13 Transformative Fireplace Makeover Ideas
1. Paint a brick fireplace black or a bold color.
You’ve probably seen many brick fireplaces that have been painted white and that can look great, but that’s not your only option. You could paint your fireplace black for a more modern look. Pair it with a stained wood mantle for a chic result!
Another idea is to paint it in a bold color, like teal. This can feel like a risky choice but it can come out looking just fabulous if the color goes well with your decor! And you can always paint it again another color if you want to redecorate down the road.
2. Add built-in shelves on both sides of the fireplace.
A fireplace all by its lonesome on a wall can look, well, lonely. Consider building shelves on both sides to add more storage to your home and to fill out the wall. Your room will also look bigger and taller as a result!
3. Tile the fireplace surround.
This simple change will give your fireplace an instant update. It’s not a hard project and the results will amaze you. You could tile over your existing tile or go all the way and pull out the existing tile. Ceramic tile would work, but so would glass mosaic tile and marble herringbone tile. Visit a tile shop or a home improvement store and choose from the many options for your fireplace makeover!
4. Stain your brick fireplace.
Maybe you want to change the look of your brick fireplace, but you’re just not down with the idea of painting it. You can stain it instead! This fireplace used to be gray until it was stained a more traditional red and it looks much warmer than the before!
5. Paint a painted fireplace to look like brick.
Or maybe you’ve bought a home where the previous homeowners painted over the brick and you don’t like the look. You could paint the brick to look like brick! The best part is that you can choose your brick colors, so this project would also work on a brick fireplace that doesn’t look exactly the way you want it to.
6. Build a new mantel surround.
With some MDF and wood, you can build yourself a brand new mantel surround to add more visual weight to a small fireplace. I really love the modern look of this one!
7. Add planked wood above the fireplace.
A nice way to make your fireplace look bigger and your ceiling higher is to install planked wood above it. It’s a dramatic look and you can paint the planks in any color to compliment your room. This fireplace looks beautiful with white planks above a white mantel surround and herringbone tile.
8. Put stone veneer over a brick fireplace.
Tired of your brick fireplace? Tile over it with a stone veneer or a stone wall tile and bring it all the way up to the ceiling. This fireplace makeover idea is even more dramatic if you have high ceilings!
9. Add columns to a mantel.
This is a simple fireplace makeover idea that works if you already have an existing mantel. Beef up your fireplace by adding columns to turn your mantel into a mantel surround.
10. Spray over brass accents.
Brass may be gaining in popularity these days, but brass on the fireplace might not be your taste. Spray the brass away and update the look of your fireplace in just a few minutes.
11. White wash your brick fireplace.
White washing a brick fireplace is a good middle ground between painting and leaving the brick alone. You’ll still have the rustic character and color of the brick intact, but if you don’t really love the colors of the bricks, they’ll be softened for an entirely new look.
12. Paint over the old tile surround.
If your fireplace has a tile surround you’re not in love with, you can paint over the tile for an easy temporary upgrade. Black is a chic choice, and a popular one at that. Another idea is to do a stencil over the tile surround so it looks like you tiled over it with a mosaic tile! This stencil could help you achieve the look of Moroccan tile.
13. Turn your fireplace into a concrete fireplace.
This is a big project, but the results look great and very modern! If you like the look of concrete, you can turn your brick fireplace into a concrete one with the help of this tutorial. At less than $100, this is a great fireplace makeover idea that won’t cost you a lot of money.
There’s no reason to live with an ugly fireplace when you have all these fireplace makeover ideas at your fingertips! What other fireplace makeover ideas have you tried or plan to try?
I’m Elisa and I live in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two little girls. I used to teach reading and writing, but now I stay at home with my two kiddos and read and write in my spare time. I also love to undertake DIY projects, find new recipes on Pinterest, and dream about someday finally completing our home. Above all, I love to learn about new things and sharing my new-found knowledge with others.
