In anticipation of the New Year's magic, I want to transform my home, add comfort and festive mood. I remember European Christmas tales and films, where the interior always includes a fireplace with fir branches and red balls.
Do you think that installing a decorative fireplace in anticipation of the gift boom is an unaffordable waste? Then make a fireplace out of boxes. Yes, exactly one of those that should have been thrown away a long time ago, but somehow the hands did not rise.
At the same time, empty out the pantry for the new year!
DIY false fireplace made of cardboard - step-by-step master class
To make a fireplace, you will need thick cardboard as the main material. Make elements from it and connect them using masking tape and hot glue.
Cover the surface of the cardboard or paint it brown. Fix white stripes on the sides. On the sides of the opening for the fireplace, decorate the area “like a brick”, using wallpaper of the appropriate shade. Cover the inside of the fireplace with wallpaper or paint it black or dark brown. Decorate with large decorative candles, New Year's socks, garland and other elements.
Kinds
Surprisingly, from cardboard boxes you can make not only a home false fireplace, which can perform an exclusively decorative function, but also build a portal for an electric fireplace! Of course, such a portal excludes the installation of a gas burner or bio-fireplace, since there is an open flame and a fire can occur. It is also impossible to install a heat exchange fireplace with a water boiler and casing in it - due to the bulkiness of this design and, of course, the danger of the cardboard igniting from overheating. You also cannot install electric fireplaces with an open firebox and a built-in heating function - for the same reason. An electric fireplace with a closed fireplace insert and flame imitation (on an LCD screen or using a backlight) can be inserted into a structure made of cardboard boxes.
According to style directions, the following types of fireplaces (fireplace portals) made from boxes are distinguished:
- In modern style. This design style for a fireplace portal involves a variety of textures and colors, a combination of modern forms and ancient decorative elements (stucco molding, rosettes, etc.). This fireplace will fit well into almost any interior;
- In high-tech style. It would seem that the high-tech style presupposes a kind of futurism, the use of such ultra-modern materials as steel, plexiglass - what does cardboard boxes have to do with it? However, even from them you can make a fireplace in this style - just make it of an interesting geometric shape and paint it black or steel, and insert a mirror into the firebox. Alternatively, you can place the glass on the mantelpiece;
- In a classic style. As you know, classics are always in fashion. Strict lines, a minimum of additional decorations - such a fireplace can be installed in absolutely any apartment;
- Country style. The “rustic” style loved by many. They differ in that such fireplaces are made of brick and natural stone. To give a boxed fireplace this look, just cover it with self-adhesive film or wallpaper with a brick or stone print. Be sure to put firewood in the firebox.
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DIY New Year's fireplace from a large cardboard box - master class with photos
The set of materials for making such a fireplace is minimal. All you need is a large cardboard box, a stationery knife, scissors, a tag, hot glue, and brown wrapping paper.
On a cardboard box, you must initially carefully seal the corners. On the larger side, mark and cut out a rectangle - a place for the fire in the fireplace. It is best to cut with a utility knife or large scissors. If the box is very large, then its back part needs to be cut off so that, leaning the fireplace against the wall, it will harmonize perfectly with the interior. If necessary, the fire hole can be enlarged.
Use tissue paper to carefully wrap the front of the fireplace. To make the fireplace more original and attractive, you can paint it. In this case, it is better to sketch sketches with a simple pencil.
All that remains is to install the fireplace in the right place and further decorate it. You can use a large candle as a fire, placed on a stool and decorated with various elements.
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.
DIY decorative New Year's fireplace made from boxes
So, if one large box is not available, you can make a fireplace from several smaller boxes. For work you will need: cardboard boxes (preferably the same size), brown craft paper, sponge, acrylic paints, colored paper in yellow, black and red.
At the initial stage, secure the boxes in the desired position with tape. One door must be open. The boxes need to be turned sideways and laid so that the base of the structure is formed. The back seams and sides are well taped.
Use a sponge and red paint to imitate brickwork on craft paper. The drawing will be more realistic if the paint on the sponge is not very saturated. After the paint has dried a little, the paper can be attached to our fireplace. This can be done with double-sided tape or glue. Now all that remains is to cut out flames from colored paper and seal the back of the fireplace (behind the flames) with black paper.
Firewood effect
An important attribute is the imitation of burning, smoldering wood. To create it, take a log of small diameter, saw it in half, and then into several smaller logs. They put it all in a pile, and insert a garland rolled into a ball inside, alternately flickering in red or yellow. Small pebbles and shells are poured into the hearth itself, which combine perfectly with artificial fire.
If you don’t want to use natural wood, you can easily imitate logs using corrugated paper. It is rolled into rolls of various diameters and lengths, secured so that the paper does not unfold, and painted on top with white or grayish paint with black stripes. The result is an excellent imitation of birch logs. The artificial ash in the hearth looks original. It can be created by repainting ordinary fine sand in gray-white, black shades.
Christmas false fireplace made from A4 paper boxes
A fireplace can also be made from empty A4 paper boxes. For this option you will need 8 such boxes and 10 lids from such packages. You also need to stock up on packing tape, plenty of crepe paper, masking tape, paint, colored pencils and markers, a large box or sheet of thick cardboard from which to make the fire background.
Manufacturing Features
- Make three fireplace elements from the boxes - 2 side columns and one upper part. The boxes can be connected together with tape. So, for example, to create a side part, 4 boxes can be used to make one column.
- Each support should be wrapped in crepe paper. This material can be fixed using glue.
- Collect all the prepared columns and form a fireplace out of them. After all the elements have been placed, use packing tape to securely and efficiently connect all the elements.
- Using white masking tape, stick strips on the red surface of the fireplace so that it imitates a brick surface.
- The fire background can be painted on the white wall inside the fireplace or made from cardboard in red, orange and yellow.
Materials
You can choose any material for the fireplace: stone, wood, brick, and so on. However, it is always worth considering the complexity of its processing and installation, especially if the structure will be located in a city apartment, where it may be too bulky. More convenient in this regard is plasterboard, which is easy to work with and is a universal material.
If you have construction skills, the fireplace is made of decorative bricks. This material provides maximum resemblance to a real hearth. However, in a city apartment it should be compact so as not to take up too much space. You also need to know for sure whether the ceiling can support the load from the finished structure, especially if the fireplace is supposed to be large-sized. Sometimes they simply lay out a frame for the fireplace - the so-called fireplace portal.
You can make a wooden fireplace with your own hands. But if you don’t have the skills to handle wood, then it’s better to refuse this option or hire professionals. If there is an old unnecessary chest of drawers in the house, then it can be made the basis for the fireplace, to which the necessary elements are subsequently attached.
Plates with a laminated coating (chipboard) and similar materials are ideally suited for assembling a false fireplace
A more budget-friendly analogue of laminated boards is chipboard or MDF.
Typically, polyurethane is used to create decorative elements and decorations. But if you really want to, various moldings, half-columns and platbands can be glued to the wall. However, such a design will still not be perceived as a full-fledged fireplace, but it is perfect for an interesting play on portals.
Most often, drywall is chosen for work. This material is characterized by ease of use and allows you to implement designs of any complexity. With all its undeniable advantages, the material is inexpensive and easily accessible to a wide range of consumers.
DIY New Year's fireplace from a TV box - step-by-step master class with photos
Well, mommies, the warranty period has passed, but the huge box is still lying on the balcony? Now is her finest hour! The perfect New Year's fireplace will come from a TV box! For work you need: a TV box, polystyrene foam or any other material for the podium, ceiling plinth (for decoration), putty, white paint.
Cut the box and bend the sides to create an opening for the fire. For greater rigidity, fill the hollow holes with small boxes or make stiffening ribs. When the frame is ready, you need to make a podium (for example, from polystyrene foam) and start decorating. Here, of course, everything depends on your imagination. According to this MK, the ceiling plinth is first glued, then the surface of the artificial fireplace is puttied and painted with white paint. The craft looks gorgeous both in daylight and in the evening.
To the chimes
The simplest New Year's fireplace made from boxes can also be festively decorated. And no less durable. The difference between it and a more complex one, which will take a couple of evenings, is essentially aesthetic. The simplest fireplace will look in an atmosphere of fun, when everyone is “on edge” in the morning, and then warms up even more. A fireplace that is made in detail will retain its appearance in everyday situations. Although both are relative, because The durability of both fireplaces is the same. Here the author’s imagination and finishing methods are more important, see for example. video:
Video: example of making a New Year's fireplace from boxes
A master class on making a festive fireplace; their boxes fit into 4 pictures, see fig. below. The stage of covering with paper is eliminated if the components of the base of the box are glued together, as described below, and the fireplace is covered with self-adhesive (see below), or painted to resemble old brick or wild stone with imitation of masonry joints (also see below).
How to quickly make a festive fireplace out of boxes
DIY corner false fireplace made from boxes
To make such a false fireplace, you can use a large box. Shorten its side parts and the top part so as to form a triangle. Consider the shape depending on where the fireplace will be located. Cut a hole in the front for the fireplace. Using cardboard, fix the top part and make all the parts inside the fireplace.
After the structure is ready, cover it completely with a film with a “brick” effect. Place several layers of cardboard cut out in the form of segments on top and also decorate them. They will serve as the top of the fireplace.
Fireplace for the New Year made of penoplex - step-by-step MK with photos
For this fireplace you will need one large sheet of polystyrene foam (material thickness 5 cm), a hot glue gun, remnants of wallpaper or a strip of plinth, a stationery knife, a simple pencil, and thick cardboard. You will also need any glue used to glue wallpaper.
Initially, draw the shape of the fireplace on a piece of paper and indicate its exact parameters. Using the same pattern, lay out the base of the fireplace. If necessary, straighten the edges of the structure using a utility knife. Glue the baseboard to the top of the chimney. Cover the surface of the structure with white wallpaper; the inside of the fireplace is covered with brick-like wallpaper. Glue strips of plinth at the joints. As additional decoration for the lower part, you can use a lattice, artificial candles, or glowing garlands.
Manufacturing process
The basis of the fireplace structure will be a cardboard frame. For its construction, it is best to use thick cardboard boxes. Corrugated cardboard will be the most suitable for packaging large household products. If you still have the packaging from the TV, then the ideal frame is ready.
In addition to cardboard, you need to prepare:
- Stationery and polymer glue, which will be used to attach decorative elements.
- Wide tape, better to use double-sided masking tape.
- White paint. For coloring cardboard, dispersion is the most suitable.
- The cutting tools you will need are scissors and a cutter.
- Paint brushes and foam rubber or sponge.
- Old cloth napkins or scraps of fabric.
DIY fireplace for the New Year made of polystyrene foam
In addition to the main material - polystyrene foam - you will need polyurethane foam, white water-based emulsion, gouache, a stationery knife, and scissors. According to the specified master class, the parameters of the fireplace are 110 by 130 cm. The parts are glued using polyurethane foam. Foam sheets with parameters of 50 by 100 are used; choose a material thickness of 3 cm and 5 cm (depending on whether they will be used for the base or wall).
Initially, you need to prepare the upper and lower parts of the fireplace, then mark the side part and cut out the material. You can attach it to the base using toothpicks or special glue. After all the elements have been assembled, they can be secured using polyurethane foam.
Make bricks from thin foam plastic and attach them to the fireplace using Titan glue. After the bricks are glued and the seams are processed, you can proceed to painting the surface of the fireplace. For this you can use, for example, a water-based emulsion. While the paint is drying, you can make a grate for the bottom of the fireplace. To do this, use thick cardboard and paint it black. You can also use Titan glue to attach it. The fireplace can be decorated with small firewood or decorative candles.
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 for the New Year from an old bedside table - step-by-step master class
Such a fireplace turns out to be large, and its appearance is no worse than that of a real one. It looks rich; if desired, you can add elements of stucco, consoles and the effect of antiquity.
To make the product, you will need an old bedside table, which no longer fits into the new interior. In this case, the shape of the fireplace will mainly be dictated by the shape of the bedside table. You need to make a cardboard frame-sheathing under it and do not forget about the hole for the artificial fire. The cardboard frame must initially be covered with newspapers, and then a thin layer of putty must be applied. After this, the product must be left for at least a day so that it dries well. At this time, you can prepare bricks that will be used to decorate the product. They must have a rough surface. It is advisable to cut them into rectangles of two shapes or at your discretion. Alternatively, special thin foam plastic plates can be used as bricks.
You can glue such bricks directly onto a dried layer of putty. The seams must be carefully and thoroughly sealed and rubbed. After this, the surface can be painted beige or any other color. Decorate the lower part of the fireplace according to your wishes and personal imagination.
Finishing a false fireplace
The effectiveness of a fireplace depends not only on its shape, but also on the finishing and additional decor used. If it is not possible to purchase a real fireplace, then you can make an artificial one, and the cost of its production will be minimal. Everything can be made from available materials. As a finish (usually you need to give the surface a “brick” effect), you can use plywood, drywall, polystyrene foam, cardboard, wallpaper in a themed tone, wood.
Materials and solutions
To create your own fireplace, you need to acquire the following materials:
- solid bricks - their exact quantity depends on the dimensions of the heater specified in the drawing;
- clean sand, up to one and a half millimeters in size (if you can’t find absolutely clean sand, you can take dirty sand and clean it - place it in water and let it sit, while changing the water every day; cleaning continues until the sand becomes clear);
- oven clay for facing brick elements;
- cement (even ordinary Portland cement will do);
- crushed stone that will be used in the process of laying the foundation;
- reinforcing bars (about 20 units will be needed);
- smoke damper (usually a thin sheet of ordinary metal is suitable).
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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