How to make a fake fireplace for a warm and cozy winter, according to designers

There’s nothing quite as cozy as gathering together in the living room around a beautiful fireplace — bonus points, of course, if there’s a real, roaring fire there. Unfortunately, not every home is equipped with this special feature, which can be especially frustrating on cold winter nights.

But that doesn’t mean you have to go without it; According to designers, there’s a lot you can do to create the effect of a fireplace. When done correctly, it can give the room a warm, welcoming ambiance even without bright flames.

With this goal in mind, we turned to the pros for the best advice and top tips on how to fake a fireplace.

create your own environment

The best part of having a fireplace going is the soft glow of the fire and the extra warmth, but interior designer Benji Lewis says that with a little creativity, these are things you can still add to the room.

just designate center point of spaceAnd take care to add elements that convey comfort and coziness. This works especially well if you have a non-functioning fireplace, but you can also hang a fake mantel where there might be one. Then decorate it as per your choice.

,hang a mirror And have candles on the mantlepiece so you can get a certain reflected glow of fire in the mirror,” says Lewis.

He also suggests making sure your room is warm enough so that no one will notice the need for a roaring fire.

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Add Authentic Fireplace Accessories

Whether you have a non-functional fireplace or you’re hoping to create a fireplace with a faux mantel effect, interior designer Isfira Jensen says it’s important to use authentic accessories. She says that when done well, this approach can make even an empty fireplace attractive.

“Elements like a traditional fire grate, hearth rug, or even fireplace equipment can help reinforce the illusion, even if the fireplace itself isn’t functional,” says Jensen.

Like Lewis, she also suggests decorating the mantelShe says framed art, along with mirrors and candles, is a great way to accent the look.

work with what you have

Whether you have a fireplace look or you’re starting from scratch, Lewis says there are several ways you can create a fireplace scene.

“Set artfully stacked logs by setting the dogs on a fire,” he says. “Even though you won’t be able to burn the logs, just looking at them will give you a feeling of warmth.”

Lewis says you can also create groups candles Use all the same colors, ideally in different heights and diameters, in the center of your ‘fireplace’, or really play with it and add a fun and funky art piece like an antique-style clam shell.

Arrange Your Furniture Intentionally

If you have a non-functioning fireplace, Lewis says you can arrange your furniture in a way that looks attractive but doesn’t highlight its lack of functionality.

“Create a distraction with an attractive furniture arrangement right in front of the fireplace so that the fireplace serves as a background rather than a focal point,” says Lewis.

adjust lighting

With the gentle glow of a fireplace, a room’s lighting plan may not be top of mind. But if you don’t have that added convenience, Lewis says you should think more about your ambient lighting.

Cute and welcoming is the primary goal here, so you should skip the overhead lighting and focus on this. warm table lamp,

“Avoid bulbs that are white in daylight as they will produce excessive glare,” says Lewis.

try to avoid fake fire

While you can certainly create a fireplace effect, Lewis advises against real fake bio-ethanol fires – especially if they have chrome boxes and fake twig logs.

However, the exception might be a high-end electric wood-burning stove, but Lewis warns that you may have to pay a lot to make it feel authentic.

“You’re best off avoiding fake fires altogether and instead look at other ways to create interest,” says Lewis. “The cheap ones look terrible.”