I love the look of a fireplace, but I don’t like that it takes up so much space. So when we bought the house we’re currently renovating, I decided to buy a small electric fireplace that could be tucked away in the corner and out of view for most of the year. Then, when we want to watch TV or enjoy some ambiance from a fire, we can move it into the living room where it’ll be the star of our decor.
The only problem is that this little electric fireplace isn’t very attractive on its own. It has all these wires showing on the sides and back, and they aren’t anything you’d want to show off! So I decided it needed to be hidden behind a wall. Here’s how I built a false wall with some basic materials from Home Depot to hide my unsightly electric fireplace:
You can use a few materials, but we used some planks and plywood.
You can use a few materials, but we used some planks and plywood. You can also use other tools such as saws, or even just paint.
- Make sure you have plenty of space to work with.
- Make sure you have a plan in place before you start your project.
Then make a frame that will be the sides of the false wall.
Once you have the pieces of your frame, it’s time to make sure that it is sturdy and level. If you are building a false wall from scratch, make sure that the wood is not only straight but also cut at an angle with a miter saw or router. The best way to ensure that your frame is level and square is by using a laser level attached to one edge while checking with a framing square on the other three.
Next make a frame for the front.
Next make a frame for the front. Make sure it is sturdy enough to hold the front of your false wall and that it is the same size as the frame you made for the sides. Frames can be made of many different materials, but wooden planks are often used because they are strong and sturdy. The frame for the front of your false wall should fit inside of your other frames, so that when all three pieces are assembled together, they form an enclosed space for creating an illusion that there is a fireplace in your living room or bedroom.
Cut the plywood into pieces that will fit in between the frames you made.
- Using a circular saw, cut the plywood into pieces that will fit in between the frames you made.
- Make sure to cut the plywood at an angle so that you can use it to cover the frame and create an illusion of a wall.
- Use a speed square or some other measuring device to ensure that each piece is square before placing it on your frame.
Screw it to the front of your frame.
- Screw the frame to the plywood using 2” screws.
- Next, screw in your one by twos to the front of the frame using 2” screws, spacing them at least 5 inches apart from one another and leaving enough room between each stud so that you can open up your fireplace door easily after it’s all assembled (about 1 inch).
- Finally, use pliers to remove any excess material from either side of your 1×4 wood strips (it’s okay if it sticks out just a little bit).
Screw on the two side frames with your plywood and one by two wooden pieces inside of them.
Now that you’ve assembled the frame of your fireplace, it’s time to add the side walls.
Use a drill and screwdriver to secure two pieces of plywood to each side frame. The plywood will make up the inside wall of your fireplace. Use a level to ensure that both sides are straight and even with one another, then secure them together by tightening screws starting at one end until they meet at their other ends.
If you want an extra layer of security or insulation in case something breaks through this faux wall (or if it’s simply an aesthetic decision), use wood glue as well as screws when attaching the plywood pieces together.
The next thing we did was take a piece of thick cardboard and cut it to fit inside our false wall structure.
The next thing we did was take a piece of thick cardboard and cut it to fit inside our false wall structure. To do this, use a sharp knife to carefully cut the piece of cardboard so that it will fit inside the frame of your fireplace. Make sure that you measure carefully, because your measurements should be accurate enough so that when you put this into place with your frame, there won’t be any gaps or holes where heat could escape from behind it.
Also make sure that the cardboard is the right thickness—you don’t want too thin or too thick.
To finish off edges and make the false wall look clean and modern, you can use some decorative molding from the home improvement store.
Decorative molding is a great way to finish off edges and make the false wall look clean and modern. It can also be used to cover up any gaps or unevenness in your faux fireplace, making it look nice and modern.
That’s all there is to it! Use this tutorial to help you build your own false wall for an electric fireplace in your home.
That’s all there is to it! Use this tutorial to help you build your own false wall for an electric fireplace in your home.
Materials needed:
- MDF boards/plywood or other material that will look like stone or brick from the outside (I used 1″x4″)
- Paint / stain to match any existing decor in the room (I used Behr’s “greyed out” stain)
Tools needed:
- Hand saw (for cutting wood) – Power drill with bits – Pencil/eraser – Level – Pliers/screwdrivers
Conclusion
After all this work, you can now enjoy a cozy fire in your home with the false wall behind it. If you want something a little more rustic or vintage, take this same idea and use old barn wood instead of plywood and you have yourself a great looking fireplace that really makes your space look like it’s been around for generations.
