Do-it-yourself foam fireplace, step-by-step instructions for creating

Pros and cons of using foam for the fireplace

Foam bricks for fireplaces are light, inexpensive, beautiful, but not very durable. Foam plastic is foamed plastic, which will be a good raw material for the manufacture of a decorative fireplace. The scope of application of the material is wide. Polystyrene foam has its own advantages and disadvantages, which you need to know about before building a fireplace.

Pros of a foam fireplace:

light weight;
simple processing;
moisture resistance.

The sheets in the fireplace made of foam plastic can be given any shape and processed using a hacksaw or knife. The grainy sheet is suitable for creating similar imitations of stucco molding and other decor.

Important! The insignificant mass expands the scope of application of the solution - more than half of the total volume falls on the pores. Even huge foam structures don’t weigh much at all.

Polystyrene foam does not get wet because it repels water perfectly.

Disadvantages of the material:

fragility;
rapid combustion;
exposure to the negative effects of chemicals.

Most adhesives and dyes with a classic composition melt the workpieces - the foam structure does not tolerate contact with aggressive substances, solvents, nitrates, and special aerosols. Foam plastic and fireplaces made from it are painted with water- and acrylic-based paints, and special adhesive formulas are used to hold the elements together.

The fragility is determined by the structure of the solution. A minimal mechanical impact is enough and the fireplace will break. Therefore, the decorative solution turns out to be brittle and short-lived. Raw materials ignite quickly. But even these nuances do not reduce the popularity of foam fireplaces.

Fire for artificial fireplace

To create the illusion of flames in the fireplace, various options are used that suit the cost and style. The most difficult will be imitation using steam. To do this, you will need LED lights, ultrasonic fog generators and a fan. Such a design will not come cheap, and its connection requires certain knowledge in electrical engineering.

A more affordable option for “fire” is New Year’s garlands. It is placed inside the firebox. A small hole is made on the side of the portal, a cord is inserted into it and the garland is connected to electricity.

The most budget-friendly “fire” can be created if you paint it on the wall of the firebox. However, if there is no artistic talent, then it is better to think about an alternative to such decoration.

DIY decorative fireplace made of polystyrene foam

To make a fireplace from polystyrene foam with your own hands, you need to prepare materials, tools for work, prime the surfaces to be treated with putty, mask small defects such as cracks, and let the primer dry. At the same time, prepare small bricks from thin sheets of polystyrene foam.

Important! Polystyrene foam is quite easy to cut with a regular knife. If you have time and desire, you can make gypsum ingots.

Further procedure:

Glue the blanks onto the sides of the shelves - do this randomly to create an exact imitation of brickwork. There is no need to maintain symmetry, but the sides must be harmoniously combined with each other.
Glue the brick decor onto the PVA, press for a few seconds, when the glue dries, paint with white acrylic in a couple of layers (it’s convenient to use a brush).
Paint the last layer with a foam sponge or roller and allow time to dry normally. The result should be a uniform white surface without bald spots or smudges.
Prepare a semicircular arched firebox using leftover styrofoam boxes. Mark a semicircle in it with a measuring tape and cut out the inside with a sharp knife. Place the firebox between a pair of finished shelves and press tightly.
Mark the area where the firebox is located, remove it, prepare the surface for applying PVC glue, coat the wooden shelves with adhesive. Assemble the structure.
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Build a fireplace cover from leftover furniture packaging. Since the width of the box is not enough, the extension is made with an additional piece of polystyrene foam. It is advisable to use a solid board.
A ceiling border is attached to the façade side. Since it is difficult to firmly fix the foam with glue, use toothpicks. They pierce the border, “pinning” it to the foam shelf.
The side walls are decorated and the assembly of the structure is completed.

You can install glass or tiles on the lid. Make the back wall from bright red fabric, you will get the illusion of burning.

The style of a false fireplace

When creating a decorative fireplace made of polystyrene foam, you should definitely adhere to some style. It is best that it harmonizes with the overall idea of the interior of your room. In this case, a false fireplace placed in the living room or other room will certainly become the main accent. When decorating and building, you can start from four main styles:

Classic style. If you like simple shapes, clear boundaries and strict contours, then it is best to focus on the classic style. A decorative fireplace made in this design will fit perfectly into most interiors.
Modern style. Unlike the classics, when using the modern style you will need to use your imagination. The distinctive features of this trend are: original color combinations, interesting and unexpected shapes, mixing classic and modern trends. Fireplaces in the Art Nouveau style are in most cases exclusive, clearly matching the design of the room.
Minimalism, urban and hi-tech styles. Modern styles are distinguished by technological design, simple contours and calm and cool tones in the design. When decorating a false fireplace, glass and metal elements can be used. A built-in bio-fireplace burner can be an excellent addition to your decorative portal. However, in this case it is necessary to strictly adhere to fire safety rules.
Country styles, Provence. These styles are characterized by natural finishes, homely warmth and comfort, lightness, naive simplicity and grace. When decorating a false fireplace made of foam plastic in these styles, you should definitely use wooden elements.

False fireplace with candles in the firebox

Note that a false fireplace made of cardboard and polystyrene foam is quite lightweight, so if desired, it can be easily moved around the apartment, placed in different places and even rooms, taken out on holidays and put away on weekdays.

At the same time, even before the construction stage, it is advisable to immediately decide where the decorative fireplace will be located, because the location can affect its shape and appearance.

Good to know: Imitation of a fireplace in the interior of a living room, original design

How to make a fireplace from foam plastic for the New Year

A New Year's fireplace made of polystyrene foam is an excellent DIY decor; it looks impressive, is simple and inexpensive to make. For the construction of the structure, strips that remain from factory packaging or insulation of wall surfaces are suitable, if such work was carried out previously. Additionally, all materials, tools, and accessories for work are immediately prepared. It is advisable to use toothpicks and edging. In addition to a sharp knife and scissors, you need a spatula for priming and brushes. This set is enough to prepare a festive decorative design.

Important! The best decoration for a New Year's fireplace made of polystyrene foam is small souvenirs, candles, ribbons, tinsel, balls.

Stages of work:

Cut out rectangles 60*40 cm and 40*20 cm, they are needed for equipping the side surfaces. Since polystyrene foam does not adhere well even to PVA glue, additionally, in order to increase their reliability, the joints are fixed with toothpicks: one to four pieces. The side parts are pinned to a large rectangle; the joint areas are pre-coated with glue.
From the inside of the fireplace, they make a marking of the firebox from polystyrene foam, then cut it out with a sharp knife. The thinner the blade, the more accurate the cut will be.
Use toothpicks and glue to secure the back side of the fireplace, along the bottom and top, using masking tape, and secure other parts. Prime the frame, let it dry for 12 hours, if necessary, apply the primer again, dry the layer again, sand the coating with fine sandpaper.
Wet the braid for decorating the firebox using PVA glue, carefully fasten it along the cut of the firebox, and at the same time prime the surface. It takes at least 2 hours to dry. Glue small ornaments coated with gold paint into the corners of the foam fireplace.
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The lid, which serves as a shelf, must be larger than the main structure; it is fixed on top of the finished box. To decorate a fireplace made of polystyrene foam for the New Year, you need to prime the narrow side surfaces, coat them with a gold compound, and treat the firebox sections in a similar manner.

The base is usually left open, but can be exposed on stiff cardboard if desired. Mother-of-pearl with a golden tint is applied to the relief parts of the cut of the fireplace insert and ribs. The composition is allowed to dry, then wiped with a soft cloth so that the paint gets into the recesses and highlights a beautiful relief. On the ribs, the coating appears to be light wear that has developed over time.

Important! Decoupage looks harmonious on the front parts of the fireplace made of foam plastic. Snowflakes are cut out of napkins, glued onto PVA, and coated with acrylic-based varnish.

New Year's decor is usually made from small toys, boots, chains, and they are hung in the firebox area. Fix decorations on colored stationery nails - this is an affordable, simple, beautiful option. The cones are painted gold, so the result will be more elegant and spectacular. You can put them in a basket. You need to put candles of different shapes and sizes in the improvised firebox. Boxes, toys, and candies are laid out on the mantelpieces.

Manufacturing technology and work stages

Even a beginner can make a fireplace from polystyrene foam with his own hands. Before you start cutting the material, you need to understand which design is best suited for this. The fireplace can have smooth walls and right angles, or it can have a fancy design.

As for sizes, everything is individual. This parameter depends on the size of the room and the availability of free space. If the fireplace is made for decoration purposes, then a width of up to 30 cm is sufficient.

Depending on the location of the fireplace in the apartment, it can be corner, wall, built-in or island. Standing against a wall is the most common option for most users. It will not interfere, and you can place it in any suitable place. In very small rooms, a corner fireplace would be an ideal option. If its installation is planned during the construction stage of the house, then you can think about the built-in option. Island structures require suitable design on all visible sides. They are placed in the center of the room or to the side, but with some distance from the wall.

Preparing for the manufacture of a decorative fireplace made of polystyrene foam

After you have decided on the style and type of the false fireplace made of foam, you need to take care of preparing for work. To clearly see what the finished structure will look like, you can use special computer programs for three-dimensional modeling or sketch a sketch on paper. The drawing shows all sizes and locations of decorative elements. You can make a paper analogue of a foam fireplace with exact dimensions and attach it to the future location of the finished product.

Fireplace made of polystyrene foam on a cardboard base

The easiest way to build a decorative fireplace from polystyrene foam. You can choose cardboard as the basis for this design. To do this, you need to prepare the following materials and tools:

foam sheets of the required sizes. The thickness is selected within 1-1.5 cm;
cardboard boxes or individual sheets for making a frame. If you need to construct a large fireplace, containers from a refrigerator or washing machine will do;
tape or masking tape;
glue;
stationery knife;
roulette;
marker;
putty and paint for facing work;
decorative elements made of foam or polyurethane.

To make a fireplace, prepare foam sheets.
The sketch made in advance is transferred to cardboard, observing the required dimensions. The template is cut out, and a hole is made in place of the niche, the edges of which are bent inward and glued with tape.

The finished fireplace frame is covered with foam plastic. The table top is made of the same material or plywood. To avoid sharp corners, they are cut at an angle of 45 degrees.

The final stage will be finishing the fireplace. Regular construction putty is suitable for this. After it has dried, the surface is coated with water-based or odorless acrylic paint. Any color can be chosen, including white.

Foam fireplace in retro style

A fireplace in this style is suitable for a living room or bedroom with antique furniture. The appearance of the structure should be as if the fireplace came to its current owners from the distant past. This can be achieved by aging the paint. The surface should be scuffed, faded in color, with scratches.

Making a fireplace begins with choosing a location. This is usually a space against a wall or in a corner. They also prepare the materials necessary for work and assembly:

baseboards and foam sheets;
pallet;
jigsaw;
screwdriver or screwdriver;
nails, screws and dowels;
wooden planks.

Installation begins with the installation of the pallet. The base can be painted or left in its original form.

Next, two wooden planks are attached to the wall with dowels. The one adjacent to the surface must be larger than the one located on it.

To finish the side walls, take plinths and foam sheets and attach them to a wooden base. The front part is finished in a similar way.

Foam fireplace in retro style

The interior of the firebox is decorated with old wallpaper, newspaper clippings, or simply painted in one tone. The fireplace frame is coated with gray, white or beige paint. After it dries, the surface is rubbed with a fine abrasive sandpaper and painted again with paint a tone or two darker.

To complete the decoration of the fireplace in a retro style, you can make false windows with vintage shutters above the fireplace lid, and hang old photographs in appropriate frames.

Assembling the frame of the structure

When you have thoroughly prepared, when you have a drawing, tools and materials, you can begin building the frame of the false fireplace. The step-by-step methodology involves the following steps:

Transfer the drawing of the future fireplace in real life, onto the walls and floor in the right place. Use tools to mark the level and size.
According to the markings, attach the guides to the floor and walls. If you need to attach a guide to a concrete wall, this is done as follows. First, the profile is applied to the intended line, holes are made in it and the wall, then dowels are inserted into the wall, the metal guide is again applied and secured.

Setting up the main supports and guides of the future fireplace

When the guides are secured, racks are inserted into them and secured with metal screws. To work with self-tapping screws, use a screwdriver; using a screwdriver to carry out such work is very tedious. When assembling the main frame, make sure that it is level and the racks are in a strictly vertical position. The wall may be curved or blocked, so you should not focus on it.
Having assembled the general frame of the structure, you can move on to a more detailed study of the portal, and then to the construction of the firebox. At the same time, do not forget to regularly insert jumpers into the profile, at a distance of 10-15 centimeters from each other. They will give the entire system the required rigidity.
If it is necessary to make rounded edges, then in this case the profile is cut with metal scissors in several places and bent.

Good to know: False fireplace with candles, creating a candle fireplace with your own hands

When assembling the frame, you will have to try, but the resulting structure should instill confidence in you. The frame made by your own hands will become the basis for the entire building. Now we have to cover it with plasterboard.

Fully assembled frame of a false fireplace made of metal profile

To make the necessary patterns on a sheet of drywall, you will again have to use the drawing. To cut drywall, you can use a construction knife or a jigsaw, whichever is more convenient for you. In this case, we immediately cut the sheet with a jigsaw, but with a knife we act differently.

To cut a piece of drywall from a sheet, you should attach a level or an even metal profile to the line drawn with a pencil and make a cut with a knife. This way you can cut through the cardboard and catch some of the plaster. Then you should break the sheet of drywall along the resulting cut, bend it, then cut the second layer of cardboard shell and separate the piece.

You may not be able to cut a piece straight the first time, but after some practice the work will improve. Now the cut parts should be secured to a metal profile. For this, wood screws and a screwdriver are used. Try not to push the head of the screw too far into the drywall. Place the fasteners in increments of 10-15 centimeters and try not to get into the places where the jumpers are installed to stiffen the frame; it will be incredibly difficult to get through them with a self-tapping screw.

Properly screwed self-tapping screw into drywall

Covering the frame of a false fireplace with plasterboard is a very labor-intensive task, but does not require any special skills; all of them will appear during work. Try to handle the drywall carefully, do not drop it on the floor; when screwing in the screws, try not to press too hard or sharply so that the screwdriver does not fly off and damage the drywall.

Frame of false fireplace covered with plasterboard

At the final stage, when the frame of the structure is built and sheathed, putty can be applied. Putty will allow you to make smooth joints and hide minor structural defects. After grinding, you will get a portal with smooth edges and walls. Now we can assume that you have built a false fireplace from plasterboard with your own hands, all that remains is to decorate it. Note that for many people it is easier to buy a ready-made portal, for example, made of polyurethane, in order to immediately move on to the decorating stage.

Design of corner fireplaces and their features

For those who have a small living space, but want to make a false fireplace for themselves, corner versions of such designs are suitable.

But before production begins, we will describe the advantages and disadvantages of these types.

The advantages of corner fireplace imitation include:

saving free space, because they are installed exclusively in the corners of the room;
occupy and decorate corners of rooms that are often empty;
low cost of materials and the entire structure;
have a beautiful and original appearance.

There are not many disadvantages of angular views, but they are still present. The main disadvantage is the criterion that in almost every apartment there are windows or central heating radiators near the corners. And it is almost impossible to install this type of fireplace in these corners.

But if they nevertheless install these systems in corners with heating pipes, then they additionally make an imitation of a chimney, which hides the passage of pipes for radiators, and this means additional costs, time and finances. From the point of view of experienced designers, the interior of the room should have two free corners. And by installing imitations, you are breaking the rules.

Installation of a corner fireplace

The production of this type of structure is no different from the frontal varieties; only the external shape changes. Designing a corner fireplace with your own hands, a decorative version made from plasterboard, goes like this:

We calculate the sizes. In this case, it is necessary to take into account all dimensions, including the passing heating pipe that needs to be hidden. It is necessary to accurately calculate all dimensions and design a structure that will allow easy access to the pipe, especially if there is a shutter valve on it.
We install the frame. The cheapest metal profile is suitable for the frame. The construction of the frame is carried out in the same way as in the version located near the wall.
Placement of sockets. It is important that there is an outlet close to the structure. It is necessary to connect lighting simulating a corner fireplace. But this is done when choosing the angle for the structure.
Finally, we cover the frame with plasterboard. And then we cover it with the selected material.

As you have seen, making an imitation of a fireplace yourself is quite simple; your main task when working is to adhere to the sequence and rules for performing actions.