Fireplace from the boxes with their own. How to make a cardboard fireplace with your own hands - step by step instructions

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 purchase household appliances. To make such an imitation of a fireplace, you don’t even need any special knowledge and building skills - make it easy and simple! 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:

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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;
can of white paint, ceiling plinth and moldings made of foam plastic (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 from 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 gas burner, or a biofireplace, as 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 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;
V classical 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.

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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 there will be a whole box from a widescreen flat-panel TV, but if you can’t find one, you can use cardboard sheets previously 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 rational use 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.

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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, cut out a rectangular strip equal in width interior walls portal, and along the length - 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;
Begin 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.

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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 carried out 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 firebox 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 a few preparations 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.

You can make a decorative fireplace from the most different materials. Neatly assembled cardboard products, finished decorative plaster or painted with acrylic paint, will be outwardly indistinguishable from a real fireplace. Their only drawback is excessive lightness, so such products should be firmly attached to the wall or floor.

Materials and tools

For creating artificial fireplace from cardboard you will need:
several strong cardboard boxes (preferably from three-layer cardboard);
wide construction tape paper basis;
PVA or liquid nails;
ruler, pencil;
stationery knife;
accessories for decoration;
any finishing materials (acrylic or water-based paint, color for its dilution, wallpaper, foam to imitate masonry, polystyrene foam ceiling moldings, etc.)

The main stages of manufacture

Even when creating the simplest design it is better to pre-calculate its dimensions and draw an assembly diagram.

Fireplace schemes

Important! In order for the product to be strong enough, each blank must have one or even two copies. Pairwise glued parts will give the structure reliability and strength. On such a fireplace, it will be possible to place any accessories without fear of bringing down the structure.

Bonding workpieces

1. It is better to cut cardboard with a clerical knife or a regular one. sharp knife. To get a perfectly even cut, the ruler should not be removed from the line during cutting.

Cardboard cutting

2. It is better to fasten cardboard blanks together with double-sided tape or window paper and glue. The seams must be glued both from the outside and inside . For the strength of the skeleton inside the structure, it is possible to provide corners from bent strips of cardboard glued with PVA.

Corners made of cardboard for gluing internal corners

Important! For fastening workpieces, use only paper tape. When finishing a false fireplace made of cardboard, putty from acrylic tape will crumble, and polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam moldings that imitate stucco will stick loosely.

3. The foundation should be slightly larger than the fireplace both in width and length (by 5-10 cm). To strengthen it, stiffeners are inserted into it (several strips of cardboard), and only then such a box is closed with a sheet of cardboard.

fireplace base

4. mantelpiece assembled from a separate box and installed on top of the structure.
5. The simplest fireplace can also be assembled from several durable cardboard boxes interconnected with PVA glue.

Fireplace glued together from one and several boxes and a corner fireplace

6. You can glue the boxes together using liquid nails.

Bonding with liquid nails

Important! PVA glues ordinary cardboard well. It is better to hide glossy surfaces inside the structure or clean them with sandpaper before gluing. The glue slightly softens the corrugation, but after complete drying, it regains strength.

7. Since the corrugated board joints will have a slightly loose structure, the corners should putty.
8. To get perfectly even corners, you can attach to them plastic or metal corners for slopes found in any hardware store. They are glued with putty. If the false fireplace will be covered with paint in the future, you can level the puttied surface with slightly damp sandpaper.

PVC corners

Finishing a false fireplace made of cardboard

You can decorate the created product with the help of acrylic paints, foam plastic, decoupage technique (sticking appliqués, drawings, wallpaper or fabric matching the color, followed by varnishing), self-adhesive film, etc.

Important! In order for loose cardboard not to absorb paint and glue, it is pre-primed.

1. Share brickwork You can use strips of cardboard, gluing it to the surface, while leaving gaps for the seams. A wall made of such a “brick” is painted with acrylic paint in the desired color or puttied. You can imitate masonry between the seams using toilet paper or napkins impregnated with an adhesive solution (papier-mâché technique).

"Bricks" from strips of cardboard

2. You can imitate stucco molding from polystyrene foam molding used for finishing ceilings.

Finishing "stucco" molding

3. A more original finish of the fireplace portal can be obtained using geometric or curved parts cut out of cardboard, followed by coating decorative putty. They can be used to simulate stucco molding, and wood carving.

"Stucco molding" from cardboard

4. So that the false fireplace does not collect too much dust, after finishing it can be varnished.

Imitation foam stone finish

With the help of foam, you can easily imitate the heterogeneous structure of the stone:
1. We apply the contours of stones to the foam blank. We clean the extra parts with a knife.

2. Cut out recesses along the borders of the arch to simulate masonry. We draw the recesses of the laying of stones on the rest of the workpiece.

3. We process the rest of the surface with a knife, imitating stones of different sizes. Using an iron brush, we create bumps on the stones.

4. Now we paint them with a brush, while using darker paint for the recesses, and paint the stones themselves in lighter colors. The top of the stones can be slightly “powdered” with light paint and sand. Finishing for the fireplace portal is ready.

5. You can also imitate brickwork from polystyrene foam. To do this, each brick is cut out with a knife and glued to the base with a small gap between adjacent bricks. Next, the base is painted over in any color. The seams between such "bricks" are filled with putty, diluted with a darker color scheme.

Imitation foam bricks

Fireplace made of cardboard, trimmed with "brick"

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. Photos of cardboard fireplaces can be found in the Internet sections on the relevant topic.

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 this purpose, the remains ceiling tiles, foam plinths or additionally buy stucco products.

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

And, finally, the most important thing that allows you to call a fireplace a home is fire. Several logs wrapped led strip, will make the hearth almost real. And in 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

A fireplace is always associated with coziness and comfort, therefore, even living in an apartment in a multi-storey building, people often dream of creating such an original corner in one of the rooms. A do-it-yourself cardboard fireplace, made with love and care, can replace a real fireplace in the interior, while fully maintaining the design style of the room.

It must be said right away that there is nothing particularly difficult in the manufacture of this decor element, and it can be performed not only by a man with skills in construction, but also by the owner of the apartment. Moreover, the work is not laborious and does not require special devices and tools. The maximum that is required for the process is a fantasy with the external design of the fireplace, which can be easily diversified due to the fact that in our time there is a large assortment of polyurethane foam decorative elements that imitate stucco, columns and other decorations. If the sketch of the fireplace itself is developed independently, and decorative details are correctly selected for it, then the design itself can turn out to be absolutely original and exclusive.

Preparing to create a fireplace

Planning for a future fireplace

Before starting work, it is necessary to do a number of preparatory measures, without which it will be impossible to make this original interior decoration.

To begin with, the installation site of the future is determined. Usually it is chosen empty wall or a corner where it fits perfectly, unlike bulky pieces of furniture. In addition, a fireplace can be a great cover for unsightly corners.
Further, the size of the future decorative structure is determined, which is calculated directly at the place of its installation.

The next step is to draw up a sketch of the future product, on which all dimensions are necessarily affixed - such a carefully prepared drawing will help not to be distracted by measurements already in the process of work. It is also recommended to make a finished drawing of the fireplace, preferably in color, that is, with all the intended decorative elements that will complete it. This drawing will help you immediately decide on the purchase of all the necessary parts and finishing materials. It is not necessary to accurately draw each of the decorative elements - it will be enough to determine their location and approximately determine the dimensions.

When choosing a fireplace for the appearance, you need to take into account the fact that this element of the interior must be decorated in the most careful way. Visiting friends should not even suspect that the main material for the manufacture of this fireplace was ordinary corrugated cardboard.

Materials for manufacturing and necessary tools

The next task to be solved in the process of preparing for work is the selection of suitable materials.

To make the case, you will need to get a large corrugated cardboard box, in which large household appliances are usually packed - TVs or refrigerators. Since most buyers usually simply throw away the boxes after unpacking, the main material can be obtained for nothing at all. Therefore, if such a craft is conceived, then it makes sense to turn to friends or neighbors with a request to give such packaging in case of purchasing such equipment.

Another option for obtaining a box can be "duty" in a household appliance store. There you can negotiate with the buyer of the refrigerator so that he does not rush to throw away the packaging, since you will free him from the hassle and pick it up when it is no longer needed.

In a word, if a goal is set, then it will certainly be achieved, if there is a desire to bring the developed projects to life.

In addition to cardboard, you will need two types of glue - a polymer, such as "Dragon", for gluing polystyrene foam decorative elements, and PVA - for pasting cardboard and corners using pieces of thin paper.
You can use wide masking tape to glue the corners, which is easy to purchase at any hardware store.
You will need white water-based paint - for priming and painting the finished fireplace.
You may need a clear water-based varnish.
If it is multi-colored, then color additives to the paint will be required to give the individual details of the craft the desired shade. In addition, you can buy some acrylic paint(for gold, silver, bronze, etc.), if any special decorative design of the elements is conceived.
Some home craftsmen use liquid volumetric wallpaper to create imitations of marble chips or other materials on the surfaces of the future fireplace.
The decorative details themselves are purchased directly - these are moldings of the required length and corners for them, columns and capitals, stucco elements and others.

For work, you will need a sponge and brushes of different sizes, a long ruler and tape measure, stationery tape, and a simple pencil. Dry, clean, soft cloths should always be on hand.
In addition to the above, it is quite possible that other materials will be needed if they are provided for by the draft. Everything you need can be purchased at stationery and construction stores.

The process of making a fireplace

In order to be able to determine which fireplace is best suited for a particular room, it is better to consider the manufacturing processes of two fireplace options - wall and corner.

Looking for how to make a decorative fireplace with your own hands?

We suggest that you familiarize yourself with a step-by-step guide on how. In addition, this material shows in detail the process of decorating the fireplace with stucco molding and the stage of connecting the LED strip!

Wall variant

The wall fireplace is quite compact and will not clutter up the room. In addition, a mantelpiece, if made rigid enough, may well serve as a stand for decorative figurines, candles, a vase or a clock.

First of all, you need to make room for work, where you can freely spread a large sheet of cardboard. Acting according to the sketch, in compliance with the dimensions indicated on it, all the details of the future fireplace are marked and drawn on the unfolded cardboard (former box). When carrying out this process, you need to remember that the folds of the box can also be used rationally and make them the corners of the fireplace.

The fireplace is made of three components - this is the base, which must be sufficiently rigid, the fireplace and the top shelf.

fireplace base

The base must be rigid in order for the fireplace to stand firmly on the floor, so the base mold must be well reinforced. This podium is strengthened with the help of additional inserts - stiffeners, which are fixed inside.

The ribs can be assembled into a lattice, or they can be randomly glued to the bottom and lid of the box.

The width of this part of the fireplace must exceed the length and width of the fireplace portal by 80 ÷ 120 mm. You can definitely decide taking into account the preferences of the master and the area on which the fireplace will be installed.

There are two ways to make a base:

Cut out a box with sides, install or glue stiffeners on its bottom, on PVA glue.
Cut out two identical panels from cardboard right size- this will be the bottom and surface of the base. Stiffeners are attached and pressed to the bottom - they can be glued to glue or double-sided tape.

The side surfaces of this design consist of even strips that are glued together from two or three layers of cardboard, which will give additional rigidity to the base. They are installed between the panels and glued to masking tape.

Doing stand - base, you need to immediately think about how the portal will be fixed on the lower structure, since sometimes it is fixed to the bottom panel of the base.

Most often, the portal is installed on the upper plane of the base and then fixed with tape.

portal

The portal is cut out of the box along the lines drawn in advance and can also be made in several ways: on frame basis or with a solid back wall.

First option

If the portal is built on a frame basis, then the fireplace will have a more rigid structure, since the frame partitions will be made of several layers of cardboard glued together.
To begin with, the front part of the portal is made, to which the frame will be attached, making this whole structural detail more rigid.

Cutting out the window of the future "hearth"

A window for the future hearth should be marked on the cardboard. The upper part of the window is cut off with a clerical knife. Then the plane that is marked as the window is split in half. The resulting "sashes" are bent inward - they will become the inner side walls of the hearth.

The preparation of the portal with the opening of the "hearth"

To make the ceiling of the hearth, a rectangle is cut out of cardboard, the length of which is equal to the width of the hearth, and width — width inner walls. This rectangle is fixed with adhesive tape in place of the ceiling of the hearth.

The result is the front part of the portal - it needs to be reinforced from the inside with a frame.

Frame panels sometimes they are made from solid rectangles of cardboard, which are glued together and dried under pressure. Then they are attached to the front of the portal and fastened together with masking tape or PVA glue and pieces of paper.

Another option for making frame partitions, which will make the fireplace lighter in weight, is not solid panels, but lattice partitions.

Then sheets of cardboard are glued onto rigid cardboard grids in one layer.
The portal is mounted on a podium base and fixed with masking tape or PVA glue and paper.
After the frame is completely ready and fixed to the base, it can be transformed with paint or gluing paper, which will cover all unsightly joints.

The frame can play the role of fairly reliable shelves that will serve to store needlework items or other little things that are not used daily.

If the niches of the portal are planned to be used as shelves, then both the walls and the frame of the portal must be rigid, therefore they are also made of several layers of cardboard glued together.

Second option

The second version of the portal is easier to make than the first, since an ordinary box is assembled according to the dimensions established in the sketch. In this case, the back wall will be solid and it will not be possible to arrange convenient shelves in it.

The second version of the portal is simpler, since it is an ordinary hollow box

The box is also glued with masking tape.

The front part of the portal is formed from strips of cardboard cut to size. It will take three or four strips, depending on whether the lower part of the hearth will be closed by a few centimeters.

Making the front wall of the portal "fireplace"

In the next step, the finished shape of the fireplace is attached to the marked place on the surface of the podium, first tacked with glue, and then securely fixed with masking tape or paper slips and PVA glue.

Installing a mantelpiece

If you do not additionally strengthen the top panel of the manufactured fireplace structure, it will not be possible to put any decorative ornaments. Therefore, it is recommended to lay a fireplace mantel.

It must be remembered that this element should not be heavier than the base of the fireplace, as the whole structure may fall. The weight of the mantelpiece should be about the same as that of the podium, or even slightly less.

It is best to make a shelf of two or three sheets of cardboard glued together. For the top layer, you can use not corrugated, but ordinary dense material.

It is better to glue the mantelpiece on polymer glue or “liquid nails” - this way it will be securely planted on a frame structure or a fireplace arranged in the form of a box.

You can use plywood up to 10 mm thick as a shelf, or a thin board made of light wood. As an option - a laminate panel is quite suitable.

decoration

A very important step is the transformation of the finished structure into an almost “real” fireplace. This can be done in different ways, since appearance the fireplace will look as the master wishes.

First option

In this variant, decorative polyurethane foam elements are glued immediately onto cardboard. The mantelpiece from the front and sides is framed with a molding having a width of 10 ÷ 12 mm.

Beginning of finishing - gluing decorative embossed parts

A thin molding divides the entire surface into separate zones, a niche of the hearth stands out.
Next on separate sections surfaces, symmetrically to each other, are glued individual elements stucco.
In addition to them, decorative columns can be installed on the sides of the portal.

All elements are glued to "liquid nails" or polyurethane glue.

At the next stage, the entire surface of the fireplace, including decorative details, is painted with water-based white paint. The work is carried out with a brush and a sponge, in order to paint over all hard-to-reach places well. The result is a completely white design.

Then, additional work needs to be done on the structure, for example, to cover the moldings and stucco with gilding or paint of a certain color, which can be made from the same water emulsion with the addition of color.
After the painting processes are completed, it is recommended to cover the entire gable and side parts with a water-based varnish. It will protect the surface from various external influences, and also make it more comfortable for cleaning, since dust with a rough, colored water-based paint surface is removed very reluctantly.

Second option

Another option for decorating a fireplace with the use will give relief to the surface of the fireplace, under the structure of natural materials.

But, before applying the finishing mixture to the portal, it must be prepared and measures taken to decorate the hearth and mantelpiece.

The front and side surfaces, as well as the niche of the hearth, are painted with water-based paint and left to dry.

To begin with - also staining in the base color

Thin paper or newspaper is pasted over the mantelpiece - this is necessary for further decoration. When the surface dries, it is also covered with paint.
The next step is to fix a molding imitating stucco molding under the mantelpiece on the “liquid nails”.

Next, you can proceed to the design of the hearth of the fireplace. The required number of rectangles are cut out of corrugated cardboard, which will imitate brickwork. They are glued into the niche of the hearth, and the distance between the rows should be approximately the same and be 8 ÷ 10 mm. The details of this imaginary "masonry" must be glued to "liquid nails" or polyurethane glue.

Formation of "brickwork" from rectangular pieces of cardboard

After the glue dries, the “brickwork” is covered with water-based white paint.
The next step is painting the "bricks". To achieve the desired shades, the required color is added to the water-based paint. As a rule, they make several shades of color close to each other in order to make the hearth look more picturesque.

Next, “liquid wallpaper” is used - they must convey the texture of the stone

Further, prepared “liquid wallpaper” is carefully applied to the prepared surface of the portal. To apply the mixture, a spatula is used, with which it is distributed over the visible areas of the fireplace. Very carefully you need to apply the wallpaper near the polyurethane foam decorative elements - the mixture should close the joint between the surface and the stucco.

Having finished working with the walls, you can proceed to decorating the mantelpiece. In this case, ordinary crumpled wet paper was used - it will imitate a marble surface. Wet paper straightens out on the shelf, but the crumpled drawing will still remain.

Relief figures can be toned "antique"

After the paper and “liquid wallpaper” have dried, if desired, you can apply tinting on the stucco molding with a soft brush, and on the mantelpiece with a sponge, lightly touching the surface, so as to touch only the protruding lines of crumpled paper.

To create the appearance of a “stone base”, fragments of polystyrene foam are suitable

The last stage in the transformation of the fireplace is the decoration of the base. The role of "stones" may well be performed by ordinary foam, which is glued to "liquid nails", and is also covered with paint with the addition of the selected tone to it.

Video: an example of creating a cardboard wall fireplace

corner fireplace

It is even easier to make than wall-mounted. This will require, in principle, exactly the same materials, and you can decorate it as the master wants. For decoration, the above-described polyurethane foam elements in combination with paint and liquid wallpaper, or just a self-adhesive film.

Before making a corner fireplace, you need to make a sketch and drawing. In order for it to be accurate, measurements are taken from the corner where the decorative interior accessory will be installed. It is especially important to do this if the fireplace will be placed in a furniture wall or will adjoin it. In this case, it is recommended to make the legs of the triangle equal to the width of the side panels of the furniture wall.
Further, according to the size of the box, the shape of the fireplace is mounted. If a large box is found, an even canvas is made from it, and the folds from the corners will help in making a triangle for a corner fireplace.
A triangular shape is formed from the box, which is fastened with masking tape along the top of the corner.
In order for the triangle to stand well on the floor surface, you need to give it additional rigidity. To do this, approximately 100 mm are measured at the corners above and below and cuts are made with a knife.
Further, a straight line is drawn from the inside, which will connect the corner cuts, and then a shallow cut is made along this line. It will help you make an even fold.
Exactly the same process is carried out with the other two sides of the triangle. Then the strips are bent, their excess part is cut off, and the joints are glued together.
The bottom of the fireplace is made in the same way.

Next, you need to make a pattern of the size of the hearth window from a separate piece of cardboard or paper. Then it is reduced from all sides by 70 ÷ 100 mm and the reduced part is cut out. It is superimposed on the large plane of the resulting "triangle" - the hypotenuse, outlined with a pencil and carefully cut out with a knife.
Now it is necessary to make cuts at the corners of the window, for the same 70 ÷ 100 cm, and then they must be very carefully bent inside the window at a right angle. The corners of the bend must be immediately sealed with tape.
In order to make the back walls of the hearth, you will need the corner of the box, and for the ceiling and bottom - two triangles. The inner part of the "firebox" is measured according to the resulting opening.
According to these dimensions, the necessary parts are cut out and glued together. Ready inner part fireboxes are mounted in a fireplace niche, attaching with tape to the bends that were made earlier.
For the rigidity of the bottom of the firebox, stands can be arranged under it, glued together from several layers of cardboard in the form of columns. Two such details will be enough. They are glued between the lower plane of the fireplace structure and the bottom of the firebox.
When the design of the fireplace is assembled, you can proceed to decorative design. In this case, self-adhesive film imitating brickwork was used to transform the exterior of the fireplace.
Pasting starts from the inside of the structure, i.e. from the hearth. The process must be carried out very carefully, trying to follow the pattern for laying bricks. Then the upper part of the portal is formed, then the side walls around the firebox, and lastly the film is glued in the lower region of the fireplace pediment.

Further, a mantelpiece is cut out of cardboard or plywood, finished and glued to the surface of the structure, which will serve as an excellent surface for placing decorative figurines or candles.

Find out how, and also consider step-by-step instructions in our article.

decorative firewood

Having made a fireplace and setting it in place, you can think about accessories that can decorate it. Since the fireplace is not real, decorative firewood, which can also be made from corrugated cardboard, is also perfect for it.

Such decorative "firewood" is easy to make on your own.

In order for such firewood to decorate the fireplace insert, you need to prepare the material and necessary tools- this is a knife, scissors, glue, paint, thin twine and corrugated cardboard peeled from an even top layer.

The work is carried out in stages, and it is quite simple to complete it.

The size of the firewood depends on how large the firebox is so that it fits well into this space. The desired length and width are measured on cardboard, then strips are cut.

Production of "logs" and "branches"

Next, the material is rolled up into a tube. Its thickness depends on the preference of the master - it can be a thick "log" or "branch", even or with "knots".
After the tubes are rolled up, the edge of the cardboard is smeared with glue, pressed and tied with twine until completely dry. In this case, it is better to use polymer glue or “liquid nails”. Several pieces are made at once for poles.
Next, thin “branches” are rolled up from the cardboard, which are marked out in such a way as shown in the top photo. After the glue dries, the “branch” is cut into several “knots”, which are then glued to the “logs”.

"Logs" are complemented by "knots"

When the glue dries, the finished poles are covered with a thick layer of white paint, and then the logs can be tinted to look like any type of wood. For example, transverse black strokes of different widths on a white background will make them “birch firewood”, and dark brown stripes applied along the logs will show that "firewood is chopped" from "oak wood". Gouache is well suited for decorating logs - it is quite thick and goes well with water-based paint and, if necessary, thickly or translucently overlaps the white base.

It remains only to paint the resulting "poles" in the desired color

If you turn on the fantasy, then in the firebox you can make a safe backlight, consisting of colored LEDs, which will imitate smoldering or burning coals. “Tongues of flame” are also made from fabric, blown from below by a weakly powerful fan. They, illuminated with the right light, will perfectly imitate a burning fire.

A decorative fireplace can be enlivened with lighting or "tongues of flame"

Video: tips for creating a decorative homemade fireplace

It must be admitted that all materials for making a fireplace and accessories for it are affordable, so do not be afraid to spoil them. You need to approach the process creatively and turn on your imagination, which, perhaps, will suggest additional design options. In the event that the master himself comes up with decorative elements, then it is quite possible to get an exclusive version of the fireplace, which cannot be distinguished from the real one.

Reading time ≈ 8 minutes

The New Year holidays are just around the corner, which means that it's time to think about creating the appropriate mood. In this case, a fireplace will help us, and how to make it out of the box with our own hands for the new year 2020 with step-by-step instructions and photo examples, we will understand in more detail.

Styles of decorative fireplaces

Making a false fireplace is possible in one of the following styles:

Calculation of parts and pattern

The photo shows standard size hearth, which can be taken as a basis for assembling a New Year's fireplace. However, this does not mean at all that it is impossible to make changes, add something of your own. The design parameters are determined by the installation site, the number and size of the boxes used.

The fireplace can be assembled both wall and corner.

If the box has big sizes, using a pen and a ruler, mark the size of the firebox, cut the cardboard with a knife and bend it in the right places. When using small boxes, they can be joined together with adhesive tape, giving the product the desired shape.

False fireplace trim

An important role in the manufacture of the hearth from cardboard boxes is played by its decoration. Basically, such products are covered with materials that imitate brick. You can make decor both from red paper and paint according to the template.

A convenient option for obtaining a beautiful finish is to use brick or plaster wallpaper.

Brickwork can also be made from thin foam, which will require cutting the material into pieces of the desired size. As a result finished construction will be white.

Another option for finishing the fireplace is a laminate underlay, for example, in beige, which is well suited for the purposes in question.

To decorate the fireplace, rectangles are cut from the substrate and pasted over the workpiece with them.

The easiest way to finish is to paste over the fireplace with white paper or cover the cardboard with a water-based emulsion.

How to simulate a fire in a fireplace

Not a single hearth, even a decorative one, can do without fire.

When using a cardboard fireplace, do not forget about safety precautions - you can not use candles inside a structure with an open fire. All lighting elements must operate exclusively from batteries or from the mains.

Consider options for supplementing the fireplace with fire:

draw a fire on cardboard, cut it out and paste it into the firebox;
place LED candles in the hearth;
use garlands and ribbons with LED elements;
decorate the firebox with New Year's decor, for example, balls.

How to make logs

To give the fireplace a resemblance to the present, you can supplement it with logs. For these purposes, both real birch logs of small sizes and artificial ones are suitable. If there is no desire to search for material for logs, you can make them yourself.

For this you will need:

corrugated board;
glue;
knife and scissors;
gouache paint and brush;
twine.

The procedure for making logs is as follows:

The best ideas for New Year's fireplaces from boxes

Artificial foci are different forms and dimensions. We will consider some options in stages.

Christmas fireplace

For the manufacture of the product in question, the following tools and materials are needed:

cardboard boxes;
ruler;
pencil;
White paint;
tassel;
golden acrylic paint;
construction tape;
small nails;
Christmas accessories.

Having prepared everything you need, perform the following steps:

In the center of the box we mark the fireplace insert directly.
We cut the cardboard from the sides and from above.
In order for the cardboard to bend well, we push the corner of the ruler from the bottom of the markup. We repeat this procedure several times and give the workpiece a shape.
We bend the cardboard inside and fix it with tape.
Using another box, we cut out two blanks of the same size: they will serve as the walls of the future fireplace.
We fix the blanks with adhesive tape in such a way as to form a fireplace insert. Then we paint our product with white paint and leave it to dry completely.
We finish the fireplace by drawing a picture under the brick.
With small carnations we fix a garland and tinsel to the product.

Fireplace under a brick

To make the fireplace look like a real one, you can use a self-adhesive film as a material that will imitate brickwork. First we prepare:

carton boxes;
self-adhesive;
Scotch;
glue;
metal ruler;
scissors.

The brick fireplace master class consists of the following step-by-step actions:

We cut the box into two parts.
We press the blanks so that the cardboard can be bent.
Preparing stickers.
We cut off the decorative film with a margin so that the edges go on reverse side cartons.
We glue the decorative film. If self-adhesive is used, then you need to apply it a little tight, gently smoothing and removing bubbles.
We connect the blanks with adhesive tape and seal with decor. If the length of the film is not enough, you can fasten it in short pieces, since this will not be noticeable.
Cut and paste the rest of the elements. The result should be a central part, two corners and a top.
We fold the parts in such a way that a firebox is formed, after which we glue them with adhesive tape.
We also glue the top with tape. To decorate the product, we use socks and garlands.

From the video you can learn how to make a hearth out of cardboard boxes.

Corner raised fireplace

If the room to be decorated is small, you can make a fireplace out of corner-type cardboard. Thus, it will be possible to update the situation and get a shelf. We need the following list:

box;
ruler;
pencil;
Scotch;
decor.

Consider step-by-step instructions for making a cardboard fireplace on New Year do it yourself:

Fireplace in the shape of a trapezoid

How to make an unusual trapezoid-shaped fireplace out of the box with your own hands for the New Year 2020, let's take a closer look at the step-by-step instructions with photo examples: