Paint Idea for Walls With Fireplaces

Paint to Stand Out

• If you're lucky enough to have a fireplace in your home, you probably want to highlight it as the room’s main architectural feature. To draw attention to it, paint the wall around it with a color that contrasts with the fireplace surround or mantle. For a traditional red-brick fireplace, a light green shade like sage or olive on the wall provides an attractive contrast that draws the eye there. If you have a gray or blue stone surround, try a pale peach or yellow color for the wall around it. With a wooden mantle, you can choose from a variety of colors, since you can paint the wood along with the wall to create the ideal contrast to highlight the fireplace.

Go Neutral

• If you want to draw attention to your fireplace but prefer a subtle look, skip the contrasting wall shade and go with a neutral. Neutral shades work well because you can paint all the room’s walls with the same color without worrying about overpowering the space. Pairing a crisp white or warm cream wall with a brick or stone fireplace helps highlight the fireplace just as a colorful contrasting shade would, but the neutral wall provides a softer overall look for the room. Gray, tan and beige are other neutral wall colors to consider.

Go Bold

• When you want to ensure that your fireplace is the focal point of your room, choosing a bold color that complements the tones of the surround or mantle is another effective option. By choosing a rich color for the fireplace wall and keeping the remaining walls in the room neutral, the eye is naturally drawn to the fireplace. Try a warm chocolate shade with a red-brick fireplace or a vivid plum color with blue or gray stone. With a mantle that has a natural wood finish, try a golden yellow color to highlight it and add warmth to the room.

Paint to Match

• Because they are often large, dramatic architectural features, fireplaces naturally become the focal point of a room. However, if you wish to de-emphasize your fireplace, painting the wall around it in a shade that matches the mantle or surround can help it blend in with the rest of the room. If your fireplace features a red-brick surround, a rust or terra cotta shade is an attractive option. For a slate surround, try a blue-gray paint on the wall. If you have a wooden mantle, you can paint the wood and wall in the same shade to truly help the fireplace blend in with the room.