How to Decorate A DIY Faux Fireplace

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Do you have a faux or real fireplace that needs help?  How to Decorate a DIY Faux Fireplace.

This could be called fire and ice.  I’ve wanted to place logs in our DIY faux fireplace for a while.

I finally got it done…

and in a unique way.

I do most things in a unique way!  Just ask Mike!

uniquely!  Below I share additional tips on how to decorate a DIY faux fireplace to look realistic.

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Mike was surprised when I turned from a walk with Bella dragging a tree that had fell.  We have an empty and neglected lot next door.  It’s full of elk trampled pine cones, great branches, and dead trees.  It’s a forest fire hazard.  So I’m “fire wising” a branch, pine cone and dead tree at a time. 🙂

The trunk of the tree is about 3 inches around.  Perfect for the faux DIY mantel.  I cut three pieces about 12 inches long.

Next, I grabbed a white crayon.  Did you know you can order a box of one color crayons from Amazon?  I ordered two boxes of white crayons.  They are the larger size that toddlers use.  More crayon for them to eat! 😕

Above I’m practicing melting the crayon on branches.  More on that in a future post.  I use a craft heat gun to melt crayons.  It doesn’t blow as hard as a hairdryer.

I started the snow by moving the crayon over the log while heating and softening the wax.

Next, I chopped crayons like chopping carrots…

and sprinkled the pieces on top of the logs.  Then added heat to melt the “snow.”

I stopped when the pieces turned smooth like snow.

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The Faux Mantel

The “snow” covered logs in place.

I used 2 1/2 crayons to make the melted snow logs.  These would look great as a tablescape with candles too.

Here’s my scrap wood fireplace.  I made it using leftover pieces and scraps from what I swept up in the dustpan!  It also has, broken spindles, and 6 thrift store frames {some broken} with an aged wood top.

Tips for making a DIY faux fireplace look realistic.

1. Add a piece of plywood in the firebox area.  I’ve seen too many faux fireplaces with the baseboard running through the firebox.  I painted mine with chalkboard paint.  Although a real fireplace will not have chalk drawings, it’s still fun!
2. Sit the mantel on tile, wood or something.  My mantel is in a carpeted room and sits on a 2 by 10 board painted black.  Otherwise, the carpet would go right up to the fireplace.
3. Sit the fireplace up to the baseboard and add a strip between the fireplace and the wall.  Notch the bottom to fit with any routered edges of the baseboard.  This was easy in our home since our baseboards are plain boards.  We live in a cabin.