Fireplace Makeover

Back in 2016 when my husband and I bought our home, we painted our fireplace surround white.  I fully embraced the all gray walls and white trim trend but to be honest, I’ve never actually liked how my fireplace blended into the wall.  To top it all off, I originally decorated the fireplace with farmhouse décor and guess what… I’m over that too!  I’ve learned over the years that I shouldn’t follow trends and I just stick to what I actually like.  Earlier this month I partnered with Wayfair and tackled my fireplace makeover project that I’ve been wanting to do for years and I’m so happy with the result.

This post is sponsored by Wayfair but all opinions are 100% my own

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Fireplace Before

Here is the dreaded before photo of my fireplace.  The white fireplace surround doesn’t exactly pop and the décor is mostly just random stuff that I owned back in 2016 that and just put up there to fill the space.  I had intended on updating the décor at some point but never got to it.  Well, that is until now!

We also painted the quarter round trim at the bottom of the fireplace white to match the rest of the baseboards and quarter round.  That was a bad idea.  It’s been an eye sore for years so that was on my list of upgrades as well.

I know that many people aren’t a fan of red brick fireplaces but I actually don’t mind the brick.  I think it goes well with our floors.

Fireplace Makeover – After!

I like my fireplace so much better now.  The surround is painted a dark gray/brown color (Sealskin by HGTV home & Sherwin Williams)  and it provides a nice contrast with the walls and the décor that I chose.  It also compliments the red brick well.  This new paint color adds some drama to the room and makes the fireplace the focal point.

The quarter round was replaced and now it matches the flooring.

Almost all of the décor is from Wayfair and it totally elevated the look of the fireplace.  Keep reading for more information on how to paint a fireplace surround and all the details on the décor pieces!

How to Paint a Fireplace Surround

What color should you paint your fireplace surround?

The short answer is any color that you want! What you’ll need to think about is whether or not you want the fireplace to blend in with the wall or if you want a contrast to make the fireplace stand out.

Shades of white are very popular for fireplace surrounds so you can’t go wrong with that.

If you want to go with more of a bold design like me, just be sure to choose a color that compliments the stone/brick/tile on your fireplace.  I went with a dark gray/brown color that contrasts the wall color but compliments the brick.  It’s also pretty neutral and will go well with most any décor.  Keep that in mind when choosing a color.  You don’t want to go with something that is going to clash with the rest of your living room furniture and flooring.

What type of paint can you use around a fireplace?

When painting the stone around your fireplace you’ll want to go with an indoor latex paint that is heat resistant.  Since I was just painting my fireplace surround and it doesn’t get hot when the fireplace is on, I used standard indoor latex paint.  If your fireplace surround is closer to the actual fire and gets hot when you are using your fireplace I would recommend going with the heat resistant paint. Be sure to allow enough time for the paint to cure before adding any décor to your fireplace.

Semi-gloss is my preferred finish for a fireplace surround.  Not only does is provide a durable and solid finish.  It’s also easier to clean than the flat sheens.  I brushed the paint on and applied 3 coats.

Fireplace Mantel Décor 

Wall Mirror

I had to have this mirror.  It fits my awkwardly short wall above my fireplace so well and brings in the gold tones that I was going for with my fireplace makeover.  The mirror was the first piece that I chose in my design and then I selected complimentary items to go with it.

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Vases

I love this silver/bronze vase that has a mercury glass look to it.  The gold compliments the colors in the mirror so well.

This little ceramic vase brought in the dark color of the fireplace surround and was the perfect height to add some stems that I had on hand.

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Decorative Objects

To finish decorating the mantel I added a Buddha head to make the room more peaceful.  To elevate it a bit I added a small wooden box that I bought on clearance somewhere a long time ago.

The last mantel decor pieces that I got from Wayfair are the two cute little gold birds.  They come in a set of 2!

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Fireplace Hearth Décor

Basket

To add some storage for my blankets I went with a basket for one side of my hearth.  This basket is super cute with the white tassels and dark blue bottom.

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Vase

This white vase by Kelly Clarkson Home comes in a few sizes and has such a great texture that adds a ton of interest.  I went with the largest option that is 16.5″ tall and 6″ diameter.

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What do you think about my fireplace makeover?  Do you like it better now or before?

More Home Makeover Projects

Here are a few of my favorite home makeover projects

• Pantry
• Master Bedroom
• Patio/Deck
• Laundry Room

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