most often they are ordered from professionals or bought ready-made.

Materials and methods for making the portal with your own hands

There are many photos and videos of master classes telling how to create different types of foci with your own hands. In many cases, even an amateur of design art is able to make a false fireplace. The most difficult part is the manufacture of the portal. Before starting work, you need to choose a specific design and find the materials that will be used. Most often, when creating decorative stoves, drywall, brick, stone, plastic, laminated boards, wood, cardboard are used. Materials should be selected based on several parameters: the general style of the room, the size of the structure, the type and purpose of the fireplace. For work, special tools will also be required.

Drywall

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

Sketch drawing.
Determining the installation location and applying appropriate marks on the walls.
The frame parts are cut from the metal profile, after trying them at the installation site of the raised fireplace, the complete structure is assembled using screws.

If a reliable fireplace is being assembled from drywall, into which it is planned to install an electric center, then at this stage of creation it is necessary to take care of bringing the electric outlet to the installation site.

The finished frame is sheathed with drywall.
The sheathed frame is mounted on the wall.
The finished portal is plastered, painted and decorated.

Made of brick and stone

To make a false fireplace from brick or stone, you need to make sure the high quality of the materials used. Saving on the purchase of bricks is not worth it, to create a portal they will not need very much. The work is carried out according to the following scheme:

A sketch is drawn and labels are placed at the installation location.
A small brick pillow is laid out under the entire area of the fireplace.
The portal is laid out, starting from the corners of the focus. In this case, the next row can only begin to be laid after the previous one has dried. In addition, each row must be checked with a level, and if there are gaps between the rows, carefully close them with a sand-cement mixture. This will make the fireplace even and neat.
The top of the fireplace is covered with a countertop.
The decoration of the finished portal.

Polyurethane

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

Stages of creation step by step:

Create a sketch.
Preparation of the installation site, namely, labeling the walls, leveling and drying.
Then, marking is applied to the polyurethane, along which parts of the fireplace are cut out.
The structural elements are fastened together using self-tapping screws and glue.
The portal is being decorated.

From laminated boards

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

We draw a sketch of the hearth.
We make marks on the walls.
We cut the details of the frame. If you can’t do it yourself, you can turn to specialists for help.
The frame from the cut out parts is assembled into a single portal, the corners and joints are abundantly filled with mounting foam.
The dried foam is shaped to match the sketch.
The fireplace is decorated.

Out of a cardboard box

A decorative fireplace cut out of a cardboard box is so easy that even children can help you. The box from the big TV is best for this work, if you want to make a wall fireplace, and the box from the refrigerator and other voluminous household appliances, if the fireplace is angular. To create a false fireplace, located against the wall, you will need:

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

The corner artificial hearth is made according to the same scheme, with small features:

The box is installed directly in the corner where the fireplace will be located, the dimensions of the corner are adjusted and a triangular shape is attached.
A furnace hole is cut out in the front wall, the necessary parts of the box are bent inward.
The triangular shape is carefully fixed on all sides by glue and tape.
On top, as a countertop, plywood is laid.
The finished fireplace is decorated.

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

From wood

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

Plates are cut into elements in accordance with the sketch.
The edges are smoothed using a special tape.
The portal frame is assembled from a metal profile.
The finished frame is sheathed with chipboard.
The decor is made.

By the same principle, a center of plywood is assembled. If it is based on a beam or board, then the progress of work is as follows:

Materials are sawn in accordance with the sketch.
The frame is assembled in a single design.
Then, moldings or other decorative elements are cut from individual bars and nailed to the frame.
The decor is made.

Decorative finish

Whatever material your decorative fireplace is made of, the final stage of its creation will be the decoration process. Moreover, the methods of decoration vary, depending on the type of fireplace, its size, purpose and style of the room. The symbolic fireplace made of boxes is beautifully decorated with wallpaper, polystyrene, borders. With their help, you can come up with the relief of the center-fake. Ceramic tiles, tiles, mosaics are suitable for decorating a reliable drywall fireplace. Conventional fireplace can be decorated with siding, plastic panels.

Flames inside the portal

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

Draw a fire on paper canvas and stick it on the back wall of the portal. This option is especially good for fake fireplaces made of cardboard, because the use of even lit candles in it can lead to tragedy. If you don’t have artistic talent, order a painting from an artist or print a finished version from the Internet.
Install a small lcd display broadcasting burning fire inside the hearth. Similar appliances, designed specifically for artificial hearths, are sold in stoves and hardware stores.
Lighten the furnace opening with a small decorative lamp, such as a salt lamp.
Use Christmas lights or LED strips. At the same time, the bulbs are placed in the very center of the portal and are slightly covered with thin branches.
Use lighted candles.

Examples of using a decorative hearth in various rooms

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

Unusual design

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

Conclusion

A fake fireplace is not just a tribute to fashion, but a real designer find, which every person in any apartment can realize. Moreover, the sooner you think about installing a decorative hearth, the more different options you can implement. Ideally, to conceive a fireplace before the completion of the apartment renovation when moving. Then it will be easy to fit it into the interior with minimal economic costs. But even later, to come up with and implement an interesting sketch in your apartment is completely up to you.

Some options

Today there are three groups:

Symbolic - when you can use any material. Their feature is that these structures are not similar to those fireplaces that we are used to seeing. A great example is the image on the wall, which is decorated with decorative paraphernalia.

Conditional are made in the form of a portal protruding from the wall. Outwardly, it looks like a classic. In this case, in the form of decor, there may be firewood in the firebox or candles standing upstairs.

Reliable in the apartment look gorgeous, because they are 100% imitation. Dimensions of the design, principles of design, everything is identical. To make the flame look more natural, a bi-heating pad is mounted in the “furnace”.

We will try to figure out how to make a decorative fireplace with your own hands. Most importantly, when creating it there is no restriction in the choice of material.

For the most part, any design is simple. Everything you need for construction can be purchased in hardware and / or construction stores, even at home.

Fireplace out of the box

The portal for an electric fireplace can really be made out of an ordinary box, just keep in mind that the design will be decorative. There can be no talk of any gas burner, since an open flame can provoke a fire. Also, it will not work to put a heat exchanger and a water boiler.

Ask, then what is the essence of such a fireplace? It's simple, in a box frame it is quite possible to build an electric fireplace, in the firebox of which an imitation of live fire is mounted. The flame is made by backlight or LCD screen.

To make the product more similar to the original, the box can be trimmed with decorative plaster or painted with acrylic paint. The disadvantage of the structure is weightlessness, because it must be attached to the floor or wall.

Step-by-step instructions for creating a decorative fireplace with your own hands will help to make a simulator quickly, as close to natural as possible.

On the Internet, you can find many video tutorials on making such an interior decor.

Design ideas

Of the box, really make false fireplaces of different styles:

In the Art Nouveau style, you can make designs of different colors, textures. They blend perfectly with vintage elements. Therefore, stucco molding, sockets and other analogues are suitable for decoration. Perfectly fits into any interior.

Futuristic hi-tech involves the use of only modern materials. Perfectly suitable plexiglass, steel. Surely the question arose, they say, then a cardboard box?

It turns out that giving an interesting geometric shape, painted in black or steel color, you can adjust the box and the chosen style. A mirror is inserted inside the firebox.

The classic style remains in fashion. And it is made easier, there is a minimum of jewelry, maintained in strict lines. You can install this design in any apartment.

If the area does not allow you to create a dimensional device, then you should not be upset. Even in small venues, beauty can be made. We need to find a diagram and make a corner decorative fireplace with our own hands.

A country fireplace is ideal for a rustic interior. The present is made of stone. To make the structure look like the original, the box is glued with self-adhesive or “stone” print film. Firewood should be in the firebox.

You can find drawings of decorative fireplaces with your own hands on various resources (people constantly share their ideas).

What is required

The most important material is a few large cardboard boxes. Also buy: glue, paint, colorless varnish, molding, brushes, sponges, adhesive tape, masking tape, measuring instruments.

So, the length of the product is 1 m 20 cm, height 50 cm. Make a base and paste over with adhesive tape (it turns out something that looks like a dollhouse). Then make a portal with a solid back wall.

What the portal is made of

You can make a portal for a false fireplace from any material. Truly from any - even from an old cabinet or desk. But most often they use the following materials:

Drywall. Universal material from which you can make both flat and curved surfaces. First, the frame is assembled from profiles, which is then sheathed with drywall. False drywall fireplace can be finished with brick tiles, stone, can be puttied and painted. If desired, you can decorate with polyurethane decorative elements. But then the portal settings must be done taking into account these details.
Falshkin for an apartment is easier to make from drywall
Plywood, DVP, TsSP, GVL, OSB. Work with plywood and fiberboard has long been mastered and presents difficulties, and all other materials are no different in terms of assembly. For such decorative fireplaces from plywood and other sheet material, a frame is usually assembled from small-sized wooden blocks - 30 * 30 mm or so. For decoration, you can use ceramic tiles with a suitable surface, but it is better to glue it on liquid nails. Also suitable for decorating a raised fireplace is a new material - flexible stone.
The portal for simulating a fireplace can be made from any sheet building material
Brick. To maximize the appearance of a decorative fireplace to the present, you can use a brick. Spread the wall on the floor or a quarter of the brick. To give greater strength, a reinforcing mesh is laid in every third or fourth row. This option is only possible if the floor or ceiling beams can bear the weight of one or two hundred bricks, although the smallest (as shown) can be made up of fifty bricks.

The simplest fake brick fireplace

They make portals for a false fireplace and from plastic panels, wood or cardboard. But they are used much less often. You can even use glass and metal, but working with them is more difficult.

What to put inside

No matter how beautiful the fireplace portal may be, without fire, or at least imitating it, it has an unfinished look. There are several options:

Buy an electric fireplace and build a frame around it. A good option, especially since it simultaneously performs the heating function (due to the built-in fan heater). But it requires a fairly substantial amount. Especially if there are options such as imitation cod firewood and LED backlight.
Electric fireplace - simple but expensive
Put candles inside. Such fireplaces are even called candlelight. In the manufacture of the portal for such a fire source, it can be made shallow - 15-20 cm - this is more than enough.
Candlelight - precisely decorative. No functional load
Biofireplace (also called ecofireplace). This is a small building made of glass, in which special biofuel is burned without smoke and soot. It is absolutely safe and very decorative. It is still a living fire, albeit without smell and sound. Its minus is the price. For some models, it is comparable to the cost of a brick device with the only difference that a bio-fireplace does not require permission.
Biofireplace can be put in a made portal
Make something like fire from LED lamps in red, warm white and yellow.

Calculation of proportions and preparatory work

To make it easier to estimate the proportions, you can use the finished drawing. It is possible and necessary to change sizes to fit your conditions - this is not a real brick fireplace, in which all dimensions must be respected for normal operation, but only its imitation. So we boldly adjust the sizes to our own ideas and the dimensions of the source of "fire".

Drawing of a decorative fireplace with dimensions

If an electric fireplace will be inserted into the portal, it is necessary to bring an electric power line to this area in advance. When laying the cable, use the installation rules: lead the wires to the outlet from above, strictly vertically (not at an angle or arbitrarily). In this case, when attaching profiles for drywall to the wall, you definitely won’t get into the wiring, as it is visually easy to determine its location - above the outlet. Fasteners are simply not installed in this space.

Frame

If you are going to make a portal for candles, the sizes can be even smaller. One of the drawings of the candle fireplace in the following drawing.

Approximate dimensions of a candle fireplace

First, draw the main lines of the portal on the wall. Then, on them we fasten the starting profile, cut into pieces (it in cross section looks like the letter "P" without shelves on the sides).

The profiles on the wall indicate the dimensions of the portal

Then, according to the drawing, we create a three-dimensional frame for a false fireplace. Immediately set vertical slats marking the size of the portal. The same frame is assembled on the floor as on the wall. The dimensions are on the drawing, but it will be useful to compare them with the actual ones so that there are no distortions. The finished frame is installed at the right distance, fixed using short sections of the profile, creating a three-dimensional box.

Assembling the frame

Lastly, the frame for a small podium is assembled in front of the “firebox” of the decorative fireplace. If you do it earlier, it will be inconvenient to work.

Features of working with GCR

Often questions arise when creating arches. To get a rounded line, cut the sidewalls of the profile every 5-6 cm, leaving the “back” intact. In this form, he easily bends. During installation, each "petal" is attached to the crossbar (on both sides).

How to make a rounded line from a profile

After the frame is ready, we plaster it with drywall. It is cut with an ordinary clerical knife. In addition to him, you still need a long ruler. We mark on the drywall the line along which it must be cut. We apply a ruler to it and draw a knife along it. The main task is to cut the top sheet of cardboard, there is no need to cut through the gypsum through. Under the cut line lay some kind of bar, knock on the sheet from one or the other side. Gypsum breaks along the cutting line, all that remains is to fold it and cut off the second cardboard elephant.

Rounded lines on drywall can be cut with a jigsaw, if available, or break off the gypsum in small pieces, and then align the edge with a knife (the gypsum is well grinded).

How to fix

Drywall sheets are attached to special screws with a screw on the end. Due to their small size, they are called “fleas”. They must be twisted so that the heads are recessed, but cardboard must not be torn through. Installation step - 15-20 cm in straight sections without load and 10-15 cm in areas with bends. In short, this is all the wisdom of installing drywall.

In order to bend the gypsum sheet sheathing the “firebox” arch, it is cut on one side with strips 5-7 cm wide. The gypsum is broken along the cutting lines, but the second sheet of cardboard is not cut. It turns out that the strips of gypsum hang on this cardboard, because of this the strip bends well. It is applied to the profiles forming the bend, fastened with self-tapping screws. When mounting, be careful to place the fasteners in the middle of the strip - pieces may break off from the edge.

The frame for the raised fireplace is sheathed with drywall

Finish finish

After the portal for the artificial fireplace is sheathed with drywall, you can start decorating. It can be puttied and painted, it can be tiled with brick or stone, another option is an artificial facing stone.

Cladding process

It is more convenient to glue gypsum plasterboard onto liquid nails or special glue for the selected material. It is only important that it can be used with drywall.

To make the portal for an artificial fireplace more voluminous, so that the “flame” game is more interesting, the part that goes to the wall is covered with a mirror (if an electric fireplace is not installed). The mirror can be ordinary, on glass, or it can be flexible - acrylic. It is preferable, as it does not beat.

Do-it-yourself decorative fireplace

The joints between the tiles are grouted. Often she is chosen in dark gray, similar to a solution. Then from far away the portal looks like a real one.

As you can see, making a decorative fireplace with your own hands is not too difficult. Especially for those who have at least a little experience with drywall. A more complex version, with stucco made "in place", see the video.