How to Finish a Three-Sided Fireplace

Finish the walls with metal to create a modern look. Install sheets of stainless steel, copper or corrugated steel to create a sleek, industrial look. To install the metal, measure the surfaces you want to cover and ask the professionals at your home improvement store to cut the sheets to size. Smooth the edges of the cut metal with a fine metal sander. Apply heat resistant epoxy and tile adhesive to the back of the sheets and secure them to the walls. The flames from the fireplace will reflect off the metal, adding even more allure to the feature.

Install brick veneers around the fireplace. Brick veneers come in a variety of colors, including red and brown, and create a traditional look for a three-sided fireplace. To install brick veneers, use a notched trowel to cover the areas you want to cover with mortar and allow the mortar to dry. Butter the back of the veneers with mortar and set the veneers onto the mortared surfaces of the fireplace. Allow the veneers to set for 24 to 48 hours. Use a grout bag to fill in the spaces between the bricks with grout. While the grout is still wet, wipe the surface of the veneers with a damp sponge to remove grout from the surface of the bricks.

Finish a three-sided fireplace with stone veneers. Stone comes in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, like rounded river rocks and flat slatelike pieces. Stone veneers are similar to tiles, making them a lighter and easier to install alternative to natural stones. The installation of stone veneers is similar to that of brick veneers. Apply mortar to the surface of the fireplace with a notched trowel. Once the mortar cures -- 24 to 48 hours -- butter the back of the veneers with mortar and set them onto the mortared wall surface. Apply grout between the stones with a grout bag and use a damp sponge to wipe grout off the surface of the stones. This finish will give the space a rustic look, inspired by nature.