How to Paint a Fireplace Creatively

Call attention to a fireplace by sprucing it up with paint.

Fireplaces can look bland if they are plain brick or stone. To paint a fireplace creatively, you first need to take into account the colors that exist in the room and decide whether to pull the room together or let the fireplace take over the space artistically. If you want to draw attention to the fireplace, paint with bold colors. If you want to keep the fireplace minimized, choose colors already existing in the room. If you are working with a brick fireplace, consider a two-tone or three-tone scheme. For a stone fireplace, leave some stones unpainted for a creative look. Light colors tie rooms together; dark colors add depth.

Things You'll Need

• Sandpaper
• Paint scraper
• Paint roller (optional)
• Stiff brush
• Medium and large paintbrushes
• Primer latex paint
• Acrylic latex paint (assorted colors)

Instructions

1. Before you begin priming and painting a brick fireplace, sandpaper the entire surface. Remove mortar crumbs (the white crumbly part between the bricks) with a stiff brush. Scrape away any old paint with a paint scraping tool.

2. Paint on a latex primer with a large paintbrush. Add up to two layers of primer if you are planning to paint an intricate design, portrait or mural on the fireplace. This provides a smoother surface for your work. Latex paints are able to move and breathe without cracking, making them ideal for brick. Let the primer dry overnight or up to 24 hours.

3. Paint on a topcoat of acrylic latex with a medium to large paintbrush, depending on the surface area of the fireplace. Let the topcoat dry overnight. Consider painting a detailed landscape.

4. Paint the inside and outside of the fireplace different, contrasting colors. Only try this painting technique if your fireplace is dormant and used only for decoration. Alternatively, paint the entire fireplace in a solid color that will create depth. Decorate the inside of the fireplace with a mini art gallery or fill it will candles that can be lit for parties or get-togethers.

5. Sketch a mural. Plot out a design on a piece of paper. Mark the outline of the mural---a portrait, a scene, a design---lightly in pencil on the fireplace surface. If you have added enough primer, you should have a smooth surface to work on. Paint with small, detail brushes.

6. Paint a stenciled design. Purchase plastic or rubber stencils at a crafts store or make them yourself. Go bold with a zebra, cheetah, tropical flora or other stencil designs. Lay the stencil out on the primed fireplace surface. Trace the stencil lightly in pencil. Press the next stencil---or the same one if you are making a repeated cheetah pattern, for instance---along the edge of the previous outline and trace again. Fill in the areas with whatever color paints you wish for an authentic or eccentric look.

References

• The Learning Channel: Trading Spaces: Painting a Brick Fireplace

Resources

• Apartment Therapy: What To Do With Stone Fireplace: Good Questions
• Apartment Therapy: Hot or Not Colorful Fireplaces