The Fireplace, Love It or Hate It You Gotta Paint It
The easiest way to get rid of the dark and dirty red fireplace is to simply paint over it! But don’t stop there, paint the brass fireplace screen too! Just do it…you’ll never regret it!
We all have that one thing (maybe more than one) that needs updating in our homes don't we? When it's as important a "thing" as the focal point in the main room, as is the fireplace, then we need to stop and really look at it in a creative yet practical way. Here's a follower of my blog that wrote me with her problem fireplace. Read my solutions and maybe you'll look at your fireplace differently now.
HOW DO I
….…..update the look of the red brick fireplace in my living room? We just don’t know what to do with it. It’s dirty, rutty, and looks horrible even after I’ve cleaned it! We are updating the rest of the room and our budget won’t allow for much, so what would you suggest as an easy update for it.
DO THIS
…….Give it a facelift with paint; it is the first line of defense to updating an old red fireplace that has seen its better days.
Removing and replacing means remodeling and that can hit the pocket book pretty hard, so think along the lines of blending it into the rest of the room’s décor.
Here are two examples of red brick fireplace facelifts:
The first is a split screen of the before and after on the right.
By simply white washing the brick and the grout in a couple of colors that blend with the walls it suddenly looks clean and new. And adding a nice formal mantel that can be purchased “ready- made” at your local building supply store, will give it a new updated look. Take a look at
they have many styles made of MDF and real wood that will suit anyone’s taste.
The second photo is an old red brick fireplace that is painted from floor to ceiling in the same white paint that was used to paint the rest of the trim in the room. In this case it was
, Atrium White, in a Pearl sheen. The Pearl sheen gave it a luster that reflects light and adds just a little drama and adds a little depth to an otherwise flat elevation. No mantle needed or desired here, the beautiful color and sheen was all it took!
Another option would be to simply leave it red and update the mantle or add a new modern ledge to it. I’ve seen where some have even sheet rocked over the bricks, above the mantel, creating more wall and reducing its size. All these options are easily doable when you are willing to add some TLC!
The Before and After photo below is my daughter’s fireplace. She not only painted the dirty red bricks but also painted the brass fireplace screen. What a transformation. If you are afraid to take the risk by doing it yourself have your painter do when they paint the room. It really is the easiest and most cost effective way to update the look!
Yes, that’s Bella, my daughter’s pup! She likes the transformation too!