How do I paint a stone wall?

I love a stone wall but the brown grout color looks terrible with gray stone. Any help or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

  14 answers
  • Morgan McBride Morgan McBride on Jan 23, 2020

    They sell paint pens for grout!

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Jan 23, 2020

    Consider painting just the mortar. Perhaps black. I agree, brown and gray were not a good choice. If that doesn't work, you could paint the entire wall. Since you have that large window to let in the light, I think it would be okay with a dark color. Bonus, you could "hide" the cord in the mortar. At first glance, I thought you had a crack LOL.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Jan 23, 2020

    Hello. Maybe its a lighting difference but I’d rather like your stone walls. I would consider painting the molding around the window white if it was my situation. I might even increase the width of the molding around the window to make it more chunky and substantial to balance out the hardness of the stone. From this photo I think the Dark brown molding is fighting the stone color in my opinion.


    Some bloggers commonly paint all walls, wood or stone all white. If this your decor aesthetic- painting your stone would be a solution. Im not a fan of whitewashing interior stone or brick personally.


    It’s not an aesthetic that everybody enjoys —I would never do such a thing. I prefer color and textures not a blank white sterile colorless lifeless room decor aesthetic.

  • FrugalFamilyTimes.com FrugalFamilyTimes.com on Jan 23, 2020

    I love the stone! You could mortar over the current grout in a color you like. I’ve seen it done with a piping bag.

  • Wow!! What a totally charming wall. If you are sure you want to paint it, I would visit the local paint store and talk to them. Stone is porous and they would know the best product for priming and longevity.

  • Recreated Designs Recreated Designs on Jan 23, 2020

    Hi Diane, Here is a video that may help. She is painting the grout in between brick but it would be the same premise. Hope it helps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q22UDUVwpg

  • Nan W. Nan W. on Jan 23, 2020

    Diane: I'm a big advocate of painted stone.


    Here's my fireplace posting:


    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/living-room/fireplaces-mantels/painted-rock-fireplace-44238380

  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Jan 23, 2020

    I would paint the grout only the color of the stone and paint the window trim the same color. I painted the grout on my floors with an artist brush using oil based paint and still looks good after 5 years.

  • Dee Dee on Jan 23, 2020

    Mapei makes grout refresh. It comes in approximately 30+ colors. It has a sealer in it so it works well. Floor and Decor sell it for half the price Amazon does. It goes pretty easy. Or I would get concrete paint in whatever color you want. Prime first. then paint with a 2 inch brush, get this at the dollar store so you can just throw it away. Paint with ProClassic Interior Acrylic Latex Paint to paint the mortar along with any cracks and crevices of the brick. Then use the 6 ½" roller with ½" nap to paint the rest of the fireplace, ensuring that the paint is applied as evenly as possible.

  • Lucie - Oh my sander Lucie - Oh my sander on Jan 23, 2020

    The stone can be painted and it looks amazing!

  • Joy30150932 Joy30150932 on Jan 23, 2020

    A good latex paint should do the trick but I would prime it first due to any smoke residue that may be on the stone. Try cleaning the stone first with a mix of dish liquid, backing soda and warm water. Wipe off any residue with a damp cloth before painting and let dry fully.

  • Stephie McCarthy Stephie McCarthy on Jan 28, 2020

    Both the stone and mortar can have just washes of paint to push the color in any direction you like. You don't have to use primer or give the whole thing a solid coat of paint at all. I like the tawny color of your grout. What I would do is mix some matching tawny paint, water it way down, and dab it on the stones until they match the grout but a lot of the dark tones in the stones still show through. Paint will bond to all this just find. If it drips while you are working on it, just catch it with a damp rag or baby wipe. -- Stephie McCarthy

  • FrugalFamilyTimes.com FrugalFamilyTimes.com on Oct 01, 2021

    Skim coat it with grey mortar! Pretty easy and cheap too. :)