Create lighting effects
In order for the fire to have its own shimmer and natural shade, it is necessary to additionally attach special filters. They should be located next to the lamps at a distance of about 2-3 centimeters. Color filters are recommended to use the following colors:
- Red;
- Yellow;
- Orange.
To make the fire look as natural as possible, use blue as the main filter. It must be attached to the central lamp.
The final stage is securing the structure
An imitation flame for a fireplace should not only look as natural as possible, but also be additionally secured. To do this, we use several scraps of pre-prepared fabric. For strengthening, it is best to use white silk, since throughout its structure and color, it fits harmoniously into the overall picture of the dummy and conveys all light effects well.
Tip: You need to cut out 4 or more triangular-shaped elements from the fabric; it is advisable to make them slightly asymmetrical in order to achieve maximum resemblance to a real flame.
The shreds need to be secured next to the fan, so when it operates, they will perform rhythmic vibrations.
This completes the imitation of fire in a false fireplace. In order to reproduce this effect, you simply need to connect the fan to the network. The advantages of this visualization are guaranteed safety, high realism and minimal production time.
Features of a steam fireplace
To operate a steam fireplace you need:
a) Electricity
b) Water (necessarily purified)
We fill the water into special containers, insert the plug into the socket and enjoy. You can touch the flame with your hands - nothing will happen, it is not real. Some models are equipped with a built-in fan heater, so they can act as a heater. Bonus - sound imitation of firewood crackling.
“Obviously, all these “things” require a good portion of electricity”
By the way, manufacturers of steam electric fireplaces write that it has an air humidification function. Look at the dimensions of this humidifier:
And here is the steam generator in the electric fireplace
I think the conclusion suggests itself: if you want to humidify the air in a room, it is better to buy a device that has only this one function.
Option two - simple monitor
One of the easiest ways to recreate the burning effect in a false fireplace is to use a simple LCD monitor or TV. All you need is to choose a screen that is suitable in size and fits freely in the fireplace. Then turn on any of the pre-prepared effects and enjoy! A fireplace flame burning simulator using this method is very simple, but in the absence of suitable equipment, it is the most expensive.
Option three - hologram image
Using a hologram image with a flame is also a very realistic, simple and effective option. To recreate this simulation, we need a special hologram. It must be secured in a false fireplace, so that its edges are invisible even from a short distance.
Additionally, to give maximum realism and create a 3D effect
, you can use special lighting and multi-colored LED lamps, which are mounted on top and on both sides of the fireplace.
Simulated flame
Modern electric fireplaces use tricks of a completely different kind to simulate combustion. In them, realistic fire is born using an ultrasonic steam generator on a quartz plate! Jets of steam from it, rising upward, fall into the rays of the backlight bulbs and become visible to the eye. Moreover, the effect is so realistic that it is scary to touch the “tongues” of this flame with your hand. Although this is just steam formed at room temperature by vibrations of a quartz plate under the influence of an electric current.
It is quite possible to make a similar steam generator at home with your own resources and resources, as the following video proves.
Doing something like this is very difficult and will require some knowledge or qualified help from an electrician.
To make your own version of a realistic electric fireplace, we will need:
- Fan (cooler from a computer).
- Ultrasonic steam generators.
- DMX converter.
- LED lights.
- Waterproof box.
- Distilled water.
We attach ultrasonic steam generators (preferably several) to the bottom of the waterproof box. They will promote the evaporation of water, and a fan located on the side will drive the vapors upward, preventing them from cooling prematurely, swirling and falling.
Lamps are needed to illuminate the rising steam, which in their rays will create the effect of “burning” of decorative firewood, with which this entire cunning structure must be reliably covered.
Option four - Optical illusion
In order to recreate the optical illusion and flame effect with our own hands, we will need mirrors. We place two mirrors in the false fireplace on both sides, the angle of each mirror should be different in order for the effect to be realistic. After which we simply place the pre-selected image with a flame in the fireplace. At the last stage, you need to choose the right lighting, using multi-colored LED lamps, orange, yellow and red.
Light bulbs must be installed on the sides of the false fireplace structure, so that the colors alternate, twist and make a simple image three-dimensional.
Placement of firewood
Decorating your fireplace, as we have already said, can be done in completely different ways. You can place firewood, coals, stones and even candles in it. If you choose the option with logs, you can stack them in different ways, for example, in even rows, along the walls or burner, in a house, or in a chaotic manner. Additionally, stones, candles, and other decorative materials will help decorate the fireplace.
A small firewood rack placed next to the fireplace will also become part of the entire interior. The design of the firewood rack should be chosen to suit the overall interior of the room. By loading real firewood into the firewood rack, you will emphasize the naturalness of the entire system.
When decorating your fireplace in your home, you should remember that this piece of furniture is mostly decorative, and to a lesser extent has some practical value. Therefore, to make your main accent look decent, you need to put some effort into its design.
It's no secret that many people absolutely love a fireplace in their living room. Nothing beats that warm, cozy feeling it brings into your home. But not everyone has the opportunity to build a real fireplace in their apartment or house. An excellent alternative is a decorative, or so-called, false fireplace, which is very easy to make with your own hands. We have already written how this can be implemented quickly and cheaply, read the information on our website: do-it-yourself false fireplace. An excellent addition to a false fireplace will be decorative firewood, which can also be made very simply with your own hands, for example, from ordinary corrugated cardboard.
In this article we will look at step-by-step instructions for making artificial firewood.
You will see that hand-made logs can, without fire, provide that warmth and comfort that everyone often lacks. So put away your axe, take out the scissors, stock up on just the right amount of cardboard, and fill your fireplace with the warmth of a handmade craft.
Option five - Realistic steam
Instructions for creating a flame effect
To create the effect of a burning flame, you will need:
- Ultrasonic generators - 3 pieces;
- Liquid reservoir;
- Fan;
- RGB type lamps;
- Cardboard box;
- Distilled water.
You can learn more about how to make a dummy of a burning fire by watching the video in this article.
Three fog generators must be placed and installed in a cardboard box, and then the fan itself must be secured on top. Water is poured into a liquid reservoir, which is also placed in the box. RGB lights are placed on the sides.
The price of
such an effect is quite high, but the effect itself, the final result, is the most realistic and believable.
Photos of such a fireplace are presented in this article.
Tips for choosing a steam fireplace
So, a steam fireplace is able to fulfill all our needs: it provides heat (a little, but still), the flame is present (almost like a real one) and it can even imitate the crackling of wood. What else should you pay attention to when choosing a fireplace with 3D flame projection?
The first is components . The fireplace will come to you disassembled. Be sure to check the availability of each part with the instructions - everything should be in place.
If you are purchasing a fireplace with the intention of using it as a heater, pay attention to its power . It must be at least 1.5 kW. Otherwise, the fireplace will only serve a decorative function.
“Choose fireplaces with functions for adjusting heating, brightness and power consumption - this way you will be able to save on energy consumption”
A steam fireplace requires maintenance . Don’t forget that you should thoroughly rinse your water containers every few months. Otherwise, there is a risk of system contamination and, therefore, disruption of its performance.
There are few requirements for installing a steam fireplace - less than for installing a bio-fireplace. All you need is an outlet and a supply of distilled water. For a bio-fireplace, it is necessary to strictly observe fire safety measures and ensure thermal insulation if you want to build it, for example, into a niche. In both cases, you do not need to obtain permission for installation and design a chimney; this is their advantage over wood-burning fireplaces.
And finally, the most interesting thing is the price of a steam fireplace.
“I found a steam fireplace with a 3D flame effect for 117,000 (!) rubles. Just a steam generator running on water with an imitation of live fire. For that kind of money you can install a wood-burning one.”
For steam fireplaces, the price tag starts from 30,000 rubles. And the most common one will look like this:
Next is a model in the mid-price category, with a more decent appearance:
And, most interestingly, a steam electric fireplace with imitation of live fire:
Are you ready to pay 150 thousand rubles for an electrical device that works on the principle of a steam iron?
Manufacturers of biofireplaces, for example, are not so greedy. Mini bio-fireplaces can be bought within 20,000 rubles:
If you want a floor-standing one, you can spend 80,000 rubles:
And this is a biofireplace, almost 1 meter in size
Check out our bio fireplaces
Tabletop bio-fireplaces Floor-standing bio-fireplaces Built-in bio-fireplaces Fuel blocks Wall-mounted bio-fireplaces
Read more about models up to 50 and up to 100 thousand rubles in our article.
