How can you decorate a fireplace?

Fireplaces are not only the coziness and comfort of the home, they are the central part of the entire interior of the room, an accent that attracts the attention of guests. It is enough to harmoniously and tastefully decorate the fireplace, and the atmosphere in the room will radically change. The design styles of fireplaces are different, but for the most part they must correspond to the main design solution of the entire interior of the apartment. At the same time, there are simple holiday and seasonal decorations that can bring a pleasant variety to our life.

The style of the fireplace and its decor depend decisively on the type of product purchased. The fireplaces produced today are classified according to a number of characteristics.

Working on various types of fuel:

• electricity;
• wood;
• alcohol;
• peat;
• gas.

Wood-burning fireplaces are produced with both closed and open hearths. They are laid at the beginning of the construction of the house.

The body part of such structures is made of brick or cast iron, and the cladding is made of stone or wood.

Gas fireplaces are connected to cylinders (with methane, propane-butane) or to an insulated pipe. They do not make noise, are fireproof, and function without a chimney. Electric ones resemble ordinary appliances designed for a fireplace. They warm up soon, take up little space, and are often equipped with air filters. For peat fireplaces, briquettes, peat chips or coal are used.

By the type of installation, structures are distinguished:

• built-in;
• wall-mounted;
• suspended;
• corner.

By type of appointment:

• for barbecue;
• stoves-heaters;
• false fireplaces;
• street options.

Structurally, depending on the characteristics of style and functionality, fireplaces are created in various shapes - from square to polygonal. The starting point for the design of a fireplace is a specific style solution for the interior of the room. With the modern variety and abundance of finishing materials, you can decorate a fireplace with your own hands in any of the specified styles.

• In the classic. The classic assumes a U-shaped structure and massiveness. The design is characterized by the decoration of plaster bas-reliefs, columns, forged cast-iron gratings. The decoration is carried out using natural stone.

• Within the country style the fireplace is D-shaped, made of stone, shell rock or sandstone (effectively retaining heat). The pipe is decorated with plaster.

• Hearth, executed in the Art Nouveau style, usually made high (under the ceiling), square or rectangular. The color is monochromatic - light, red, but more often black. Often, such structures are exclusively decorative.

• Hi-tech style involves the use of glass, metals, concrete, etc. in the construction of fireplaces. They can have any configuration, often asymmetric. Execution options - two-three-sided.

• Ecological option made of bricks, decorated with wood, plaster. They are finished in a rough form and, as a rule, are installed in the garden.

• Rococo fireplace, this is usually a design of significant dimensions. They decorate it "semi-antique", with many stucco moldings, various mosaics, tiles, and painted with gold.

Facing materials are diverse, and the choice of a specific type remains with the author of the design idea. Since a typical design includes a hearth and a portal, both of these elements are designed separately. False fireplaces and electric fireplaces include only portals. When choosing materials for decoration, one should take into account where the hearth will be located - in the house or in the yard, as well as the existing style of the interior.

A number of factors are also relevant in this sense.

1. A kind of combustion material - if it is a tree, then the facing surface should keep the temperature up to 900o, for oak - about 1000o, for other species - 1200o.
2. Accommodation. If the structure is located on a veranda or in a garden, then frost-resistant cladding is needed. All types of cladding are suitable for indoor decorative fireplaces.
3. The degree of moisture resistance. If the room is unheated, then moisture-resistant materials will soon deform and begin to exfoliate.
4. For massive structureslocated on the lower floors of private houses, a separate foundation is needed, the above floors may not support the weight of massive fireplaces.

The outbreaks can be formed:

• natural stones;
• bricks;
• Himalayan salt;
• drywall;
• tiles;
• tiles;
• glass;
• colored plasters;
• wood;
• stucco;
• paints;
• foam blocks;
• forged elements;
• fiber cement panels;
• sheet metal parts.

It is clear that not every type of finish is suitable for a real, not a fake design, so when buying a material, it is important to study the instructions for it.

Significant temperatures are not dangerous here, and the intensity of humidity does not matter. But the stones significantly increase the weight of the fireplaces, which requires additional foundations, prepared by about 10 cm more than the base.

Cladding can be made from:

• marble;
• travertine;
• onyx;
• malachite;
• granite;
• coil;
• sandstone;
• talcochlorite.

Artificial options are lighter, but look natural. Usually they are made from gypsum, coupled with stone chips and do not withstand significant temperatures and high humidity. Therefore, you should clarify the properties of such stones when buying.

In humid rooms, however, it cracks and deforms. For this reason, such products require constant care. The wood is impregnated with special compounds that protect it from mold, damage by insects and rodents, and it is covered with stain and varnish.

Registration is made from:

• oak, beech;
• walnut;
• cherries;
• rosewood;
• pines, ate;
• Karelian birch;
• maple.

Tile has become a frequently used finishing material. The variety of its types, dimensions, colors, patterns, the ability to be used to design different style solutions made it popular.

Tiles allow you to decorate fireplaces in the most luxurious way. These include terracotta clay, suitable for most fireplaces, but those who work must have a cast iron firebox. Parts can be glazed, with their characteristic gloss, but also without glaze, which makes them look like ordinary earthenware. The style of the tiles is different - vintage, modern, classic, etc. The tiles are decorative and durable.

Decorative types of plaster are usually applied independently after leveling the treated surfaces and priming them. Often, types of plaster of different colors are used at the same time, while the strokes are performed randomly. Plaster does not hold significant temperatures, and therefore is used in fake structures.

At the same time, the decor is made in the form of columns, rosettes, niches, pilasters, corners, a number of openwork fragments, etc. Often, full-fledged stucco bas-reliefs are made, with interesting subjects, painted with special dyes, or they are left white.

Cast iron and steel pieces are versatile. Doors, grilles and other elements are made of them, which are not afraid of high temperatures, and a special coating keeps them from corrosion in high humidity conditions. Patterned doors are created by forging or plasma cutting.

The doors may display:

• outlines of animals, birds, fish;
• human figurines;
• geometric shapes;
• episodes from fairy tales;
• landscape sketches;
• musical instruments, sheet music.

Structures decorated with glass details fit perfectly into any interior. In this case, glass fragments are made of patterned refractory material coated with a special composition. These fireplaces warm up the room slowly, but the flame can be observed up close without fear of a spark. There are also heat-resistant paints with an organosilicon base forming a protective film on top.

The decoration of the surrounding space is also relevant, which is made out in different ways:

• with the help of potted fresh flowers, which are usually placed on or next to mantels, while choosing heat-loving plants;
• by means of dry bouquets, wreaths, placing them away from the fire;
• for fake hearths, a wire lattice is often made, painted with different colors;
• using polyurethane wall moldings with antique patterns;
• mirrors that are placed on the wall or attached to the mantel;
• thickened scented candles are placed in fake fireplaces;
• photos, souvenirs, small plastic are used, which are placed on shelves by the fireplace and in niches;
• fireplaces look good against the background of beautiful photowall-paper;
• designs are decorated with embroidered panels, drawings and knitted toys.

It is easy to decorate any fireplace using products from scrap materials; this requires imagination and basic skills. Since each holiday has a specific theme, the embodiment of your design idea should be thematically justified by the types of decor used at home and specific symbols. The color scheme used should also match the particular holiday mood, but the design options may vary.

The symbol of Halloween is a pumpkin with hollows and candles burning in it. On the day of March 8 or February 23, there are symbolic numbers, and the decor is made in reddish-pink or blue-blue colors. Other holidays celebrated at home dictate their thematic specifics, largely depend on the taste and characteristics of the heroes of the occasion.

The corner fireplace has its advantages, since its fastening to the walls is more reliable, which means that the mantel is able to withstand a greater load. There are more possibilities for decoration - you can place more weighty decorations on it. For the rest, decoration of corner fireplaces is carried out similarly to direct fireplaces.

Winter holidays are characterized by decorations made of live spruce branches, decorated with garlands and tinsel. In addition, spruce sprigs give a luxurious and fresh scent. Hearths can be decorated with Christmas souvenirs, fresh pine cones, Styrofoam snow. Such coniferous luxury gives the holiday a magical mystery.

LED garlands are placed on the sides of the fireplace, and small baskets with fruits and sweets are placed on the shelves. Above the fireplace, they hang decorations with decorative socks for gifts from Santa Claus. Brightly colored cardboard boxes are placed on the shelves, and the Christmas variety is complemented by cardboard stars, snowflakes, balls, angels.

The dominant color of the decor is silver, there are ash and light shades, since the symbol of the year (White Bull) does not welcome special attention to itself. This range will fully correspond to the symbol of 2021. However, this does not mean that the decor is completely abandoned by traditional reds, greens and golds, which will enhance the festive feel.

But if the fireplace is fake, then you should not use massive decorations for its decor. Figures of characters from fairy tales, multi-colored ribbons, braid, fabric scraps, various candles and other decorations on the topic are used as decor elements.

During this holiday, the feeling of love fills the space, bad thoughts and problems fade into the background - a bright feeling for a loved one dominates. The fireplace, like a home, is associated with a romantic mood. Therefore, it is the perfect place to form and express your love feelings.

To form the appropriate design, they use purchased, ready-made thematic elements or show personal creativity and skill, creating various crafts and applications. At the same time, one should not forget that red shades should dominate in this holiday. Usually pink, white, gold and silver shades are added here. This multi-colored harmony creates an atmosphere of airiness, elegance and sophistication.

An indispensable symbol of Easter is the egg.Decorated chicken or foam eggs in small wicker baskets are placed on shelves near Easter cakes, Easter bunnies, porcelain angels and spring greenery in vases. Garlands made of fabric with the image of eggs, painted cardboard decorations, textile balls, and other elements with elegant embroidery will successfully complement the festive interior.

The fireplace, symbolizing the comfort and well-being of the hearth, is the best fit for the embodiment of the idea of ​​the birth of a new family, becoming the epicenter of the wedding celebration. Candelabra with white candles, porcelain air doves, satin hearts and bouquets of white roses will turn the celebration into a memorable holiday. Various foam plastic crafts, light garlands, photographs of young people, panels with the names of the newlyweds, pastel ribbons with best wishes will look harmonious here.

It is quite possible to make a false fireplace from various scrap materials. A homemade cardboard structure can be made out of boxes; styrofoam and elements of old furniture are also suitable. For decoration, it is better to use something light, white or light.

An interesting option will be the facing of the product with decorative bricks made of cardboard or foam.

The decor used here is diverse, but when choosing it, you should take into account a number of aspects.

1. Lightweight cardboard construction is unlikely to withstand massive stucco or tile trim.
2. The decoration of the fireplace should be in harmony with the interior of the entire room, uniting into a single whole.
3. There are individual elements that need to be hidden by the finishing. Others do not need one, and the decoration is reduced to individual accents. For example, you can highlight the natural beauty of a wood element.
4. Structurally, the fireplace can be stationary or mobile. Stationary structures are made of plasterboard or plywood.

Decorative bricks for cladding have several options:

• cardboard;
• paper;
• foam;
• from ceiling tiles;
• from wall panels;
• made of fine natural stone.

According to the chosen design idea, these elements can remain in their original form, stain or “age”. Their fasteners are made on an adhesive basis, putty or mortar. A suitable list of decorations is selected depending on the style of the room.

1. Garlands of greenery and flowers (buds). Flowers are selected in white or pastel colors. The dimensions of the garlands are small, under the dimensions of the mantel. But in spacious rooms, they can be more voluminous.
2. Bouquets are made similarly to garlands, but are used for lightweight structures.
3. The little things that are memorable for the family, which decorate the fireplace, create a special intimate atmosphere in the room.
4. Candles are symbols of comfort, romance and mystery; they are placed (with care) on mantels, in portals, on bases or on the floor near the hearth.
5. For glasses and champagne, it is better to use a small table in about the same style. If the size of the room is small, then a wicker basket placed near the fireplace can be used.
6. A selection of favorite photos with memorable moments on the theme of love story or simply with a positive theme.

On weekdays, a false fireplace remains a familiar piece of furniture, and decorations of your choice occupy only the mantelpiece. For fake fireplaces, a simulated flame or backlight is often provided. For illumination use:

• electric LED strips of different colors, sometimes recreating the picture of "embers";
• monochrome garlands;
• steam devices, when a combination of steam, LED glow, coupled with a fan, recreate both flame and "smoke";
• trims of fabrics and ribbons are often used to create artificial fire using a fan and lighting located at the base of the structure.

Seasonal decorations are a separate topic. It is especially relevant in spring, when there is an acute need for changes in the house. Do not rearrange furniture, just change the elements of the decorations on the fireplace. Add a fresh spring or other composition of your choice there, and your temporary blues will disappear. Photos with spring and summer landscapes will noticeably refresh the home atmosphere.

• Decorating a stone fireplace for the New Year.

• An example of a Christmas garland with balls on the fireplace.

• Simple yet elegant fireplace decorations for Valentine's Day.

• A festive Halloween fireplace - spacious, elegant, with candles and decorated pumpkins.

• A small false fireplace with your own hands.