To make your living space with a fireplace or heater more visually appealing, you should find out which wall covering would fit behind the fireplace. This area can be creatively transformed with unique designs to highlight a wood or pellet stove. Fireplaces are in themselves an eye-catcher in a living room. However, there are numerous options for creating accent walls around and behind it that could add even more aesthetic appeal. So, bring attention to your fireplace with a creative and unique accent wall by taking inspiration from the examples below.
Decide which wall covering should be behind the fireplace
Wood and pellet stoves work with a metal body that absorbs the heat from the fire inside and radiates this heat into the room. However, a sufficient distance from nearby objects is required, more important for combustible than non-combustible variants. In addition, wall coverings form a background as well as aThermal insulation for heatingand can also serve as decorative elements.
All materials placed behind a wood or pellet stove must be fire resistant and comply with regulations for optimal safety. In general, this type of thermal protection allows you to install your stove at a distance of 1.5 times the diameter of the chimney (at least 20 cm). This option reduces the heat emitted from the back so that it is mainly radiated towards the front.
The minimum distance should be three times the diameter of the chimney, but at least 37.5 cm. For example, if you have a 23cm diameter chimney, the wall behind your stove must be at least 69cm away. As this standard is general, do not hesitate to ask your installer for advice. If you don't have enough space to maintain the minimum distance, there is a relatively simple solution. You can install protective wall cladding in the form of thermal board as insulation or a sheet of steel or aluminum. This insulation board acts as a barrier between the wall behind your furnace and the heat it gives off.
Choose the right thermal insulation for the fireplace wall
In reality, there are many ways to cover a wall behind a wood stove. There are materials for every need and every taste. You can choose depending on the finish and aesthetic effect you want. For example, install wall panels made of artificial concrete, which do not require complex installation. A project like this is suitable for beginners or someone without a big budget. The interlocking panels make installation easy, with you only needing to use a little construction adhesive to hold everything together. You might also consider the following options.
- Terracotta briquettes:Also called fireproof bricks, these fit perfectly into a vintage-looking interior. They also have the ability to absorb and store heat and gradually release heating energy, even when the oven is switched off.
- Steinplatten:If you're wondering what wall cladding would look good behind a fireplace, natural stone could be the right answer. Additionally, you can install such stone cladding behind your wood or pellet stove to improve the aesthetics of the room. In fact, this type of wall covering adapts to any interior style and is laid like tile.
- Kerlite porcelain stoneware tiles:This ceramic material, supplied in flexible sheets, is bothnot combustible in fireplacesas well as rustproof. More resistant than stone and lighter than aluminum, available in different colors, it is perfect for furnishings with a modern look. This option fits both walls and flooring.
- Enamelled glass:This is a particularly elegant choice for a fireplace wall and shows why such a design idea is of real interest today. Enamelled, tempered glass absorbs and releases heat very effectively through natural radiation. You can find it in different sizes and colors on the market.
- Personalized decoration elements:If you want to use a natural and resistant material, a mix of plaster and fiberglass with personalized decorative elements could be the perfect choice.
Which wall cladding behind a fireplace is not recommended
As you can already guess, wall paneling made of wood can be the strongestHeat that a pellet stove gives off, difficult to withstand. Depending on the level of radiation, this material can scorch and smolder, creating a real fire hazard. For this reason, it is not recommended to install wood paneling behind a fireplace.
So what alternatives to wood are available to you if you want to install appropriate wall paneling behind furnaces? In fact, you can bet on any material that is suitable for wood stoves. Both types work on the same principle.
