DIY Faux Fireplace

The Fireplace

• 1

  Cut eight cardboard squares measuring 18-by-36 inches. Separate the cardboard into two groups of four pieces.

• 2

  Tape the cardboard together on the long edges, creating two boxes that are 36 inches tall with an 18-inch square base.

• 3

  Cut out a piece of cardboard that is 36-by-54 inches. This will form the back wall.

• 4

  Hot glue the two boxes to the back wall, along the 36-inch sides. Position one box at either end of the back wall, leaving an 18-inch gap between them (this is where logs will go).

• 5

  Paint the entire fireplace with a brick-colored acrylic paint. Allow this paint to dry.

• 6

  Use a natural sea sponge to dab on darker red and ivory paint, creating a mottled, uneven finish. Allow this paint to dry.

• 7

  Paint a brick pattern with ivory paint to simulate mortar between the bricks.

• 8

  Spray-paint the area where logs will go with black paint to simulate ash from previous fires. Be careful not to spray too heavily; a mist works best.

The Mantel

• 9

  Cut out two pieces of 20-by-56 inch cardboard (top and bottom), two 5-by-56-inch pieces (front and back) and two 5-by-20 (side) pieces.

• 10

  Tape all of the pieces together into a box that measures 20-by-56-by-5 inches.

• 11

  Spread white and black paint next to each other on a paper plate.

• 12

  Wet a rag and wring out the excess.

• 13

  Dip the damp rag into both colors of paint and use it to paint the box, swirling it to create a gray marbled texture.

• 14

  Allow the paint to dry.

• 15

  Hot glue the mantel to the top of the fireplace. It will overlap the sides by an inch and the front by 2 inches. The back of the mantel should be flush with the back of the fireplace.