How to Make a Brick Fireplace Look Contemporary

Prime over the bricks. Use a one-coat primer and apply this to the bricks using a roller. Fill in any edges or cracks using a brush. Allow the primer at least two to four hours to dry.

Paint over the bricks. Using your desired paint color, apply one coat over the primer with a roller. Once again. fill in any ridges or cracks with a brush. For a contemporary look, choose a paint color like white, red, charcoal or black. A bold color will draw attention to the fireplace. Allow this coat six to eight hours to dry.

Apply a second coat, if necessary. You will need to apply a second coat if you notice any red brick color bleeding through the paint. In most cases, the primer will help prevent this, but it may occur because brick is a such a porous material. Apply your second coat and then allow it time to dry.

Paint the existing mantel. If you will not be replacing the mantel, you can repaint it to give it a more contemporary feel. If you chose white, red or charcoal for the brick, paint the mantel black. If you chose black for your bricks, use white or red for the mantel for a bold look.

Hang a new mantel. If you will be replacing the mantel, choose a contemporary design in the color of your choice. Remove the old mantel and hang the new one in its place. You may need to touch up your paint job around the edges if the new mantel is slightly smaller.