I'm a senior so l need easy way to update a 70s brick fireplace.

Ok - this is so easy. I have done it 4 times - whitewashed a fireplace. Go to Walmart, buy Waverly Brand chalk paint in a bottle for $6 - your choice of color (white or off-white would look good). Use a cheap paint brush, paint in the all of the lines of the mortar on the fireplace. The use a very stiff chalk paint round brush and lightly dap each brick with the paint. It goes very fast once you get to this stage, I suggest a light coat, then step back and see it if is the look you want to achieve. If not, dap each brick again. So simple and fast, not expensive (paint 1 -2 bottles, 2 brushes). The paint is thick - so it dabs easily without dripping. Best of luck - wish I was there to help you! Here's a photo of my recent fireplace and I painted the inside of the hearth with heat resistance paint.

Clean it, Let it dry. Prime it and paint it white, thats what I did. It looks fabulous.

https://www.hometalk.com/categories/makeovers/fireplaces-mantels/brick-fireplaces

I've heard of people using stain and staining the bricks. It makes them look fresh and brand new instead of thirsty dry brick. It just makes them look wet and uniform. You could also paint it white . Good luck 😁

I agree with the painting. I just used regular white latex that we had left over from another project. I mixed it with water and use a cheap kids stiff brush to put it on, followed by a sponge to wipe any off that was too thick. Here's a pic of mine half done so you can see the difference.

Paint it white

Use solid masonry stain-sold at any paint store to completely cover the bricks or use semi-solid stain if you want some of the color to show through. Use a thick brush to first stain between the bricks and then a very thick nap roller to do the bricks. Put down drop cloths and tape of a wide section of the walls on either side of the fireplace. Go very slow with the roller to minimize splattering. Stain seeps into the bricks and will not peel off like paint. The stain comes in many colors.

You can paint them, face them with different materials.

Pick a color from your decor and paint the brick and paint the mantle white.📌🎄

Debi53...I want to make sure I understand how to do this because I have an ugly firplace and I love your idea. You first paint/stain the morter to where it's all one color and then roll paint/stain on the bricks so it has kind of a marbled effect? Do you have to do any prep work to the bricks themselves or do anything else to the bricks once the stain is applied? Thank you for sharing this I look forward to a brand new look!