DIY false fireplace: 80 models (with detailed descriptions and photos)

DIY false fireplace made of cardboard
Once you imagined that you were sitting by a cozy fireplace with a cup of coffee, Christmas is approaching, you are planning how to decorate the mantel for the winter holidays and... you realize that you don’t have a fireplace. This is no good. An apartment in a high-rise building and lack of finances are not an excuse. To make a false fireplace with your own hands, you only need desire. Believe it or not, faux fireplaces are actually quite simple and often very inexpensive. DIY raised fireplace ideas , descriptions, and links to instructions you'll want to install in your home today! Each fireplace has its own personality and unique charm. There are a lot of ideas for false fireplaces that can be made relatively quickly and inexpensively. Although this is a small selection, we hope that these ideas will inspire you in some way. Right now is the perfect time to do such a project; you still have time to make a false fireplace for the New Year and Christmas! Here you will find the simplest examples of false fireplaces made from boxes , usually these are interesting projects for children for the winter holidays. There are also models of homemade fireplaces made from plasterboard , wood, plywood, chipboard, papier-mâché and other materials.

Is it possible to make a false fireplace from old furniture?

Don't rush and get rid of that boring chest of drawers or sideboard. With the proper approach and imagination, this worn-out piece of furniture can easily turn into an interesting false fireplace.

The work takes place in several stages:

We take out all the shelves, completely freeing up the interior space.
In front we organize a facade of boards or plywood.
Inside we measure out the space for the firebox. It can be assembled in different ways: it can be an empty cardboard box or box of suitable size, or the firebox can be simply assembled from plywood.
We prime the product, sand it and paint it.

It turns out to be an interesting decorative item for the interior.

Mantel

The mantel is an important part of the design. Without it, the fireplace will not have the appropriate appearance. It is very important that it is not heavier than the main part of the decorative element, since the entire structure can fold. It can be made from plywood no more than 10 mm thick or from several sheets of cardboard.

It is optimal if it is possible to attach the shelf not only to the fireplace itself, but also to screw it to the wall using dowels and screws. In this case, you won’t have to worry that everything will fall, and you can use chipboard or wood for manufacturing.

If it is on the fireplace, then use polymer glue or liquid nails for gluing. This guarantees a more secure fit.

Christmas fireplace 2022: step-by-step instructions and photos

Glue 2 boxes together to form the sides. If you want your product to be sturdy, cover the boxes with white cardboard.
Make an arch for the future hearth from cardboard and glue it between the columns. Here you will need hot glue.
Glue the arch in the middle so that it turns out voluminous and beautiful from all sides.
Make the back strip for the fireplace . Glue the strip and place a weight so that the part is well secured.
Use polystyrene foam as the base and top panel for the fireplace.
Your cardboard box fireplace is almost ready. All that remains is to choose decorations and decorative finishes.

various materials as cladding . For example, cut sheets of red paper into bricks, glue stylized wallpaper, or make rectangles from white foam and stick them on the frame.

For more information on how to make a fireplace for the New Year 2022 with your own hands, watch the video.

Foam fireplace 2022: simple options for the home

An excellent material for creating a DIY Christmas fireplace is polystyrene foam. It is lightweight, quite durable, inexpensive and very flexible to work with. To make a false fireplace for the holiday, you will need:

2 rectangles, size 40x60 cm;
2 rectangles, size 40x20 cm;
sharp knife;
masking tape;
primer and glue.

You can also choose other measurements for the details of your future product, it all depends on the free space. Watch the video on how to make a luxurious fireplace from foam plastic step by step for the New Year 2022.

How to choose cardboard

To assemble it, you need to select materials and allocate approximately 5-6 hours for work. It is not at all necessary to do this yourself, it is not so difficult to do it yourself, so the whole family can take part in the process.

Make a fireplace with your whole family

The quality and appearance will depend on the material and type of cardboard boxes. If you take the packaging from under the TV, the “false fireplace” will be narrow without much of a recess in the place where the burning wood is located. Therefore, wide boxes are most often used, at least 50 centimeters deep. It is also advisable to use the most durable cardboard, in which case you can make a wooden stand on top.

Choose durable cardboard

If you want to make a more complex design, it is recommended to prepare 2 more boxes of different sizes. This will expand the scope for creative ideas. It is also worth making sure that the drawings are easily applied to the paper. They must be clearly visible, since in case of an error, you will have to look for new material.

Complex design of several boxes

3 types of “false fireplaces” are often used, namely:

1Christmas with New Year decorations.

2 Corner hearth.

3Standard wall-mounted.

For each of them it is necessary to select a certain amount of materials and types of cardboard boxes. To make the structure more stable and reliable, you can place a wooden frame inside. This will be relevant in a family with small children.

Christmas wall fireplace

Imitation of fire

So, the fireplace is ready, now all that remains is to simulate the fire. What is used to simulate fire in a false fireplace: candles (both wax and electric), garlands, colored paper, Quiet paper, flames can be painted on thick paper or cardboard or printed on a large sheet, felt, LED strips, night light, etc. Do not limit the flight of your imagination and be sure to share your creative ideas in the comments!

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Miniature product

So that the fireplace can be placed in any place, including a desk at work, you need to make a miniature copy of it. To create such a design you should prepare:

small box;
3 elongated boxes;
white cardboard;
white paint;
scissors and pencil;
PVA glue;
other decorative elements.

The bottom of the box must be carefully glued. One long sash needs to be bent at the top, and the second one needs to be carefully glued to the two short ones. Then small elongated boxes are placed around the perimeter of the sash window and their positions are marked with a pencil.

Along the lines formed, you need to enlarge the window, cutting out unnecessary parts of the cardboard. After this, you should glue the small boxes to the main one according to the markings. You can make decorative elements for decoration from cut pieces of cardboard. A shelf made from another long box is glued on top. It should protrude a few centimeters from the edge of the fireplace. The entire structure is painted white. It is advisable to paint it on all sides in several layers.

All prepared decorative elements are attached with polymer glue. In the interior of the hearth, you can glue wallpaper in the style of brick or masonry. Small candles will complement the design and New Year's style of the product.

To create a fireplace you will need at least white paint

Furnace design

The design of the firebox largely depends on the amount of money you are willing to spend. There are five ways to quickly and efficiently solve the problem.

Buy a bio-fireplace or its electric equivalent. The result will be an imitation of fire that is as close to reality as possible.
Embed a 3D frame with a flash drive on which a GIF image of a bright flame is recorded (this is possible if the size of the portal is relatively small).
Mount a platform with several LED lamps that completely imitate a live flame.
Cover the interior walls with mirrors and place massive candles.
Another non-trivial solution is the inner surface of the fireplace, completely covered with LED strips of bright red and orange colors.

And the final touch is an elegant metal grille.

detailed instructions

First of all, you need to make markings and decide on the dimensions; this should be done taking into account the surrounding objects, so as not to touch the hearth with an opening door, or so that it does not cover the TV or picture.

The box needs to be cut to get the largest pieces of cardboard possible. It is convenient to use a wallpaper knife for this.

Next, you need to cut out a rectangle that will serve as a stand for the fireplace and glue it onto a piece of foam plastic of the same size. You can attach it to the wall using electrical tape, this ensures that after the holidays the fireplace can be removed and put away until next year without damaging the wall coverings.

You can mark the form directly on the wall; this will help you visualize the finished project and make the necessary clarifications at the layout stage.

You should decide on the shape of the central niche. It can be rectangular (which is much simpler) or semicircular. In the latter case, the cardboard must be cut evenly.

So that the two sides of the niche are the same, cut out from one, attach to the other and circle.

It is convenient to do the sides after the front. Cut rectangles to the size of the fireplace for the top, side and inside of the box. Glue them with electrical tape, tape or masking tape.

Make cardboard stiffeners on all sides. You can use a glue gun for this.

For the curved part, take thinner cardboard and bend it into a semicircle before gluing.

Additionally, make partitions throughout the entire volume of the fireplace. This is necessary if you use it as a stand.

The top shelf should be made separately from a rectangle with the obligatory stiffening ribs for installing the decor.

Cover all edges with masking tape to make them look smoother.

Paint the fireplace and you can start decorating.

Decor options

The appearance of the false fireplace will depend on the decor.

It can serve not only as a decoration for New Year and Christmas, but also as a full-fledged piece of furniture. There are several design options.

Brick finish

The easiest way to do this type of finishing is to cut out small bricks from thick paper and attach them to a pre-painted fireplace using PVA glue. This is done quickly and easily, but the decorative effect is average.

Another relatively simple option is wallpapering with a “stone look”. In this case, it should be borne in mind that the base must be carefully prepared, and the wallpaper itself must be thick, optimally vinyl. Each brick is cut out of polystyrene foam and covered with similar wallpaper, in which case it will also be voluminous.

You can take thick paper and draw bricks on it with a sponge. Or make an imitation of the solution on red paper using masking tape.

Sometimes gypsum tiles are used for stone or brick finishing. It should be noted that this is risky. The base must be strong to support heavy material.

The most difficult method is to make bricks from foam plastic. There are several options. Separately cut out each of them and glue them in a checkerboard pattern or cut out the bricks on a solid sheet. To simulate the solution, use a regular knife, which must be preheated.

The same knife can make the façade structure of the brick uneven.

Stucco finishing

Decorative inserts made of polyurethane or expanded polystyrene can be used throughout the entire outer area of the fireplace or for its individual elements. Glue them with special glue and paint them with water-based or acrylic paints.

You can combine different techniques, the main thing is that it is not tacky.

Preparatory stage

Before you begin directly creating a false fireplace, you should carry out some preparatory measures:

First of all, choose a place to install it. It is optimal for this to be an empty wall without bulky furniture; the latter will not always be combined with the structure. It's convenient to install a fireplace in an unsightly corner or a place that is in desperate need of decoration.
The second stage is choosing sizes. They are calculated based on the availability of space and the wishes of the hostess. Approximate dimensions - about 1 m in height and 1-1.5 in width.
At the next stage, you need to decide on a sketch of the future product. If the shape of the fireplace is complex, it is better to outline all the dimensions in advance so as not to be distracted during the manufacturing process. In the case of a simple design, you can focus on the size of the available box.
Before starting, it is recommended to draw a completed drawing of the fireplace, including all decorative elements and the final coating. All this can be changed during the manufacturing process, but it is better to imagine exactly what will happen. This will help you determine the list of necessary tools and materials so you don’t forget to buy anything.

It is very important to pay attention to the decor so that the guests present do not suspect that ordinary cardboard was used to make it. It is better that all seams and materials are closed. The minimum is to paint the base with acrylic or water-based paint several times.

Choosing a fireplace type

There are different types of home fireplaces: corner, island, wall-mounted and so on. The easiest way to make and fit into any interior is wall-mounted. The island one is more difficult, but you can move it in the process. A corner apartment would be a good fit for a small apartment.

You can use ready-made drawings and make changes to some parameters according to your dimensions.

Before starting production, remove everything unnecessary, clear the workspace and the wall where the fireplace is installed, prepare the tools and you can start.

Corner false fireplace 2022 from scrap materials

When there is very little space in the apartment, you can create a New Year's atmosphere with the help of a corner fireplace. This decor is made from a large TV box and scrap materials that everyone can find at home.

Trim one side of the box so that when folded you get a triangle. On the facade of the future fireplace, draw an opening and make a cut in the form of a semicircle. At the bottom of the fireplace, draw a corner for the firebox, make cuts and fold the cardboard inward. Cut out the walls from additional cardboard and glue them with tape or hot glue. Decorate the fireplace with wallpaper and decorate it as you wish.

You can also coat the finished product with water-based paint, make an imitation of brickwork, or stick on a fake molding made of foam plastic or plasterboard.

How to make a New Year's fireplace with your own hands from plastic wall panels

To make a fireplace from this material you will need about 8 wall panels. From them, build a fireplace design, which can be depicted in advance with a diagram, having carefully thought through all the parameters. It is advisable to make the top from a plastic panel. The bottom of the fireplace (place for the fire) can be decorated with a luminous garland or a set of decorative candles. The inside of the fireplace wall can be lined with disc segments, which will give a special effect to the design.

Fireplace with round portal

This fireplace is quite basic, so it will require several large cardboard boxes. Using this drawing you can calculate the details for your fireplace

First we glue the base, and for strength we need to glue the stiffeners inside. Since the top of the fireplace will not be easy, and the use of decorations is also provided, without this reinforcement the bottom of the fireplace will sag.

We glue the ribs every 5 cm using tape. Additionally, glue the base on all sides.

Next, you can cut out the front and back. First we will decorate these parts, and then glue them. Draw an arch on a piece of cardboard. We cut out the bricks and glue them to the base. After the glue has dried, you can begin assembly.

Making a fireplace roof. To create it, we need not only cardboard, but polystyrene foam. We glue all the cardboard-expanded polystyrene-cardboard parts together. Let it sit for several hours so that the glue dries well. You can put a load on top.

To cover all the unevenness, cover the top of the fireplace with paper.

We take paper towels and PVA, which must be diluted with water 1:1. Place the resulting solution in a spray bottle. Dampen the napkin and squeeze a little. A wet napkin will give an interesting relief. We cover the entire fireplace with such napkins and wait for it to dry.

Take paint of two colors (red-brown and beige). We will paint the surface of the fireplace beige and the bricks red.

Once all the paint is dry, you can add a little shine using a brush and gold paint. Using an almost dry brush, go along the seams between the decorative bricks. You should not apply a lot of paint; it should be practically invisible.

Options for shapes of New Year's fireplaces made from boxes

A false fireplace can be made in various shapes using improvised materials. It all depends on your imagination and the availability of boxes in your home.

Making a solid base

The lower part of a homemade fireplace, which serves as a stand, must be strong and rigid, since in addition to the entire weight of the structure, it must withstand all objects placed on the hearth over a long period.

You can strengthen the lower border using additional inserts; they will be secured inside the cardboard frame. Such “ribs” can be placed along the entire length at certain intervals or simply glued randomly along the entire bottom.

Strengthen all parts for structural reliability

The reinforcement inserts must be the same height, otherwise the weight will be distributed unevenly, which will affect their holding capacity.

The lower part in the form of a stand should always be longer and wider than the main structure of the fireplace, by about 100-120 mm. To make a support, you can use the 2 simplest and most effective methods:

cut out two identical sheets of cardboard (bottom and top). “ribs” are glued onto one of them to support the fireplace. Here you can use double-sided tape or glue;
find a flat box with sides and install reinforcing inserts inside.

An easy way to do it yourself

How to decorate a stand?

Like any other element, the stand needs decoration. The simplest thing you can do is to choose original side panels for it, cover the cardboard with self-adhesive tape with a pattern, wrap it in wallpaper or paint it. But there are other, more original ideas.

Self-adhesive with a pattern in the design of the fireplace

If the homemade fireplace was made in honor of the Christmas holidays, the base can be painted red or white and wrapped in rain and garland.

Step by step creating an imitation

For standard, people often use wide baseboards with beautiful patterns. They can be bought at any hardware store and installed in the lower and upper parts of the fireplace; it always looks very beautiful and complete.

Elegant fireplace with wide baseboard

A homemade fireplace of any kind can be made by anyone with no experience in construction. Also, such a hearth will make your apartment or house more comfortable, and during the New Year holidays it will create the necessary magical atmosphere. It is worth noting that Christmas or other photographs next to the fireplace always turn out spectacular and memorable for a lifetime.

Where to begin?

Like any other home craft, building a fireplace starts with planning. This stage may seem unnecessary and boring when an idea is already growing in your head and you want to quickly bring it into reality. But it is mandatory. Without the right sketch, “building” a fireplace will take a lot of time and effort, and the result may be disappointing.

At the planning stage we do the following:

we carefully select a place for the decorative element, since it is undesirable to move the finished structure;
we determine the style and predominant colors in the interior: a decorative fireplace should fit harmoniously into the decor, and not stand out with its absurdity;
we collect “construction” material (any cardboard boxes will do) and select the appropriate shape and size;
We make a drawing of the desired design with a detailed indication of all dimensions;
we select a method of decorative finishing and prepare a sketch of the fireplace in color (very often what we draw in our imagination turns out to be far from ideal, but on paper all the flaws will be immediately visible).

When choosing a decoration method, we recommend visiting a hardware store. If you haven’t done renovations for a long time, you will be surprised how many new materials and mixtures have appeared on the market. Perhaps such a walk will lead to an original idea for painting or covering with an imitation material.

Don’t rush to simplify everything as much as possible, because the manufacturing process itself is already quite simple. You need to pay enough attention to decorating the structure. Otherwise, you will get a craft at the level of a school labor lesson, which will not deceive or surprise anyone.