A home is always associated with coziness and comfort and, of course, a beautiful and warm fireplace, which is a mandatory and indispensable attribute for creating such a wonderful and soulful atmosphere.
But being an interior item, it, like any thing in the house, requires its own special decoration.
The Internet is replete with a huge number of photos of fireplace decor, which you can do yourself just like that or for any occasion. Let's find out in more detail how to decorate a fireplace.
DIY fireplace decor
To decorate a fireplace with your own hands, you can use a variety of options, but you must remember that they must correspond to the chosen interior style.
At the same time, you choose the prices for fireplace decor yourself, based on your budget.
Flowers for decoration
The use of flowers in decoration always adds softness to the interior. For example, a bulky and rough stone fireplace can be softened with the help of living plants, which will give smoothness and softness to the outline.
Paints
In order to treat the surface of the fireplace, use only fire-resistant and heat-resistant paints.
Before you start decorating, choose the color scheme that suits you and follow the rules for application, which can be easily found on the Internet.
Glass
It is fireproof and safe as a decorative element. It can be installed on the fireplace doors or the entire fireplace can be built using heat-resistant glass.
The main advantages of using glass when decorating a fireplace are: the ability to look at the flame without damaging the surrounding people and the interior; prevents sparks, coals, etc. from entering the room.
Plus, there is a choice of glass options - from the simplest to embossed, tinted or having various patterns.
Using laser cutting
Using this technology and metal, you can create incredible and exotic landscapes and patterns. And what is important, there are practically no restrictions on the sketches performed. Metal fireplace grates prevent fire and look extremely impressive.
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Stucco molding
Most often, stucco is used to create antique or medieval styles, using the so-called aging technique. The materials used to make stucco can be the following: polystyrene foam or polyurethane, as well as gypsum.
Punching method
Using this method, you can apply beautiful and unusual patterns to each tile separately, which is quite labor-intensive, or use a ready-made mold to create a pattern on the surface of the plaster.
And after drying, simply paint the fireplace in the color you chose to decorate your interior.
But do not forget that in addition to decorating the fireplace in this way, it is also necessary to decorate the wall adjacent to it.
Therefore, when choosing the design of the fireplace itself, take into account where it will be located and immediately think about the decor of the nearby space.
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Ideas for decorating a fireplace in the interior for different styles
Modern fireplaces impress with a variety of models: from grandiose stone structures to exotic “floating” pendant options. Therefore, it is not difficult to choose the most suitable type, taking into account a particular interior design style. The right choice in this case plays an important role, because the fireplace in the living room interior is given a central place, and its design must ideally match the overall design.
- For a living room in a classic style.
The fireplace in an interior decorated in the best classical traditions plays one of the most significant roles. Models with live fire are appropriate. These can be massive stone or brick U-shaped structures.
Such fireplaces usually represent real works of art. They are decorated with exquisite plaster stucco moldings and bas-reliefs, and framed by beautiful sculptural compositions. Look at the photos of fireplaces in the interiors of classic living rooms and see for yourself how well aristocratic luxury and home comfort are combined in this design.
- For a living room in Provence style.
A fireplace in a Provence interior helps complement the cozy home environment of this design style. It is better to choose structures made of brick or shell rock, with a simple design. They can be faced with light plaster or painted in pastel shades. Stone fireplaces, which are combined with wooden trim in the room, look no less successful with this design. Designs directed upward can visually enlarge the room.
Traditional wood-burning fireplaces are typically used in this style. If it is impossible to install them, original false structures are used, adding a touch of rustic coziness to modern apartments. Looking at photos of artificial fireplaces in the interior, sometimes it is simply impossible to distinguish them from real ones.
- Fireplace in a modern interior.
High-tech style is least associated with antique fireplaces. But you can add a touch of coziness to such an interior with the help of ultra-modern metal structures with heat-resistant glass, behind which flames will rage. Corner electric fireplaces with decorative wrought iron grilles are also appropriate here.
In small living rooms, you can use hanging structures or small mobile electric fireplaces. They will not take up much space, but will fit well into the modern style. Below are pictures of fireplaces in high-tech interiors, looking at which you can get ideas for their design.
- Living room in loft style.
A fireplace in a loft style interior is a common decorative element. Typically, massive brick structures with an aged surface effect are used. They can be of any color, with the exception of overly bright “neon” shades. The most successful with this design are corner structures, the harmonious design of which emphasizes the decoration of the walls with stone or brickwork.
Fireplaces built into the partition in the interior are an ideal option for a studio apartment or a living room combined with a kitchen. Such designs are the most successful for zoning a room.
In most cases, it is difficult to install a real fireplace in the interior of an apartment. Therefore, ordinary electric fireplaces with original decorative designs or false fireplaces can come to the rescue. The peculiarity of the latter is that they are the safest and are often used as decor to create a particularly cozy atmosphere in a city apartment.
False fireplace decor
If it is not possible to install a real fireplace, but you still want warmth and comfort, then you can make a decorative fireplace with your own hands and also decorate it.
With the help of such a decorative fireplace, you can hide many of the apartment’s shortcomings, for example, an unattractive wall or an old and ugly radiator. And of course, don’t forget about the decor of the decorative fireplace.
You can decorate a false fireplace using, for example, wire decorations, which will give it a more real and realistic look.
To do this, the wire is placed in a special tube and the illusion of a lattice is created, which is then repainted in copper color.
To make it even more realistic, you can place candles inside or a safer option - a Christmas tree garland. It is very convenient to use for various household figurines, children's crafts and other trinkets that you probably have at home.
For the New Year, a false fireplace can be decorated with fir branches, tinsel and stockings for gifts.
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Fireplace display
Try to change the decorations above the fireplace depending on the season and mood. Get a few items that please you and place them on the mantelpiece in any combination. Candles, vases, original figurines - all these decorative additions will help you create a unique image.
So, take a close look at your living room. Don't you think it's time to change something? Start with the fireplace. Add some sparkle to your home decor!
Festive decor of fireplaces for the New Year
Any fireplace can be decorated and decorated for any occasion to create a festive atmosphere. Since the New Year 2022 is just around the corner, let's find out how you can easily and simply decorate your New Year's fireplace decor.
The national attributes of the New Year and Christmas have always been, are and will be decorations made of pine branches, tinsel, garland, etc.
Coniferous branches are traditionally decorated with Christmas tree decorations and garlands. Glowing garlands and tinsel can be placed around the entire perimeter.
On top of the shelf you can place various baskets with different sweets and fruits.
And, of course, be sure to hang up New Year's stockings for gifts, since traditionally Santa Claus enters the house and brings gifts through the fireplace, even if it is decorative.
You can attach stars, snowflakes and Christmas angels around it.
Add life
As a rule, solid, heavy materials are used for fireplaces: marble, brick, solid wood. The structure turns out to be bulky, which is why the interior may seem somewhat harsh. There is a way to neutralize this impression - to decorate the mantelpiece with living plants.
Intricate flowing lines will soften the rectangular outline of the portal, and lush greenery will attract attention. A bouquet of flowers will give the living room a feminine, sophisticated look. Cereal shoots look very stylish in the interior. Designers often use them to add volume and texture to a composition.
Red and green Christmas tree classic
A Christmas tree decoration for the fireplace in the form of a garland made from branches intertwined with fiery red balls, bows, ribbons and other decor is a far from original idea. But what difference does it make - it looks simply gorgeous.
In addition, similar Christmas fireplace decorations can be purchased at any large shopping center. All you have to do is simply arrange the garland beautifully on the mantelpiece and you’re done. In this case, be sure to make two hanging “tails” on the sides - they should frame the fireplace approximately to the middle of its height.
Not comfortable with artificial spruce garlands? Then make your own decoration for the fireplace for the New Year. There is nothing complicated about this: you only need a lot of spruce paws, a strong cord (preferably plastic ties), thick cotton gloves to avoid pricking your hands, and as many red Christmas tree decorations as possible.
Next, divide the spruce paws into separate branches and start knitting a spruce decoration for the fireplace:
- clear the base of each branch from 5-10 cm of needles;
- make a “bouquet” of three branches and tie their bases together;
- move the next branch by ¼ of the length of the “bouquet” and tie it to it;
- secure two more branches in the same place;
- make sure that the branches look in different directions;
- continue in the same way until you get a garland of the desired length;
- Decorate the resulting Christmas tree decoration for the fireplace with balls.
If you did everything correctly, the garland will be quite strong, but tough. Therefore, the decoration on the fireplace made of fir branches does not need to be hung in waves - just place it on the mantelpiece. In this case, you can attach ribbons to the sides so that they hang down.
But keep in mind that a spruce decoration on the fireplace will not only fill the room with the pine scent of the holidays, but it can also stain the fireplace insert and nearby trim with resin. Therefore, try to lay the garland so that it does not come into contact with the trim. And if the mantelpiece is made not of stone, but of wood and other materials from which the resin will be difficult to wipe off, place white tissue paper under it.
What material to choose from?
A standard open firebox is made of stone, fire brick or cast iron. But models produced in different countries by different companies differ in their characteristic qualities.
For example, an English fireplace with a shallow bowl is reminiscent of products from the Victorian era: their combustion chamber is cast using ancient technologies and is often decorated with decorative fire-resistant tiles.
French open fireboxes are assembled from ready-made blocks made of refractory bricks. Italian models are budget compact combustion devices, made of expanded clay concrete on the outside and cast iron on the inside.
When selecting an open fireplace, you should focus on the compliance of its power, the area of the room and the height of the ceilings. Usually they start from 1 kW per 10 sq. m. If the room “heaven” is located too high, the heating of such a space is reduced.
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Christmas socks, stockings and boots
The tradition of decorating a fireplace by hanging special boots and socks on it has come into our homes from TV screens. Every American Christmas movie had, has, and most likely will have this kind of decor, so it's not surprising that this tradition was soon adopted throughout the world.
Besides, it's not just about PR - it's also an atmospheric decoration if there are children in the house. Just think about the ceremonial removal of such boots from the fireplace in the morning after New Year's Eve and shaking out a mountain of various sweets from them. Every child at such a moment feels like a real rich man!
Most importantly, do not forget to sign each boot to avoid conflicts. For example, attach a name tag to it or embroider your initials.
Now about the mundane: how to attach decorations to the fireplace. To do this, you need special hooks that cling to the mantelpiece at one end, and socks are already hung on the other. Or they could be decorative figures that also have small hooks on one side.
But it is not necessary to buy ready-made mounts to hang decorations on the fireplace - you can easily make them yourself.
To do this, simply take a board whose width and length will be slightly less than the width and length of the mantelpiece. The thickness of the board should be small so that it does not spoil the entire decor. Then screw short self-tapping hooks into the board - you can securely hook your socks onto them and guarantee that they will not fall. The screws should fit snugly into the board, but it is important that they do not pierce through it, otherwise the metal point may scratch the mantelpiece. Select the distance between the screws so that it is convenient for you to hang the boots.
Instead of self-tapping hooks, you can use regular hanger hooks, the principle is the same.
Next, boots are hung on hooks, and a garland decoration made of any material is placed above the fireplace on a shelf to hide the board. The main thing is that the board is thin, but quite massive - it should not only withstand Christmas stockings filled with sweets, but also not give way if a child tries to pull off the boot.
If there are small children in the house, it is advisable to attach both the board and special hooks to the mantelpiece with double-sided tape.
How to protect yourself from open fires
And if an open fireplace is installed in accordance with the requirements and rules, such heating can be dangerous. To avoid accidents, you should operate the combustion device correctly.
Safety regulations
- You need to constantly look after him, not leaving him unattended for a minute.
- The podium near the fireplace should have a platform in a circle with a radius of 0.5 m, lined with fire-resistant material - copper, brass, stone, ceramics, brick, etc.
- It is prohibited to install wooden furniture, audio and video equipment, carpets, curtains near the fireplace: a gap of 90 cm between the fireplace and interior items is considered safe.
- An additional way to save your home from a possible fire will be the installation of special protective screens or transparent tempered glass screens in front of the open firebox, which will protect against fire.
- The draft will not collapse if a local air supply to the fireplace is formed.
- It is necessary to ensure that ash does not accumulate in the firebox after burning wood. The solution will be to remove the ash on time. Installation of special protective screens in front of the open firebox
- For safe heating in the form of open fireplaces, dried oak, ash, birch or hornbeam logs should be used. The property of raw and coniferous firewood is to form a significant amount of soot when burning. And the needles, when burned, also vigorously “shoot” in all directions. Aspen logs will help eliminate undesirable consequences after the forced use of pine logs. Placed in the firebox during the next filling, they will clean the chimney.
- Each wood block should not exceed 2/3 of the size of the firebox. And the total size of one filling should be within 30-40 cubic meters. m. Under no circumstances should painted or varnished slats be burned in open fireplaces.
- Regular cleaning of chimneys will prevent fires. Otherwise, the accumulated soot will not catch fire for long and cause disaster.
Choosing the right option
Modern fireplaces are available for use in almost all types of premises. They are increasingly designed to perform aesthetic functions.
For decoration, you can use individual objects, placing them in close proximity. Another option would be to create an appropriate design for the room in which the fireplace is located.
The fireplace area – merging with the interior
Space for creativity is provided not only by the fireplace itself, but also by the area near it. The transition of the wall from the hearth to the main walls can be implemented in a single style. For example, decorating the walls in the form of shelves for logs. For an aesthetic appearance, carefully processed logs of the same size are laid.
Mirror surfaces or areas with fascia are successfully combined with a fireplace. Mirrors frame and decorate this visual center of the room. Electric models are equipped with side vertical shelves on which figurines or framed photographs look beautiful.
Visual increase in space
Like any other small room, the living room needs to visually expand the space. Designers recommend using the following techniques that will further emphasize the effectiveness of the hearth:
- More light. Properly selected and correctly installed lighting for all parts of the room, including accent lighting in the hearth area. This can visually expand the living room space.
- More pastel shades. To prevent a bulky fireplace from occupying a good half of the room and reducing the volume of an already small living room, decorate the fireplace itself and the space surrounding it in the lightest possible or neutral shades.
- Vertical accents, light and transparent materials, mirrors - this is not a complete list of solutions that can make the design of a small living room with a fireplace airier and lighter.
In general, the flight of imagination of designers is limitless, so it is important to find this fine line that separates style from bulky pretentiousness.
Elements for decorating a mantelpiece
It is easy to smooth out the excessive severity and stiffness of the fireplace not only by understanding how to decorate the fireplace, but also by decorating the shelf. It’s easy to decorate a family hearth with little things like:
- framed photographs or paintings;
- candles in elegant candlesticks, scented candles and incense;
- interesting vases of various configurations;
- flower arrangements;
- seasonal decorations based on branches or vegetables;
- collections of figurines, mugs, figurines;
- stacks of books;
- mirrors of different shapes;
- travel souvenirs and globes.
Decorating the mantelpiece with LED lighting strips or additional lighting will also be an excellent option. Followers of minimalism prefer the absence of any elements on top of the fireplace. It has a distinctive style and elegance.
