DIY A Fake Fireplace To Sky-Rocket Your Living Room's Appeal

A fireplace can change the whole look of a living room. They're warm, cozy, and give a luxurious feel to the most basic of spaces. Not all homes are equipped for a full built-in gas or wood-burning hearth, and it can cost between $1,900 and $6,000 to install one, according to Home Guide. Fortunately, you can fake a pretty realistic mantle with wood boards, a hammer, some tiles, and a little elbow grease. If you've ever wanted to DIY your own electric fireplace frame, this is a great project for those who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty.

The key to this project is not to create a mantle around the electric range, but rather, build one on the wall that your insert fits into. By opting for a floor-to-ceiling design and including molding that matches the baseboards you have, the new build is cohesive with the old. You can further enhance the illusion by using the same paint color on the new surround as on the rest of the room. While there are some safety things to keep in mind before adding a fireplace to your home, if you go with gas or wood-burning, this faux insert surround gives you more room for creative customization in your living room with fewer restrictions, like the requirement of a flue.

To begin your build, you'll need to visit your local building supply store for some two-by-fours, drywall, tiles, a saw, hammer, nails, paint, painter's tape, and molding that resembles the product your room is trimmed with. Now, to tile your fireplace for the perfect retro 80s look, you can use tile and grout, or opt for an adhesive product like Art3d's peel-and-stick kitchen backsplash. You can even use a faux brick facing like GenStone's brick veneer panels from Home Depot. Once supplies are gathered, measure the space you want to put your fireplace in, outline it in painter's tape, and get to work.

Cut four boards to the height of the room and place two parallel to each other on either side of the tape, and two on the other side to resemble the pillar surrounds. Space them apart so that there's enough room for your heater insert between the pillars. This creates the frame. Add more boards to create the mantle top, and a seat for the fireplace insert to slide into. Cover the wood skeleton with drywall, leaving an opening for the insert, and paint it to match the wall behind it. Add baseboard molding and tiles to finish the look. Customize your creation by playing with color. Maybe you want to cover the whole mantle in brick veneer, or attempt a faux wood finish with a woodgraining tool like LUTK natural woodgrain maker using paint or stain. However you choose to personalize it, your living room should now have a cozy new fireplace that looks just like the real thing.