15 Awesome DIY Fireplace Surround Ideas (2024)

FAQs

15 Awesome DIY Fireplace Surround Ideas? ›

For an easy fireplace mantel decorating idea, hang a mirror in the middle and a sconce on either side. Anchor the mantel with a larger vase in front of the mirror and fill in with smaller accessories, such as vases, candlesticks, and decorative objects. Pick up on colors and materials found elsewhere in the room.

For an easy fireplace mantel decorating idea, hang a mirror in the middle and a sconce on either side. Anchor the mantel with a larger vase in front of the mirror and fill in with smaller accessories, such as vases, candlesticks, and decorative objects. Pick up on colors and materials found elsewhere in the room.

Building a fireplace mantel is a great beginner building project that anyone can handle. You'll need just a few supplies and tools to get the job done. This is a project that you can complete in just a few hours of your time.

Granite is the best fireplace hearth material for solid fuel burning fires. However, to withstand the heat, you need to get one that has been 'slabbed'. This means that it has been cut into pieces and mounted in concrete to give it space to expand as it heats up.

Limestone is a really popular choice for a fire surround as it can be made into contemporary designs with clean edges and geometric shapes, as well as the more traditional shapes with curves and carved edges. It is available in a range of natural colours that will enhance any room setting.

Contrasting tile or stone is a great way to accentuate your fireplace—and laying it in a herringbone pattern is a serious step up. We love how this light colored tile really "pops" against the dark painted mantel. And best of all, it's a highly adaptable look that can read as classic or modern, depending on your taste.

Paint It. There's a reason old mantels are often thick with layers of paint: It's one of the easiest and least expensive ways to change the look of a fireplace. When done well, with an appropriate amount of paint — not gobs, which can clump, drip and look unsightly — painting can be surprisingly effective.

Tan, beige, cream, and light gray blend in for a natural look. Soft shades of black and gray work well with contemporary-style rooms. Whitewashing, painting a solid light neutral color, or using a product such as Brick-Anew to create a “real brick” look will blend in with any decor.

Can you use tile for fireplace surround? ›

Tile is perfect for the fireplace surround. The hearth is the section of the fireplace below and in front of the firebox. It is a horizontal surface and may be a raised hearth or the floor immediately in front of the fireplace. Tile is also a great option here.

A fireplace plywood surround is an inexpensive way to give a plain wall around a fireplace a little character, especially if you don't have a mantel.

Ventless gas fireplaces emit the highest amount of heat with 100% efficiency and are eco-friendly. They have the look and feel of a traditional fireplace, but don't require a chimney. Instead, heated air is recirculated around the room and back into the fireplace keeping the space warm and cozy.

When it comes to efficiency, gas fireplaces have wood-burning fireplaces and pellet fireplaces beat. The use of gas is just much more efficient than than having to burn wood or pellets, not to mention that a gas fireplace doesn't require electricity to run.

Laminate flooring looks like wood but is made from a synthetic material that makes it extremely durable. It makes an ideal choice in front of a fireplace because laminate flooring can withstand the heat given off by the fireplace.

The fireplace mantel or mantelpiece, also known as a chimneypiece, originated in medieval times as a hood that projected over a fire grate to catch the smoke. The term has evolved to include the decorative framework around the fireplace, and can include elaborate designs extending to the ceiling.

Some examples of non-combustible fireplace materials include sheet metal, cement board, tile, stainless steel and cast iron. These are often very expensive when compared to materials like brick or concrete block, but offer superior safety ratings in the case of an accidental fire.

Jamb. A fireplace jamb is the bordered area around a fireplace. A jamb, sometimes interchanged with the term slip, may feature two columns connected by a horizontal piece or an arch that goes over the fireplace.

What do you do to put the fireplace to bed at night? If the fire is still producing heat, the damper has to be left open. And if the damper is open, the heat inside the house finds a fast exit to the outside. The answer is to make a cover to close off the entire fireplace, just as our ancestors did.

Tips for Arranging Furniture with a Corner Fireplace

Making your corner fireplace the center of attention in your living room may require an unconventional furniture arrangement. At least one piece of furniture should face the fireplace, but always keep the fireplace in mind when arranging the entire room.

How does Joanna Gaines decorate a fireplace mantel? ›

Try placing two matching candlesticks, vases, or planters on either side of the large mirror, painting, or plant you have centered on the mantel. You can still layer in smaller, more personal objects around your symmetrically placed duo.

A typical gas fireplace insert costs $2,300 to $10,000 depending on the style and installation costs. The majority of real estate agents believe indoor or outdoor fireplaces add $1,000 to $5,000 to the resale value of your home.

According to the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers, a fireplace can increase the resale value of your home by 6-12%.

Choose a contrasting shade

Many homeowners do not want their fireplace to be of the same color as their room walls. A homeowner who wants the fireplace to take center stage to highlight its beauty should go for a contrasting color scheme. Most people favor contrasting light colors with the dark and vice versa.

Gray is a great color choice for dressing up a fireplace because it complements many living room wall colors, such as crisp whites and tranquil blues. In addition to its soothing effects, gray hues call attention to the fireplace to create a focal point that doesn't drain attention from the rest of the room.

Be your own designer with the new and enhanced Firebuilder App! Pick your model, accessories, and extras, then snap a photo of your room and upload it to the app to see what your new fireplace will look like in your room!

Seasoned hardwoods make the best firewood. Hardwoods like oak, cherry and maple are denser than softwoods like pine or cedar. Due to their density, they burn longer and produce more heat or BTUs.

Softwood Logs

According to research, softwoods leave behind less creosote in the chimney flue than hardwoods. In climates with temperatures that can quickly fluctuate, such as in some southern states, softwood is often the best firewood to burn.

Width: The mantle should be wider than the fireplace — typically 3 to 6 inches wider than the firebox on each side. You can choose to go wider, but it's best to keep the mantel width proportionate to the room size and the fireplace. Height: The standard mantel height is about 4-1/2 feet above the hearth's floor.

The mortar in most brick joints consists of sand, lime, and Portland cement. But in a fireplace, that mix just crumbles away when subjected to roaring wood fires. For this application, masons rely on a refractory mortar made of magnesium silicate, which can withstand heat up to 2,000 degrees F.

Do you need special adhesive for tile around a fireplace? ›

You shouldn't use ordinary tile adhesive when tiling a fireplace. It will almost certainly not be able to take the heat, and you stand a chance of the tiles cracking or coming loose entirely. Depending on the heat the fireplace will reach, you're going to need a powdered cement adhesive and grout.

We recommend using porcelain tiles, which are very heat resistant. Most wood burning stoves have insulation blocks in the back and sides to minimise the heat escaping, and there should also be a minimum of 150mm (6 inches) around the back and the side of the stove for ventilation.

Making Plywood Fire-Retardant

Fire-retardant plywood is made by adding a retardant to kiln-dried, untreated plywood using a high-pressure system that completely infuses the wood with the chemicals. The untreated wood is placed in a sealed retort chamber, where the air is removed to create a vacuum.

The fireplace is the centerpiece of the living room, and updating it can seem like a daunting task. But you can change up your boring or dated fireplace with trim moulding under the mantel and around the tile for a fresh new look!

Shiplap is commonly used for accent walls and ceilings, but have you ever thought about using shiplap around your fireplace? Many people don't realize that shiplap is perfectly safe to install in your fireplace surround if you follow the correct safety codes.

What type of tile can be used in a fireplace? If the heat source is more than 20cm away it would be safe to use most types of tiles however it's advised to use porcelain. This material acts in the same way as fire-resistant bricks by absorbing the heat without transferring it to surrounding areas due to its density.

Granite is the most popular choice for a stone fireplace surround. It is one of the most durable and long-lasting types of stone you can buy. Granite is extremely durable with its scratch-resistant surface. Granite is also very unlikely to crack or chip, and it has a good level of heat tolerance.

Ceramic. Ceramic has been used on fireplace surrounds and hearths for hundreds of years. Decorative tiles were especially popular in the late 19th century. Ceramic withstands heat well and is durable enough to withstand the demands of the fireplace.

#3 – Non-combustible Shiplap Wall Panel System

Epic. How about a weather-proof, non-combustible shiplap wall? Our Shiplap Wall is a total game changer for outdoor living spaces, high heat fireplaces and any place you want the look of shiplap but need the durability of aluminum + easy installation!

What Fabrics are Non-Flammable? Polyester, wool, nylon, and silk are generally flame resistant due to the structure of the fabrics and the way they're woven. They usually don't need to be treated with special chemicals. Nylon, polyester, wool, and silk are all generally self-extinguish and difficult to ignite.

What is the most non flammable thing? ›

Non flammable substances: substances which cannot ignite it in air with a match or similar source of heat, then most of the material around you would be non-flammable: water, nitrogen, brick, glass, blocks of common metals, and more especially precious metals.

You can use peel and stick tiles on a fireplace without open fires. They are versatile décor solutions that come with strong adhesive backing. The overall composition of most peel and stick tiles also makes them resistant to heat. They won't get damaged if properly installed around any fireplace.

Ceramic tiles have the highest thermal resistance rating and are the most durable type of tile. Porcelain tiles are more fragile than ceramic tiles but also have higher thermal resistance ratings. Stone tiles have the best thermal resistance rating and are the most difficult to damage.

Affordable Limestone Fireplace

The abundance of Indiana limestone compared to imported granite and marble makes it one of the most affordable fireplace surround stones.

A fireplace jamb is the bordered area around a fireplace. A jamb, sometimes interchanged with the term slip, may feature two columns connected by a horizontal piece or an arch that goes over the fireplace.

You can also go for more opaque coverage when painting a stone fireplace. Use diluted paint in multiple coats and different colours to add depth and interest. Lastly, to give a traditional fireplace a new bold, modern look, go for a fresh coat of paint with full coverage and an unexpected paint colour.

The National Fire Code dictates that any combustible material (e.g., wood mantel or similar trim) must be at least six inches from the firebox opening. An additional inch of clearance is needed for every 1/8 inch the combustible material or trim protrudes.

Cracked tiles frequently occur when the heat is not evenly distributed throughout the chimney. This causes the tiles to expand in an uneven fashion and the result can be cracking, buckling or splitting. Clay tiles are most likely to have this problem because the material does not quickly absorb heat.