If you want to give your home a cozy atmosphere or just surprise your children, making a faux fireplace is easier than you think. Read the instructions and you will find some ideas for creating different types of fireplaces.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using an Old Dresser
Step 1. Look for an old dresser
It should be roughly the size you want your faux fireplace to be. Don't worry about the color.
Step 2. Remove all drawers, screws, rails and other pieces
The dresser must be completely empty.
Step 3. Disassemble the drawers
Keep the three most beautiful sides of the drawers and remove the handles; if necessary, fill the screw holes with wood putty or glue and let dry.
Step 4. Attach one drawer face horizontally along the top edge of the open part of the dresser
In other words, the front of the dresser must be in the same position as the first drawer was. Use small, invisible nails. You can also fix the nails starting from the inside of the dresser and working out through the back of the facade.
Step 5. Now measure the height of the open part on the front of the dresser
Measure well from the bottom of the facade you just attached to the end of the dresser, but not to the floor.
Step 6. Measure the length of the drawer fronts
You have to put them on the sides of the dresser, this time vertically. You will probably have to cut the fronts or the underside of the dresser to get the right size.
- If the open part measured in step 5 is longer than the drawer fronts, you will need to cut off a piece of the bottom of the dresser.
- If the open part measured in step 5 is shorter than the drawer fronts, you will need to cut off a piece of all the drawer fronts.
Step 7. Attach these two sides vertically, overlapping them on the left and right sides of the dresser
One side of the drawer should slightly overlap the right side of the opening, another side should slightly overlap the left side of the opening, and the tops of both sides should overlap the underside of the already attached drawer side. If you are cutting the ends of the drawer fronts, be sure to orient them down to get a clean result.
- Attach them with small invisible nails to the sides of the dresser; or, fasten them with screws, starting from the inside of the dresser and screwing them towards the back of the drawer front.
- To attach the side drawers to the top drawer you will need to use small pieces of wood. Line up the pieces along the space between the drawers (inside the dresser) and attach them to both sides of the drawers.
Step 8. Paint your faux fireplace
Paint the outside with a bright, vibrant color for a modern look. Paint the interior black to hide the wood.
Step 9. Make a base for the fireplace (optional)
If you cut the base of the dresser to accommodate the facades, the fireplace may look incomplete once you place it on the floor. To create the base, take a coffee table of the right size, cut the legs, paint it a color that matches the one you used and place it under the table.
Method 2 of 3: Using Plant Supports
Step 1. Look for two decorative plant pillars of the same height and four squares of wood
The height of the pillars must be that of the chimney you want to make. Since the wooden squares will need to be placed at the end of the pillars, they should be a bit wider.
Step 2. Get a mantel
It can be a simple piece of wood cut to the right size, a piece of salvaged furniture, and so on. Make sure the piece you choose is a little wider than the width of the wooden squares you have already salvaged.
Step 3. Color the components so they fit together well
You can dye everything the same color (the pillars are usually white) or different colors.
Step 4. Attach the wooden squares both above and below the pillars
You can use screws, nails, glue, or a combination of these. Don't worry about the appearance of the top and bottom surfaces of the pieces of wood - they will be hidden. The pillars now have a more finished look.
Step 5. Attach the mantel over the two pillars; again use screws, nails or glue, but be careful they don't show
For example, if there is enough space in the squares above the pillars, you could use pegs knocked upward on the shelf.
Step 6. Make a base for the fireplace
You can use a piece of wood that is the same size as the shelf; alternatively, use a coffee table of the right size, remove its legs, paint it and place it under the fireplace.
Method 3 of 3: Using Cardboard
Step 1. Cut two pieces of cardboard about 100x60cm
When you've done that, arrange them so they're taller than wide.
Step 2. Fold the cardboard lengthwise every 15 cm
Since the cardboard is 60 cm wide, you should be able to make four folds of equal size. Once you're done, you'll end up with a square column. Repeat with the other piece of cardboard.
Step 3. Color the columns so they appear to be made of bricks
You can do this with a stencil or draw the gray lines of the plaster and the red bricks yourself. The result will be rustic, but in the end real bricks are not accurate.
Step 4. Cut two long pieces from the remaining cardboard
They will become the base and the shelf, so cut them to the right size.
Step 5. Paint them the color you want
You could use polystyrene plates to increase the thickness of the shelf and base - dye these too using the same color.
Step 6. Attach the columns to the base and shelf using glue or tape on the back
This way, the markings will not be seen on the front.
Step 7. Cut a fifth piece of cardboard that will serve as the bottom of the chimney
Paint some black or gray bricks so that it looks blackened with smoke. You can effectively achieve this with a sponge.
Step 8. Now add "fire" to your fireplace
Place an electric light source (such as an electric candle or night light) inside the fireplace. You can also place small logs on electric candles so that only the light is visible. Wood logs are ideal, and offer a realistic result (artificial ones are not recommended, as they give a fake look and tend to be more flammable). Of course, you can always paint the flames.
