How to Change an Ugly Brick Fireplace

Paint the fireplace. Sometimes, painting over an unattractive brick fireplace can make all the difference. Choose a color that works well with the color scheme of the room. White paint, for instance, is a good idea for rooms with walls with lots of white borders and trimmings. You should be completely sure you want to paint the fireplace in the color you choose, as paint is very difficult to remove from brick. You will likely need two or more coats to sufficiently cover the brick.

Use a fireplace paint kit if you just want to improve upon the brick look. These kits come with specialized paint that enhances the look of the existing brick. You can go from faded, red bricks, to bricks that look like they were just installed yesterday. You can also change the color of the brick, such as going from a light, cream-colored brick to a darker, red-colored brick. Look for fireplace paint kits at hardware and home improvement stores.

Cover the brick with ceramic, stone or marble tiles. You can purchase square tiles of any size for any of those materials at a home improvement store to hide the brick. You will need to first make sure that your fireplace has a smooth surface so that the tiles will lie flat against the brick. Depending on which material you are covering the brick with, you will need a special adhesive paste that will help that material stick to the bricks. Covering the brick fireplace in a different material will give your fireplace a completely different look.

Demolish the brick fireplace altogether. You will need to hire a professional to safely demolish and dismantle the brick from the fireplace. This will give you the freedom to install any kind of fireplace you wish, including a more modern, sleeker-looking gas fireplace or even an electric fireplace with remote-control settings. This will also be the costliest way to change your fireplace, but if you can afford the price, it will be well worth it to have a brand-new fireplace you are happy with.