Encyclopedia of Fire Safety

How to make a New Year's fireplace from cardboard boxes. DIY fireplace made from boxes and cardboard. The best ideas for New Year's fireplaces made from boxes

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U You always want comfort and warmth, no matter city ​​apartment or Vacation home. The desire to create a fireplace in the house especially appears when there is snow and a blizzard outside the window. And what could be better than your own fireplace in the house? If you remember this desire in the summer, then the residents country house it is quite possible to equip it, but the population of high-rise buildings can only dream about it. We have a solution: a less expensive and no less impressive DIY cardboard fireplace (step-by-step instructions included). If this solution interests you, then go ahead... get a large cardboard box. What else is needed and how to do it, we will now tell and show you.

The key and most important thing, without which you won’t be able to create a fireplace with your own hands, even if you have the most detailed instructions, is a large cardboard box. It can be from a TV, refrigerator, or even suitable from. The main thing is that it meets the following requirements:

  • Strong packaging cardboard. It has the necessary rigidity, which will allow you to apply finishing to the future fireplace and make a top shelf.
  • Have big size, so that there is room for imagination. If you don’t find a very large box, you will have to limit yourself to a laconic corner fireplace; for this you can take a smaller one.
  • The box should be unnecessary. For example, you just bought a refrigerator, then don’t rush to use cardboard for a good cause, because when problems arise with the device, without the original packaging they won’t accept it for warranty, and even if they do, it will probably be inconvenient to transport it.

In addition, you will need the following helpers: masking tape, glue gun, primer for paint, stationery knife, ruler, paint brush, sponge for application, acrylic paint, spatula (not wide). These are the basic materials. If you are planning additional, then for these purposes you can use, depending on the fireplace design: polystyrene foam, drywall, baseboards and borders (decorative polystyrene foam), mosaic or any other, tile grout, varnish. For the convenience of cutting all this, use a grinder or jigsaw.


Cardboard is convenient because it can be used to make a structure of almost any shape.

Before starting work

Before you start making a fireplace out of cardboard with your own hands, step-by-step instructions for which are already available, you need to develop the design of the future fireplace, since even the most skillful hands They won’t go purely on fantasy and you need to rely on something before making a fireplace with your own hands from cardboard.


The development of the project includes marking the dimensions of the future product in accordance with the possibilities of its placement, and the following factors must be taken into account:

  • If there is little space and there is a free corner, then a small false fireplace with a corner placement would be an excellent option.


Having received information about the free space, you can develop a fireplace layout. On a sheet of paper it is worth drawing to scale the height, width, depth of the furnace and its shape. After such detailing, you can begin to work in kind with our box.

Helpful advice! If you don’t have a large box, use several small ones, gluing them together in the shape of an arch-portal.

Fireplace frame

Now comes the most crucial moment: you need to make markings on the box and cut out the components of the future fireplace. The final result will depend on the accuracy of the work at this stage. appearance fireplace. Therefore, work carefully, clearly and accurately.

Lay the box on the floor and mark the future firebox and the necessary bending points. To avoid confusion, mark the cut line with one color and the bend line with another. In order for the cardboard to bend where it is needed, you only need to cut through the top layer, that is, the paper that covers the corrugated insides. This manipulation will allow you to clearly draw the contours of the future fireplace.

Next, we begin cutting out the firebox. Regardless of what shape you choose for it, the steps to form it are the same. First, cut out the window, then bend its lower part inward - this will be the bottom of the firebox. Next you need to organize the back wall and sides. For the back wall, cut out a figure identical in shape from such cardboard, but you need to make it a little larger, about 5 cm allowances are enough to make it convenient to glue it. We do the same with the sidewalls. Then we collect it all. You can fasten it either with a glue gun, or tape, or a stapler, but always from the inside out. If you plan to organize shelves and niches, then the stage of forming the firebox should be postponed. And carry it out after making the shelves, which are made according to the same scheme as the firebox.

After all the niches are ready, you need to worry about strengthening the structure. To do this you need:

  • Place cardboard, polystyrene or other lightweight material under the firebox and shelves. durable material, which would withstand the weight of what is supposed to be placed in the niches.
  • In places of probable deformation (at bends), fix the cardboard rolled into a tube: it will give a stable shape to the structure.
Helpful information! For durability and reliability of the structure, it is best to use drywall or. However, these materials require some skills, and gypsum boards will also require the construction of a metal frame.

Adjustment

If you made a fireplace out of cardboard with your own hands, step-by-step instructions for which you had, but there are irregularities and other shortcomings, then they need to be corrected. Putty will come to our aid. But here you need to work carefully. After all, cardboard absorbs moisture, so you need to apply it in parts and on small areas, the second layer only after the previous one has completely dried. Eat little trick, which will help out if the shortcomings are minimal. Stick regular rough paste onto the uneven areas - it sticks well to the cardboard, and the finishing putty fits just fine on it.

Lid

There is not a single fireplace that is without a cover, and ours is no exception. It must be made from any dense and light material. For example, from thick foam. First, you need to make recesses in it so that the lid falls into place. That is, it fixed the position of the fireplace. Before fixing it with glue, you need to try it on and check that all the protrusions match. If everything is good, you can record it. The joints need to be puttied.

Finishing

The last stage will be finishing. First you need to apply finishing putty using a spatula, and then let your imagination float freely. You can decorate the fireplace with foam borders, which are used on the ceiling. Or make it out of polystyrene foam and paint it accordingly, you can apply an ornamental design and much more. It is better to lay the lid with tiles or paste it over wooden clapboard. The final stage will be to coat all this splendor with varnish in order to fix the decor and give it a finished look.

Modern fireplaces have long ceased to be solely a source of heat; now they have become stylish and fashion accessory. Now this design element can be installed even in apartment building, since there are many alternatives to the wood-burning option: electric, gas, and biofuel fireplaces. It is possible to recreate false fireplaces: polyurethane, plasterboard, foam and even paper.

You can create such a fireplace with your own hands without much effort. Let's figure out how to make a fireplace out of paper. There are many options on how you can make a fireplace out of paper with your own hands. Let's look at some of them.

Advice! You can glue several layers of paper, but it will be much easier to use cardboard. Even boxes from large appliances: refrigerator, TV, etc. will do.

False fireplace, simple cardboard or paper

Required:

  • box;
  • decorative plinths and foam figures;
  • drawing;
  • scissors, construction knife;
  • a pen, a simple pencil for marking according to the drawing;
  • construction tape;
  • specialized glue;
  • putty, as well as a spatula;
  • ruler;
  • water-based paint: brown or white and other shades;
  • brush.

Manufacturing stages:

  • Creating a drawing using pre-prepared dimensions.

  • Transferring the design onto cardboard or paper, which is glued in several layers. You will need a pencil as well as a ruler.

Electric fireplaces are extremely popular. There are several types of installations, the most common being corner electric fireplaces. To give the hearth the appearance of a traditional fireplace, a plasterboard portal is made. You can do this yourself, following the suggested instructions.

Advice! You cannot use markers or felt-tip pens, as they will show through the paint, and you will need to apply putty before painting.

  • You need to make slits for the hearth; they will be bent to the back wall and secured with tape. In this way a portal is formed.

  • When the base is ready, you should begin finishing. The foam parts need to be fixed to the base, according to the sketch.

  • A patterned plinth is glued on top wide size. It will be the basis of the future fireplace shelf made of paper.
  • Foam supports should be placed behind the fixed baseboard. On top you need to put a slab of the same material.

Advice! To make the fireplace look beautiful, you should pay attention Special attention corners. There should be no gaps at the joints. Well, if it doesn’t work out, then putty will help correct the situation.

  • Once all the parts are in place, you need to carefully apply putty to the paper fireplace.
  • When the coating is completely dry, water-based paint should be applied. The false fireplace is ready.

  • You can put figurines on top.

Corner fireplace made of cardboard or paper

This type of model will look great in a corner. She will bring zest to design solutions interior organization. Anyone can make a paper fireplace, the master class of which is presented.

Required:

  • a cardboard box or glued thick paper;
  • self-adhesive film or wallpaper with a brick pattern;
  • scissors or a construction stationery knife;
  • scotch;
  • garland, LED strip or battery-powered candles.

Manufacturing stages:

  • From the box you should make a base in the form of a triangle.

  • The workpiece must be covered with wallpaper or self-adhesive film.

  • The tabletop should be made of several layers of cardboard.
  • The top of the fireplace should be covered in the same way.

  • You can place a garland in the firebox, LED strip or battery-powered candles.

Advice! The tabletop can also be made of foam or fiberboard.

Cardboard or paper fireplace with hidden shelves

A decorative model is not only an interior decoration; at the same time, you can create a hiding place or small shelves for small items in its walls.

Required:

  • a large box or several;
  • glue;
  • scotch;
  • putty;
  • decorative skirting boards.

Creation stages:

  • You should create a fireplace out of paper with secret shelves starting with the formation of the “base” or “skeleton”.

Advice! When creating a skeleton you need to take into account required size shelves.

  • When the base is ready, it should be covered on both sides with cardboard or paper glued in several layers.

  • The podium or tabletop is made of several layers of cardboard.

Advice! If desired, the cardboard can be replaced with a sheet of foam plastic. For reliability, the joints should be glued with newspaper using PVA glue.

  • A wide decorative plinth should be glued to the top of the paper false fireplace. Its top edge should be flush with the tabletop.
  • A seventh sheet needs to be glued on top of six sheets of cardboard and baseboard.
  • The corners are closed with a construction corner.
  • The firebox can be covered with wallpaper with a pattern or cut out bricks from cardboard with a stationery knife and painted.

  • A paper fireplace should be puttied.
  • After that it needs to be painted. When the paint is dry, it can be decorated.

Advice! You can glue a false fireplace from several boxes, each of which will be a separate shelf.

A paper fireplace, the master class of which is presented in step-by-step instructions, is easy to create. This does not require specialized skills or special financial costs.

Video: DIY cardboard fireplace

Modern owners of apartments or houses are increasingly seeking to build fireplaces. Certainly, wood burning fireplace it is impossible to install, but a false fireplace is possible. There are many manufacturing options, they are not complicated. A fireplace made of paper, created with your own hands, will be no worse than others. It will harmoniously complement the interior design. When it comes to the firebox, there are many options. You can make it yourself or purchase an electric version that will create the illusion of burning wood. Modern hearths can also produce sound and create various effects.

For most people, a fireplace portal in the living room interior evokes a feeling of well-being and comfort. It’s not for nothing that holiday photos are taken, especially on New Year, are made against the background of a decorated fireplace. But building a real hearth is a complex and expensive undertaking, and not at all affordable for apartment residents. Those wishing to acquire this attribute home comfort We will show you how to make and beautifully decorate a fireplace with your own hands from corrugated cardboard.

Preparation for production

To assemble a decorative fireplace portal at home, you need to do the following:

  • allocate a place for a false hearth and choose a design that suits the interior;
  • find a sufficient amount of hard cardboard;
  • buy materials for gluing and exterior finishing, prepare tools.

False fireplaces, like real wood-burning fireplaces, are usually made in two varieties - wall-mounted and corner. So the choice of design depends on the location of the portal - in a corner or on a free section of the wall. To get an idea of ​​what it will look like and how much room space it will take up, sketch out a sketch with dimensions, and at the same time think through and draw the design of the fireplace dummy.

Advice. For a small room, a New Year's fireplace made of cardboard can be made portable and free up space for it during the holiday, and then put away in the pantry.

After creating the model in the drawing, you will understand how much material is needed. The main source is cardboard boxes of any size from a TV or other household appliances, as well as from various goods. The main thing is that the cardboard has a two-layer structure with corrugation inside; ordinary thick and thick paper will not work. The technology for manufacturing an artificial hearth depends on the size of these boxes, which will be discussed later.

To reliably connect cardboard parts, prepare construction adhesive for foam plastic such as Dragon or Eltitan, or better yet, a glue gun with transparent rods. Afterwards, you will need PVA glue and inexpensive water-based paint to decorate the false fireplace in accordance with the interior.

Reference. Now in stores you can purchase decorative elements intended for internal lining rooms and made of polystyrene foam and polyurethane. Ceiling skirting boards various shapes and width, fake columns and stucco are perfect for cladding homemade portal from cardboard.

This is what a polyurethane imitation stucco molding looks like, which can be used to decorate a cardboard fireplace

Master class on assembling a fireplace from boxes

If you are lucky enough to get a dozen small boxes of the same size, then making a wall-type structure is greatly simplified. Small boxes will not have to be further reinforced from the inside, since they are already quite rigid. Step-by-step instruction The fireplace assembly looks like this:

  1. First, fold the portal model in the shape of the letter “P” to understand how best to glue the cardboard boxes.
  2. Make the side supports of the fireplace dummy by gluing the boxes in pairs. Place them under a weight and wait until the glue hardens.
  3. In the same way, glue the horizontal jumper and connect it to the vertical supports.
  4. To make the top plane serve as a shelf, strengthen it with sheets of corrugated cardboard, glued in 3-4 layers.
  5. To add stability structure, attach the same multi-layer stand to the bottom. Layout hearth and home ready.

Note. When working with glue gun there is no need to load the elements and wait for the glue to dry; the connection is made almost instantly.

If you only need a homemade fireplace made from boxes for the New Year or another holiday, then there is no point in weighing it down with finishing elements. You can cover the portal with ordinary or liquid wallpaper under the brickwork, and connect the boxes together with tape, as demonstrated in the video:

Making a fireplace from sheets of cardboard

When you receive boxes from a TV, refrigerator and other large equipment, you will have to reshape them to fit the planned dimensions. You can go two ways:

  • make small blocks out of cardboard, and then glue them together using the technology described above;
  • cut out the front and side walls, then connect them together and make an opening for the hearth.

The second method is more complex, but it allows you to imitate the arched vault of a fireplace insert, while using block assembly you can only glue together a straight U-shaped portal. We propose to make a fireplace from cardboard, proceeding in this order:

  1. Based on your drawing, bend the cardboard box to your dimensions. It is desirable that the front panel remains solid. Cut off the excess sections of cardboard resulting from bending and set aside.
  2. Mark the front part and cut out the vaulted opening. The remaining piece will go to the back wall of the fake firebox.
  3. To strengthen the structure on the back side, glue cardboard strips folded like an accordion to the walls. If necessary, install additional rigidities inside the portal.
  4. Create an opening to simulate a fireplace by gluing the cut out part to the side walls of the firebox.
  5. Make the top shelf and stand as described in the previous section.

A cardboard accordion will help strengthen the walls of the product

Advice. If one container is not enough for a false fireplace, join 2 boxes vertically, as shown in the photo.

At the end, a self-made cardboard fireplace needs to be refined - all joints must be masked using newspapers and PVA glue. Apply it in such a way that the newsprint gets wet through. Afterwards, dry the product and proceed to cladding.

Newspapers will hide all joints and irregularities

The corner fireplace portal is made using the same technology, only the walls of the box are bent differently and at sharper angles. For the finished layout there are the following design options:

  • glue imitation stucco molding and other fireplace elements made of polyurethane, and then paint it;
  • decorate the portal with a foam plinth (baguette);
  • apply liquid wallpaper followed by painting;
  • create a texture that imitates brickwork or plaster.

For a corner portal, the cardboard box must be bent in a special way

Volumetric brickwork It is done simply: “bricks” are cut from 10 mm thick foam plastic, with which you need to cover all the walls in a checkerboard pattern, and then apply several layers of paint. Design master class decorative fireplace shown in the following video:

Conclusion

As you can see, self-production false fireplace - the process is quite simple, but requires creative approach. If desired, the finished portal can be decorated with a wide variety of materials, and placed inside the firebox artificial firewood or electric lighting. If you decide to use candles for decoration, be careful, since cardboard does not burn much worse than paper.

Design engineer with more than 8 years of experience in construction.
Graduated from Eastern Ukrainian National University them. Vladimir Dal with a degree in Electronics Industry Equipment in 2011.

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Many people don’t even realize that a fireplace can be installed in an ordinary standard multi-storey apartment in a big city. Of course, it will not be real, but it will add romanticism and unique sophistication to the room. The interior will immediately sparkle with different colors and all family members will want to gather around this fireplace in the evenings and have gatherings. An imitation of such an interior item can be made from ordinary cardboard or a cardboard box. The material must be dense, so it is better to use a box from a TV or other household appliances.

First, it is better to make a “pattern” on a large sheet of paper so as not to spoil the box. It is easier to make a fireplace in the form of a rectangle or square, since rounded lines may not work out. It will be difficult to draw them perfectly correctly and evenly. Use a large ruler to mark the dimensions. The width of the entire product will be slightly more than 100 centimeters, and the height 70–80 centimeters, depending on personal preferences, but you should not make it too low - it will be ugly.

First you need to draw a rectangle with a length equal to the length of the fireplace - this is the base, and a width of no more than 10 centimeters. A large square measuring 41x55 cm is drawn in the middle. This is not quite a square, since this geometric figure all sides are equal, it can be called “almost a square”. This will be an imitation of a firebox.

Now you need to draw small rectangles with sides 18x39 cm - these are the side parts that serve as decoration. Another decor is the upper part of this piece of furniture. It will consist of three elements:

  • square 20×20 cm - 2 pieces;
  • rectangle 20×55 cm - 1 piece.

The fireplace canopy is made in the form of a trapezoid of arbitrary sizes, but its length must be equal to the base. The width of the fireplace box itself can be any, the main thing is that it fits harmoniously into the interior and into the existing furniture. After the drawing is completed, you need to cut out all the parts and transfer the dimensions onto cardboard. If they were drawn on white paper, then you can stick them on the future fireplace as decoration, but you can get creative and come up with another decoration.

Materials and tools

To create such original item interior you will need very few materials and tools. This is a very simple product that does not require large investments. And so, for the fireplace we need:

  1. TV box or other thick cardboard;
  2. a knife for cutting drywall (you can use another one, it should cut the parts inside the drawing well);
  3. scissors;
  4. medium size stapler;
  5. pencil, long ruler;
  6. brick-look wallpaper or white paper, glue;
  7. construction and double-sided tape;
  8. a set of garlands in the form of candles or real small candles in an aluminum frame.
  1. According to the previously prepared drawing, it is necessary to cut out the layout of the fireplace.
  2. To make the structure strong and stable, construction tape is glued along the entire perimeter at the joints of the cardboard. First you need to fasten everything with a stapler.
  3. Now the “firebox” is cut out with a drywall knife.
  4. If you wish, you can make a tray in the “firebox” to raise the bottom inner part, this will create a niche that will resemble a real fireplace. But you don’t have to do this part if you don’t want to.
  5. Double-sided tape should be placed on the back of the fireplace so that it can be firmly installed against a wall or furniture.

Don't worry if seams are visible, as this can be corrected with the next step.
Look at the photo of a DIY cardboard fireplace:

How to decorate a fireplace

At this stage, decoration begins. Cover the outside and inside of the cardboard with brick-look wallpaper or white paper. Add decorative elements- draw patterns or glue bricks, cutting them out first. The top of the fireplace and its back can be covered not with brick-like wallpaper, but with wood-like adhesive film. Thanks to this move, the product will look more believable.


Hang a garland or put it beautifully inside a niche, as well as put candles and light them. You just need to make sure that the fireplace does not catch fire, especially if there are small children at home. If you have creative inclinations, then you can cover the resulting product with white paper and independently draw any patterns in the form of arches and columns.

Let's summarize:

  1. Making a false fireplace from cardboard is very simple, you just need to try a little and use your imagination.
  2. For such a piece of furniture you will only need scissors, glue, tape, cardboard and decoration elements.
  3. The decor is made from wallpaper, self-adhesive film or your own drawing on white paper.
  4. You can install the resulting fireplace near a wall or near a cabinet, gluing the structure for strength using double-sided tape.

We also invite you to watch a video on how to make a fireplace out of cardboard with your own hands:

If you build a stone or brick fireplace If you can’t afford it, we recommend choosing a cardboard version of the fireplace. This fireplace is perfect for both private houses and apartments; it can be easily transported from place to place and does not require special material investments for its construction. We will learn further about how to make a fireplace from cardboard boxes with your own hands.

DIY New Year's fireplace made from cardboard boxes

With the help of a fireplace, you can not only decorate your home before the holidays, but also create a real New Year's mood. In appearance, such a fireplace is no different from a real one; its only difference is the fact that the fireplace is not capable of heating the room.

Before starting to make a fireplace, determine its location. If there is not much space in the room, then it is best to stay at corner version fireplace. Also, decide on the size of the future structure. In this option, you need to proceed from the size of the boxes from which the fireplace will be built and from the size of the room.

In the process of working on a decorative fireplace made of cardboard boxes, you will need:

  • large cardboard boxes;
  • glue for connecting boxes together;
  • glue on polymer based;
  • paints for working with cardboard surfaces, most often, they are water-based;
  • colorless version of varnish;
  • gold-colored paints in a can;
  • ceiling molding;
  • brushes and sponges;
  • masking tape;
  • rulers, levels, measuring instruments.

Among the main parts of the fireplace we highlight: the base, the portal and the top cover.

To make the main part we use cardboard. The width of the base is about 50 mm and the length is about 120 mm. It is necessary to construct the main part from a cardboard box and cover it with tape. Thus, it is possible to obtain a blank in the form of a dollhouse.

Cardboard is also used to make a portal under the fireplace. We recommend choosing the option that has a solid back wall. To make the front part, a piece of cardboard in the form of a strip is used. Next, you should take care of cutting out the combustion part, the size of which is smaller than the fireplace itself. To connect all the parts together, use tape.

Next comes the process of making the top shelf; its quality determines the strength of the fireplace. Therefore, if you plan to install some heavy objects on the fireplace, then take care of the strength of this base. To do this, you need to connect several layers of cardboard together. To connect the parts, in this case, use PVA glue. After this, the product can be pressed until completely dry. Thus, it is possible to create a rigid shelf located on top. To fix the shelf on the portal, use polymer-based glue. Next, using masking tape, tape all the joints between the parts on the fireplace.

The easiest and most enjoyable moment in making a fireplace from a cardboard box with your own hands is the process of decorating it. To frame the product, use moldings or baguettes made of foam plastic. It is possible to create stucco molding. Next comes the process of painting the fireplace. Initially, the product should be given the same tone; most often, it is coated with paint light color. To ensure that the coloring composition is evenly absorbed into the fireplace, we recommend applying it with a brush. To paint over stucco molding and other relief elements, use a sponge.

Further finishing of the fireplace is done using transparent varnish. This material will allow you to securely fix the first layer of paint. In order for the fireplace to have a more realistic appearance, it is necessary to cover it with gold spray paint. To further decorate the fireplace, hang New Year's socks, tinsel, and garland on it. In addition, inside the firebox you can paste wallpaper that imitates brickwork. Please note that using burning candles for decoration is unacceptable, since the fireplace is made of cardboard and will easily catch fire from minimal contact with fire.

As an additional accessory for the New Year's fireplace, we recommend using self-made firewood. To build them you will need:

  • corrugated cardboard;
  • polymer-based glue;
  • paints;
  • scissors;
  • masking tape.

Roll the cardboard into a tube and use masking tape and glue to secure it. The length and width of the logs should be different; cut a small log into pieces and connect it to a large one, making an imitation of knots. After the glue has dried, paint the logs white.

DIY decorative fireplace made from cardboard boxes

Before starting work on a decorative fireplace, first of all, you need to decide on the size of the fireplace. Please note that the fireplace should be located in a prominent place, which will make it a central and attractive part of the interior.

In order to determine the size of the fireplace, you must use a tape measure. In relation to the installation location of the future structure, its dimensions are determined.

Particular attention should be paid to the process of finishing a decorative fireplace. It should exactly resemble a real fireplace made of brick or stone. At the next stage of work, the material for work and tools are selected. It is recommended to construct the body of the fireplace from cardboard on a corrugated base, from under large household appliances. These boxes are highly durable and ideal for creating a fireplace.

In addition, for work it is necessary to prepare PVA glue and a polymer-based composition. To cover the corners and other elements of the fireplace, use masking tape. In order for the fireplace to acquire the same color, white paint is necessary. In some cases, a clear varnish will also be required. For getting various colors paints, prepare colored dyes, with their help you can achieve a variety of shades when decorating a fireplace.

Additionally, you need to purchase elements in the form of moldings and corners that will give the fireplace a complete look. During the finishing process, you should use shaped polystyrene foam and polyurethane parts.

In addition, you should prepare tools in the form of brushes and sponges, pencils and a level. Stock up on clean rags to remove paint or glue from the surface.

We bring to your attention the two most common options for fireplaces:

  • wall;
  • fireplace located in the corner.

The fireplace installed near the wall is compact in size; various decorative details are installed on the mantelpiece. A wall-mounted fireplace is the central part of the room; it is always in a prominent place and attracts attention. In the process of making such a fireplace, you should free up space in the room to create it. Next, we recommend that you acquire sketches of this fireplace, all the details of which are placed on the floor. The main parts of such a fireplace are the base, the portal part and the top shelf.

First we start working on the base. It must be rigid and stable. Therefore, ordinary cardboard will not be enough; you need to take care of compacting it with several layers of cardboard. We recommend fixing stiffening ribs inside the base. This part of the fireplace should be 80-120 mm larger than the product itself on each side. There are two ways to make a base for a false fireplace from cardboard boxes with your own hands:

  • making a box with sides and installing it on the bottom additional elements, increasing rigidity;
  • production of several cardboard panels that will serve as the bottom and surface; the stiffeners in this case are fixed only at the bottom.

To make the side parts of the base, identical strips made of cardboard are used. Thus, the base becomes more durable. The stripes are fixed using masking tape.

When making the stand, consider how to fix the portal to the surface. Most often, it connects to the bottom. For additional fixation of the portal, ordinary tape is used.

The next process is the construction of the portal part of the fireplace. To make it, a previously prepared box of a certain size is used. We offer two options for making a portal with your own hands:

  • frame base of the portal;
  • one-piece design.

The first option implies a more rigid structure. Since for manufacturing frame partitions Several layers of cardboard material are used at once. Initially, the front and rear parts of the portal are installed. They increase the strength of the entire structure. On a cardboard base, make markings for the fireplace insert. Use a utility knife to cut it out. Thus, the manufacture of this part of the fireplace is carried out.

To make the ceiling part of the firebox, cut out a small piece of cardboard in relation to its size. Use tape to secure the part. For additional fixation and strengthening of the main part of the fireplace, use frame structure in the form of stiffeners.

For the manufacture of frame panels To increase the rigidity of the base, solid cardboard rectangles are used. They are connected to each other using PVA glue and dried using a press. Next follows the process of fixing these rectangles on the front portal part.

There is another way to create wireframe elements. These partitions make it easier total weight fireplace. They have the shape of a lattice dividing partition. On gratings with increased rigidity, another layer of cardboard material is fixed. The portal is installed on the base of the podium and fixed on it with masking tape or adhesive composition. After installing the frame, the process of painting and decorating it is carried out.

Fireplace made of cardboard boxes photo:

To hide all connections between cardboard pieces, use masking tape. Various decorative elements can be installed on the frame part of the fireplace. Please note that in this case, frame walls additionally sealed with cardboard.

The second method of building a Christmas fireplace with your own hands from cardboard boxes is easier to implement. The back wall of such a fireplace will have a solid shape, however, it is not possible to arrange shelves on it.

Masking tape is also used to connect the parts of the fireplace. It is enough to cut out the combustion part in the box according to the sketch. Rectangular strips are fixed along the side parts of the body. Thus, the focal part is formed. Next, you should fix the finished fireplace form on the podium. First, the surface is covered with glue and then additionally fixed with tape.

The upper part of such a fireplace plays the role of a shelf. Please note that the weight of this element should not exceed the weight of the fireplace, as there is a risk of deformation. To make a shelf, use several cardboard sheets connected to each other. The top layer is made of cardboard with maximum density.

To fix the shelf on the fireplace, use liquid nails. It is possible to make a shelf from plywood base. In this case, its thickness should not exceed one centimeter. Even better, use moisture-resistant plywood.

DIY fireplace decoration from cardboard boxes

The next stage of working on the fireplace is decorating it. The attractiveness of the finished product directly depends on the quality of its execution. The first method of decoration involves the use of purchased decorative elements made of polyurethane. A small molding is used to divide the fireplace into several zones. Next, the stucco molding is installed. It is also possible to manufacture columns.

To fix these elements, use liquid nails. Next comes the process of painting the fireplace with all previously installed decorative elements. For these purposes, we recommend using a sponge and brush.

The following is the process extra work above highlighting these elements. For example, stucco can be highlighted using gold color. After painting is completed, the process of coating the fireplace with varnish follows, which will prevent damage to the paint. Imitation option possible brick wall. For these purposes, gypsum-based putty is used.

Additionally, firewood is installed in the firebox, which makes the appearance of the fireplace more attractive and realistic. Installing a garland near firewood will help imitate a flame.

DIY fireplace made from cardboard boxes video:

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