Such a spectacular interior decoration as an electric fireplace is becoming increasingly popular today.
Since the aesthetic advantages of this product are much more important than functionality, many users would like to see not a standard version that everyone has, but something completely unique.
There is only one way to achieve this - to make a portal for an electric fireplace with your own hands, especially since it is not at all difficult.
At the same time, the user has the opportunity to acquire decoration that is not only exclusive, but also one that best suits the chosen interior style.
Material for the portal
The list of materials from which you can build an electric fireplace portal is quite extensive.
Structures made of stone or decorative brick look very noble.
Using glass, you can make a portal in high-tech style.
Also suitable materials are metal panels painted with powder paint, and a budget option - plastic.
But most often, a homemade portal is made of plasterboard.
This material is affordable, lightweight, easy to work with, and yet allows for a variety of very attractive finishes. Therefore, in this instruction we will talk specifically about the plasterboard portal.
Special mention should be made of solid boards, plywood and chipboards. It is better not to use such materials: firstly, they are not very suitable from a fire safety point of view. Secondly, wood will dry out very soon from contact with hot air, and plywood and chipboard, which contain glue and phenol-formaldehyde resins, will also emit toxic volatile substances.
How to choose cardboard
To assemble it, you need to select materials and allocate approximately 5-6 hours for work. It is not at all necessary to do this yourself, it is not so difficult to do it yourself, so the whole family can take part in the process.
Make a fireplace with your whole family
The quality and appearance will depend on the material and type of cardboard boxes. If you take the packaging from under the TV, the “false fireplace” will be narrow without much of a recess in the place where the burning wood is located. Therefore, wide boxes are most often used, at least 50 centimeters deep. It is also advisable to use the most durable cardboard, in which case you can make a wooden stand on top.
Choose durable cardboard
If you want to make a more complex design, it is recommended to prepare 2 more boxes of different sizes. This will expand the scope for creative ideas. It is also worth making sure that the drawings are easily applied to the paper. They must be clearly visible, since in case of an error, you will have to look for new material.
Complex design of several boxes
3 types of “false fireplaces” are often used, namely:
1Christmas with New Year decorations.
2 Corner hearth.
3Standard wall-mounted.
For each of them it is necessary to select a certain amount of materials and types of cardboard boxes. To make the structure more stable and reliable, you can place a wooden frame inside. This will be relevant in a family with small children.
Christmas wall fireplace
Tabletop
The tabletop is a lid that covers the portal. Factory-made products from artificial stone look the most impressive - they are commercially available. But if you wish, you can use an alternative option, for example:
- Order a tabletop made of MDF with plastic cladding.
- Make this element from a solid board, which can then be colored or brushed and varnished.
Tabletop above the fireplace
You can use plywood by gluing several sheets together, or using one thick one. This countertop is decorated with ceramic tile cladding.
Many people make portals for fireplaces with their own hands. This allows you to save a lot on decor and give the fireplace a unique look.
Recommendations for making burners for a biofireplace with your own hands can be found at the link.
You will find instructions for making a portal for a fireplace from plasterboard here:. Portal drawing and decoration tips.
Planning stage
It is worth noting that a self-made portal for an electric fireplace is stationary and cannot be adjusted or altered in the future. Therefore, it is very important to make the correct calculations and dimensions so as not to suffer from design flaws later.
Drawing
To avoid design errors, you should create a drawing. Using it you can correctly make markings for the fireplace and assemble the frame of the portal and base.
Portal shape for electric fireplace
The most important stage is the construction of the portal. Its shape will depend on the following factors:
Installation location
There are two options:
- wall portal: the base will be rectangular;
- corner - with a triangular base.
Electric corner fireplace in the interior
The first option is considered classic, the second is suitable for small spaces.
The corner is usually the least used area, so a fireplace installed here, even with the smallest room size, will not create cramping.
Execution
The fireplace can be:
- floor;
- hinged.
The first option is again considered classic, but it is suitable for spacious rooms, since it requires some free space in front of the fireplace. Wall-mounted models do not need this, which allows them to be placed in small rooms.
Hanging fireplace in the bedroom
Hearth type
In the case of a floor-standing option, you should first of all decide on the installation level of the electric fireplace (hearth) itself. It is usually located at floor level. But you can deviate from this rule if the chosen model has a significant width - such fireplaces look harmonious both on the floor and at some distance from it.
If the hearth has a frame, the walls of the portal should not block it.
If one or another style is clearly expressed in the frame of the electric fireplace, then the portal will have to be finished and decorated accordingly. If you do not want to depend on the design of the hearth, choose a model with a neutral frame or without it at all - the so-called insert hearth.
Hearth-insert
Do the dimensions of the portal depend on the size of the hearth? Of course, a certain proportionality must be observed. Portals in which the hearth occupies 2/3 of the height and ½ of the width look most harmonious.
If you have never done anything like this before, start with the most primitive design. The simplicity of the forms can be compensated with the help of a variety of decor.
Important functional elements of the portal are openings for air circulation. If they are not provided, the fireplace may overheat. Also at the design stage it is necessary to consider the placement of electrical wires in the product.
We mount sheets
This is perhaps the easiest part of our work. Each drywall element that we will attach to the frame should be accurately marked and cut using a construction knife. If you can’t make the cut evenly, you can use a strip or ruler along which you can draw the blade.
As soon as one side of the sheets is cut, we break the drywall in this place so that it cracks exactly according to our mark. Next, we separate the required piece with our own hands and get the trim piece. We carefully level the edge along which the workpiece broke off with a construction knife, removing all irregularities. It is important to do this as accurately as possible, especially in places where parts join together. This way you can avoid huge seams that will be difficult to fill with putty.
Which is better: heated floors or radiators?
Warm floorBatteries
The ends of the drywall are aligned
When the blanks are ready, we begin to install them in place. To do this we will use self-tapping screws and a screwdriver. The distance from the edge of the drywall to the place of twisting should not be more than 20 mm. We leave a gap of 20 cm between the screws themselves, which will give us a strong and high-quality fastening.
Blueprints
Having decided in general terms on the shape and design of the portal for the electric fireplace, which you will make with your own hands, you should begin to draw it in detail, respecting the scale. You need to do this even if this product seems extremely simple to you. As you complete the drawing, you will probably discover several errors and inconsistencies that you could not “see” during abstract design.
In addition, with the help of a graphic image it will be easier to calculate the amount of materials needed.
Dimensions of the wall portal for an electric fireplace
It is better to start working on the drawing after the electric fireplace has been purchased and delivered, even if you have an image of it with exact dimensions. Without having the product at hand, it is very easy to lose sight of some small detail, for example, the position of the holes for air exchange and the power cord, the presence of protrusions, etc.
When planning to purchase everything you need to make a portal, take the drawing with you: today stores often provide a service for cutting sheet material.
Design selection
According to their design features, portals for electric fireplaces are of the following types:
- parietal. It is located along the wall and mounted in one plane. It will be an ideal solution for spacious rooms, where it can be placed in the center, thus making it a highlight;
Wall-mounted electric fireplace Corner electric fireplace
- angular. This design is more suitable for small rooms, since finding a place in the corner is much easier than in any other place in the room.
In addition, the portal itself can have different shapes:
The first two forms are typical for wall portals, and the third - for corner ones. Which option should you choose, proceed from the size of the room, since making any type of structure will be approximately the same in complexity.
Assembling a portal for an electric fireplace from plasterboard with your own hands
You can make a portal from plasterboard in any convenient place - its low weight makes it easy to carry. The manufacturing process looks like this:
- A frame is assembled from special metal profiles for mounting plasterboard structures. First, the base (for a wall model it will be rectangular, for a corner model it will be triangular), then the racks and top trim are attached to it.
- Next, the frame is covered with plasterboard. The screws should be screwed in so that their heads are recessed by approximately 1 mm. Securing the sheets with one or two screws, perform a test installation of the electric fireplace. Only after such a check should all fasteners be screwed in.
- Now the portal can be installed in place and screwed to the wall using dowels.
- The tabletop is laid on top and fixed. It should be wrapped in plastic film or newspapers, otherwise it may get dirty during finishing work.
- Seams, cracks and recesses from self-tapping screws on the surface of the drywall must be puttied.
- After this, you can begin cladding the portal. Most often, ceramic tiles or gypsum plaster are used for this purpose. Using the latter, if you make the composition thick enough, you can imitate modeling, brickwork or artificial stone cladding. To make the plaster coating durable, it is coated with paint or varnish.
- The last step is to install the fireplace.
It is best to decorate the portal using artificial stone elements. This material is inexpensive, but at the same time it looks very impressive, as it is very similar to stones of natural origin. It is light in weight, so it can be attached to drywall with glue.
Plasterboard fireplace
A variety of accessories can be an excellent addition to the portal: poker, fireplace grate, scoop, screen, firewood rack, etc. The size of the firewood box can be purely symbolic, but you definitely need to put several real logs in it. Please note that firewood logs can be either forged or stamped. The former are more expensive, but they also have a much more noble appearance.
Screens can also be forged - they are decorated with curls and other elements. Of course, in this case there is no need to shell out money for a product with fireproof glass. Portals in which the screen is made in the form of a brocade screen look good.
Accessories such as a scoop for removing ash, a poker, tongs, a peak, a broom, etc. should be placed on the side wall, but in the case of a plasterboard portal, it is better to hang them on a special rack.
If you really like a fireplace from an interior point of view, but you cannot afford such an expensive accessory, you can make a decorative fireplace with your own hands from plasterboard. It will cost several times less, but will provide no less aesthetic pleasure than real pleasure.
You will learn how to choose the right fireplace stove with a water circuit by reading this information.
Hull cladding and finishing
Sheathing is not yet the final cladding. This is the creation of the planes of the walls of the future fireplace. Of all possible materials, experienced craftsmen recommend using plasterboard sheets.
This material is easy to cut and can be cut perfectly even with a stationery knife. The surface of the sheet is smooth, without cracks and has excellent strength indicators.
Covering the frame with plasterboard
Cut out wall fragments from the sheet and attach them to the profile with self-tapping screws. The head of the screw must be recessed into the outer layer of cardboard without damaging the inner one. Do not pay attention to the resulting gaps in the area of the joints, as they will be sealed with putty. Drywall allows you to design the appearance of the future fireplace in various styles. If it is not possible to precisely cut out an element, break it into several small ones.
Sealing seams
One of the points in the question of how to make a portal for an electric fireplace is sealing the seams between sheets of drywall. The technology of this process is quite simple.
The entire space is filled with a special joint putty. On the outside, serpyanka (a plastic mesh with a fine cross-section) is applied to the seam and puttyed with another layer. After the latter has completely dried, the joint must be carefully treated with sandpaper. The result should be a smooth transition from sheet to sheet.
Using decorative stone to finish the frame
Chimney
To complete the illusion, a box should be installed on the portal up to the ceiling, which will imitate a chimney.
It can be a separate element, but it would be more correct to fasten its frame to the frame of the portal.
The depth of the box should be about 10 cm - this will be enough for the desired visual effect.
Most often, the lining of the chimney and portal is done in the same style, however, this rule is not mandatory: the finishing of the chimney can be made different from the main part, provided that both options are harmoniously combined.
Examples of using a decorative hearth in various rooms
An artificial fireplace, unlike a real one, can be installed not only in the living room, but also in any other room. In the children's room during the New Year holidays, you can build a hearth out of boxes and decorate it in accordance with Christmas traditions: hang socks in which to put treats for the kids
In this case, it is better to install the fireplace opposite the crib so that it attracts attention immediately after waking up. A reliable fireplace will fit perfectly in the bedroom next to the window.
You can put a rocking chair next to it and spend long winter evenings reading books in a cozy atmosphere. If the hearth is installed in the living room, then it is advisable to do this opposite the soft zone. On the floor in front of the fireplace itself, you can lay a small long-pile carpet. Such an imitation of a hearth will delight not only the owners, but also the guests of the apartment.
Niche for end biofireplace
Here, in principle, the same thing - if the dimensions of the end fireplace are more than 2000 mm, then take care of the reliability of the design; you cannot get by with just a metal profile; you need stronger profiles.
Niche for end biofireplace
Check out our bio fireplaces
Tabletop bio-fireplaces Floor-standing bio-fireplaces Built-in bio-fireplaces Fuel blocks Wall-mounted bio-fireplaces
Niche thermal insulation
We have a good article about why thermal insulation is needed for a biofireplace, as well as a niche for it - we recommend reading it. In a nutshell, if the niche is made of porcelain stoneware or marble, you don’t need to insulate anything additional, but if it’s made of flammable materials, both the niche and the bio-fireplace itself need thermal insulation.
“Kronco has built-in bio-fireplaces with already integrated thermal insulation, so you don’t have to invent anything”
The role of the fireplace in our lives: the process of operating the device
Today, traditional bulky fireplaces, consisting of a firebox and a chimney, are a thing of the past, and their construction is extremely rare and requires significant costs. And not all premises are suitable for their construction, which also contributed to their partial oblivion. However, such difficulties do not mean that the fireplace should not be used at all.
Electric fireplaces are a unique example of modern technology that has made it possible to enclose the energy of a fireplace in a small box and harness it.
A modern version of an electric fireplace. The portal cladding is made of wood
In itself, a similar product is absolutely safe, since it does not heat up at all during operation, takes up little space and makes it possible to admire a full-fledged fireplace. However, the main advantage of the product is the absence of combustion products, which allows it to be placed in any room, despite its size and stylistic orientation. At the same time, the appearance of the electric analogue resembles a small rectangular box, which, when turned off, does not at all resemble a traditional fireplace. The construction of a portal, which is a distinctive feature of any fireplace system or even its calling card, will help give it a classic appearance.
Portals for electric fireplaces are purely decorative structures designed to structurally highlight the hearth against the background of the entire interior, separating it and visually delimiting the room. They can be made from absolutely any materials without fear of fire or damage, since the body of the product practically does not heat up during operation, projecting the image only on the screen. Based on this, we can conclude that portals are used only to create an accent on the fireplace and should not violate the integrity of the existing design.
Niche for a through biofireplace
If you have chosen a large fireplace, you need to strengthen the niche - it is better to make it out of brick or foam blocks. But again, it all depends on the weight of the bio-fireplace. By the way, we recently had a project with a continuous bio-fireplace, where the customer’s niche for it was crooked. We had to make the fireplace cone-shaped.
Imitation of fire for a false fireplace
If you approach your work with passion, even a decorative hearth will look realistic. But the key difference is the absence of fire. The easiest way to bring the look closer to the real thing is to put a few logs of firewood in the firebox. There are more realistic options:
- Built-in bio-fireplace. It works on the principle of an alcohol burner. After ignition, a real flame appears in front of you. Alcohol produces virtually no smoke or odor, making it great for indoor use. To integrate into the portal, you need to choose models that are closed on all sides. They prevent fire.
- Digital photo frame. Gadgets with support for GIF animation and background sound imitate the movement of flames and the characteristic crackling of coals. But large format frames are expensive, and standard seven-inch screens are only suitable for mini-fireplaces.
- LED Strip Light. Bright orange or red lighting is installed in the podium or along the lower contour of the combustion niche. An improvised fire comes to life if you place a transparent container filled with water and glass balls inside. Light is refracted in glass beads. The water sways at the slightest vibration and creates the effect of movement.
Photo: Instagram @camin36
Photo: Instagram @kamin_astrakhan
Photo: Instagram @allyanovadesign
Photo: Instagram @draftburo
Photo: Instagram @ ideiipodelkidliadachi
Useful tips from professionals
Construction of a box for a decorative portal requires patience and some skills; at the first stage, advice from professionals will be useful. The most interesting and artistic part of the work is the finishing of the front part.
The traditional way of decoration is wallpapering. Wallpaper hides surface unevenness well, and one layer of putty is enough. The wallpaper is selected to match the tone of the walls from one collection, using a border with an ornament to decorate the facade. The option of covering the box and walls with the same trellises looks good only in fashionable, stylish interiors - Scandinavian, minimalism, hi-tech. In this case, it is better to prefer monochromatic colors. A fireplace covered with floral wallpaper or with monograms looks out of place.
