I Made a Fake Fireplace That Actually Looks Real (It Transformed My Living Room!)

When my husband and I moved into our builder-grade home in 2009, I knew I would be making some changes along the way. I was always disappointed that our living room didn’t come with a cozy fireplace, but because our space is on the small side I knew there wouldn’t logistically be room for one. And then there’s the cost: As HomeGuide reports, the average cost to build a fireplace in 2025 is $2,415! I could think of a lot of other ways to spend that money.

That’s when I started to brainstorm ways to create the look of a fireplace without installing a genuine fireplace. Here’s how I did it, and what I learned.

I adore retro, mid-century fireplaces like this one, but they’re on the pricey side and I didn’t feel ready to shell out that much money. Instead, I headed online to find something with a similar mid-century vibe that could fit our small living room — and I discovered this beauty from Target. It’s actually an outdoor chiminea from the Hearth & Hand line, but I repurposed it to be used indoors. I bought it on sale for $150.

Next, I wanted to create the look of stacked wood. I had previously gathered some white birch branches from my in-laws’ woodsy property and displayed them in an old bucket, but they happened to look perfect as logs in my faux fireplace. Free, and direct from the great outdoors!

Lastly, I had to figure out how to create the appearance of “fire.” I looked briefly at vintage faux fireplace logs, but I was nervous about plugging in an old-school cord. Then one day I was shopping at a boutique, and I spotted a display that inspired me: In a defunct fireplace, they had white birch logs just like mine, but had worked in a couple of light bulbs that flickered just like fire. Brilliant!

I went on Amazon to see if I could find an equivalent, and sure enough, there they were: a set of two flame-like LED light bulbs priced under $20. (Using LED is important here, so they don’t overheat and create a fire hazard.)

I bought a cord and a socket splitter to be able to use both bulbs at once, and my husband helped me drill a hole in the back of the chiminea so we could work in the cord. I tucked in the light bulbs amid the logs, and voila! I created a stylish faux fireplace that looks so much like the real thing. It makes our living room super cozy — especially on dimly-lit movie nights. In fact, it’s actually one of the first things guests ask about as soon as they come into my house!

All in all, this project cost less than $200, which is a steal compared to hiring a contractor to install an actual fireplace. If you try to replicate this fireplace for yourself, be sure that you’re handy with a drill or ask someone who is to drill the hole into the back. You’ll need to have the appropriate bit and protective glasses to shield your eyes.

Overall, I am really glad that I dreamed up this project. It was easy to do and easy on the wallet, and when those orange flames dance all around the room I feel like I’m hidden away in an oh-so cozy cabin. 

If you want to re-create this look in your own home, you can use any style of chiminea that matches your tastes. You can find three great options here.