I have a RED brick fireplace. Any ideas on updating ?

Dry brush with paint watered down, thinking grey or whiny depends on rest of your room.

I would paint it a true gray and perhaps remove the decor over your fireplace, it seems to be too busy with the fireplace screen and the big round decor on top.

Also a nice mantle with some glass globe candles on each end. Perhaps a long mirror over the mantle.

White wash it...1/2 paint, the other part water. Lightly brush until you like the color. Keep a wiping rag with you too.

Your fireplace is beautiful. I would take everything off, clean it and dry brush paint to accentuate the look of random salvage brick. It has that look now, but lighter shades will update it.

Find a large rustic wood mantle and attach it to the brick with lug screws and epoxy. Add some corbels and a nice iron screen, tools and wood basket/rack.

Ooh you can white wash it!

Whitewash. I used a paintbrush in order to preserve the grey grout. I used white gloss trim paint mixed 1 cup paint to 2 cups water. The mixture ratio depends on how much color you want to show through. Some bricks turned out too pink so I just repainted those. Use TSP to clean the bricks first, let it dry over night before whitewashing.

I did a soffit in my kitchen with similar 70’s look. I used an off white with a little gray mixed in. I painted the grout too. Sorry I can’t show you I have moved since then. Clean it well first

Paint it! I used good ole latex paint. Color to match my drapes.

Keep the bricks red. You will regret painting them, and any future owner will . You nee a nice white mantel or a traditional fireplace surround. Take away the art, replace with a beautiful painting or print . The painting should pick up some of your colors I the room. On the mantle place a clock, some candlesticks (a pair on one end) - a few things in an orderly fashion, which picks up the color(s) in your room. On the hearth one large piece, picking up the colors n your room. The plant would be ok - but place it in a basket or a large pretty container - (sit the pot inside). The idea it to make this a focal point of the room. Since the actual fireplace is semi-circle, the round art really does not go. You can scrub the bricks with TSP prior to starting all of this. Stat at the top, with a scrub brush. Wear gloves and safety goggles

white wash it