The fireplace has always been considered a sign of luxury and well-being. Almost no private home can do without it. But fire safety rules for apartments prohibit the arrangement of existing fireplaces. Decorative designs that can be made independently from drywall or a box will help to solve the problem.
What is it like?
A false fireplace performs only a decorative function, so the use of open fire is not practiced in it. This is due to design features and the materials used. In some cases, it is possible to install special heating elements that are powered from the mains. This will allow the fireplace to perform its direct functions.
Corner structures are suitable both for spacious private houses, and for small apartments, since they practically do not conceal the space. Any such thing consists of the following elements:
- base;
- frame (most often this part is made of metal profiles);
- internal niche (size depends on the chosen design);
- place for a device that simulates fire;
- exterior finish.
Benefits
The advantages of decorative fireplace designs are obvious:
- can be installed indoors of any size;
- there is no need to obtain permission and make changes to the design documentation of an apartment or house;
- you can choose any form of fireplace that will be combined with the interior of the room;
- materials for manufacture are affordable and inexpensive;
- safety, since there is no open fire;
- low financial costs, so many can afford this design;
- performing a decorative and practical function, since the upper bar can serve as a stand for objects.
Another advantage can be considered the ability to make a corner false fireplace with your own hands (step by step instructions, photos can be found further in the article).
Varieties
Decorative products (false fireplaces) can be:
In the first case, the design is a decorative element of the interior, so it will not radiate heat. It is not necessary to use refractory materials for the manufacture. The most popular is drywall, it allows you to build objects of different shapes and sizes. You can make a simpler corner fake fireplace with your own hands, for example, from a large box.
Interior designs are classified by the method of simulating fire:
- the use of fabric and winding;
- imitation of fire with the help of lamps, LEDs, garlands;
- Plasma displays
- decorative design (you can put logs in the fireplace portal, arrange candles or other decorations).
Electric fireplaces are also able to heat the room. This makes them more practical. Users have the opportunity to purchase ready-made designs in the store or integrate an electric heater into a self-made product.
How to choose a place?
This item is suitable for spacious living rooms, as well as for small cozy studio apartments. If you wish, you can transfer the corner false fireplace with your own hands to any part of the room. Most often, such structures are located in the corner opposite the entrance.
If a heater is used for the fireplace hearth, then the structure cannot be mounted in hard-to-reach places. These are:
- space in front of radiators of the heating system;
- points that are in contact with the doorway;
- places near bulky structures, for example, near a cabinet.
Design choice
Corner raised fireplace can become the central decorative element of the room and apartment, which makes it even more unique design. An important point in the arrangement of such a product is not only the choice of size, location and materials, but also the development of design. The appearance of the decorative fireplace should be harmoniously combined with other elements of the interior. When choosing a design, you must be guided by the following rules:
- To simulate fire in a medium-sized portal, you can use a plasma TV, which will not only make the structure as natural as possible, but also reduce its depth;
- a fireplace of a similar color or dark tones can be combined with light walls (it can become an excellent color accent of a sunny room, especially if its size is not large);
- to visually increase the space will help mirror surfaces that can decorate the product, but you need to remember that it will require more thorough care;
- for a long, but narrow room, it is recommended to choose a low but wide design, which will visually expand the room.
You should not use ornate details for decoration, as they accumulate dust.
Drawing up a drawing
The first step in creating a decorative design is to draw up a drawing. This step requires accurate calculations. Regardless of the size of the future product, the drawing is recommended to be carried out on a 1: 1 scale, which will greatly facilitate the implementation of further work.
To make a drawing you need to prepare:
A sheet of paper needs to be attached to the place where the fireplace will be located, and then outline the main lines. The drawing must indicate all the details of the fireplace, including dimensions, relief and shape.
Preparatory work
Before you make a corner false fireplace with your own hands, you must definitely make a layout. It will not only allow you to visualize the future product, but also notice errors in time and correct them. To create, you need foam and PVA glue.
The dimensions of the layout should be the same as the future design. This will allow you to really assess the correctness of calculations and measurements.
To make a false fireplace corner with your own hands (the photo will tell you which finishing materials and decorative elements are needed for the purchase) from drywall, you need to prepare the following tools and materials:
- metal U-shaped profile;
- drywall sheets;
- self-tapping screws 14 - 15 mm long;
- dowels;
- building tape;
- screwdriver;
- hammer drill or drill;
- Bulgarian;
- building level or plumb;
- putty;
- water-based paint.
Frame mounting
This design is the basis of the portal of the future fireplace. Before arranging it, it is necessary to mark up using a drawing or layout. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that all lines are perfectly straight, and the right angle is strictly 90 °. Any, even slight deviation, can lead to a skew of the entire structure. Now you can begin to arrange the frame:
- Attach guide profiles to the wall according to the marking. First you need to install the dowels, into which and then screw the screws. The frame for the rear wall includes two racks.
- Lock the guides along the contour of the combustion chamber.
- Mount profiles on the floor, which are located along the parapet line. It should be borne in mind that the distance from the floor to the lower cross member will determine the height of the structure.
- Now you can install the front struts. The depth of the fireplace depends on their distance from the back wall. The front struts must be connected to each other and to the rear crossbars.
- Now you can proceed to the installation of the parapet racks and their strapping.
- Finish the assembly of the frame by installing the arch of the furnace compartment. If you need to arrange a curved arch, then the metal profiles will first have to be cut in increments of 1.5 cm, and then bent, giving the desired shape.
How to make a do-it-yourself corner fireplace with fireplace: instructions for plasterboard lining
The main task at this stage is the correct cutting. To do this, follow the instructions:
- First you need to make markings on a drywall sheet.
- Put a ruler on them and press it.
- Draw a line along it with a construction knife.
- After that, remove the ruler and make a break on the marking, and then cut through the cardboard layer on the back side.
Work must be done carefully. For cutting complex parts, this method is not used. In this case, it is more advisable to use a jigsaw.
All prepared details of the decorative fireplace must be fixed on the frame using special screws with a pitch of 10 - 15 cm. Particular attention is paid to the design of joints:
- All such places of construction must be covered with a reinforcing mesh (serpyanka).
- From the joints of sheets located in the same plane, it is necessary to cut a chamfer with a width of approximately 5 mm
- After reinforcing, these places need to be covered with two primer layers, and the second layer can be applied only after the first has completely dried.
- When the coating hardens, the structure is covered with starting putty.
With this, the manufacture of a corner false fireplace with your own hands (step-by-step instructions and a photo will help simplify the process) ends. The thing remains for small - finish.
Decoration Features
The choice of finishing material for a do-it-yourself corner false fireplace made of gypsum plasterboard yourself (step-by-step instructions and a photo is presented in the article) depends solely on personal preferences and financial capabilities. The most popular for this material are:
- Self-adhesive film, which can be either transparent or more similar to wallpaper.
- Ceramic tiles, including mosaics. It is worth remembering that this material can be heavy. The design of the fireplace should be designed taking into account the weight of the finish.
- Natural or artificial stone (this material is expensive, therefore, it is not recommended to perform the facing yourself).
- Brick (you can use the facing type.
- Wood.
- Paint, decoupage and other similar decorating methods.
When designing, you need to consider the possible load.
DIY frameless corner false fireplace out of the box
If the design needs to be assembled quickly, then for the manufacture you can use improvised materials (packaging from purchased household appliances). Often, such a decision is made if you need to decorate the apartment for a certain event, for example, New Year's or birthday. But a do-it-yourself corner fake cardboard fireplace will only be a temporary structure.
To create such a design, you will need large boxes, for example, from under the TV or refrigerator. In many ways, the appearance of the finished product will depend on the size. The manufacturing technology will be the same:
- Prepare the box you need. On one side make markings at a distance of 10 - 15 cm from the bend. Make cuts along it so that the back wall can be removed.
Bend the structure so that a triangle is formed in the section. Glue it by spreading the remaining parts of the back wall. You can use masking tape.
In the front wall, cut a hole for the furnace and arrange it with cardboard and glue.
- Now you can proceed to decorating. For such a light construction, heavy finishing materials cannot be used. It is better to give preference to paper, polystyrene or plastic decorative elements.
If desired, you can paint the surface or use any of the paper handling techniques (decoupage, quilling, and others). This stage needs to be considered before making a corner false fireplace with your own hands, photos will help in choosing.
It is impossible to install electric heaters and candles in the furnace of such a fireplace. To simulate fire, it is better to choose a garland, drawing or just put logs.
Making a corner fake fireplace with your own hands according to an independently developed project can be a fascinating process. This is one of the ways to originally and inexpensively transform an apartment and declare to everyone about its taste and status. With this design, you can solve the problem of an additional heat source, if you equip it with an electric device.