Stop Drafts From Sneaking Through Your Fireplace With An Affordable DIY

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Your fireplace may not be the source of cozy comfort you expect it to be this winter, despite the wood burning fireplace trend being back in style. When your fireplace isn't in use, you may experience chilly drafts that gust through your room. Well, you're not alone. Many homeowners assume that keeping their damper closed is enough to keep the cold air out, and it can be helpful. Unfortunately, the cold air can still seep down the chimney and get into your room (especially if the damper becomes rusty or shifts over time), wasting your heat and making your room cold. However, there is a simple fix to minimize this problem — a magnetic fireplace blanket. They're available for purchase, but you can make your own with simple materials. You can stop drafts from sneaking through your fireplace with an affordable and easy DIY using insulated fleece, magnets, and a black fabric cover.

The insulated fleece works well because it traps cold air, creating a barrier. You can get enough insulating material to cover your fireplace for under $15 with this Fields Warm Company Genuine Insul-Bright Insulated Lining. The other part of the DIY requires black fabric, such as YLM1991 Black Cambric Dust Cover Fabric, to cover the lining. The fabric helps protect the fleece from soot and dust, and it helps keep the area around your fireplace cleaner and tidier. Other colors of fabric work, but the dirty soot might show up on lighter colors. You'll also need some pins, a hot glue gun, and some small round magnets to construct the cover.

There are many design and decor ideas for your fireplace to keep you warm during the winter, and this is one of the easiest for you to do on your own. The first step you'll need to take when creating your cover is to accurately measure your fireplace opening. You want to cut the fleece and the fabric to fit snugly in place, so your cover doesn't look cheap or unbalanced. Gaps around the edges also won't block the drafts effectively. Cut two pieces of fabric and one piece of the insulated fleece. Pin the fabric together around the edges, and then sew it shut with the fleece on the inside. Then, using your hot glue gun, glue as many magnets as you would like around the outside of the fabric to easily put up your seal over the fireplace opening. Adding more magnets creates fewer gaps where cold air could squeeze through.

@our_bondiful_life

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♬ Cold Rain and Snow (Live at TD Garden, Boston, MA 11/19/17) – Dead & Company

The best part about constructing this simple and affordable DIY is that it's easily removable, so you can still use the fireplace whenever you'd like — just pull it off, fold it up, and set it aside. When the fireplace is not in use and is completely cool, use your simple cover to block all the cold air drafts from coming inside. It serves a dual purpose, since it also ensures that no warm air escapes through the fireplace, keeping your heat indoors where it belongs. The finished product creates a nice, polished look and a tight seal. Incorporating creative DIY fireplace upgrades to charm up your space, such as this one, offers a cost-effective solution that solves your draft problem without compromising your home decor.