Ideas for a brick fireplace makeover?

I’d like to update my red brick fireplace. I like stone and also white and light colors.

  7 answers
  • Recreated Designs Recreated Designs on Jul 08, 2019

    Hi Leslie. Here are some great ideas for painting the brick around your fireplace. If you fireplace is a working one you may want to check your local fire codes first though as some prohibit paint on the brick around inserts. https://www.hometalk.com/search/posts?filter=painting%20brick%20fireplace

  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Jul 08, 2019

    You can remove the mantel and ceramic tile it.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Jul 08, 2019

    Remove the mantel and replace with something updated or something else instead of a mantel like a large monogram.

    Paint the brick or add german schmeer.

  • Deni RDH Deni RDH on Jul 09, 2019

    I’ve sponge painted brick fireplace surrounds and kitchen backsplashes. All was fun (to me) and the results were beautiful. Leave the mantle for last, bc the fire insert looks kind of dated.🎯🍒

  • Terry Clifton Smith Terry Clifton Smith on Jul 09, 2019

    Tape off the doors and paint them whatever you like that’s not bright brass.


    Limewash the brick after properly prepping it with Romabio lime wash that you can get at Lowe’s. Leave the mantel but cover it really well before you limewash.


    i just did mine. It’s gorgeous. The whole room is much brighter. This technique brings the fireplace out of the 80’s.

  • To me there's a sharp edge on the transition from wall to brick that I would soften the edges and frame tge foreplace more with some substantial wood trims in whatever style you'd like ...traditional, farmhouse etc. Paint or stain it and your mantel the same color to tie them together. Whitewash your brick as others have suggested, leave it variated not solid white. Remove your brass insert and spray in whatever finish you'd like...rubbed oil bronze or black would be my choice. It's a beautiful focal point but it just needs a little update! I hope this sparked an idea or two.

  • Robyn Garner Robyn Garner on Jul 09, 2019

    If possible, chip out the bricks that make a "step" for the mantle. You can also remove the mantle at that time and replace with more interesting wood or metal. Use cut bricks to fill in where the "steps" were.


    Once the facade is now flat, you can decide if you wish to paint or put tiles over the brick. It's easy enough to fir out over the brick to put a different facade on. Fortunately, you already have a floor to ceiling fireplace!


    Repaint using high heat paint over the brass insert OR replace with an updated electric unit (or gas if you have gas to the fireplace). Removing the hearth will also go far in updating the unit and give you more usable floor area. If the hearth goes and you put in a new insert, it will be FABULOUS as it's raised off the ground!