Add Hidden Storage To Your Fireplace With This Genius Space-Saving DIY

Faux fireplaces are often a stylish alternative to real ones if your home is found lacking, with several attractive models and inserts available. They are installed against a wall to create the illusion of a cozy focal point and can be matched with other pieces of furniture. While you can purchase custom pieces of furniture or faux heaths that have the look of a built-in fireplace, these can often be costly and harder to customize. Blogger Amanda Vernaci, of Come Stay Awhile, recently unveiled a tutorial for creating a custom DIY fireplace cabinet. It not only houses the fireplace insert but has some extra storage along the sides and top. Using timber framing, plywood, and shiplap, Vernaci creates a faux hearth and mantle that is as useful as it is beautiful. 

Even better, the project is fully customizable and can be created to fit any size insert and space. Depending on the insert, the materials cost anywhere from $300 to $800. In addition, the frame you build can easily serve as a groundwork for different styles and design aesthetics depending on how you front and finish your cabinet. This faux fireplace project is great for any room in the home that needs a focal point and extra storage.

Amanda Vernaci begins her project by measuring both the insert and the available space around it to determine the size and height of the cabinet. Using 2-inch square timber, she creates the framework for the front of the cabinet, including the cross support on which the insert rests and vertical pieces that allow her to fasten decorative paneling across the front. Vernaci suggests using a Kreg jig to form pocket holes for the screws at the joints of the frame. This makes fastening the boards at right angles far easier and more secure, meaning the entire cabinet can support a greater weight load. She also makes two simple rectangular frames the same height as the front, screwing these to the front piece of the cabinet o create a 3-sided box for the insert. 

Because the fire insert doesn't give off any heat from the back, Vernaci can add small shelves made from plywood squares and screwed to the framework, adding doors to keep the storage out of sight along the sides. She also adds a shallow wood box on top that serves as a mantle screwed to the top of the frame, with hinged doors that open outward, providing additional storage. Vernaci fronts her cabinet with clean white shiplap on the front, along with a rustic finish on the wooden box that forms the mantle. 

While Amanda Vernaci went for a clean and rustic modern farmhouse aesthetic for her box, the same cabinet can be augmented to fit several design styles and wood finishes. For a more antique look, consider using a plywood front with actual ceramic tile for the surround. You can also use sheets of brick or stone to create a surround worthy of any antique cottage or chateau. Opt for a cleaner more modern look with a simple wood finish and no ornamentation. You can even cover the surround and cabinet with mirrored tiles or glittering vinyl for a glam or boho look. Or add crown molding and trim for a chick Parisian look painted white. The shape of the opening is also customizable and can be cut in a more square design or rounded like an arch. 

The size and amount of storage are also fully customizable depending on how deep you want your shelves. You can build the cabinet entirely without storage or leave the storage shelves open, where they can house books or decor items in view. Try a taller cabinet that raises or extends past mantle height for additional vertical storage space.