How to Paint Fireplaces to Make an Ancient Point

Spread a drop cloth across the hearth of your fireplace. Press painter's tape all the way around the fireplace against the wall. This helps to protect your wall from paint particles from the sprayer. Tape newspaper over the opening of the fireplace to prevent paint from getting inside the fireplace.

Fill your paint sprayer with fire-resistant paint. Spray the mantel and fireplace facade with the paint. Allow the paint to dry completely.

Open a can of crackle medium, which you can buy at your local craft store. Dip a broad brush into the medium, which looks clear or milky, and apply the crackle medium in wide stripes across the mantel just as if you were painting on standard paint.

Spray the mantel with a top coat of paint almost immediately after covering it in crackle medium. You must spray on the top coat while the crackle medium is still wet. Repeat this process of applying the crackle medium and spraying on a top coat with each half of the fireplace. By doing each side separately, you help ensure the crackle medium stays wet.

Allow the paint to dry. The crackle medium causes scattered lines to appear in the fireplace, making the fireplace into an ancient-looking centerpiece for your room.