Regardless of the fuel type and design, every fireplace looks stunning. An integral element of the design is always the top shelf, on which various decorative elements can subsequently be placed.
You can plan and install the countertop both at the initial stage of building the fireplace and after all the work has been completed. However, before you begin the process itself, you need to get acquainted with the types of shelves and understand how best to build them.
Interesting wooden portal
Fireplace shelf - what is it for, where can it be hung?
- The shelf decorates the fireplace; you can put photographs, souvenirs and other decorative elements on it. In appearance, it is practically no different from an ordinary shelf attached to the wall.
- In addition to decorative functions, such a shelf is needed to maintain cleanliness, because... After a fire, smoke comes from the fireplace, which can damage the walls with soot. The shelf prevents soiling of the walls and prevents ash from getting onto the floor near the fireplace.
- Another important advantage is safety. Since the fireplace beam prevents the spread of heat, thereby minimizing the risk of fire, as well as possible burns.
- In addition, such decoration is useful for storing all the necessary equipment that is used to maintain the fire.
WE ENSURE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
Being above a heat source, due to changes in temperature and air humidity, the shelf parts will either dry out or swell. To compensate for changes in size, I connected element B to the cover using self-tapping screws with a semicircular head, allowing the parts to move relative to each other (Fig. 3), rather than gluing them together along their entire length. Later I did the same with the rest of the parts.
To ensure that the parts of element B fit tightly in the outer corners, on the back side of the joint I sawed a joint from the inner corner (photo C) to approximately half the width of the parts. This gap will be closed by the next element C.
The front ends of the side parts of element B were glued to a length of only 50 mm. The rear end of each part was secured with a screw with a semicircular head, placing a washer under it (photo C).
Photo
Next in the photo you can see what the fireplace mantels look like.
Biofireplace
Having a fireplace in the living room is the dream of many of us. However, it is not always possible to place a fireplace at home, for example because a chimney has not been installed or because its installation is too expensive. Recently, biofireplaces have become a very fashionable solution that can be installed even in an apartment located in an apartment building. It does not need a chimney because it does not emit fumes.
Before you start decorating, you should make sure that the brickwork around the fireplace is in good condition. If there are any cracks or broken brick, now is the time to call a professional to repair it, or do the repair yourself - but this will largely depend on the type of damage that needs to be repaired. Also be sure to clean up any ashes.
How to make it from wood?
It is not difficult to make a mantel with your own hands , using wood, artificial or beautiful natural stone. The first option is the most affordable. Considering that wood is easy to process, it is easier to make and install a wooden beam.
As for stone, a shelf made of it can only be installed, since its processing requires skills, as well as special equipment.
Materials, tools
To make a wooden fireplace beam you will need:
- One board measuring 216 x 1219 mm (for the top panel).
- One board 111 x 1010 mm (for the bottom).
- One block measuring 64 x 1048 mm for making the front part.
- Two bars 64 x 130 mm (side).
- One beam measuring 44 x 1007 mm (will simultaneously act as a support and rear wall).
- Screws.
- Dowels.
- Cornice: front – 89 x 1270 mm, two side – 89 x 254 mm.
- Finishing nails (38, 51, 64 mm).
At the same time, the thickness of the boards is 19 mm, and the thickness of the cornices is 17.5 mm.
Drawings/scheme
Manufacturing instructions
- First, make the top and bottom panels. The front beam and sides are also cut out of wood (at an angle of 45 degrees, taking into account the dimensions).
- Then the holes for the screws are drilled. A router is used to create edges in the top and side panels. (The distance between the edges is no more than 30 centimeters).
- Treated workpieces must be cleaned with sandpaper.
- Consolidation. How to secure the workpieces? The connecting elements are lubricated with glue. Before the glue has had time to dry, the side, bottom and top structural elements are connected.
- Secure them with slate nails.
- The top panel made of wood is attached, like the bottom, according to a similar pattern.
- Next, the side cornices are cut. They need to be cut at a forty-five degree angle to connect to the side and bottom panels. The blanks are attached using glue and 40 mm nails.
- Cutting side and top cornices.
- Installation of the support beam. First of all, you need to locate the stud inside the wall (to do this you will need to use a magnetic finder). Mark a horizontal line on the wall with a pencil. Then beacons are made. The timber is secured to the rack (with 2-3 screws).
- The shelves are attached to the timber (using 65 mm nails).
This completes the manufacture of the wooden mantelpiece. The only thing that remains is the decorative design.
Selection of materials
Decorating fireplaces, photos of which you can view in this article, is a rather complex and responsible process. Here it is important not only to choose the most suitable and harmonious design, but also the materials from which the mantelpiece itself will be made.
What could this decorative element be:
- Wood. Such shelves are especially popular. The material belongs to the category of environmentally friendly, strong and durable. The shelf can be made from both budget and quite expensive types of wood. This design will make the appearance of your fireplace as expensive and noble as possible. A shelf for which the wood has been selected from high-quality varieties and properly processed will serve you for a long time and at the same time maintain its impeccable appearance;
- The budget category includes plaster fireplace shelves. The material is also environmentally friendly and durable, lightweight. If necessary, gypsum can be decorated to match any material and give it the structure of marble, granite, or wood. For retro and loft design, the surface of a plaster shelf can be artificially aged using paint and sandpaper;
- One of the most expensive are fireplace mantels made of natural stone. Natural minerals such as granite and marble are very popular. The product is durable, massive and durable. Natural stone has a high degree of fire resistance and is extremely easy to maintain due to its narrow porosity;
- As an alternative to natural stone, artificial stone can be used for cladding and making a mantelpiece. This material is more budget-friendly, while the choice of sizes, shapes, colors and textures is as diverse as possible. Thus, the coating fits perfectly with both classic and modern, country and hi-tech styles.
No less popular are materials such as concrete or plastic. The choice of coating and type of cladding directly depends not only on your wishes and preferences, but also on the general style and design of the room itself with a fireplace. In order to make the right choice, you can consult a professional designer.
Made from artificial stone
such a shelf immediately during the construction of the fireplace . The easiest way to install it is if the fireplace is open (entirely located in the room, not in the wall). Then its front upper part will be a good platform for adding a stone shelf. The entire installation boils down to laying the material on the solution.
If the fireplace is built into the wall, then the shelf will also have to be built in. It must be laid so that it protrudes by at least 10 cm, and the rear end is hidden a few centimeters in the brickwork.
Step-by-step instruction
To install, you need to do the following::
- Create a horizontal channel with a recess of 5 cm (the thickness should correspond to the width of the beam).
- Clean the groove from dust. Install a shelf in it. Secure with wedges.
- The joints are covered with putty.
Another option is using columns:
- They are installed on both sides of the fireplace mouth.
- Attached to the walls.
- A shelf is installed on top of the columns, fixed with glue or cement mortar.
Decoration for the holidays
To ensure that the fireplace always remains the main part of your interior, you need to decorate it correctly. This is especially true for holidays.
New Year's version
Decorating a fireplace is not at all difficult. First you need to decide how you will decorate the fireplace. You can buy the necessary toys and tinsel for the New Year in the supermarket, or you can rummage through the pantry and find many interesting things there. If you wish, you can make decorations yourself.
When creating a New Year's mood in your home, you should remember two things:
Safety precautions. During the winter holidays, many people prefer to decorate their homes with garlands and candles.
Color compatibility
You can decorate a fireplace in completely different ways. In this matter, everything depends on your imagination and your capabilities. Here are some good examples of a New Year's fireplace:
The decor of the fireplace is made in red and white colors. Minimum decoration - maximum beauty. Photos in beautiful frames, homemade snowflakes, candles, garlands - that’s all you need to create a New Year’s mood by the fireplace.
Valentine's Day
Since ancient times, it has been customary that Valentine's Day should be filled with delicate pink and bright red tones. Both red and pink symbolize love. On this bright and gentle holiday, you can easily create a romantic atmosphere at home with the help of hearts, balls and beads. By February 14, you can purchase all the holiday attributes in the store, or you can try and make them yourself, putting love and warmth into their creation.
What decorations can be made from improvised materials:
- Wreaths of rosebuds, peonies and lilies;
- Garlands of hearts;
- Large hearts with cardboard arrows;
Several interesting options:
The decorative fireplace is stylishly decorated with rag hearts, which organically combine with teddy bears and fresh flowers.
Easter
You can create a festive atmosphere even on Easter. It is on this bright day that fire has a special meaning, because the whole family gathers around the hearth. A mantel is ideal for holiday decorations. You can place both traditional Easter cakes and eggs on it, as well as themed garlands.
Examples with photos:
The very beautiful soft yellow decor of the fireplace is made using fresh flowers and baskets of eggs.
Christmas
At Christmas, as on any other holiday, households love to decorate their homes. The fireplace occupies the main place in the house, so it is necessary to decorate it. Festive attributes can be laid out on the mantelpiece, or you can hang a wreath or picture on the wall. The main attributes of the winter holiday are candles, decorative socks, ribbons and garlands. Small candles and mistletoe sprigs will fit perfectly into the Christmas interior.
Here's a great example of how you can decorate your own fireplace for Christmas:
The fireplace is decorated in traditional red and green colors. Decorative candles and socks with gifts go well with the nearby Christmas tree. A huge clock decorated with a wreath of living branches looks very original.
Wedding motives
At a wedding, the fireplace is decorated no less than on any other holiday. The hearth is a symbol of a new family, so it must be highlighted on this day. Large candles, fresh flowers, wide ribbons and much more are suitable for decoration. You can hang photographs of the bride and groom on the wall, arranging them in bright frames with satin ribbons. There are a lot of options, the main thing is not to get out of the general style of the celebration.
From plaster
Many people would like to have a fireplace, but not everyone can afford it. In this case, you can make a beautiful decorative fireplace from plasterboard.
Everything you need for making
To make such a fireplace you will need:
- Drywall (the quantity is determined individually, according to the completed sketch).
- Metallic profile.
- Drywall screws.
- Screws for metal.
- Putty.
- Bulgarian.
- Screwdriver.
- Building level.
- Roulette.
- Pencil.
Manufacturing:
- First, a sketch is made, displaying a drawing of the future fireplace on the wall.
It should be noted on the plane the location of the base and fastening of the frame. The base can be made of concrete; it will raise the body above the floor and create additional thermal insulation. If this option is not suitable, then you can use a profile. It should be taken into account that the walls also need to be insulated, this will prevent excessive heating. This can be done using brick, asbestos or aerated concrete. - On the drawn drawing you should mark points for the frame, which are attached using self-tapping screws. It is required to make holes with a needle roller to a depth of five millimeters.
- The workpiece is moistened with water and fixed to the template (you need to let it dry). After this, the drywall takes on the desired shape and is ready for further work.
- Afterwards, a U-shaped profile of the required size is cut (for this, use a grinder or metal scissors). Dowels are used for fastening. Holes in the wall are made with a hammer drill.
- The frame is assembled with self-tapping screws, attached to the main frame. The parts are cut out from a sheet of plasterboard and attached to the base.
- The fireplace beam is made in the same way. If the portal is made for a fireplace from plaster and a deep finish is used, then the blanks on the sides should be treated with the desired material according to the finished shape and the corners should be rounded. Next comes the installation of the foot. For this, silicone or mounting adhesive is used. Particular attention should be paid to the reliability of the shelf fastening, because... a load will be placed on it.
- Next, the surface is puttyed. All holes and cracks are covered. The screw heads are hidden. Putty should be applied in three layers.
- Then the surface is completely reduced to zero.
- After which the fireplace is decorated to the taste of the owner.
Interesting solutions in interior design
Many manufacturers offer a wide range of corner fireplaces.
You can choose exactly the option that will look perfect in the interior of the living room or bedroom. As previously mentioned, you can choose a symmetrical or asymmetrical portal.
They cope with the function of heating the room with a plus rating.
An asymmetrical type of corner fireplace is suitable for zoning a room. If your room has a large area, this portal will look perfect in any interior. Glass models serve only the role of a decorative object, enveloping the room in comfort and warmth.
This option will look good in a wooden house or in a country house.
The Rococo style is not as big, but it also has columns and gilded details.
High-tech style is suitable for modern rooms
The corner portal in the Art Nouveau style is made from modern material. It combines glass and heat-resistant plastic. The U-shaped portal and open firebox are reminiscent of the classic version. If your home is dominated by a modern interior, choose this type of fireplace.
The right style and shape of the fireplace will help make your home unique and chic.
How to decorate?
It is important to fit the fireplace beautifully into the interior and arrange it in an original way . Even the most ordinary one is easy to decorate, because this does not require any special knowledge or skills.
Creative ideas
- The area near the fireplace and above it is not difficult to decorate with fresh flowers or flowerpots. They are displayed on the mantelpiece or next to the fireplace itself. (It is advisable to choose the most heat-loving plants).
- Dry bouquets or wreaths. But when using such decorations, you must place them out of the reach of fire.
- Wire. For artificial fireplaces, grates are made from it, which are painted in various colors.
- Polyurethane (imitation stucco for walls).
- Mirrors. They are hung on the wall or attached to the fireplace beam.
- Photos, figurines, souvenirs. They are placed on the mantelpiece or in niches on the wall.
- Panels or toys.
- Pictures in frames.
We invite you to watch a video on how to decorate your fireplace mantel:
Performing decoration
The mantelpiece allows you to complement and dilute the image of the fireplace. This element allows you to emphasize the shape and other features of the heating structure. Using a shelf or rack you can diversify the design of the portal. To do this, simply place a mirror, TV or picture above the mantelpiece. A portal above which a clock or any other volumetric decor is placed looks stylish and advantageous in any style.
Decorating a fireplace requires some knowledge and rules. After familiarizing yourself with which you can create a unique, harmonious and inimitable decor for a fireplace with a shelf:
- Use rather large and voluminous accessories to decorate the shelf. A classic painting in an openwork, elegant frame, as well as a modern TV or an antique mirror of an original shape, are perfect for this;
- You can also use small accessories and figurines to decorate shelves. Decor made from one material, such as ceramics, stone, glass or metal, looks especially stylish and advantageous;
- If shelves or racks are located on both sides of the portal, it is best to decorate them in the same style and with similar accessories. This will give greater harmony and balance;
- Design the fireplace in such a way that each accessory combines favorably and harmonizes not only with the firebox and portal, but also with the interior and style of the room. For example, the classic style is characterized by the presence of more strict and rich accessories, such as candlesticks, photo frames, cardboard;
- You can decorate the fireplace shelf as original as possible with the help of decor that you made yourself. The so-called handmade will become an original and irreplaceable decoration and addition to any interior and image. You can make your own decor from various available materials: paper, cardboard, metal, beads, beads, stones, wood;
- If there are shelves not only on the sides, but also in the center of the fireplace or above the firebox itself, you should not crowd them with a mass of unnecessary items and accessories. This design will create an atmosphere of congestion. It is best to place one large item above the central main shelf. It could be a mirror, cardboard or a clock. In this case, two identical and less massive accessories are selected on both sides. These could be openwork candlesticks, two figurines or identical photo frames with different family photos.
General Tips
To assemble a fireplace mantel with your own hands, you need to consider that:
- The selected material should be easy to process with available tools and tools.
- Fasteners must be purchased that are strong enough so that they support the weight of the structure well and do not sag or deform.
- You should first create a detailed drawing and think through in detail the structure of the mantelpiece.
- Before installation, the surface must be insulated.
- The shelf is made of fire-resistant materials. If it is wood, then it is better to treat it with fire-resistant impregnation.
- The mantel should match the interior.
Making a wooden fireplace shelf with your own hands does not take much time and does not require large expenses. All you need is a couple of wooden boards, a sheet of chipboard, one beam and screws with slate nails. As for the design of the shelf, everyone can come up with their own design.
Other sweet little things
The absence of decor is also decor. Especially when it comes to styles such as minimalism, hi-tech, industrial.
Potted indoor plants can be placed on the fireplace
If the interior is already filled with small details and decor, or the design contains bright accents that suggest the absence of additional details and decorative elements, then the shelf above the fireplace is not only possible, but should be left empty (or almost empty). By the way, some fireplaces themselves are quite a powerful accent in the interior and do not require decoration. If you want to surprise your guests and surprise yourself, then use unusual materials in the design of the fireplace: for example, onyx with hidden lighting. In this case, the fireplace will become a truly spectacular element of the interior.
The mantelpiece is decorated with three different vases
Third manufacturing method
For this method you can use an old uncut board:
It is necessary to remove the bark from the surface of each element. This must be done using a drill equipped with a brush with metal bristles.
It is very important to work carefully and perform uniform movements in the direction along the growth of the fibers;
After which the surface must be coated with paint (it is recommended to use stain);
We re-treat the surface after the stain has completely dried. To do this, again take a brush with metal bristles;
We cover the surface of each element with a varnish base;
We attach forged supports to the wire fixed to the wall
For this we use welding.
Artificial creation of unevenness
Artificial creation of unevenness, roughness and abrasions on a wooden surface
Do-it-yourself aging of a wood surface
Do-it-yourself aging of a wood surface
Decorating a mantelpiece with an aged surface effect
Decorating a mantelpiece with an aged surface effect
A mantelpiece made using one of the methods presented in the article will not only complement the appearance of the heating installation, but will also make the portal as functional as possible in use.
Features of stone products
Before getting acquainted with the features of this product, experts pay attention to the fact that a tabletop of this type is installed during the construction of the fireplace.
If the structure is of an open type, which is completely inside the room and is not connected to the wall, then the installation process will be less labor-intensive. Natural stone itself has a lot of weight (kitchen tables are also made from this material, so it’s not difficult to imagine how heavy the shelf will be). Actually, all that needs to be done to install the shelf is to purchase it according to the dimensions of the structure, buy a special fixing solution, apply it to the top of the fireplace, and then place the purchased shelf on it. In this case, additional fixation of the product is not required.
If the fireplace is a built-in type, then the pre-purchased shelf should also be mounted into the wall. During the installation process, it is necessary to calculate the width of the product and the depth of its immersion in the wall. Make sure that the fireplace shelf protrudes approximately 15 cm forward in relation to the entire structure. As a result, the structure will be securely fastened both to the base of the fireplace and to the brickwork.
It is worth considering the situation when the fireplace has already been built, and the desire to decorate it with a shelf has just appeared. There may also be two scenarios here. In the first case, when rough wall decoration is used in the room, do the following:
- Make a channel in the horizontal direction (depth 5 cm, and width corresponds to the width of the shelf).
- Clean the made groove from debris and dust.
- The shelf is inserted and secured with small, inconspicuous wedges.
- Finally, the joints are sealed with a putty mixture.
However, if you follow a simpler path, then you need to purchase special columns for the fireplace in the store and install them on both sides of the firebox. To fix the element and the surface of the hearth, special glue is used. After drying, glue is applied to the top of the columns, and a stone shelf is placed on them.
Dismantling the old portal
So, without getting ahead of ourselves, let's figure out step by step how to turn all these ideas into reality.
First you need to dismantle the old portal, it is advisable to do this carefully, since someone may need it for other purposes. Next, we remove the bricks, this process is the easiest, the principle applies here - “Breaking does not build.”
How to make a fireplace shelf, what material can be used to make it
Regardless of the fuel type and design, every fireplace looks stunning.
An integral element of the design is always the top shelf, on which various decorative elements can subsequently be placed. You can plan and install the countertop both at the initial stage of building the fireplace and after all the work has been completed. However, before you begin the process itself, you need to get acquainted with the types of shelves and understand how best to build them.