How to Transform a Brick Fireplace

Transform an outdated fireplace with a few coats of paint and a new mantel. Regardless of the style of your home, options exist to update the existing fireplace to accent current decor. Examine the existing decor to determine what will work best for your space. Fireplaces tend to become focal points and should be treated as such. Although accessories are not fixed elements and may be changed out with the season, consider what you will display on the mantel when designing it. With minimal supplies and tools, the old brick fireplace can be given a dramatic facelift to suit modern times and beyond.

Paint
Wood or reclaimed plank
L-brackets
Masonry screws
Molding
Compound mitre saw
Construction adhesive

Instructions

- 1
  Wash the fireplace enclosure with warm sudsy water, and let it dry completely.
- 2
  Prime and paint the brick fireplace in a color suitable to the rest of the room. For instance, white is a popular color to clean up a red brick fireplace. If you want to step it up a notch, paint a vibrant shade of cherry, cerulean or lavender depending on existing decor. Or, if the room is already rich in color and pattern, choose a neutral hue like taupe, gray or cream.
- 3
  Create a shelf for the mantel with the length of wood. Cut it to the length of the mantel. Whether you choose to use a 1-inch by 6-inch or a reclaimed piece of wood from an old fence depends on the look you wish to achieve.
- 4
  Apply a thin layer of construction adhesive to the edge of the shelf where it will meet the bricks. Affix the wooden shelf to the brick fireplace using the L-brackets and masonry screws.
- 5
  Frame the shelf with decorative molding to finish the mantel. The mantel will hide the L-brackets and provide a clean finish to the fireplace. Either choose white molding or dark wood molding for a modern look.

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