How should I paint a stone fireplace?

Rachel
by Rachel

Should I paint a stone fireplace in the living room White or should I leave it gray concrete color? This would be prior to adding base and electric firebox? Any ideas?

  16 answers
  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Feb 21, 2019

    Hi Rachel,


    That is a really beautiful, ornate fire place.

    What color are your walls? If you would like it to pop as a focal point of your room, consider putting a contrasting color on it to give definition and draw the eye. White would do that and give an outlined crispness that you have seen with white baseboards and colored walls.

    Right now it appears to have a garden stone effect going on, something that is usually seen outside. Kind of a toss up between rustic and refined...it would also depend on your decor.

    It all depends on your taste.

    • Rachel Rachel on Feb 21, 2019

      Thank You, I really loved it in the photos before buying but It appears to be unfinished looking almost like it needs sanding. Here is another picture of the room with a sample of a rug I am ordering in much larger size. Hope this helps more

  • Linda Sikut Linda Sikut on Feb 21, 2019

    Hi Rachel,

    I think that it depends on what color you're going to paint your walls and also what kind of look you want in your home. It also depends on whether you want your fireplace to be a focal point and stand out in the room or if you want it to blend in with the walls. If you use any color on your walls, you can make your fireplace stand out with crisp what paint, but if you want your fireplace to blend in, you could paint both the walls and the fireplace either a crisp white or a warm gray. You could even paint it to look like marble or granite with that painting technique.

    Here's an article that might help you choose a color:

    https://homeguides.sfgate.com/fireplace-paint-color-ideas-91584.html


    Here's the marble technique:

    https://homeguides.sfgate.com/create-marble-effect-fireplace-hearth-38237.html


    This shows the granite technique:

    http://www.decorative-faux-painting.com/faux-granite-painting.html


    Wishing you the best.

    • See 3 previous
    • Rachel Rachel on Feb 22, 2019

      Hi Linda, Thank You so much for your ideas...They really make me think deeper into it. I do have a great bright white that want to paint the walls. Now with hubby not wanting me to paint it white I am going to have to do some minor things to it like hand sanding and touching it up here and there.

  • Kristin Kristin on Feb 21, 2019

    It definitely needs to be freshened up. If you know what you want to do with the walls and the rest of the room or if it's being placed into a different room and depending on your theme is what your colors will depend on. If you are looking to keep it nice and simple but fresh you will need to clean it up a bit. Go to your local Lowes or Home Depot and ask the flooring guys what you should use to clean that and what type of paint you should use to freshen it up. Maybe bring it to an antique white that's more of an off white.

  • Rachel Rachel on Feb 21, 2019

    If you click on this photo you can see whole room. I need all the help I can get on this one.

  • Alicia Alicia on Feb 21, 2019

    Hi, I am sorry I don't know how to do it,but I know that there are instructions at paint stores on how it is done. I would like to see it painted to look like marble. There are many beautiful colors of marble, and I'm sure someone could help you with that and I hope I helped you also.

    • See 1 previous
    • Alicia Alicia on Feb 22, 2019

      Rachel, That does look like a small room, I would just paint it a satin latex egg shell white. Take an egg with you, it is a very soft white. I think that would be beautiful. Then when you move take it with you when you go. It would look good anywhere.

  • Jessie Jessie on Feb 21, 2019

    I would do a dry brush technique in a complimenting color.. its very pretty, I love it just the way it is and am jealous !

    • See 3 previous
    • Rachel Rachel on Feb 22, 2019

  • M.wayne M.wayne on Feb 21, 2019

    You can go to Auto zone and get a high temp spray paint.. they have engine paint that stands up to 500 degree temperatures..

    • Rachel Rachel on Feb 22, 2019

      Thank you M, I did not know this. I may not need this type of paint as I will never build a real fire in the mantle. Only an electric firebox with resin logs. The sides don't get hot only a little warm. The heat blows out the front.

  • Debi53 Debi53 on Feb 22, 2019

    Instead of paint, consider using solid masonry stain. Stain will soak in while paint really just sits on the surface. Also, stain will leave the texture while changing the color.

  • Rachel Rachel on Feb 22, 2019

    Very interesting Deb. I have painted a lot of walls but I have never heard of masonry stain. Do you know where to find examples of this and where to find this type of stain?

  • Mcgypsy9 Mcgypsy9 on Feb 22, 2019

    What a beautiful piece! If I did anything at all with it, I would consider an acid stain. This is something hubby might take a liking to also. Go to Pinterest and type in acid stain. This is something used on floors mostly but can be used on any concrete. What this will do is bring out the “natural” in the piece. There’s no paint or fake look to it. The photo below shows you what it might look like.

  • Jennifer Weber Ferguson Jennifer Weber Ferguson on Feb 24, 2019

    This would be gorgeous glazed - paint on a coat of egg-shell finish paint in a neutral color and then create an Umber glaze - using glazing medium and colorants, I would use Tobacco Brown to create the glaze. This will pop all the details - here are some great glazes and colorants: https://shop.artisticpaintingstudio.com/search?type=product&q=modern+masters

    • See 1 previous
    • Jennifer Weber Ferguson Jennifer Weber Ferguson on Feb 24, 2019

      You don't have to use a metallic and most of the glazes we use have a really low sheen.


      Sounds like you have some great plans - have fun with your projects!

  • Noting Grace Noting Grace on Feb 25, 2019

    That is gorgeous!! There is a stone limewash paint that is out there that would be a great treatment! A company to check out is Romabio

    • See 2 previous
    • Rachel Rachel on Feb 25, 2019

      Cristallo White? below.

  • Rachel Rachel on Feb 25, 2019

    Nube Gray below?

  • Jennifer Weber Ferguson Jennifer Weber Ferguson on Feb 25, 2019

    Here are a few pics of a glaze mantel :)

  • Rachel Rachel on Feb 25, 2019

    Hi Jennifer, Just gorgeous! Looks like it belongs in a palace! Does this process require sanding because as you see mine is quite rough. Do you have any "before" pics of this mantle?


  • Ellis Ellis on Feb 28, 2019

    Are you sure it's not marble? Perhaps it's limestone? I would check with a stone specialist to find out exactly what this gorgeous mantel is made of, and then ask what method is best for cleaning it. You might find it's gorgeous with no painting or staining at all, when it's properly cleaned.