Mantelpiece

Regardless of the type of fuel and design, each fireplace looks mesmerizing. An integral element of the design is always the upper shelf, on which later various decorative elements can be placed.

You can plan and install a countertop both at the initial stage of the construction of the hearth, and after all the work is completed. However, before starting the process itself, you need to get acquainted with the types of shelves, and figure out how to better erect them.

Varieties of materials

Most often, the following materials are used to create these products:

Different breeds of natural wood.
Shelf for fireplace made of artificial stone.
Shelf made of natural stone.

The most affordable are the first two options. To create countertops made of natural stone, you will have to spend a considerable amount of money, but as a result, the owner will receive a luxurious product that emphasizes the refined taste and high status of residents. For the first experience, if you plan to make a shelf with your own hands, it is better to stop on a tree. It’s easier to work with, because the material is malleable.

If you want the shelf above the fireplace to be made of natural stone or its imitation, then you will have to buy the finished product, or order it by the size of the structure. The fact is that to process the stone and create any elements from it, special equipment is required.

Mounting Methods

If we consider the options for fixing the acquired shelf, then there are only two ways: to mount it in the structure or attach it to the supports. The technology of embedding in the overall design is suitable for products that use stone or other heavy material, due to their heavy weight.

In addition to exerting high pressure on the structural support, the material also does not allow fixing it with nails or screws. If the fireplace will be with a shelf of stone, then it should be purchased before the construction is erected.

A wooden shelf can be fastened to the fireplace base with the help of special supports and clamps. Due to the fact that you can easily drive a nail into the material or screw it in, do not worry that the countertop will fall off. Supports most often have the form of wooden blades located inside the structure, however they can be forged, represent a beam attached to the front of the fireplace in the horizontal direction. One more popular option of support - side columns.

Features of stone products

Before getting acquainted with the features of this product, experts pay attention to the fact that this type of countertop is mounted during the construction of the fireplace.

If the design is open, which is completely inside the room, and is not connected to the wall, the installation process will be less time-consuming. Natural stone itself has a lot of weight (kitchen tables are also made from this material, so it’s not difficult to imagine how heavy the shelf will be). Actually, all you need to do to install the shelf, purchase it according to the size of the structure, buy a special fixing solution, apply it to the top of the fireplace, and then put the purchased shelf on it. Additional fixation of the product in this case is not required.

If the fireplace is built-in type, then the shelf purchased in advance should also be mounted on the wall. In the process of laying, it is necessary to calculate the width of the product and the depth of its immersion in the wall. Make sure that the shelf for the fireplace protrudes about 15 cm forward, in relation to the entire structure. As a result, the structure will be securely fixed both on the base of the fireplace and in the brickwork.

It is worth considering the situation when the fireplace is already built, and the desire to decorate it with a shelf has just appeared. There may also be two scenarios. In the first case, when the room used rough wall decoration, do the following:

Make a channel in the horizontal direction (depth 5 cm, and the width corresponds to the width of the shelf).
Clean the strobes made of debris and dust.
Insert the shelf, and fix with small inconspicuous wedges.
In conclusion, the joints are sealed with putty mixture.

However, if you follow a simpler path, then you need to purchase special columns for the fireplace in the store and install them on both sides of the firebox. To fix the element and the surface of the focus using special glue. After drying, glue is applied on top of the columns, and a stone shelf is placed on them.

Self-made wood

The worktop above the hearth is a necessary decorative element. He completes the design and makes it possible to further decorate it with photographs, vases or candles. The product itself is practically no different from ordinary wooden shelves used in the interior, which are mounted on the wall.

Making a mantelpiece begins with the collection of necessary materials and tools, including:

A tree of the selected species to create the top of the shelf (bar 1.23 m long and 22 cm wide).
A tree of the required species for the construction of the lower part of the shelf (a bar 1 m long and 22 cm wide).
A tree of suitable species for the construction of the lower part of the shelf (a bar 1 m long and 11 cm wide).
A cornice made of wood for the front (length 1.3 m and width 9 cm).
Wooden parts for the side parts in the amount of two pieces (length 13 cm, width 9 cm),
Support beam (1 m long and 11 cm wide).

The shelf above the fireplace, created by yourself, is wooden, so for its fastening you will need nails (ordinary, slate) and screws for working with drywall. Further, the manufacturing process itself is presented for consideration.

First of all, you need to do the creation of the upper and lower parts of the shelves. In addition, it will also be necessary to cut the front beam (cutting angle is 45 ° degrees). After that, it is necessary to make holes in the bars into which the screws will be screwed. Using a milling machine, you can make an edge in the panels located on the sides and top. The step width is not more than 30 cm, after the workpiece is sanded with sandpaper.

The next step is to fix the workpieces made. To do this, first glue is applied to all elements, then connect the upper parts, lower and side parts, and then fix it all with slate nails. To fix the top panel, the same pattern is used.

Cornices for shelves under the fireplace are cut out at an angle of 45 ° degrees, if this is not done, then the elements do not connect to the lower and side parts. For an exact fit of the planes and the right angle, it is better to use a miter box. Then the workpieces are fixed to the main structure with glue, and slate 40 mm nails are driven into them.

After that, you can install the beam support shelves. Using a magnet, you need to understand where the rack is located inside the wall. Then, with a simple pencil, draw a horizontal marking line, make beacons and fasten the beam itself with a pair of screws. Already on a support it will be necessary to fasten regiments.

At this process is considered complete. Next, you’ll only be puzzled by the decorative design that the shelf matches the interior of the room.

Options

A mantelpiece can become a hallmark of your home, focusing on the fireplace. Traditionally, a fireplace shelf is placed on top of the fireplace. Pay attention to the upper mantelpiece, arrange, there dear to your heart objects: your photos or photos of loved ones, souvenirs or flowerpots.

The lower shelf for the fireplace is most often used for storing wood logs and fireplace care equipment, if the fireplace care kit does not fulfill a decorative function.

Shelves with books or other interesting gizmos can be located on the sides of the fireplace. If the fireplace is made in the classical style, on the sides it can be decorated with columns or stucco moldings.

Decor

A mantelpiece is an integral part of any fireplace. It is used to create a unique interior design. To decorate the mantelpiece, a variety of decorations are used, for example, watches, book accessories, paintings and other decorative elements.

To create a bright, unique design, but at the same time a cozy atmosphere, to decorate the mantelpiece stick to some requirements:

Take advantage of large items - expose large massive objects that look spectacular and stylish. An example is a large antique clock that will give the room a historic touch.
Use jewelry made from the same material. For example, figurines made of wood, porcelain, glass or ceramics will become a bright decoration of your fireplace.
Create a balance of the two sides of the mantelpiece, for example, by placing bookshelves on the sides.
Combine the decoration of the fireplace with the interior of the room. For example, if the room is designed in a simple style, then to decorate the fireplace you also need to use interior items made in this style. An example is strict candlesticks or a clock.
For decoration, use your own decor items. If you made a mantelpiece yourself, then why not apply your abilities to create decor elements. You can make charming wooden, metal or paper souvenirs.
Three subjects - You can create an extraordinary design by placing three objects on the fireplace shelf. For decoration, use one large object, placing it in the center and two small objects on the sides. For example, it can be a massive clock in the center of the fireplace shelf, and one candlestick on each side.

Decorating

The mantelpiece allows you to add and dilute the image of the fireplace. This element allows you to emphasize the shape and other features of the heating structure. With the help of a shelf or a rack, you can diversify the design of the portal. To do this, simply place a mirror, TV or picture above the mantelpiece. The portal above which the watch or any other voluminous decor looks stylish and advantageous in any style.

Making a fireplace requires some knowledge and rules. Having become acquainted with which you can create a unique, harmonious and inimitable decor of a fireplace with a shelf:

Use rather large and voluminous accessories to decorate the shelves. For this, a classic picture in an openwork, elegant frame, as well as a modern TV or an antique mirror of an original form, are perfect
To decorate the shelves, you can use small accessories, figurines. The decor made of one material, for example, ceramic, stone, glass or metal, looks especially stylish and advantageous.
If shelves or racks are located on both sides of the portal, it is best to arrange them in the same style and similar accessories. This will give greater harmony, balance,
Perform the design of the fireplace in such a way that each accessory favorably combines and harmonizes not only with the firebox and portal, but also with the interior and style of the room. For example, the classic style is characterized by the presence of more rigorous and rich accessories, such as candlesticks, photo frames, cardboards,
You can decorate the fireplace shelf as original as possible with the help of a decor that was made by yourself. The so-called hand-made will become an original and indispensable decoration and complement to any interior and image. You can make your own decor with various improvised means: paper, cardboard, metal, beads, beads, stones, wood,
If there are shelves not only on the sides, but also in the center of the fireplace or above the firebox itself, do not force them with a mass of unnecessary items and accessories. This design will create an atmosphere of congestion. It is best to place one large item above the central main shelf. It can be a mirror, cardboard or a watch. On both sides, in this case, two identical and less massive accessories are selected. It can be openwork candlesticks, two figurines or the same photo frames with different family photos.

Material selection

Making fireplaces, photos of which you can view in this article, is a rather complicated and responsible process. It is important here not only to choose the most suitable and harmonious design, but also the materials from which the mantelpiece itself will be made.

What can be this decorative element:

Wooden. Such shelves are especially popular. The material belongs to the category of eco-friendly, strong and durable. The shelf can be made from both budget and quite expensive wood species. This design will make the appearance of your fireplace as expensive and noble. The shelf, the tree for which high-quality varieties are selected and correctly processed, will serve you for a long time and at the same time maintain its impeccable appearance,
The budget category includes mantelpiece plaster shelves. The material is also environmentally friendly and durable, has a low weight. If necessary, gypsum can be decorated for any material and give it the structure of marble, granite, wood. For retro and loft design, the surface of the gypsum shelf can be artificially aged with paint and sandpaper,
One of the most expensive is the mantelpiece made of natural stone. Natural minerals such as granite and marble are very popular. The product is durable, massive, durable. Natural stone is characterized by a high degree of refractoriness and is extremely easy to maintain due to the narrow porosity,
As an alternative to natural stone, artificial stone can be used for cladding and making a mantelpiece. Such material is more budgetary, while the choice of sizes, shapes, colors and textures is as diverse as possible. Thus, the coating blends perfectly with both classic and modern, country and high-tech styles.

Equally popular are materials such as concrete or plastic. The choice of coating and type of cladding directly depends not only on your wishes and preferences, but also on the overall style and design of the room itself with a fireplace. In order to make the right choice, you can consult a professional designer.

Installation and assembly work

Making a mantelpiece with your own hands is quite simple, even without the proper experience and expensive professional tools. It is important to choose the right materials that are easy to process. It is to these that the tree stands. A wooden mantelpiece is the easiest option to implement.

Granite and marble mantelpieces are very difficult to make with your own hands. Such material is difficult to process and a professional tool will be needed to make a shelf. If you want to supplement your fireplace with a marble, plaster or granite object, it is best to turn to a professional for help and make a custom shelf for the fireplace.

Also find and buy ready portal or a suitable cladding for self-decoration you can in our specialized online store.

How to install a mantelpiece:

It can be integrated into the portal itself. Such products, as a rule, are made of natural stone, which is why they have a sufficiently large mass, are bulky and massive. The fireplace model in this case is installed after the manufacture or purchase of the shelf,
If the shelf will be made of light materials, such as wood, it can be fixed directly to the fireplace portal with the help of special supports. In order to hide the method of fixation, various decorations can be used as supports, for example, columns, forging elements, decorative bars.

The TV above the fireplace is a popular and modern solution that goes well with Art Nouveau, hi-tech and minimalism. In order to hang a TV over the fireplace, it is necessary to think through everything to the smallest detail, to qualitatively seal the structure itself and the wall.

No less popular is the multimedia portal, which in its appearance and structure is more like a massive and functional cabinet. Multimedia portals have a compartment for installing a combustion chamber, are equipped with various shelves, shelving and closed sections.

Do it yourself

In order to assemble a mantelpiece with your own hands, you will need to first familiarize yourself with some rules, tips and instructions:

Decide on the material of manufacture. It should be quite easy to handle with simple tools and your tool,
Get strong enough and suitable fasteners. They must well withstand the weight of the structure itself, not bend or deform,
Create a detailed drawing and think over the structure of the mantelpiece to the smallest detail. Be sure to calculate such parameters as the height, width and depth of the product,
Prepare the portal surface for installation and fastening, isolate the surface,
The shelf itself should also be made of refractory and environmentally friendly materials. If this is a tree, it is best to treat the material with special refractory impregnation,
The fireplace shelf should be combined with the firebox, framing and general interior of the room chosen for installation. To create a harmonious image, it is best to use the same or similar color palette, materials, refrain from bright, contrasting spots and specific decor.

The mantelpiece is part of the portal and performs not only a decorative function, but is also intended for storing various items and accessories. With the help of this component, you can profitably diversify even the simplest fireplace portal, give it individuality and uniqueness.

In the assortment of shops you can find a mantelpiece in classic, modern, high-tech, country, Provence, loft, art deco and any other style. If you want to create a unique and unique shelf, it can always be made to order. The most experienced and patient can create such an addition with their own hands right at home!

This video allows you to get information and a step-by-step guide on how to make a shelf above the fireplace with your own hands at home, as simple and inexpensive as possible:

Shelf for the fireplace - what is it for, where can I hang it?

The shelf is decorated with a fireplace; you can put photographs, souvenirs and other decorative elements on it. In appearance, it is practically no different from an ordinary shelf attached to a wall.
In addition to decorative functions, such a shelf is needed to maintain cleanliness, as after a fire comes from the fireplace, smoke comes in that can ruin the walls with soot. The shelf prevents wall contamination and prevents ash from falling to the floor near the fireplace.
Another important plus is safety. Since the fireplace beam interferes with the spread of heat, thereby minimizing the risk of fire, as well as possible burns.
In addition, this decoration is useful for storing all the necessary equipment that is used to maintain fire.

Further on the photo you can see how mantelpieces look.

How to make wood?

Mantelpiece is not difficult to do with your own handsusing wood, artificial or beautiful natural stone. The first option is the most affordable. Given that the tree is easy to process, it is easier to craft and install a wooden beam.

Materials, tools

To make a wooden fireplace beam:

One board measuring 216 x 1219 mm (for the top panel).
One board 111 x 1010 mm (for the bottom).
One block 64 x 1048 mm in size for the manufacture of the front part.
Two bars 64 x 130 mm (side).
One beam 44 x 1007 mm in size (it will simultaneously act as a support and a back wall).
Wood screws.
Dowels.
Eaves: front - 89 x 1270 mm, two side - 89 x 254 mm.
Finishing nails (38, 51, 64 mm).

Furthermore, the thickness of the boards is 19 mm, and the thickness of the cornices is 17.5 mm.

Manufacturing instruction

First make the top and bottom panels. The front beam and sidewalls are also cut out of wood (at an angle of 45 degrees, taking into account the sizes).
After drilling holes for the screws. To create edges in the upper and side panels, a milling installation is used. (The distance between the edges is not more than 30 centimeters).
Treated workpieces must be cleaned with sandpaper.
Fastening. How to fix the workpiece? The connecting elements are lubricated with glue. Until the glue has dried out, the side, lower and upper structural elements are connected.
Fix them with slate nails.
The top panel of wood is fixed, like the bottom, in a similar pattern.
Next, the side cornices are cut. They need to be cut at an angle of forty-five degrees to connect with the side and bottom panels. The blanks are fixed with glue and 40 mm nails.
Cutting lateral and upper cornices.
Installation of a support bar. First of all, you need to find a rack inside the wall (for this you need to use a magnetic finder). The horizontal line on the wall is marked with a pencil. Then lighthouses are made. The beam is fixed to the rack (for 2-3 screws).
Shelves are attached to the beam (using 65 mm nails).

This completes the manufacture of a mantelpiece made of wood. The only thing left is the decoration.

Made of artificial stone

Such it is better to install the shelf immediately during the construction of the fireplace. It is easiest to mount it if the fireplace is open (it is completely placed in the room, and not in the wall). Then its front upper part will be a good platform for the extension of a shelf made of stone. The whole installation is reduced to laying the material on the solution.

Step-by-step instruction

To install, do the following:

Create a horizontal channel with a depression of 5 cm (the thickness should correspond to the width of the beam).
Clean the strob from dust. Install a shelf in it. Secure with wedges.
Joints are covered with putty.

Another option is using columns:

They are installed on both sides of the mouth of the fireplace.
Attach to the walls.
A shelf is installed on top of the columns, fixed with glue or cement mortar.

Everything you need to make

To make such a fireplace you will need:

Drywall (the quantity is determined individually, according to the completed sketch).
Metallic profile.
Drywall screws.
Screws for metal.
Putty.
Bulgarian.
Screwdriver.
Building level.
Roulette.
Pencil.

Manufacture:

Creative ideas

The place near the fireplace and above it is not difficult to decorate with fresh flowers or flowerpots. They are exposed on the mantelpiece or next to the fireplace itself. (It is advisable to choose the most thermophilic plants).
Dry bouquets or wreaths. But using such jewelry it is necessary to place them outside the reach of fire.
Wire. For artificial fireplaces, lattices are made of it, which are painted in various colors.
Polyurethane (imitation of stucco molding for walls).
Mirrors. They are hung on a wall or attached to a mantelpiece.
Photos, figurines, souvenirs. They are placed on the mantelpiece or in niches on the wall.
Panel or toys.
Pictures in the framework.

We suggest watching a video on how to decorate a mantelpiece:

General tips

To assemble a mantelpiece with your own hands, you need to consider that:

The selected material should be easy to handle with available tools and an available tool.
Fasteners need to be purchased strong enough so that they hold the weight of the structure well, do not bend or deform.
You should first create a detailed drawing and think through the structure of the mantelpiece in detail.
Before installation, it is necessary to insulate the surface.
The shelf is made of refractory materials. If this is wood, then it is better to treat with refractory impregnation.
Fireplace shelf should be combined with the interior.

Making a wooden shelf for a fireplace with your own hands does not take much time and does not require large expenses. All that is needed is a couple of wooden boards, a chipboard sheet, one bar and screws with slate nails. As for the design of the shelf, then everyone can come up with their own design.