How to Update Your Fireplace – 5 Easy & Affordable Ideas

Tips to Make Your Fireplace Look More Modern

Is your fireplace outdated and boring? Have you been wanting to do a remodel, but can’t afford a full makeover? If so, then get ready to give your fireplace a swift kick in the ash…

1. FIREPLACE UPDATE IDEA: paint the brass surround

Nothing kills a beautiful brick or stone fireplace more than an outdated brass surround. Luckily, you’ll find that most fireplaces with brass surrounds have removable pieces, making it MUCH easier to paint them. However, some surrounds have the odd details that are built-in to the frame, making them a bit more finicky, but not impossible to paint.

HOW TO UPDATE THE BRASS SURROUND ON A FIREPLACE

All the steps must be followed to a tee (and I am watching…).

STEP 1: Sand with fine-grit sandpaper

If the original surface is shiny, new paint won’t adhere properly – you need a roughed-up surface for the paint to stick to. HIGH grit sandpaper should be used to etch the surface without carving it (kind of like giving your skin a light exfoliation). And like your Mom always says, ‘remember to give it a good wipe when you’re done‘! 

STEP 2: Heat resistant spray primer (here)

When spray painting, fine/thin coats are essential to avoid drips and build-up. It’s also important that this paint is heat-resistant, rather than flammable (for obvious reasons). 

STEP 3: Heat resistant spray paint (here)

Again, the paint needs to be heat resistant and NOTHING works as well as this Rustoleum product as it’s actually a BBQ paint and works like a hot damn (literally and figuratively).

A matte finish is usually the best finish to coordinate with any other existing black on your fireplace surround and glossy can come off a bit abrasive looking.

Remember, paint can take three weeks to properly cure – be very careful with your painted pieces when reattaching them.

BTW, with all of these update ideas, it never hurts to get a second opinion if you are unsure of any of the above. My advice is based on personal ‘hands-on’ experience and I’m not a tradesperson nor an employee of a paint/hardware store – I’m just a crazy lil Ginger who likes to paint stuff!

2. FIREPLACE UPDATE IDEA: retile with peel & stick tiles

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly way to update your old fireplace tile, other than paint, peel & stick stiles are the best way to get a fresh new look. Of course, this won’t work going over a more textured stone surface, but it’s GREAT over old tile!

While this next fireplace isn’t updated with peel and stick tiles, there are tiles out there that look VERY similar…

In the above photo, notice that we also took the dated round details off the supports, giving the mantel a more updated look.

1. Linear White and Gray 12×12 Tile | 2. Natural Stone Chevron Pattern Tile | 3. Dark Charcoal Peel and Stick Tile | 4. Warm Travertine Tile

Keep in mind, this isn’t necessarily a FOREVER solution – this is a ‘for now’ solution. In the ideal world, we would ALL start from scratch and use products that are in it for the long haul. However, ‘starting from scratch’ can cost serious scratch. This is really a great idea if your fireplace surround is fugly, but not forever, and you’d like something to get you by for a few years!

BTW, I say the above to be on the safe side, but at the same time, you might get 10 – 20 years out of it! I just trust it less as it’s not applied with traditional mortar/grout. 

3. FIREPLACE UPDATE IDEA: paint the mantel & fireplace surround

A wood mantle is not necessarily a ‘good’ mantle. If it’s outdated and doesn’t match your decor, it won’t do you or the aesthetics of your home any favors. On the other hand, if it’s white and you’re looking to make a change, painting it a dramatic color can add some instant impact to your space. Let’s flashback to one of my favorite Kylie-isms…

Just because it’s WOOD, doesn’t mean it’s GOOD. 

In this next photo, the river rock stone fireplace (the early 2000s) looks dated and drab with the darker taupe paint color and stained wood, but AFTER – what a facelift!

In this next photo, if you have a good mantel in place, this look can be achieved using Ideas #2 and #3 – peel and stick tile and fresh paint…

Examples of good wood mantels that suit the room they’re in…

Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray

Why yes, that IS a suit of armour! I have the coolest clients…

HOW TO UPDATE A WOOD MANTEL WITH PAINT

STEP 1: SAND

When prepping a mantel for paint (whether it’s stained or currently painted) you need to sand your surface to remove the majority of the sheen. If you don’t do this, the new finish may not stick as well. Just remember, you don’t need to completely ‘sand it down’ you need to ‘scuff it up’. Use approx. 220 grit. Once you’ve done this step, give it a good wipe.

STEP 2: PRIME

If you’re painting over any raw wood, it’s smart to prime it first. In most cases, it’s best to use oil primer as the water in latex primer can often raise the grain in the wood – creating yet another step in the process. You can use latex paint over oil primer without any worries and two coats of primer should do the trick.

STEP 3: PAINT

Regardless of whether you’re painting over wood/stain or existing paint, I recommend Benjamin Moore Aura – pearl finish. 2-3 coats of this product will give you a beautiful finish as it has a moderate amount of self-levelling properties (which make for a smooth surface when applied with a 10-13mm nap roller). If it’s a hot day and your paint is drying fast, use Flotrol to give it a bit more drying time.

While the wall paint color and painted mantel are DRASTIC improvements to the above fireplace, I would definitely paint those silver metal strips on the fireplace!

In this next example, a white painted mantel is a CLASSIC choice (also, notice the painted brick, a super affordable update)…

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray with White Dove

DON’T FORGET, paint can take three weeks to cure properly, so be gentle with your freshly painted surface.

While you can apply lacquer or varathane as a finishing coat, I personally haven’t found it necessary as this product (and other comparable ones) seem to hold up very well on many different surfaces in my home – as long as it’s been cured properly and I haven’t gotten impatient and put things on top before I should!

And remember, fireplaces don’t need to be over-the-top to look FABULOUS…

The 5 Types of White Paint Colors

The Best Paint Colors to Update Your BRICK Fireplace

4. FIREPLACE UPDATE IDEA: seal your stone, brick or hearth

Whether you have old brick, modern river rock or a 1980s black slate hearth, these are all products that can change color/tone when sealed (assuming they aren’t already sealed).

In these next photos, these stone fireplaces are DEFINITELY contenders for sealant, if the homeowner’s so inclined…

To see what your fireplace would look like when sealed, fill a spray bottle with water and spray a section of your fireplace with it. It’s really pretty cool. Keep in mind that many of the sealants won’t have the ‘sheen’ that water makes, but will create the ‘depth of color’ needed to see a noticeable change. There are the odd stone & brick products that don’t respond to water or sealing and this is usually because a) they’re not natural products, or, b) they’ve already been sealed.

Some stone sealing products have a level of sheen to them. Usually, the more sheen, the more enhanced the colors will be. However, you ALSO don’t want shiny rocks or bricks, so keep moderation in mind.

5. FIREPLACE UPDATE IDEA: paint your brick or stone 

Yes, men around the world are cursing my name – it won’t be the first time my face is featured on a dartboard (I’d prefer a calendar)! These days, you may notice a wide range of trends coming back in style; trends you NEVER thought (or hoped) you’d see again. However, you don’t see many bricks being resurrected from years gone by (although there are a few that are classic and should be left as-is – I’m a BIG fan of these).

This next living room is an example of what some whitewashed stones can look like…

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray walls

This next stone fireplace is a tricky one as its warmth and saturation can be limiting as it relates to wall colors. And while whitewashing it won’t change a LOT, it would definitely calm things down by taking some of the saturation away…

The Best Beige & Tan Paint Colors for Today’s MODERN Home

As for this next fireplace, while the owner doesn’t love the warm brown stonework, it actually has some great colors. In fact, based on trends getting WARMER every year, it could certainly come back. HOWEVER, you need to love the home you live in and this homeowner is planning on whitewashing the stone to soften its look…

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

Whitewashing is a popular look right now as it lets a lot of the texture and under color show without having the full-color commitment of the original product. Just keep in mind, that many bricks, when covered in a whitewash, look a bit pinkish (particularly red or darker purplish bricks).

To be TOTALLY honest, I loved the warmth of the stone in its original form – BUT THAT’S ME. When it comes to your own home, you’ve got to do what YOU love and what speaks to your personal style and tastes!

These next photos show beautifully painted stone fireplaces…

Benjamin Moore White Dove on both stone fireplaces, Ballet White on the drywall of the bottom photo 

For less than $50, this next 1970s brick fireplace has a modern updated and modern look. And I promise this brick is NEVER coming back in style…

The 8 Best White Paint Colors from Benjamin Moore

So, if you’re feeling the itch to paint your brick or stone, here are some tips and how-tos…

STEP 1: CLEAN

If your fireplace has soot/build-up on it then you need to clean it. Here are some in-depth cleaning instructions for brick (TSP works well). If you don’t have any build-up, be sure to use a wire brush to remove any loose hunky-chunks (a super technical term) from your surface and then dust it all off.

STEP 2: PRIME

You need to use water-based primer – NOT OIL BASED. Oil primers will prevent the brick from breathing – as we all know, breathing is essential. One good coat of primer will do the trick.

Of course, don’t paint the firebox or anywhere that the fire would touch.

STEP 3: PAINT

Using latex paint (satin finish is appropriate for brick) and a nice thick nappy roller, apply paint to the brick. I recommend using a brush to fill in the grout areas that are too deep for the roller. You’ll save yourself a lot of work doing it this way rather than cutting in ALL of the grout lines first and then rolling.

BTW, with all of these update ideas, it never hurts to get a second opinion if you are unsure of any of the above. My advice is based on personal ‘hands-on’ experience and I’m not a tradesperson nor an employee of a paint/hardware store – I’m just a crazy lil Ginger who likes to paint stuff!

This next brick is one that I love. Its classic and simple colors make it flexible for a variety of styles and the texture/warmth adds a nice vibe to a living or family room…

READ MORE

6 Ideas to Update Your Home on a Budget

The Right Height to Hang Artwork 

How to Update Your Kitchen On a Budget: 4 Ideas

The Best Paint Colors for Your Front Door

Chat soon,

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Originally written in 2016, awesomely updated in 2022