Many of us associate a fireplace with a warm, cozy atmosphere and homely gatherings. Correct installation of this structure allows you to avoid the appearance of soot and soot during the burning of wood. An important role is played by its decorative finishing, which adds luxury and sophistication to the interior space.
Modern building materials help to choose the right appearance of a structure based on the chosen stylistic direction.
Experienced experts recommend choosing materials that have a moisture-resistant and washable coating. In the future, this will help get rid of traces of soot and soot. In our material you will learn possible options for decorating fireplaces with your own hands.
Plastering fireplaces
A common type of finishing for fireplace walls is plaster. It is applied over the brickwork, followed by painting. The composition of plaster for fireplaces is made according to the same recipes as for finishing stoves, despite the fact that fireplace panels heat up less than stove panels.
If you decide to finish the fireplace with your own hands, you can prepare the mixture yourself, if you have experience in recognizing the fat content of a clay batch, or purchase a ready-made one.
There are several options for heat-resistant mixtures intended for heating devices on sale. They differ from conventional ones in that they contain various additives in the form of plasticizers and additives.
Some manufacturers offer two different types of dry mixes to use one as a base and the second as a finish, up to 3 mm thick. After covering with the second layer, the surface is ready for painting.
There are several recipes for preparing solutions at home:
- clay-cement, one part of clay and cement is placed on 2 parts of sand;
- lime, add one part sand and gypsum to 2 parts lime;
- clay-lime, one part of lime and clay should be placed on 2 parts of sand.
Once upon a time, chopped straw was added to lime-clay mortars for strength, then asbestos fibers, but now new materials have appeared to reinforce the plastered surface - these are fiber or glass fibers. They are added a little, up to 0.2%, mixed with the dry mixture, and then diluted with water.
It is better to buy slaked lime for the fireplace, since it has a thick, uniform consistency, and the sand is sifted and added, selecting the percentage, depending on the degree of fat content of the clay.
There is an old way to determine the fat content of a clay solution. You need to dip a piece of clean board into it; if the surface is covered with an even thick layer, then the solution is normal.
When lumps form, it is necessary to add sand, and when almost nothing remains on the board, it means there is not enough clay. The finished solution should look thick, plastic and uniform. If you plaster the surface of the fireplace correctly and carefully, in compliance with technology, then the special plaster will last a long time, without cracks or heaving.
Painted brick
Another option is not to plaster the stove or varnish the bricks, but to paint them. This is what our user with the nickname adi-vrn did, and many, having seen such a successful example, wanted to try painting the bricks of their stoves.
adi-vrn
I removed all the plaster, opened the seams, grouted it with terracotta grout and painted it with lime with the addition of black tint and salt. It turned out to be a great gray color.
Tiles and porcelain tiles in the fireplace surround
Selecting heat-resistant ceramic tiles for a fireplace is not entirely easy. There are cases when the glazed surface very quickly becomes covered with small cracks, which spoils the aesthetic appearance and complicates the cleaning process.
In order not to take risks, it is better to spend time, and sometimes a little more money, but find materials specifically designed for decorative finishing of fireplaces. These include the following types of finishing ceramics:
- terracotta - is a thick ceramic tile without glaze, its technical characteristics are close to brick;
- majolica is a type of terracotta tile, with a complex production process in which the front surface is covered with reliefs and painted with multi-colored glazes;
- clinker heat-resistant tiles, made from a complex recipe of a mixture of different clays and fireclay, have a noble color of fired ceramics from burgundy to light gray;
- porcelain stoneware - is a product produced using ceramic technologies, but with the addition of fine stone chips, quartz dust and coloring pigments;
- tiles are thicker ceramic parts that are embedded in the walls of the portal during construction work and fixed by securing wire.
Painting like from a cathedral
Our user with the nickname Bilibin was inspired to paint her stove while walking around Red Square.
Bilibin
Before you is a painting of St. Basil's Cathedral!
It’s interesting here that this stove was not whitewashed before painting; the design was applied directly onto the unpainted plaster.
Bilibin
The main thing is to plaster on a plastic mesh so that there are no cracks.
Natural materials for finishing fireplaces
In the process of finishing a fireplace with stone, the order of preparatory work is somewhat different from others. Due to the large weight of stone slabs and shelves, it is necessary to install a mesh of steel reinforcement on the brickwork. Then you can lay the same type of stone or different ones to create patterns, on the same mortar that is used for plastering and laying ceramic tiles.
Cladding the walls of the portal with granite, marble, Armenian tuff or other rocks is a labor-intensive task, and the cost of finishing the fireplace will immediately increase. But it will serve as a decoration and heating medium for the home for many decades.
Variety of fireplaces
Traditional wood-burning fireplaces are widespread throughout the world. Specialists are involved in construction, because the chimney device is directly responsible for removing soot from the home.
In addition to wood-burning fireplaces, there are electric and gas fireplaces, and there is also a category of bio-fireplaces. The gas option will also require a chimney. An electric fireplace is convenient and practical in urban environments; it operates from the mains.
A biofireplace is a device that runs on bioethanol or alcohol fuel. Electric and biomodels are suitable for owners of city apartments, where placement of a traditional combustion source is not allowed.
Artificial cladding details
If you want not to overload the brickwork, you can choose inexpensive faux finishes for fireplaces. Gypsum stone is produced by casting, which leaves sagging and irregularities on it.
Each element must be processed with a simple construction knife. The corner parts must be turned especially carefully to make them look beautiful; they are made at an angle of 45 degrees at the joints. When all the pieces are prepared and laid out on the floor, they can be taken in order and glued to the bricks using special heat-resistant glue.
Numerous photos of fireplace decoration show original examples of combinations of different types of materials. The stonework is perfectly complemented by a shelf made of carved wood, and decorative plaster creates unique compositions with ceramics or artificial stone.
Varnish on brick
Our user with the nickname Lokos spent a long time thinking about how to improve an old stove.
I found very expensive imported terracotta tiles and was prepared to buy them, but then I cleaned the old whitewash from the stove and was simply amazed at how old brick looked. What did he do:
- crashed into a glass door;
- re-saved the seams with masonry mixture;
- cleaned off all excess with a wire brush;
- primed;
- covered the seams with heat-resistant red-brown enamel;
- covered the doors with black enamel;
- I applied two layers of heat-resistant varnish to the bricks.
Photo of fireplace decoration
Elements for decorating a mantelpiece
It is easy to smooth out the excessive severity and stiffness of the fireplace not only by understanding how to decorate the fireplace, but also by decorating the shelf. It’s easy to decorate a family hearth with little things like:
- framed photographs or paintings;
- candles in elegant candlesticks, scented candles and incense;
- interesting vases of various configurations;
- flower arrangements;
- seasonal decorations based on branches or vegetables;
- collections of figurines, mugs, figurines;
- stacks of books;
- mirrors of different shapes;
- travel souvenirs and globes.
Decorating the mantelpiece with LED lighting strips or additional lighting will also be an excellent option. Followers of minimalism prefer the absence of any elements on top of the fireplace. It has a distinctive style and elegance.
The fireplace area – merging with the interior
Space for creativity is provided not only by the fireplace itself, but also by the area near it. The transition of the wall from the hearth to the main walls can be implemented in a single style. For example, decorating the walls in the form of shelves for logs. For an aesthetic appearance, carefully processed logs of the same size are laid.
Mirror surfaces or areas with fascia are successfully combined with a fireplace. Mirrors frame and decorate this visual center of the room. Electric models are equipped with side vertical shelves on which figurines or framed photographs look beautiful.
