50 inspirational ideas for your design

Candle fireplace. Decorating a fireplace with candles: features and subtleties

To organize a real wood-burning fireplace in an apartment of an ordinary multi-storey building is difficult, costly and far from always possible purely technically. But this is not at all a reason to abandon the details in the interior that add comfort. A do-it-yourself false fireplace is an ideal way out.

Features of use

A fireplace portal made of drywall (the most common material in this case) in the interior of a room can be used as a shelf for family photos or a collection of souvenirs, you can decorate it with potted climbing plants or a composition made of dry natural materials made by your own hands (or by the hands of your children). The options depend only on personal imagination, but nevertheless, the most elegant designers consider decorating a mantel with candelabra.

In the niche of the firebox, you can also arrange and fill them in accordance with the interior: in the nursery - arrange soft toys, in the study - books in beautiful bindings. In the living room or bedroom, in the niche of the fireplace insert, you can place a decorative woodpile or a bundle of brushwood, put a vase of flowers, decorate the background with a suitable photo or set a photo frame.

If there is a desire to bring the decoration as close to reality as possible, the most suitable option is decorative candles.

Candles in the fireplace: design nuances

1. Inside the fireplace insert, it is worth fixing a reflective surface - a mirror or a sheet of metal foil. Thus, you "deepen" the space of this decor element, make the candle flame brighter. A complex mosaic background also visually expands the space, and a single-color screen is more advantageous for ordinary white decorative candles of different heights, shapes and thicknesses.
2. If you intend to create an imitation with your own hands, choose the materials carefully. First of all, you need a metal profile - a frame is made from it. The next will be drywall, fitted in size (it is attached to the frame with self-tapping screws). Reinforcing mesh, putty and primer are all needed to process butt joints. Carved molding (polyurethane "ceiling plinth") with an ornament suitable for the interior is easiest to fix with liquid nails. The last stage is painting, facing with decorative stone or other material of your choice. A false fireplace with your own hands is ready.
3. Do not forget about fire safety techniques: if candles burn in the imitation firebox, a sheet of heat-resistant material must be fixed in its upper part, this will protect the house from possible fire. Remove flammable objects away from the fireplace insert, and regularly ventilate the room where you assembled the fireplace with your own hands.

How to choose candles for a fireplace

It is not worth decorating the furnace space with inexpensive paraffin products. Most of these candles, when burned, emit poisonous fumes that are harmful to health.

The best option is natural wax candles. Where can I get them? There are two options: simple and complex. The first is to buy (today, both conventional and online stores offer quite a decent selection). The second is to make candles for the fireplace with your own hands. It will take time, but the result will certainly please. In addition, you can color and decorate them to your liking and exactly in the style of the interior of the room.

How to decorate a mantel

The best decoration for a mantelpiece (especially if the portal is made in the style of a reliable imitation) is a mantel candelabra.

You can't do such a thing with your own hands, you have to buy it, but no one will prevent you from making the purchased item uniqueness through additional accessories.

If the candles are installed only for decoration and you do not plan to light them, you can choose the fabric to match the tone of the interior and wrap the candelabra leg with it so as to create the effect of waves and folds.

• Colored candles will look good - "to match" the season.Another option is candles with a pattern to match the style of the environment (here, especially in the topic, there will be a handmade product).
• Use candles of different designs and shapes - in the form of columns, spherical.
• The candelabrum can be installed not only on the shelf, but also directly in the niche of the fireplace insert, the main thing is to create the appropriate entourage.

Decorating with decorative stone

For finishing work, special tiles are used that completely imitate natural stone. The elements have a minimum weight, which facilitates the installation of decorative parts.

Decorating the fireplace with a stone is carried out on a previously prepared plane. To do this, use rough plaster, which allows you to get rid of external defects on the plane of the fireplace.

For this, the adhesive is evenly distributed with a notched trowel over the plane of the stone walls. The tiles are installed from the bottom rows. This will help you define the guidance line correctly.

To prevent the rows from deforming, plastic clips are used for this. They are cross-shaped pieces that are fixed between the tiled rows. When the adhesive is completely dry, they are carefully removed.

Upon completion of finishing work, they proceed to grouting. To do this, use finishing plaster. Most often it has a snow-white shade.

DIY decorative New Year's fireplace: step by step instructions

After all the constituent elements are ready, the most intriguing part of the work comes. The intrigue lies in the fact that if mistakes were made in the previous step, then at the stage of collection, the structure will not be assembled into a single component and some elements will have to be cut out again.

DIY false fireplace: materials

We collect the back wall

The back wall in my case consists of 2 elements, it so happened that we did not manage to cut a part 95 cm wide and 115 cm high into a single component. But this is not a problem, since you can fasten 2 boards with a bar, and putty the joints between the boards with decorative plaster, which remained in our house after renovation.

The process of collecting the back wall for the fireplace

Sequence of work:

1. We saw the bars for attaching the rear walls to them;
2. We fasten the back walls with self-tapping screws;

The back wall is ready

We attach the side ribs to the back wall

We figured out the back wall, pay attention to the previous photo, I deliberately left a few centimeters on the sides in order to attach the side ribs to the back wall "butt-to-end". The sequence of the operation is also quite simple:

1. We fasten the side ribs to the bars using self-tapping screws.
2. We fasten additional bars to the side ribs for attaching the front wall and cover.

The back wall and side ribs are screwed on

Putting the front (front) side of the fireplace

The front side consists of 4 components, including:

• Front upper beam;
• Two sides;
• Lower beam;

The width of the “firebox” opening is 35 cm. In width and 40 cm. In height.

I draw your attention to the fact that later I regretted a little about the small dimensions of the hole in the fireplace, so I suggest that you increase the furnace hole to 40 by 40 cm. Or 40 by 50 cm

this will give a more aesthetic look to your fireplace.

Prices for a decorative fireplace

decorative fireplace

Please note that in order to fix our hole with the "firebox" we will have to fix 4 bars on the back cover, and attach the inner walls to them. The process of collecting the face of the fireplace

The process of collecting the face of the fireplace

Move on. The front side is almost ready, the next step is to attach the front side to the side wall.

Fastening the front of the fireplace to the frame

We attach the top cover to the fireplace frame

Well, the frame is almost ready, with the exception of some details. What is missing? Right! The top cover is missing. It is she who needs to be attached. The dimensions of the top cover differ from those of the fireplace, because it should protrude 5-10 cm from all sides. Its size is 100 cm wide and 25 cm high. Next, consider an example of its attachment to the frame in the photo below.

Fireplace frame successfully assembled

The frame of our decorative fireplace is assembled. The next stage is its decoration. In fact, the decorative design of the fireplace is the topic of a separate article in which you need to describe all the points, but for your convenience, I will try to reflect in this material all the main points on decorating the fireplace.

Facing the corner fireplace. Foundation for corner fireplace

A corner brick fireplace is a very heavy structure, and taking into account the facing, its weight can be about a ton. Permissible load on reinforced concrete floor slabs - no more than 800 kg per square meter. Therefore, for a fireplace installed on a floor slab, it is necessary to make a base that redistributes its weight with an area of ​​at least 2 m2. The corner fireplace, which is much smaller, can be placed on ceilings without prior preparation.

If the floors in the house are wooden, a foundation is required for the fireplace. It is made of reinforced in-situ concrete. The foundation of the fireplace should not have a rigid connection with the foundation of the house, otherwise, with seasonal movements of the soil, its deformation is possible.

Foundation pouring technology:

1. Level the soil under the foundation of the fireplace, make a dump of sand and lay a layer of waterproofing. This is necessary to exclude the capillary rise of moisture from the soil, due to which it is possible to saturate the brick with moisture and its destruction during temperature extremes. A double layer of roofing material can be used as waterproofing.
2. Formwork is carried out from boards or plywood panels. The formwork can be removable and non-removable. The geometric dimensions of the foundation should be 20 cm larger than the fireplace area in each direction.
3. Reinforcement rods with a diameter of 10-12 mm are laid in the form of a grid with a step of 15-20 cm. At the intersection, the reinforcement is knitted with wire.
4. The formwork is poured with concrete of the M200-M250 brand flush with the floor in the house, the concrete is pierced with a deep vibrator and the surface is leveled.
5. They wait for the concrete to mature for 3-7 days, depending on the air temperature - the warmer, the faster the concrete gains critical strength, after which it can be loaded and the fireplace can be laid.

Corner fireplace in the interior of the living room

The main advantage of corner fireplaces is the saving of living space, because corner placement usually takes up little space. Thanks to this, such a fireplace is ideal not only for large living rooms and halls, but also for a small study or bedroom.

Corner fireplaces by design are:

• symmetrical;
• asymmetrical.

A symmetrical fireplace requires a certain arrangement of furniture and the placement of decor items. It will always be the centerpiece of the room.

An asymmetrical fireplace, as a rule, is an element of zoning in the interior. With its help, you can stylishly and effectively separate one functional area of ​​the room from another. Of course, asymmetrical fireplace models are most often designed for fairly spacious rooms.

Plasterboard fireplace

Of course, it will not work to install a traditional stone fireplace in an apartment, but to build a false fireplace or a biofireplace from drywall according to your own project is a completely realizable task. It will delight you with its design and warm your imagination due to the built-in electric lighting, which creates the illusion of a real flame. As a rule, designer plasterboard fireplaces are faced with tiles stylized as traditional materials - brick, stone, marble.This fireplace can be painted. Various decorative elements can be molded. You will find interesting ideas in our photo collection.

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Fireplace in the interior of a country house

The following are photos of how you can implement and organize a fireplace in a country cottage. A favorite place where all relatives gather on weekends should radiate warmth and love. Get inspired and take ideas home.

Features of wood fireplace decoration

The use of wood as a finishing material for a fireplace seems impossible to many. However, if a number of requirements are met, the portal can be given a noble and strict look using wood for cladding.

1. The wood must be treated with an anti-fire compound.
2. It is better to finish not the entire fireplace, but its individual elements located further from the hearth.
3. Equip the firebox with a protective screen - this will prevent sparks from flying out of the hearth.
4. It is necessary to use tree species that are more resistant to high temperatures. Alder and ash are not suitable for decoration - when heated, the wood cracks and "curls".
5. When creating a portal for an electric fireplace, the niche for installing the firebox should be 5 cm larger than the combustion chamber. Compliance with this requirement will ensure sufficient ventilation and exclude overheating of the firebox, as well as the likelihood of a fire portal made of wood.

Decorating a fireplace is a creative process that you can use in many ways. It is worth noting that some cladding options (plastering, tile laying) are quite simple, and they can be done independently. It is better to entrust the decoration of the fireplace with tiles and wood to professionals. Experienced craftsmen will be able to create a truly artistic masterpiece without violating the finishing technology and meeting all safety requirements.

The choice of artificial stone for decoration

Artificial stone is made of gypsum, synthetic materials, most often with the addition of stone chips. Some of its types are outwardly indistinguishable from the present. High-quality design is obtained with the right choice of materials.

Main criteria:

• price - a good stone is never too cheap, but foreign products are always an order of magnitude more expensive than domestic ones;
• the goods used for the decoration of residential premises must have a certificate of conformity and hygienic, do not contain harmful components;
• the longer a manufacturing company exists, the more likely it is to produce quality material;
• the stone should not be too porous - this affects the strength, service life of finishing elements;
• the manufacturer's logo must be indicated on the packaging, the date of manufacture is also important - the optimal strength of the artificial stone is recruited in 28-30 days from the date of manufacture. If the term is less - the product is of poor quality, it is better to refuse to buy it.

Features of working with artificial stone when decorating a fireplace

The design of the hearth with a fake stone has a number of features:

work is carried out at a temperature of at least +6 degrees;
it is important to use a suitable adhesive recommended by the manufacturer;
for cutting use a hacksaw for metal;
the surface of the product is cleaned, a reinforcing mesh is installed on it;
then plaster is applied to the mesh, the layer thickness is 0.9-1.5 cm, it is dried;
the cladding is made from the corner from top to bottom so that the parts do not get dirty;
a thick layer of mortar is applied to each part with a trowel, pressed to the place to be decorated, excess glue is removed;
it is advisable to use long and short parts in turn, adjusting them with a hacksaw, nippers;
all seams are filled with a solution, dried, removed excess;
after complete drying, the structure is covered with hydrophobic compounds to increase the service life of the coating.

Using plaster

Decorating the fireplace with your own hands is possible by applying plaster. This method is very simple and does not require large financial investments. The cladding does not require strengthening the fireplace foundation, and after a while the surface can be easily renewed or a different decorative solution can be chosen.

And for decorativeness, the surface must subsequently be painted with heat-resistant paint materials.

The plaster is applied using the following technology:

• removal of old coating and cleaning from dirt;
• moisturizing the walls of the structure;
• jointing of masonry joints up to 10 mm deep for better adhesion;
• heating the base;
• fastening with nails or screws of the reinforcing mesh;
• diluting the mixture and applying it to the surface;
• drying the plaster for 2-3 days with periodic heating of the fireplace;
• applying a decorative type of paint or putty to the surface.

Style solutions

Today, designers and ordinary people who have started renovations want to bring the interior closer to a certain style, because this always emphasizes the delicate taste of the owner.

The fireplace is an element that clearly reflects the style load, therefore it is important to be especially careful about its decoration.

High tech

Hi-Tech is a style of advanced technology. Surprisingly, even fireplaces, famous for centuries, can be transformed and made part of this modern style.

A fireplace in such an interior has such characteristic features as:

• bizarre shapes: pyramids, cubes, cylinders, etc .;
• non-standard materials for finishing: fireproof glass, steel, mirrors, glass ceramics.

Three-sided fireplaces are a striking prototype of Hi-Tech style fireplaces. Round fireplaces in the form of an aquarium are also popular today. The most original are rotating models with a waterfall, fulfilling the idea of ​​romantics about eternal observation of fire and streams of water.

English style

The English style of the fireplace is often called classic. Its main feature is the classic U-shaped portal with no doors on the firebox. An indescribable delight is the observation of an open flame and a soft crackle, isn't it?

As a decoration, the English style accepts natural materials such as marble, brick, granite, onyx. Designers advise keeping the natural colors and beauty of natural stones. Wood can also be used, such as noble oak, alder or pine.

Antique

For a country house, an antique fireplace will be relevant. Brick, "wild" stone and unglazed tiles will be a harmonious solution for its decoration.

For an aristocratic fireplace, stucco molding, as well as marble, are suitable. Carved wood will add softness to the decor.

Provence

Warm and cozy French style "Provence" won over the inhabitants of noisy cities. This is the style of French country houses, which are alien to bright colors and unnatural shapes. Pastels, original patterns and natural motifs are all that is required for stylish fireplace decoration.

Fireplace finishing methods:

• crackle - a technique of aging with the help of a special varnish that forms cracks after drying;
• sanding the surface - the lower tone of the paint begins to shine through the upper light layer;
• aging of metal;
• stucco decoration.

To make a fireplace in this romantic style, wood, forged metal and light natural stone are suitable.

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Interesting: Modern fireplace cladding

Open fireplaces. Which fireplace insert is better: open or closed

In general, a fireplace as a heating element is effective in a well-insulated house. Then it can be the main and even the only source of heat.But it is not at all easy - to make a full-fledged heating based on a fireplace. In any case, first you have to decide - you need an open or closed fireplace insert. Open - very similar to a traditional hearth, but modern options are made of cast iron or heat-resistant steel. And there is no need to lay it out of bricks.

Modern fireplaces differ from traditional ones in shape and design.

A closed fireplace insert is also made of metal, but differs in that it is airtight - it has a tightly fitted door that separates the fireplace from the room. In addition to the appearance, there are many more features. They will help you make a choice.

Open fireplace inserts

When we think about the fireplace, a picture appears: a hearth, firewood cracking, tongues of flame dancing. Everything is so, but let's appreciate all the delights of such a heating device:

• Free burning is a big consumption of firewood. The efficiency of open fireboxes is only about 10-15%. Despite the fact that it is done correctly, it has a well-functioning chimney. That is, only a tenth of the heat received from burning wood goes into the room. The rest just flies into the pipe.
• An open fire is beautiful. Yes, but it is impossible to regulate the combustion. Firewood always burns at full capacity.

  There is also a metal fireplace insert with an open combustion chamber

• Open firebox - soot flies not only into the chimney, but also into the room. After a couple of years of occasional use, the ceiling and walls will be gray. Don't believe me? Remove an object from the wall, check the color difference.
• Fireplaces with an open hearth are usually fenced off with protective screens. They prevent the possibility of ingress of coal outside the fireproof area. But if the screen is forgotten or falls down, a fire may occur.
• A non-working fireplace is a great heat extraction device. It is not necessary to ventilate the room, since the chimney draws air very well. And you cannot block it with a gate - there must be a hole in it. It is necessary for safety - so that the traction does not overlap. To warm up a room with a non-working fireplace to normal temperature, you need a solid power reserve.

Fireplace in the living room of the apartment (electric, gas, false fireplaces)

Electric fireplace in the living room

It is impossible to equip a wood-burning fireplace in the apartment for technical reasons. But modern interior design is progressing, offering ordinary people a wide range of electric fireplaces that are absolutely safe for everyday life. Their mobility is not tied to a stationary location, which is very convenient during repair work.

There are a large number of sizes, shapes, countries of manufacturers of the portals themselves (outer casing) of an electric fireplace. The choice depends only on your financial capabilities. For those who gravitate towards everything natural, there are fireplaces that imitate a living flame, so much so that sometimes it is almost impossible to distinguish a real fireplace from an electric one.

Gas fireplace in the living room

Gas fireplaces differ from wood-burning ones in ignition technology and in maintaining a temperature regime that can be adjusted. An additional advantage (and for some, a disadvantage) is the lack of firewood.

False fireplace in the living room

Arrangement of a false fireplace is an alternative option for those who want to create an original atmosphere in the living room with minimal financial costs. False fireplaces have an exclusively decorative function. A structure made of facing bricks, drywall, and other materials, folded with your own hands, will be a wonderful decoration for a room. By placing beautifully folded firewood, delicate candles or your favorite family photos in a decorative fireplace, you will see how cozy and warm your heart will become.