How to Decorate Wood Stoves & Shelves
- 1). Sand off any chipping paint or surface rust on the stove. Clean it thoroughly with tri-sodium phosphate (ask for it at your local paint store) and a wire brush to remove any residues such as grease or oil and any remaining rust spots before using white vinegar with steel wool pads to kill the rust spores.
- 2). Rinse the stove thoroughly to remove all traces left by the cleanser. Wipe down the entire surface carefully to ensure that it is clean and dry.
- 3). Paint the stove with a high-heat paint in the color of your choice. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to properly cure the paint, which often means having to actually use the stove three times to finish the job. (Most high-temperature heat paints will not dry and cure completely without being subjected to high temperatures.)
- 4). Change out any stove elements that are beyond repair or add elements in a contrasting material. For example, replace old burner covers and door handles with new custom chrome ones to add sparkle.
- 5). Hang a shelf featuring decorative hooks and use it to hang fire utensils, such as pokers, within easy reach. Place a small decorative box on the shelf to house matches and lighters, and a complementary box to hold unattractive fire starters such as newspapers.
- 6). Hang other shelves to decorate above and around the wood stove in a style that matches the rest of the interior design style in the room. For example, glass shelves with silver mounts set off a shiny black stove in a contemporary room or intricately carved wood shelves fit in well with a red potbelly stove in a traditional or retro setting.
- 7). Stack wood on a shelf beside the stove in an organized manner. Hang a curtain around the wood pile or drape a large scarf to camouflage the pile if it cannot be made to look attractive.
- 8). Place pictures and paintings on the other shelves that incorporate the nostalgia of using wood for heat. Choose wooden frames to complement a wooden shelf or enhance black and white photographs and traditional paintings with black or silver frames. Additionally, you can place other decorative accessories among the nostalgic items to reinforce the interior design style of the room. For example, decorate the shelves around a contemporary wood stove with simple glass vases, bring in tobacco pipes for a traditional formal feel or add an old model car collection for a retro finish.
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