Many of us associate a fireplace with a warm, cozy atmosphere and homely gatherings. Correct installation of this structure allows you to avoid the appearance of soot and soot during the burning of wood. An important role is played by its decorative finishing, which adds luxury and sophistication to the interior space.
Modern building materials help to choose the right appearance of a structure based on the chosen stylistic direction.
Experienced experts recommend choosing materials that have a moisture-resistant and washable coating. In the future, this will help get rid of traces of soot and soot. In our material you will learn possible options for decorating fireplaces with your own hands.
What types of fireplaces are there?
Installation of a solid fuel fireplace in urban apartments is not allowed. The only exception is apartments located on the top floor of the building. But in this case, a well-designed chimney is required, facing the street, running through the attic and roof.
For modern apartments, you can choose a wall-mounted or corner fireplace. The second option fits more successfully into a modern interior. Corner designs look more elegant and compact. To make a choice, it is worth understanding the features of the models available to urban residents.
False fireplace
A false fireplace is a structure that imitates a real hearth. Its frame is constructed of plasterboard or brick, and the external finishing is made of the desired material. This model can be installed in any part of the living room, matching the overall style of the room.
It is not uncommon for designers to use artificial fireplaces to decorate a room. They may contain flames drawn with chalk or contain decorative firewood.
Electric fireplaces
Electrical products are easy to use in an apartment. Their main elements are made of wood and glass. This is the best option for those who want to have an analogue of a wood-burning fireplace in their home. At the same time, it does not require a chimney, is easy to maintain and runs on electrical energy.
With the help of a decorative electric fireplace you can illuminate and heat the room. The undeniable advantage of such models is their affordable cost and safety for the health of people and animals. To activate such a device, just plug the plug into a socket and enjoy the beauty, adjusting the heating temperature if necessary.
There are mobile electric fireplaces designed as a heater or humidifier.
Biofireplaces
Biofireplaces are a relatively new device in interior design. It runs on biological fuel in the form of multi-colored granules: solid alcohol, sawdust or bark, compressed peat.
An ideal option for city apartments, given the fact that during operation they emit a minimal amount of carbon dioxide. Accordingly, the installation technology does not require the installation of a chimney or a special ventilation system. When the granules burn, very little ash remains, so maintenance of the bio-fireplace is minimal.
Wood, soapstone, sandstone or slate for cladding?
Wood is environmentally friendly. However, it is recommended to construct and install such a portal only for decorative and electric fireplaces, in the hearth of which there is no real flame burning, and the structure does not heat up very much. A wood-burning fireplace with this finish can easily catch fire!
Quite often a material such as soapstone is used. It has a gray tint, and due to various impurities and dyes, the color can become slightly brownish, greenish, or reddish. Soapstone has a high heat capacity, in which it is significantly superior to brick coating.
The sandstone fireplace has an original appearance. This coating can have different colors, textures, and shapes. The undoubted advantages include the durability and affordable cost of sandstone.
To implement extraordinary ideas and solutions, you can choose a fireplace facing material such as slate. It is distinguished by its uniqueness, large and varied color palette. One element can combine several shades at once. The surface of the product is heterogeneous and rough.
Finishing methods
Almost any material can be used for cladding electric or artificial fireplaces, since the surface does not heat up to high temperatures. The most popular finishing materials include:
Tiling
Ceramics occupies a leading position among finishing materials for decorative portals. In addition to high fire resistance, the material is distinguished by a wide range of colors and patterns.
Thanks to the applied glaze, the surface is easy to wet clean and repels moisture. The original shape of the tiles will help make the fireplace the main decorative element of the living room, decorated in any stylistic direction.
Tree
Wood does not have heat-resistant characteristics, but if you follow a number of recommendations, you can easily use it to improve your fireplace:
- The material is pre-impregnated with a special fire retardant;
- The firebox is equipped with a protective screen;
- A ventilation system is provided;
- Not the entire portal is covered with wood, but decorative inserts are made;
- Ash and alder are not used.
Otherwise, there are no contraindications for using wood when decorating a fireplace.
Fake diamond
Artificially created stone is quite popular due to its low cost compared to its natural counterpart and similar characteristics.
The material is moisture resistant and durable and does not require special skills when working. For the same reasons, preference is given to artificial brick.
Plaster
When choosing such a finish you will not have to spend a lot of effort, time and money. The technological process is as simple as possible and no additional strengthening of the structure is required. In this case, it is worth selecting materials that meet fire safety requirements.
A huge range of colors allows you not only to choose a shade that suits the style of the room, but also to easily change it if necessary.
What determines the choice of finishing material?
You can determine how and with what to decorate the fireplace using the following parameters.
- Stay environment. The fireplace can be located in a heated room or in a summer kitchen. Here the choice must be made based on the properties of the material, how it tolerates temperature changes and reacts to high humidity. Weather conditions will also greatly affect the material used.
- Fuel. Different fuels give different combustion temperatures. Carefully study the instructions for any material, pay attention to the paragraph on temperature conditions. The highest temperatures are produced by solid fuels: coal and peat. Among wood, oak has the highest combustion temperature; it is only slightly behind peat. This parameter will significantly affect the service life of the structure.
- Functional or decorative. If you are planning to install a decorative fireplace, almost any material will do. Here special attention is paid to the design solution.
Also, finishing materials vary in price. Use only a quality product. Unknown Chinese manufacturers sometimes neglect quality and, when heated, the materials begin to emit an odor that can harm your health.
What to look for when purchasing:
To make the right choice when buying an electric fireplace for the living room, it is not enough just to decide on the design. In this case, a few professional tips will help:
- Power. The degree of heating of the room will depend on this indicator. If the device is assigned not only a decorative function, the power should be calculated based on the area of the hall;
- Size. An important point, since its location and the arrangement of other pieces of furniture depend on its dimensions;
- Designer design. When choosing exterior decoration, you need to build on the general stylistic direction in the room and apartment;
- An additional advantage will be the ability to adjust the brightness of the flame and temperature;
- If possible, you should give preference to a model equipped with an air humidification and aromatization system.
Following simple recommendations will allow you to choose a fireplace that will not only decorate the living room and heat it, but will also make the interior much more comfortable and harmonious.
How and where to install
Before you begin installing the electric fireplace, you need to decide on its location. It is not recommended to use load-bearing walls between apartments for this, as this can lead to a weakening of the stability of the building. If it is a fireplace with a firebox open on both sides, then a wall between living rooms, for example, a bedroom and a living room, is ideal.
After this, you can begin to create a niche of dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the hearth. As mentioned above, this is best done at the construction or renovation stage. If this moment has already been missed, then you will have to hollow out a niche in the finished wall. The depth of such a niche must be at least 60 mm. If a niche is being prepared for a fireplace with a firebox open on several sides, then you need to make a through hole. You can also consider installing such a fireplace in a partition to delimit space in a spacious room.
In the photo: Cassette 500 electric fireplace built into the partition
When the niche is ready, you can proceed directly to installing the fireplace itself - it needs to be secured and connected to the electrical network for operation.
If the fireplace requires wall mounting with brackets, then almost any wall that has room for it will do. The main thing is to have access to an outlet.
Fireplace in the interior of the apartment (photo selection)
See our collection of photos, which presents modern solutions on how to place a fireplace in the living room of an ordinary apartment. Various materials, styles and types of useful accessories that will bring a piece of warmth to your cozy home.
Installation requirements: safe installation of the fireplace
Before deciding how to install a classic fireplace in a wooden house, you need to make sure that all installation safety requirements can be met. An open hearth should be a source of heat, not problems.
There are special requirements for the installation of fire hazardous appliances in wooden houses.
General safety rules for installing fireplaces in wooden houses
Those who decide to build a real brick fireplace will have to check the project’s compliance with 10 basic requirements for fireplaces in a wooden house:
- At least 12 months must pass from the date of construction of the house.
- The optimal interval between the completion of construction and the installation of a stove or fireplace is 36 months - this is how much time should pass for wooden structures to become stable and natural shrinkage to complete.
- Installation of open fireboxes on upper floors and attics is prohibited.
- The structure cannot be installed on a wooden floor.
- The foundation for the fireplace must be poured in isolation from the foundation of the house.
- Construction of a chimney is mandatory.
- All wooden surfaces located near the stove or fireplace must be insulated from overheating and sparks.
- You cannot install fireboxes near windows with curtains or drapes, or place upholstered furniture or textile decor near the fireplace.
- The firebox must be equipped with a removable screen.
- There must be a working fire extinguisher in the room at all times.
Can't meet all the requirements? Give preference to safe electric fireplaces, especially if you plan to install them in the attic, on the second floor of a house with a wooden floor.
Beautiful and safe: an alternative to standard stoves
Surface insulation: how to protect wood from fire
Those who decide to build a classic brick fireplace will have to take care of protecting wooden surfaces. The main tasks are to prevent heating of the walls and ceilings, to protect the floor and walls from sparks that could fly out of the firebox.
Fireplace in the interior of a country house
Below are photos of how you can implement and organize a fireplace in a country cottage. The favorite place where all relatives gather on weekends should radiate warmth and love. Get inspired and take ideas home with you.
Living room with fireplace and TV: side by side or further apart?
You need to understand that both objects are active and can visually compete with each other, so it is better to provide a special panel for the TV or choose an invisible model. If it is possible to organize a fireplace and TV area in one living room separately, away from each other, it is better to choose this option.
Photo: home-and-design.com
Photo: home-and-design.com
Design: Geometrium
Design: Geometrium
Design: Alla Polenova, Natalya Lavrik
Design: Alla Polenova, Natalya Lavrik
Fireplace insert
When building a firebox, it is very important to ensure that it is perfectly horizontal.
The firebox for open fireplaces is placed using refractory bricks, while for closed fireplaces it is made of metal.
For metal fireboxes, a window made of fire-resistant glass is provided. Fireplaces with closed fireboxes are more efficient and convenient to use, and allow you to control the combustion process.
Important rule! When installing a fireplace in a wooden house, it is advisable to strictly follow the prepared masonry scheme.
This affects not only the efficiency of the heating structure, but also its safety.
Masonry must be carried out at positive temperatures to ensure the reliability and strength of the structure.
The first row should be perfectly straight. The outcome of the work directly depends on this.
