The HGTV Star-Approved Hack For A Luxurious Faux Fireplace On A Budget

Fireplaces can be a beautiful addition to homes both new and old. The impact and warmth of a hearth can serve as a badly-needed focal point in spaces like living rooms, dens, and bedrooms, where they instantly make the space cozy — whether they involve an actual flame or not. Fireplaces can also give you something besides the entertainment console to arrange seating and other décor around, as well as introduce a variety of elements like brick, flagstone, wood, or marble to help layer the space. HGTV's Alison Victoria, host of "Windy City Rehab," used a stunning faux plaster and tile fireplace in her remodel of a vintage Chicago home with gorgeous results. In it, she styled varying heights of pure white candles to add a flickering glow and a chic and contemporary romantic look to the mostly neutral space. 

Using a faux fireplace can be a great substitution for a real one, especially in rental units that do not have fireplaces or an existing mantel but would benefit greatly from a focal point and additional architectural interest. They are also good for homeowners in situations where a real fireplace is not possible due to budget, ventilation, safety, or expense. Buying or building a faux mantel can be much easier than installing a fireplace, since it doesn't require fireproofing, gas lines, ventilation, or other fireplace necessities.

Faux fireplaces can be as extravagant or as simple as your desire. Many home retailers sell premade models that sit against or attach to the wall in all sorts of design styles, from Victorian-inspired pieces with lots of detailing to simple and sleek contemporary mantels. Architectural salvage shops and yards also often have old fireplace frontispieces and mantels available for sale if you are looking for a more historic look. Many DIYers create a frame with wood planks and molding directly attached to the walls, while others build out a simple cabinet to function as a faux fireplace. You can even add hidden storage to the sides and top. For a simple spin, attach a floating shelf, like the POPRHINO Fireplace Mantel Shelf at mantel height to the wall and add a stack of wood or candles beneath. You can also turn an old hutch or bookcase into a faux fireplace with a few adjustments.  

Since faux fireplaces do not have a real fire, there are a number of cool ideas for what to put in there to create the same coziness of a real working fireplace. While Alison Victoria uses a grouping of pillar candles, there are many options for achieving a similar effect. There are fake log units powered by electricity that look just like a flickering fire, or combine your faux fireplace with a space heater or faux wood stove. If you do not need flame or light, there are numerous beautiful ideas for decorating a fake fireplace, including as the perfect spot for items like vintage steamer trunks, stacks of books, plants, large flower arrangements, and leaning artwork. You can also add a decorative wrought iron screen or this stunning DIY faux wood fireplace screen.