A brick fireplace creates an incredibly relaxing ambiance for your family to enjoy. It’s the perfect setting for unwinding with a good book or gathering with friends for a cozy evening. If your brick fireplace is starting to look a little dated, there is a cheap and easy way to breathe some new life into it. Painting your brick fireplace can give your home a fresh new look.

Before You Paint

Whether your dull and outdated brick is a wall in your kitchen or a fireplace in the middle of your living room, paint can be just the thing for a quick facelift. Before you start painting, however, there are a few things to consider; and there are some pros and cons of painting brick to be aware of.

1. Choose the Right Paint

Before painting your brick fireplace you must choose the right paint. If you use the fireplace often, you need paint that can withstand heat up to 250 degrees. If you never light up a fire in the hearth, a standard latex interior paint will work. The paint sheen determines how much it reflects light. Eggshell is a lower sheen that gives off a warm glow and shows fewer imperfections. Semi-gloss paint reflects a lot of light and can be distracting in a bright room; however, it is easier to clean and less likely to stain.

2. Selecting Paint Colors

There are as many color options for fireplaces as there are walls. Choosing a color depends on the look you want and the surrounding decor. If you like your brick color, just repaint it the same color.  If you want a fresh look, there are many choices of colors to change it up. No matter what color you choose, it’s important to know how contrasting colors on trims, mantles, and base moldings will frame the painted brick fireplace. Painting the fireplace a different color can make it the focal design element in your space. Alternatively, painting the brick the same color or similar shade as the finish carpentry will make the brick blend into the architecture.

3. Proper Prep

Even if you’re not using it to burn fires, your fireplace is still more exposed to humidity than your interior walls. It’s vital to clean the brick with a brick-and-mortar cleaner or trisodium phosphate (TSP). Take a wire brush and scrub the bricks to remove any soot, dirt, or dust. Before you paint, use a masonry primer. Not only does this create the best surface to paint over, but it also blocks stains that can form when the brick is exposed to humidity. Make sure the brick is in good condition.  If there are small cracks, you can fill these in with acrylic caulk.

Painted Brick Fireplace Ideas

Give your brick fireplace new life with one of these ideas. Some add a modern aesthetic and others a vintage look. Whichever option you choose, your fireplace will look great.   Solid Colors. The first solution involves using solid color paint to cover all your brick. With the right shade of light-colored paint, this process will instantly lighten the entire room. If you’re painting a brick wall or fireplace in your basement where you have few windows to get natural light, this idea will make your space seem brighter and more open. Go for black paint if you want a more dramatic look. Other popular colors include green, red, and blue.   For a painted fireplace that stands out, paint it white. The stark white brick adds a touch of modernity to your home. Plus, the white will look great regardless of the color scheme you’ve chosen for the rest of the room. Whitewashed Brick. If you prefer a more rustic style, try whitewashing your fireplace. This process involves covering your brick fireplace with a thin, white paint mixture that tones down the look of dark brick and allow some of the original brick color to peek through. This works well with cottage chic, vintage, or beachy decor. Schmear It. The word schmear comes from an old German word meaning smear. It’s a decorative mortar wash that adds a layer of personality to your brick fireplace. Instead of painting the brick, you spread mortar onto the fireplace. Then, with a trowel or sponge, you wipe some of it off to expose the brick.

Trusted Painting Professionals

When you’re ready to spruce up your living space with a new look, call on Walla Painting to paint your brick fireplace. We can transform any room with a fresh coat of paint on walls, trim, cabinets, and more. Our team is ready to give your home the fresh look it needs. Contact us today for a free consultation.