Savvy DIYer Creates Incredible Fake Fireplace For Just £4.50 Using Easy Hacks
- Jourdyn May Verrett, 27, wanted to buy a new TV stand but didn’t want to spend a fortune
- Instead, she created a fake fireplace for just £4.50 using cardboard boxes, paper towels and styrofoam cubes
- Jourdyn used everything from rolled paper to duct tape for her creation
If you’re in need of a new piece of furniture but are low on funds, have no fear: DIY is here.
Inspired by all the amazing Christmas fireplaces on social media, one DIY-savvy mum decided to create her own, which also doubles as a TV stand.
Jourdyn May Verrett, 27, a mum of two and keen DIYer from Texas, managed to create a beautiful fireplace for just $6 (£4.50) using cardboard boxes, paper towels and styrofoam cubes.
Jourdyn told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: "I'm currently remodelling and I've sold our living room furniture, so our TV has been sitting on an old pop-up table until I can buy a new TV stand.
"That meant I was really limited on what I could do with holiday decorations this year.
"I spent some time online searching for unique ways to hang stockings, and I came across a few really cool old posts on Facebook where people made fake fireplaces for Christmas pictures.
"I was instantly obsessed with that idea and decided to make my own version.
"I really needed to keep things cheap, so I tried to only use what I already had laying around the house.
"The sides of my toddler's playpen worked great to form the basic shape of a fireplace around the table.
"I cut four cardboard boxes down to size and secured them to the playpen with zip ties.
"The mantel is made of styrofoam packaging cubes laid across the edge of the table, and held together with duct tape.
"I used everything from rolled paper, poster board, paper towels, and duct tape to fill in any gaps and make the exterior shell as smooth and level as possible.
"I also taped all the edges and corners together to keep the form secure.
"The inside space got painted black, and I tossed in a pile of gold ribbon scraps with a puck light to create a fake ‘fire' look.
"I wrapped the fireplace in faux brick and wood-grain contact paper, which is basically sticky wrapping paper.
"It also has a slight bumpy texture to it, which I think helped the design look realistic.
"I got really excited when I finally stepped back and realized it was actually starting to look like a fireplace. I finished it off with some Christmas decor.
"I really love how it turned out! I can't believe how easy and beginner-friendly it was. I mostly love that it didn't require much planning or money.
"I had everything on hand except the contact paper, so the total cost was only about $6. It took about four hours of trial and error to complete.
"My tip would be to make sure you keep the cardboard as smooth and level as possible, because the contact paper can form bubbles when it sticks to uneven areas.
“Also, I would suggest using supplies you already have to cut down on costs. Just adjust your plan based on the materials you find laying around.
"Spending $500 or more on a solid piece of furniture just isn't in the cards for us right now.
"Being able to turn just $6 into something so realistic and usable is something I'm very grateful and proud of. I'm sure I'll buy a real TV stand eventually.
"But until then, this fireplace has turned out to be an amazing alternative.”
Jourdyn is so pleased with the look of her faux fireplace that she’s considering keeping it far beyond Christmas.
“I think this would be a great option for anyone wanting a traditional Christmas fireplace without the ability to build a real one,” she adds.
"It looks great in Christmas photos, and the mantel displayed our stockings beautifully.
"I only intended this to be a temporary decoration for the Christmas season... but I'm now considering leaving it up past the holidays to serve as my actual TV stand. At least, until I buy a real one!”
Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, comments: “When you look at this beautiful brick fireplace, it’s hard to believe that it’s actually constructed out of cheap materials such as cardboard and styrofoam.
“Jourdyn has done a wonderful job creating something expensive-looking for less than a fiver.
“While this would look beautiful during the festive season, it can fit into her home all year round.
“The price of creating this is so minimal compared to buying a brand new piece of furniture, plus reusing and recycling this is eco-friendly too.
“It just shows that it’s worth browsing the internet for DIY ideas before you splurge on an expensive purchase such as a new TV stand.”
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