Decorating Ideas for a Painted Brick Fireplace

Blend in

• If you don’t like the look of your brick fireplace or simply want to deemphasize your fireplace entirely, paint the brick the same color as the wall on either side of it. While the texture of the brick will still be visible, using the same color for the surround and walls allows the fireplace to blend in with the rest of the room so it’s not the focal point of the space. The technique is particularly effective with darker colors because they do a better job of camouflaging the brick, but you can use any color, including light shades like white and cream.

Pop With White

• You can brighten the look of a dark, drab living room by painting your brick fireplace white. While a brick surround adds natural warmth to a room, the weight and color of the material can sometimes contribute to a dreary feel. White paint gives it a bright, airy look and helps make the fireplace a focal point of the room. If the room requires serious brightening, you can paint the walls to match the fireplace, but choosing a shade that is darker than the white allows the fireplace to stand out even more. You can give the fireplace a more polished look by attaching a wooden mantel to the top of the brick and staining it in a rich, dark shade.

Match the Trim

• If you want to make your brick fireplace the focal point of the room, paint it the same color as the room’s trim and molding. Traditionally, molding is painted in a shade that is noticeably darker than the wall color to create a strong contrast and help define the space. Painting your brick fireplace in the same dark shade instantly draws the eye to the feature because it is a much larger area than the trim. When choosing a color, opt for a paint shade with warm undertones to ensure that the room has a warm, inviting feel. Chocolate brown, maroon and terra cotta are attractive options.

Restore the Brick

• Removing paint from brick is a difficult process that requires special tools or products, so you may be stuck if you decide that you do not like the painted look of your fireplace. However, you can actually restore the look of natural brick with faux finish techniques. If you’ve painted your fireplace a dark color, start with a tinted primer to cover the bold shade. Choose a gray paint color to simulate grout, and use a small brush to paint the lines between each brick. Select several shades of brown, red and rust colored paint to brick your ideal brick shade. You can mix the paint before hand, or choose a base shade and use the other colors to cover over areas for a mottled look. For added texture, use a sponge to apply the paint so the fireplace looks as realistic as possible.