Published on July 11th, 2022

Last updated on February 6th, 2023

How To Paint A Brick Fireplace In 7 Steps

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
brick fireplace

A sitting room or home lounge zone with a cozy fireplace creates a unique atmosphere of harmony and calmness. So, a desire to improve your relaxing decoration element is normal and easy to realize by our article on how to paint a brick fireplace.

The best way to renovate your fireplace and highlight it with new colors is to approach painting solutions. However, a homemade decoration strategy requires primitive painting skills and few secrets to provide long-term results for your fireplace made of bricks. In this article, you will get 7-step guidance on refinishing your brick fireplace with paint.

7 Steps To Organize Correct Painting Of A Brick Fireplace

The simple intent of the brick fireplace renovation is broader than the action to paint the walls. To achieve a wow effect, you need to perform detailed design surveys about what to do for longer. Indeed, you need to perform several steps to achieve incredible results:

  • Step 1: Inspire yourself with design ideas;
  • Step 2: Prepare tools;
  • Step 3: Clean surface;
  • Step 4: Put the primary layer;
  • Step 5: Paint a fireplace;
  • Step 6: Add decoration elements;
  • Step 7: Maintain the painted fireplace walls.

Step 1: Inspire Yourself With Design Ideas

designed fireplace
Review design catalogs

If you plan to refresh your living room, a central element of which is a brick fireplace, you may review some design catalogs or interior decor vlogs to get inspired by the painting ideas.

Color options, along with before and after comparison, clarify the following questions:

  • what paints are safe for the environment, humans, and pets?
  • what dangers could you face if you neglect to apply the primary painting layer?
  • what tools do you need to fulfill cleaning measures?
  • how to decorate the final result?
  • how to cure your fireplace in order to prolong the painting modifications?

The answers to questions clarify the action plan for qualitative results upon your fireplace renovation.

Step 2: Prepare Tools

brush for painting
Prepare necessary instruments for painting

Check the available painting assortment and draw up the purchase list, if needed:

  • thick painting roller;
  • brushes of a middle size acceptable for the mansory painting;
  • jars of primary paint and main paint like acrylic or latex dyes;
  • cleaning items, including mould remover, specific soaps, and antibacterial washing kits;
  • wire brushes and interior cement mixtures to remove inequalities, breaks, and damages, if any.

At the preparatory stage, you need to move large furniture away and cover the floor, nearby walls, and ceiling with a protective covering. Also, use special packages to hide assembled wooden elements over your fireplace. Inappropriate cleaning items or dyes could affect the texture of those elements harmfully.

Step 3: Clean Surface

cleaning fireplace surface
Clean fireplace surface

Once the preparatory measures are done, start cleaning. The fireplace painting is impossible without removing previous painting layers, smoke spots, and burned break cases outside the firebox. Built your cleaning plan based on the following points:

  1. assess the fireplace surface and find defects that required particular remedy measures;
  2. remove all inequalities with the wire brush;
  3. prepare the cement or glue mixture to fill breaks or holes and rehabilitate the damaged areas;
  4. apply antibacterial and mould-removing sprays or gels to ruin wall-destroying factors and keep house inhabitants healthy;
  5. finish the cleaning process with soapy water and soft brushes to make the surface ideal for the primary painting layer.

Step 4: Put The Primary Layer

putting primary paint layer on brick surface
Apply primary paint layer

The bricks are preferable material for painters and builders because these universal fireplace supplies accept different covering dyes for primary or secondary layers.

The primary layer could not differ from the main one. Therefore, both layers should have the same colors to avoid visual defects at the end. Use a thick roller on the long flexible stick to painting the texture from top to bottom. A simple painting brush of a middle size will be enough to put the primary layer on the fireplace and not miss any brick joint for the mansories.

Step 5: Paint A Fireplace

painting fireplace with white paint
Start painting

The culmination of your efforts is to put the main painting layer and enjoy the final result. While selecting dyes, you should pay attention to the following secrets:

  • tints of the primary and secondary layers are identical. They should be neutral or warm. Any vibrant or bright shades used for the exterior design elements are inappropriate;
  • dyes should be safe for interior microclimate, human, animal, and plant health. Also, the whitewash covering requires fire protection dyes acceptable for high temperatures and a prolonged life span;
  • painting tools should be identical for the primary layering.

The construction experts and designers offer acrylic or latex paints to refresh your fireplace with new colors. Also, a great solution is applying washable paints to simply post painting maintenance. Apart from stone or metal fireplaces, the brick texture allows one to experiment with different painting mixtures.

Step 6: Add Decoration Elements

white fireplace
Decorate the fireplace

After completing the painting works, you may improve the overall look with decoration elements. Wooden shells, candles, family portraits, and other lovely accessories could create amazing visual effects and a comfortable atmosphere during pleasant winter evenings.

Try to pick up the design stuff in harmony with the general concept of the living room arrangements.

Step 7: Maintain The Painted Fireplace Walls

white fireplace burning
Take care of fireplace paint

Maintaining the painted fireplace box and keeping its outlook stunning for the long term is necessary. Nevertheless, a simple approach to painting the brick-built fire container encourages you to change its design without extraordinary forces or funds. Use the cleaning items perfect for washing the fireplace walls periodically. In addition, the housekeeping facilities should not damage improvements or remove the painting layers.

Experient With Interior Design For Fabiolous And Gorgeous Painted Fireplace

You may add more steps to make your fireplace cozy and minimize your post-renovation activities like fireplace cleaning or washing. Do not be afraid to attempt extraordinary or classic ideas for a stunning and perfectly designed fireplace.

How To Whitewash A Brick Fireplace

FAQ

How to paint a brick fireplace?

To paint a brick fireplace, you need to clean the fireplace walls and protect the decoration elements from contact with dyes. Upon the preparatory works, use primary acrylic paints to perform the first layer. Finalize your painting activities with the main in bright latex or acrylic dyes and place the appropriate design elements

Can you paint a brick fireplace?

Primitive painting skills and a bit of fantasy allow modifying the fireplace without harmful effects on the brick surface. Everything you need is to prepare the required tools and eco-friendly dyes. Also, do not forget about cleaning and preparatory works to remove any inequalities, mold, breaks, or dark spots.