DIY Faux Mantel in the Living Room

A fireplace can add a lot to a room, decoratively and structurally. Unfortunately, many people don't have the luxury of living in a home that has one. But you can still use a fireplace and mantel to decorate your home by building one yourself. This faux mantel won't hold fire, but you can still use it for candles, framed pictures and hanging holiday stockings. You can build the mantel out of items from your local hardware store.

Plywood
Saw
2-by-12 board
Sandpaper
Wood glue
Clamps
Drill
Wood screws
Screwdriver
Wood putty
Putty knife
Primer
Brushes
Paint

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the following pieces out of a sheet of 1-inch plywood: One 60-by-42; this is the face, standing 60 inches tall. Two 60-by-10; these are the outer walls. Two 36-by-10; these are the inner walls of the fireplace. One 32-by-10; this is the inner top of the fireplace. Also, cut a 46-inch piece of 2-by-12 board for the top of the mantel.
- 2
  Cut a rectangular hole in the bottom of the large piece of plywood, turning it into an upside-down "U." The hole should be 36 inches tall and 32 inches wide.
- 3
  Sand all of the cuts with 100-grit sandpaper to remove any burrs or splinters.
- 4
  Lay the large sheet on the floor, with the 60-by-10-inch pieces standing up along the edges to form the sides of the mantel box.
- 5
  Glue the boards together with wood glue and use clamps to hold them in place until the glue dries.
- 6
  Stand the 36-by-10-inch pieces along the sides of the rectangular cutout, and the 32-by-10-inch piece on the top of the cutout. These form the fireplace box. Glue and clamp them in place.
- 7
  Turn the mantel over when the glue has dried.
- 8
  Drill pilot holes every 4 inches along the outer and inner edges of the face, then attach the base to the other pieces of wood with 3-inch wood screws. Countersink the screws slightly below the wood's surface.
- 9
  Stand the faux mantel against a wall. Place the board on top so that the same amount overhangs the front and sides.
- 10
  Drill pilot holes every 4 inches through the board and into the top of the mantel, then screw the board in place with 3-inch wood screws. Countersink the screws slightly.
- 11
  Fill in all of the countersunk screws with wood putty. Use a scraper to smooth the putty as flat as possible. Allow the putty to dry.
- 12
  Sand the putty with 100-grit sandpaper to remove any texture. When the texture is removed, sand it again with 150-grit sandpaper to smooth it even further.
- 13
  Apply two coats of primer to the faux mantel, allowing each coat to dry fully, then paint the faux mantel as desired. After the paint has tried, position the mantel against the wall; it is ready for display.

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