Beautiful fireplace made of boxes. DIY decorative fireplace made of cardboard boxes. Styles of decorative fireplaces

The fireplace in the house is a symbol of comfort and warmth. A fireplace made of stone is not even in every private house, and the owners of a standard apartment do not even have to dream about it. And you should always dream. If you can’t lay out a real fireplace, then even a housewife can make an imitation of it. Such a simple and affordable material as cardboard will come to the rescue.

For manufacturing, you will need unnecessary boxes, glue, scissors and imagination. Various unnecessary remnants of colored paper, polystyrene and other materials that can be found in the house are suitable for decoration.

Sketch of the future hearth

Before planning the manufacture of a cardboard fireplace, it is necessary to study the experience of those who have already translated the idea into reality.

Planning:

Determination of a place for future construction. The most suitable would be an empty corner or wall.
Depending on the availability of free space, the dimensions of the structure are determined.
Sketch making. On it you need to put down the external and internal dimensions. The sketch can be done in color, supplementing it with the intended decor elements. These elements do not need to be drawn, you just need to define places for them. Such a fireplace scheme will allow you to see the future product in the finished version.

Thinking through the decorative details, we must strive to ensure that in the end the layout is as similar as possible to a real fireplace.

Manufacturing process

The basis of the fireplace design will be a cardboard frame. For its construction, it is best to use thick cardboard boxes. Corrugated cardboard for packaging large household products will be the most suitable. If the packaging from the TV is preserved, then the ideal frame is already ready.

In addition to cardboard, you need to prepare:

Glue stationery and polymer, which will be attached to the decor elements.
Wide adhesive tape, it is better to take double-sided masking tape.
White paint. For coloring cardboard, dispersion will be the most suitable.
As a cutting tool, you will need scissors and a cutter.
Paint brushes and foam rubber or sponge.
Old cloth napkins or scraps of fabric.

Depending on the idea, other materials should be provided. For example, stucco molding from foam material. If there is a residue of liquid wallpaper, then they can be used to create volume.

How to make a fireplace from cardboard?

The assembly of a false fireplace begins with the manufacture of the central unit. First you need to form the columns. To do this, cut out rectangular parts in accordance with the dimensions.

It must be remembered that cutting cardboard is not difficult, but making even folds on it is more difficult work. In order to perform an even fold, you will need a flat bar or ruler and an object to secure the fold. For this purpose, it will be quite convenient to use an ordinary spoon or pen.

The ruler is superimposed along the fold line, the cardboard is carefully folded along the ruler and a line is drawn from the reverse side. This must be done carefully so that the fragile cardboard does not break through.

The central part is pasted over with paper or painted immediately. After assembly, these actions will be problematic.

Finished parts are assembled with adhesive tape. As mentioned above, for these purposes it is convenient to use double-sided tape.

In order for the product to be evenly painted over, it is possible to apply a white primer before applying the paint. A layer of primer will smooth out existing irregularities. After the cardboard absorbs the applied primer and dries well, you can start painting.

A mandatory attribute of the fireplace is a shelf on top. It should be dense and firm. To make a shelf, you will need to roll the cardboard in three or four layers - this will ensure the necessary rigidity.

As an alternative to cardboard for a shelf, you can cut a plank out of thin plywood. Another option for a shelf is foam. The material is lightweight and durable. Such a shelf will also allow you to fasten the frame of the fireplace.

Finish options

An interesting option is to imitate masonry made of brick or stone. To do this, you can choose a self-adhesive film. In construction supermarkets, such materials are sold. You just need to calculate the size of the canvas and select the desired pattern in the store.

If the product is decorated with stucco, the fireplace will look more interesting. For these purposes, use the remnants of ceiling tiles, foam skirting boards or buy additional moldings.

If desired, the fireplace can be decorated with additional elements. For example, a New Year's fireplace can be supplemented with LED lamps imitating candles.

And, finally, the most important thing that allows you to call a fireplace a home is fire. A few logs wrapped with LED strip will make the hearth almost real. And on New Year's Eve, the flickering light of the fireplace will give the room coziness and a festive mood.

So, a simple and affordable, financially easy option for building a hearth is outlined. We can say that this is a basic instruction on how to make a decorative fireplace. There is a basis, and decoration with decorative elements is done by everyone according to their taste.

DIY cardboard fireplace photo

We all want the interior of our home to be stylish and beautiful. To achieve this goal, designers around the world have come up with a great variety of decorative elements. Not least among them is the fireplace. But what to do if the dimensions of the apartment do not allow you to install a full-fledged fireplace complex or you just don’t want to spend money? There is a way out - you can make a decorative (fake) fireplace from cardboard boxes with your own hands!

Yes, yes, you heard right - from the most ordinary cardboard boxes that often remain after buying household appliances. To make such an imitation of a fireplace, you don’t even need any special knowledge and building skills - it’s easy and simple to make it! How? Read on!

materials

To make a fireplace with your own hands from boxes, you will need the following materials:

Naturally, one or more large boxes - depending on what kind of fireplace you want to get in the end;
Wallpaper (one roll is enough) or white paper;
Stationery glue or PVA glue;
Three types of adhesive tape - regular, masking and double-sided;
Paint brushes, sponges, rags;
Stationery knife, scissors, ruler, pencil, as well as a tape measure and a building level;
Sheet of drywall or plywood to create a mantel;
Depending on the chosen type of decoration, you will also need:

photos

a roll of wallpaper with a "brick" pattern or red cardboard - if you want to decorate your fireplace "like a brick";
a roll of self-adhesive film with a pattern imitating natural stone, marble or malachite;
a can of white paint, a ceiling plinth and foam plastic moldings (columns, capitals, rosettes, moldings, etc.) - to create a more classic, elegant decor;
"liquid" volumetric wallpaper - to achieve the effect of embossed marble chips on the fireplace surface;
bronze, silver or gold acrylic paint - for special decoration of fireplace decor elements.

Kinds

Surprisingly, you can make not only a home false fireplace out of cardboard boxes, 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 a biofireplace, since there is an open flame there and a fire can occur. It is also impossible to install a heat-exchange fireplace with a water boiler and a casing in it - due to the bulkiness of this design and, of course, the danger of ignition of the cardboard from overheating. It is also impossible to install electric fireplaces with an open firebox and a built-in heating function - for the same reason. It is possible to insert an electric fireplace with a closed fireplace insert and flame imitation (on the LCD screen or with the help of backlight) into the construction of cardboard boxes.

In terms of style, the following types of fireplaces (fireplace portals) from boxes are distinguished:

In modern style. This design style of the fireplace portal involves a variety of textures and colors, a combination of modern shapes and antique decor elements (stucco moldings, rosettes, etc.). Such a fireplace will fit well into almost any interior;
Hi-tech style. It would seem that the hi-tech style implies a certain 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 an interesting geometric shape and paint it black or steel, and insert a mirror into the firebox. Alternatively, you can put the glass on the mantelpiece;
In classic style. As you know, classic is always in fashion. Strict lines, a minimum of additional decorations - such a fireplace can be placed in absolutely any apartment;
Country style. Loved by many "rustic" style. It differs in that such fireplaces are made of brick and natural stone. In order to give the fireplace from the boxes this look, it is enough to glue it with a self-adhesive film or wallpaper with a brick or stone print. Be sure to put firewood in the firebox.

photos

How to do it yourself: step by step instructions

First, determine the location of the future fireplace. It can be either a wall (frontal location) or a corner (corner location). If you need to mask any defect on a wall or in a corner, a properly placed decorative fireplace will do just fine;
At the installation site, perform all the necessary measurements to clarify the parameters of the future box using a tape measure and a building level;
Design your drawing carefully. Apply a fireplace on it in as much detail as possible, with decor details, observing all proportions. Make the drawing in color, so it will look more natural and, as a result, it will be much easier for you to understand how the original result will look like;
We prepare materials. First, we select a box or several boxes. The ideal option would be a whole box from a widescreen flat-panel TV, but if you can’t find one, you can use sheets of cardboard pre-cut from other boxes and fastened together with adhesive tape;
We free up space in the room, lay out our materials. Carefully draw all the details on the box. Follow the rational use of materials - for example, it will be easier for you if the corners of the proposed fireplace coincide with the corners of the box;
The main parts of the fireplace are the podium (base), the portal and the top shelf. Installation starts from the podium. Since he will have to withstand the weight of the entire structure, it is necessary to strengthen it. They do this by inserting special cardboard inserts (the so-called stiffeners) inside the prepared base. Place them perpendicular to the floor, securing with tape. The height of the ribs is equal to the height of the side of the podium. By the way, you can strengthen the sides by gluing them with a couple more layers of cardboard. The base is made, as a rule, a little wider than the portal, by about 8-12 centimeters;
Next, we create a portal.

photos

There are two ways to assemble a cardboard portal - frame and with a back wall:

to make a portal on a frame, we take a pre-prepared sheet of cardboard, which will act as the front panel of the future fireplace portal. We outline the inlet of the hearth, the upper part of which is cut using a clerical knife, and then we cut the window in the center. We bend the resulting sashes inward, these will be the side walls of the hearth. Next, we cut out a rectangular strip equal in width to the inner walls of the portal, and in length to the width of the hearth. We get the ceiling of our hearth, which we fix with adhesive tape. To strengthen the structure, we glue frame panels inside it, they must first be glued together from several layers of cardboard. We put the resulting portal on the podium, glue it with masking tape or strips of white paper coated with PVA glue. We are waiting for some time for the glue to dry and check the strength of the joints;
as for the second version of the manufacture of the portal - with a back wall - it is much simpler than the previous one. Basically, it's just a big box. The hearth is formed as follows: we transfer the prepared drawing to the front wall of the box, cut out the window with a clerical knife, just as in the first version, the flaps are bent inward and glued to the back wall of the box. The upper part of the hearth is formed from a separate sheet of cardboard. Everything, the portal is ready for installation on the podium.

Installing a fireplace mantel. For its manufacture, you can use drywall or a sheet of plywood, or glue it from several cardboard sheets. The shelf is attached to the portal with double-sided tape. Like the podium, the shelf may be slightly wider than the portal;
We start finishing work. Carefully paint over all connections and unnecessary color spots on the surface of the box with several layers of paint. If it is not possible to use paint in a spray can, an ordinary water-based emulsion is suitable. If desired, you can pre-glue the resulting structure with white paper, or you can even putty it with a plasterboard solution;
The last and, probably, the most pleasant step in the manufacture of a fireplace is its decoration. Here everything depends on your imagination. You can wrap your new fireplace with self-adhesive film or wallpaper in marble, brick or wood colors; overlay with elements of gypsum stucco. You can use liquid wallpaper - and then your fireplace will have a rough structure of marble chips. Decorate the hearth of the fireplace with fake firewood (they can be made from cardboard or twigs), use a garland or a flickering lamp to simulate a flame. You can also light candles there from time to time, however, this method of decorating the fireplace is not entirely safe, since cardboard is still not a refractory material. Keep this in mind and do not leave open flames unattended. Put photo frames, figurines and other nice decorative trifles on the mantelpiece.

photos

Making a corner fireplace is easier than a front one. The materials used are the same, only the way the box is formed differs. Plan for its implementation step by step:

We draw a drawing and choose the corner of the house in which it is supposed to place the future fireplace;
We will need a large cardboard box, from which an even canvas is formed, which is then joined in such a way that the side folds of the box ideally coincide with the corners of the future location of the fireplace. As a result, you should get a triangular structure, which must be fastened with masking tape;
For stability and strengthening of the structure, stiffeners are formed at the top and bottom. They are obtained as follows: approximately 12 centimeters are measured from the top and bottom of the fireplace and small cuts are made with a clerical knife. On the inside of the box, lines are drawn that connect these marks. Further, along the drawn lines, they are lightly drawn with the same clerical knife to form an even bend of the cardboard, after which these strips are bent, cut off everything unnecessary and glued together at the junctions. Thus, stiffeners are formed at the top and bottom of the fireplace;
In the center on the front of the fireplace we cut out a hole for the firebox, the bottom must be rectangular, the top can be rounded like an arch. We do not cut off the lower part of this rectangle, but bend it inward, forming a right angle and forming the bottom of the firebox. We cut off everything unnecessary, fix the bottom with masking tape;
Creation of the side walls of the hearth. We take cardboard sheets, equal in height to the inlet of the furnace, in length - to its depth. You can install them in a triangle, simplifying your task, you can form a right angle on each side - then you will have to additionally glue the missing places of the furnace with sheets of cardboard. Using masking tape, we fasten the structure. To form the top of the firebox, we also take a cardboard sheet and adapt its shape to the existing structure, also gluing the joints well;
Now we need to attach a mantel and a bottom to our portal. To make them, you will need two triangular sheets of cardboard, which must be glued with PVA glue;
We give the designs to dry thoroughly and proceed to decorating our fireplace. His methods are identical to the methods of finishing the front fireplace, respectively, we will not repeat.

Upon completion of all work, we install the fireplace in the selected location.

If you wish, to decorate your fireplace, you can make fake firewood yourself from scraps of cardboard (corrugated is best). So let's start:

To begin with, we prepare everything you need: sheets of corrugated cardboard, from which the smooth top layer is removed, a clerical knife, sharp scissors, white paint and a thin rope;
In order for our future firewood to be in perfect harmony with the fireplace insert, it is necessary to measure its parameters and, based on this, calculate the optimal size of firewood;
Measure the required dimensions of the “log” on the prepared sheet of cardboard, cut off the strip. Roll it up. The thickness can be different, it depends on what you want to end up with - a “log” or a “twig”. Firewood can be made "knots", this will give them naturalness;
After folding the cardboard sheet into a roll, its edge is well coated with glue, tied with a rope and left to dry. Make several blanks of different sizes;
To make “knots”, we form a thin “twig” from cardboard, glue and dry it, and then cut it with a clerical knife at an angle and glue it to the “logs” with glue and masking tape;
After the glue is completely dry, our "firewood" must be painted. To begin with, they are thickly covered with white paint, and then you can tint them to match the color of any wood. If you don’t want to bother, then put a few black strokes on a white surface - and “birch firewood” is ready;
For coloring "logs" gouache is well suited.

Who among us does not remember Papa Carlo's poor closet from childhood? A drop of comfort and beauty in it was created only by a hearth painted on canvas. This, probably, can be considered the very first and famous example of a false fireplace! Indeed, even if the flame in the fireplace does not heat, in a room where there is a fireplace and fire, it becomes warmer and happier. We, the townspeople, especially want to sit near an elegant, albeit artificial, fireplace on dark winter evenings.

Let's talk about what you can make a fake fireplace with your own hands and how to decorate it for the New Year and Christmas. Moreover, you don’t need to look far for examples: our sibmums have already created quite a few real masterpieces and continue to create! There is even a real REXXX from the sibmama.
Indeed, in the fabulous New Year's Eve, many people want to become a little magician ...

What can you make a fake fireplace from?

False fireplace from cardboard boxes

So, from what can you make a fake fireplace on your own?

Very popular because of its availability, easy-to-work material, amenable even to women's hands - cardboard boxes.
If there is a large box (for example, from under the TV) - great! Cut with a knife "furnace”, we bend it inward, glue the walls, fixing them with adhesive tape - and the base is ready!

mantelpiece(it should be slightly wider and longer than the fireplace itself) can be made from several layers of cardboard glued together, a sheet of drywall, polystyrene.
It remains only to paste over the base with wallpaper or paper, and start decorating!

Photo from fireplace.su

An interesting solution would be corner fake fireplace from a cardboard box - such a fireplace does not need a lot of space:

To view the photo in full size, click on the image

Photo from megapoisk.com

If there was no such box, then you can get by with a few small ones, for example, shoe boxes:

To view the photo in full size, click on the image

Photo from fireplace.su

Another example of a false fireplace base from small boxes:

Photo from svoimi-rukami-net

Nothing is impossible for real masters! This complex fireplace is also made entirely of cardboard, and the flame in it is also cardboard:

Photo from greensector.ru

Styrofoam fake fireplace

Another, very light (in the literal sense), material for making a false fireplace is polystyrene foam. Using a knife and a glue gun, you can make this base:

Photo from fireplace.su

For greater structural strength, parts can be additionally fastened with toothpicks lubricated with glue.

But what a wonderful false fireplace made of foam turned out OLGA31:

“You can order a false fireplace from polystyrene foam. It is light, and you can always remove it, like a Christmas tree, after the holidays.
But creativity is still needed. Because it is made white. It is necessary to paint it with paint with the addition of decorative plaster. To have the maximum feeling that it is made of stone. Then age in a convenient way. I just walked with dark colors in the recesses and along the edges. It turned out quite well.
He is very unassuming and quite likable. True, I did not dare to put candles on him, you never know.

False fireplace made of paper

The simplest and, at the same time, the original solution will be ... just using the experience of Papa Carlo. In this case, you can do without a portal at all by drawing a false fireplace under the shelf:

Photo from small-house.ru

Or draw a paper flame in a cardboard fireplace, lit from behind:

Photo from fireplace.su

False fireplace from boards

An interesting version of a false fireplace for permanent use in the interior can be made if suitable boards, for example, parquet, remain from the repair. They are glued to a lattice frame rigidly fixed to the wall.

Well, this fireplace will become New Year's thanks to the festive decoration!

To view the photo in full size, click on the image

Photos from sites batuta.do.am, greensector.ru

And a small workshop on making plywood fake fireplace from sibmama Lady Irin:

“The fireplace is made of plywood, hollow inside, covered with brick-like wallpaper on top. It stood for several years and served as an element of decor. A row of real bricks was placed at the bottom of the "fireplace" for stability. In front of the "hearth" a piece of linoleum was cut out in a semicircle "under the pavement" and the edge was upholstered with furniture carnations. The rear (inner) wall of the "hearth" was also covered with brick-like wallpaper. The outer semicircle of the "hearth" itself was pasted over with cut out "bricks".
Inside they put real small birch logs "hut", and inside them they put a Christmas tree garland, folded into a circle. With the overhead light turned off, a complete illusion of a fireplace was created.
On the shelf where the New Year's houses stand, there is a secret niche, you open the flap and there you can make a small bar or use the compartment for surprises and gifts. Who does not know the secret - will not guess ... "

False fireplace from old furniture

Well, what if there are no parquet or other suitable boards, but just in time for the New Year, you decided to throw away the old furniture? Well, a wonderful false fireplace turned out, for example, from an old sideboard. True, there certainly can not do without male hands!

To view the photo in full size, click on the image

Photo from legkovmeste.ru

The husband made drywall guides and sheathed them with furniture panels. They took it to Leroy. By the way, the frame was immediately made to fit these dimensions, so as not to cut it ourselves.
This fireplace is permanent, all year round. Below I place candles on the mirror. Immediately romance in the house.

A photo OLGA31

As coasters a piece of wall panel, a board, a few squares of tiles will do. But you can put a fireplace and just on the floor.

Making false fireplaces, sibmam experience

The most popular solution last season among our members of the forum was a cardboard false fireplace, painted or pasted over “like a brick”.
Bricks can simply be drawn on paper or wallpaper, you can use ready-made wallpaper / film. And you can, to add volume, cut them out of foam and stick them on your fireplace, then paint them.

Here is a fireplace made by a forum member Marousel , still waiting for decorations:

And here are the fake fireplaces, already waiting for the festive attire:

A photo ElenaKa09

A photo Goksel

"Bricks", however, can be white:

To view the photo in full size, click on the image

A photo Zarnitsa

To view the photo in full size, click on the image

A photo Molena, panterka

Or maybe the fireplace will be "complex" of stones:

A photo Olganet

A photo Cheburek

Another, more ceremonial, style is a snow-white "marble" false fireplace:

A photo Samli

A photo Nasenka

How to simulate a flame in a false fireplace?

So, the fireplace is ready! Now we need to light a flame in it. True, since the fireplace is not real, then the flame will be either artificial or very small - after all, one must not forget about fire safety!

The simplest solution, which requires almost no effort, is to place an electric garland, an LED strip “in the firebox” of a false fireplace.

Photo from megapoisk.com

A good way to simulate a flame is an electronic photo frame with the desired image inserted into the firebox of a false fireplace. You can, as in the examples above, make a flame out of cardboard or simply draw it, attaching a light source to it (observing safety!)

The dream of having a fireplace at home accompanies many throughout life. Even the thought is pleasant that someday in your own house it will be great to sit near the fire, enjoying the play of the flame. But these dreams do not always come true. Living in an apartment, it is impossible to build a real fireplace in it, and an electrical appliance is not cheap. Therefore, many come up with their own models, made of drywall or even from an ordinary box. We will tell you how to make a natural cardboard fireplace with your own hands, which is really indistinguishable from the real one, the emphasis is only on one hundred percent similarity with the original, read carefully and you will succeed!

cardboard fireplace

There are many different options, more complex and very simple, but it is very important to take the work seriously, do everything carefully and take your time, carefully think through every detail. Only then can you get the desired result.

When thinking about this craft, determine the area where it will be located. It is best to place the fireplace in a place that seems empty and there is nothing to force it. For example, a wall where you can’t put a wide piece of furniture, and a narrow fireplace portal will come in handy. Another variant - . It will help close an unsightly corner and become a convenient additional shelf.
Next, you need to determine the size of the future work. This is done taking into account the area of \u200b\u200bthe section of the room where it is planned to put it.
The next step is the creation of fireplace sketch drawings in two versions, the first will be a drawing with the indicated dimensions, and the second with the final decor. Remember that decorating a building can be called the main process in this work. It is not so important what the frame is made of - the main thing is to decorate it in such a way that no one could even imagine that the fireplace is made of ordinary corrugated cardboard.

Materials and tools

Now you can start searching for materials for this product. To "build" such a structure you will need:

The first thing you need to find is a large cardboard box, for example, from under the refrigerator or from under other large household appliances. This material will cost you nothing.

The only difficulty will be finding a large piece of material. If you are not going to purchase a large item packed in such a box in the near future, then you can contact your friends or acquaintances.

Another option, more troublesome, but affordable, may be an agreement with the happy purchaser of a refrigerator (washing machine, etc.) right in the store that you will take the packaging from him as soon as it is no longer needed. In general, with a strong desire, you can always find a way out.

You will need to buy PVA glue, since you can’t do without it.
Polymer glue will be needed for gluing decorative elements.
Water-based paint for covering finished, already glued structures.
Clear varnish, preferably water-based.
Coloring additives of the desired color for water-based paint.
Gold paint for coloring elements (optional).

Styrofoam ceiling moldings - their length must be calculated according to the height and length of the planned fireplace. Moldings and corners, which are also needed, can be decorated with carved stripes, or they can have a relief pattern. You can choose these decorative ornaments according to your taste. In addition to them, you can purchase elements imitating stucco molding and small columns with capitals.
Set of brushes + sponge.
Masking tape.
A simple pencil, tape measure, long ruler, paper knife.

All of these materials can be purchased at a hardware store or office supply store. Naturally, you will spend some amount on them, but it will not be so large as to affect the family budget.

Making a fireplace

Based on the sketch and the selected dimensions, it is necessary to draw the details of the fireplace on the spread cardboard. It consists of three parts: base, portal, top shelf.

The foundation

The base should have a width of 5-7 cm wider than the total thickness of the fireplace, and in length - approximately 10-12 cm more than the width of the future building.

A rectangular box is cut out and glued with masking tape with ribs arranged inside it for rigidity from several pieces of cardboard glued together. The photo shows the inside of the base.

Immediately you need to decide how it will be fixed to the base.

It can be installed inside it, fixed to the walls and bottom, and then the open space around the portal will be sealed up.
Or the box is sealed completely, and the portal is fixed with adhesive tape on its surface.

Depending on which option is more convenient for you, this is how the base will be glued: a box sealed tightly, or left as shown in the photo.

fireplace portal

The fireplace portal can also be made in different ways: with a solid back wall or a frame one, but in this case the first option will be considered.

Future fireplace portal - rear view

The front of the fireplace can be made from individual strips or from a single sheet of cardboard from which the middle part is cut. She will imitate a firebox. If the firebox is cut from a single piece of cloth, it must be precisely marked and drawn, then an incision is made along its top, and then the middle of the incision is marked and cut evenly to the very bottom. You get a kind of window, the edges of which will form the inner side walls of the furnace. They must be fixed to the back wall with construction tape.

The ceiling of the firebox is cut out separately, according to previously taken dimensions. It is also fixed to the back and side walls with adhesive tape.

Bonding base and portal

On the lower base of the fireplace, the middle is indicated, equal distances are measured from it in both directions according to the size of the portal. Further, according to these marks, a prepared portal is installed and fixed to the base with construction tape.

Upper mantel

The mantelpiece can be left as the top of the box, but putting a heavy vase on top of it will not work, so it's better to make it more rigid. For this, three or four identical parts are cut out - they can be slightly larger than the thickness of the fireplace portal or exactly the same width.

These parts are glued together in thickness using PVA glue, and sent under a heavy press. When the panel dries, it will have sufficient rigidity, and it is planted on top of the portal on polymer glue.

All seams of the portal and the base must be glued with masking tape, it is thin, paint fits well on it, and it will hold all the details together perfectly.

decoration

The next step is decoration. This is the most pleasant work, as the fireplace begins to transform and acquire a “marketable” look.

The fireplace mantel is framed by a wide molding. Narrow neat polystyrene strips can be distributed in different ways. Stucco elements are also applied, if they are provided for by you. After sticking them, the fireplace will change. Moldings and decorative elements are fixed with polymer glue.

This is followed by an even more interesting process - the entire structure is covered with a soft brush with white emulsion paint. In places where stucco is fixed, you can paint over with a sponge or a thin brush. The result is an amazing snow-white design.

Further decoration of the fireplace will depend on your imagination - you can leave it snow-white, or you can tint it with the chosen color water emulsion and impose a tone on the stucco elements. If desired, they can also be gilded.

Then a colorless water varnish is applied. The surfaces covered with it can be easily put in order - just brush off the dust from them.
After completion of the work, the fireplace is installed in the place intended for it and decorated with a flowerpot with flowers or a certain number of candles. You can come up with something of your own, original and exclusive. Feel free to get down to business and create.

Fireplace accessories

An interesting solution would be to put a few fake logs in the firebox, which can easily be made from the same corrugated cardboard.

They are made quite simply - the cardboard is folded into a tube of the desired thickness and glued with masking tape, or its edge is smeared with polymer glue and pressed well. Such "logs" need to be made several pieces, and they should have different thicknesses.

The simple process of making "firewood"

Then a few more tubes, thinner, are rolled up and cut into pieces that will play the role of knots.
The next manipulation is fitting the "knots" to the cardboard "log". They are also glued to polymer glue.
When all the “logs" are ready and the glue is completely dry, you can start decorating them with emulsion paint and gouache.
" Logs"Can be tinted for any type of wood and painted the way you like best. In this version, these are “birch logs”.

"Birch woodpile" is ready

It should be noted that "firewood" can also be of a different shape, for example, triangular or square. In this case, you don’t have to make “knots”, but you also need to color them under “chopped firewood”.

This accessory will perfectly decorate your fireplace and give it naturalness.

How to make a fireplace with your own hands from cardboard - video lesson

Starting this creative process, do not be afraid to spoil something. You need to turn on your imagination and act boldly, but carefully. Perhaps, in the process of creativity, completely unexpected ideas will come to you, and then your fireplace will not be like any other. You can be proud of your ingenuity and exclusivity. After all, if you made a fireplace with your own hands, and did not buy it in a store, you will look at it in a completely different way and your attitude towards it will be completely different. In any case, do not be afraid to experiment, cardboard is not the heaviest material and you can make anything out of it!

New Year's holiday is snow outside the window, a slight frost and home comfort and warmth. New Year's atmosphere is created by various decorations and New Year's attributes. Most foreign films instilled in us a love for fireplaces, so now in Russian-speaking countries they are trying to decorate it with fir branches, toys, New Year's socks and boots filled with gifts. A fireplace is a sign of nepotism, love, harmony, and comfort in the house.

But, unfortunately, not every house has such a stove, and it is possible to install it, and this is not a cause for disappointment, because you can make a fireplace out of boxes with your own hands for the new year. This process at first glance may seem laborious, but in fact it will not cause any particular difficulties and problems. The main thing is to be patient and have the desire to create a New Year's fairy tale at home. Even a child is able to carry out such a project, but if it is difficult for him to make it a reality on his own, then you can make a fireplace yourself and involve your child or all household members in the house as an assistant. Such a craft will not fulfill its direct functions, but can become an excellent element of New Year's decor. And the unexpected appearance of a fireplace in the house for the new year will be able to surprise guests and create a real New Year's fairy tale.

Making a fireplace out of boxes

How to make a New Year's fireplace with your own hands will help this master class and step-by-step instructions and a large number of illustrating photos.

List of materials needed for a do-it-yourself cardboard fireplace:

Cardboard or large cardboard box. You can take a cardboard box from under the refrigerator, TV, computer, vacuum cleaner;
Glue;
Scissors or paper cutter;
Styrofoam;
Construction molding;
Semolina;
Scotch;
Dye;
Decor elements.

It must be borne in mind that the decorative fireplace should harmoniously fit into the already formed interior. Therefore, it is important to determine in advance the shape, size and location of its installation.

So, we look at the photo and start making a New Year's fireplace out of the box:

We develop a drawing of a fireplace. Ready-made drawings can be found on the Internet, look at this photo or develop it yourself. You need to remember that the size must be calculated based on the size of the box;
Next, you need to make cuts with a clerical knife;
It is necessary to make a window for the fire if the box is one large, or construct your fireplace from smaller boxes;
The shape of the frame must be betrayed at will. It can be rounded, square or with an acute angle. See photo below;
If the fireplace will be made from several boxes, then all its components must be glued with glue or tape so that they do not fall off from each other;
After the glue has dried, if it was used, then you can start decorating such a stove;
It should be ensured that all joints match, and there are no gaps in them. To do this, follow the drawings.

How to decorate a made fireplace

You can decorate such a home decor in absolutely different ways. This requires imagination. It is also necessary that the decor fit into the existing interior, complement it beautifully and decorate it perfectly.

You can decorate:
Wallpaper under a brick;
Self-adhesive film;
Paints;
Construction border.

In order to start decorating, you need to paste over the boxes with whatman paper or paper, or foam. This is necessary in order for the surface to be even. If the fireplace will be painted "under the brick", then it is necessary to paint the surface in white paint to imitate the primer. In addition, the paint will be able to hide all the inscriptions and stickers on the boxes, because they can be colored. If you paint the fireplace “like a brick”, you need to draw the bricks with a pencil, and carefully paint over them without staining the so-called white primer. Also, the place of the primer can be glued with tape, which can be easily torn off. With this method, the errors will remain on the tape, and not on the primer.

If the fireplace is decorated with a building border, then it will need to be glued according to the developed idea. It is necessary to glue the border on strong glue. The top of the craft must be pasted over with a thicker and more pompous border, and the walls with a thinner one. Various balustrades can be glued inside the formed areas. These balustrades can be in the form of angels, candles, or some other ornament.

After pasting the ornament and the building plinth or border, it is necessary to paint the fireplace in the desired color. The painting technique depends on the desired effect. You can paint:

in the technique of craquelure,
in aged technique,
create a modern and trendy fireplace,
Decorate using decoupage technique.

The photos below will help you decide which paint to choose for the craft.

The fireplace can be painted red, white, gold or brown. Red is always associated with the New Year holidays. It goes well with white, green and blue.

To simulate fire, you can make a metal stand that protects the cardboard and put a candle in it. This must be approached very carefully, because safety depends on it. In no case should the fire come into contact with the cardboard and not go beyond the area of the iron stand. You can also print a photo of a burning fire in the fireplace and paste it into the fire area. It is also possible to order a 3D image of the fire online. Such a fire will shimmer beautifully. You can also buy an electronic painting depicting fire. A great solution would be to cover the place for the fire with a garland. The garland will shimmer with various lights, reminiscent of a fairy tale.

When the fireplace is completely made, it is necessary to determine its location. It will become the main decoration of the room.

After all this, it is necessary to decorate the fireplace in the New Year's style, decorating it with Christmas toys, spruce branches, snowflakes, figures of Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden. In addition, the decor of socks hung on the fireplace looks great. You can put Christmas gifts in these socks. Candles placed on the surface of crafts will add romance and will look advantageous on New Year's Eve.

Such homemade fireplaces are often used by photo studios to create a photo shoot. At home, you can also arrange a festive photo session. All guests who will be in the house for the New Year holidays will also want to be photographed against the backdrop created by hand, crafts.

Such a master class "How to make a fireplace" should help everyone to make their own New Year's decor at home. And a large number of photographs and diagrams makes it possible to determine the design, shape and color scheme.

The main thing is that such an idea could unite the family even more, give pleasure to all household members and not leave anyone indifferent. And hand-made production will make the fireplace even more family, harmonious and sincere. And holiday photos will remind you of a wonderful New Year's fairy tale, beautiful decor and your golden hands, who were able to bring this idea to life, for a long time to come.

For fun at the holiday, you will need. We wish you laughter, joy, happiness in the New Year!