It’s amazing what paint can do to change the look of old brick!
I get asked all of the time about how to paint a brick fireplace. It’s one of the easiest updates you can do and painting brick is no more difficult than painting a wall!
Covering your fireplace with a coat of paint can modernize it’s appearance and bring new life into your room.
This is what the brick fireplace in our family room looked like when we bought our home.
It was just your basic red brick fireplace, but like everything else in the home, it felt outdated and I wanted it to be brought into the 21st century like the rest of our renovated rooms.
I selected a paint color that enhanced our family room’s color palette and decor style, choosing Sherwin Williams Pavestone.
Unfortunately, I didn’t take pictures of each step, but it was a very simple process.
The only supplies you will need:
drop cloth (for the floor)
painter’s tape (to mask off the edges of the adjoining walls and floor)
primer
interior latex paint (in the color of your choice)
roller for rough surfaces or angled brush
First, clean the fireplace brick. I used a warm soapy solution with a little bit of vinegar added in, and just used a stiff brush to scrub it really well.
After I cleaned it really well with the soapy solution, I let it dry really well and then I painted a coat of primer on the brick, letting it dry completely.
Then paint the brick in an interior latex paint, in the color and finish of your choice. I used a semi gloss finish.
You can roll the paint on with a roller made for rough surfaces or use a brush.
I used an angled brush so that I could work it into the grout areas.
After the first coat was completely dry to the touch, ususally a couple of hours, I painted a second coat.
I get lots of questions asking if I painted the grout a darker color.
I didn’t, it’s the same color as the brick. It probably just shows up darker in photos, but it is all the same color.
That’s all there is to it! A quick and easy update that makes a large impact.
One word of warning, however. It is nearly impossible to remove the paint from the brick once the paint is dry, making the change very permanent. So be sure before you paint!
Cheers,
Cindy
You can see the complete renovation of our family room HERE!
Fantastic ideas! Thanks for sharing.
Love this project. I think this will push us to get it done. You chose Pavestone for the fireplace. Could you please tell me the wall color? Thanks
Hi Nancy! The color of the wall is Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray!
Hello Cindy,everything looks fabulous !
Could you tell me what you did to bookshelf step after step please
Just brought a house I’m definitely doing this to the fireplace since it’s currently painted black wish me luck
Good luck, Renee! It will turn out beautifully!
Hi, Cindy, could you please tell me the color of the built in book case? Would that be the same as the trim color, Snowbound? Thank you so much! Jennifer
Yes, the bookcase is Sherwin Williams Snowbound!
We just finished painting our outside brick and love it and are ready to tackle our inside dark brown brick fireplace, so this is so inspirational! We used a gray ‘whitewash’ on our outside brick and love it. What color did you use on this, full strength or washed and how many coats?
We used Sherwin Williams color Pavestone, full strength, two coats.
This is gorgeous and just what I need to do to our home from 1977.
Did you paint the inside of the fireplace? Ours is the same red brick as the exterior and dirty.
Thanks!
Hi Liz! We didn’t paint the inside of the firebox, however, there is a heat resistant paint that can be used to paint inside if you need to. Good luck!
It really doesn’t seem that hard at all… I have a friend looking to paint her fireplace, that’s why I ended up here (she arbitrarily decide I’m helping haha) already saved this here for future reference, thank you!
Wonderful transformation! Is this a wood burning/working fireplace?
Hi Dee! Yes, it is a working wood burning fireplace.
Love it! Just bought my primer and paint. Where did you get the black fireplace screen?
Hi Lee! The fireplace screen came from Lowe’s.
What a beautiful transformation. It is so soft and inviting. One wouldn’t realize the red brick could be so harsh, until you see what you have done. Just lovely.
I am in love with your fireplace screen – gorgeous!
Thank you Sandra! The fireplace screen was made from a salvaged mirror frame. Here’s the link: https://wp.me/p5Xug9-PD
~Cindy~
I love love this room so inviting to come sit a spell !! I notice the ceiling , did you put up new drywall too??
Daily prayers of comfort and knowing our Lords loving kindness is new every morning, dear friend you are not alone.
hugs,
Paula
In.
Thank you, Paula! We didn’t put up new drywall, just patched and repaired the old!
What a difference that made – from wild wild west to 2017 chic. One question: is the grout painted the same color as the brick? In some pics it looks a little darker which is nice. Well done, madam!
Hi Maggie! The grout is the same color as the brick, it just appears darker in some of the photos.
What a big difference! The painted brick looks beautiful! You took it from drab to fab…lol…I think it turned out gorgeous…
How are you doing? I’m still praying for you all…
Blessings~~
Mari
Thank you, sweet Mari! We are hanging in there, taking a day at a time, spending each day with my sister as we walk through these final days with her. Thank you so much for the prayers, they are keeping us going.
Love this, beautiful!
Thank you, Deborah!
Hi Cindy!
Looks awesome…I love the basket with the burlap and flowers and I especially love the little lamb with the rosary….hehe too cute. What a great idea to angle the built-in cabinet, that looks really nice. You do such lovely things and have great ideas!
Much love,
Suzanne
Thank you so much, Suzanne!
Love the transformation!
The transformation is amazing. I so love the room and the way you style your fireplace hearth and mantel. Truly a most casual, yet elegant look!
Thank you, Shirley!