Learn How To Pick Winning Paint Colors For Your Brick Fireplace

A brick fireplace can be the center of any room. But over time, that worn-in patina can start to look more outdated than distinguished. The solution? A new coat of paint to give your old brick fireplace an easy makeover. But achieving the perfect look requires careful preparation and choosing just the right hue. From modern neutrals to eye-catching brights, we will explore all the best practices for painting brick fireplaces to help you pick winning, on-trend colors.

Painting brick seems intimidating at first. However, having the right approach and understanding how color interacts in your space makes all the difference.

Decide on Your Goal

First, determine what look and feel you want your newly painted fireplace to achieve. Painting brick fireplaces allows for lots of creativity but also requires commitment once the brush hits the brick.

• Do you want to soften the brick's texture for a more modern, sleek appearance?
• Is your priority making the fireplace a striking focal point with eye-catching color?
• Would you prefer to subtly tie in the fireplace with the room's decor using muted, neutral tones?

Soften Hard Texture

Products like Brick-Anew create a smooth, uniform surface by essentially whitewashing the brick. Thisapproach dials back the brick pattern for a more contemporary look. Whitewashing also provides a neutral base if you want to apply a color on top.

Create an Accent Wall

Using rich shades of blue, green, or even black transforms brick from dated to daring. Painting the brick a completely different color than the surrounding walls makes it a focal feature. If feeling apprehensive, keep walls neutral to counterbalance bold fireplace tones.

Seamless and Subtle

For a coordinated, pulled-together space, consider matching your wall color family to a lighter or darker version on the brick. Soft grays and bone whites blend seamlessly while still adding lightness and visual interest.

Evaluate Your Brick Fireplace

Now take a fresh look at your fireplace to determine which colors will complement its current state best.

Analyze Brick Color

Is your brick warm red or cool brown? Gray undertones or yellow? Look closely to discern the main color plus any subtle secondary hues. Complementary paint colors will pick up on those base tones.

Mind the Condition

Make any necessary structural repairs before painting. Cracks, missing mortar, moisture damage, or flaking surfaces will undermine paint adhesion. Address issues then clean thoroughly before priming.

Consider Architectural Style

The paint color for a stately brick fireplace in a Victorian home calls for different hues than a sleek modern dwelling. neutrals suit traditional spaces better, while contemporary homes accept bolder colors more easily.

Factor in Existing Decor

Whatever paint color catches your eye, ensure it complements your furnishings and wall color family. Cool grays pair nicely with titanium walls, but will clash with warmer beige tones.

Pick Paint Colors Carefully

With limitless paint options available, selecting that perfect hue can feel overwhelming initially. Arm yourself with these pro tips for foolproof color choosing.

Test Paint Samples First

Never decide on a color based solely on a tiny paint chip or image online. Lighting conditions and sheen can alter tones drastically. Invest a few dollars in sampler sizes to brush sizable swatches directly on the brick. Evaluate in both natural and artificial light at different times of day.

Mind the Undertones

We mentioned evaluating brick color earlier to determine undertones. Now look for complementary paint colors bearing similar subtle hints of gray, brown, red, yellow, etc. Matching undertones prevents jarring color clashes.

Contrast Walls or Coordinate?

As we outlined initially when deciding on goals, you can make the fireplace pop with contrasting colors or blend it cohesively using wall matching tones. Both tactics add style; choose whichever fulfills your vision best!

Prepare Your Brick Surface

Prepping properly leads to flawless painted finishes! Follow these key steps to prep brick fireplaces for painting.

Deep Clean the Masonry

Grease, soot, dust and general dirt impede paint adhesion. Use a degreasing masonry cleaner and stiff brush to scour every crevice. Let dry fully before continuing.

Repair Damaged Areas

Use patching compound to fill any missing pieces, cracks or holes. Allow repairs to cure fully before sanding surfaces. Vacuum away all dust for an ultra clean slate.

Tape Off Sections Not Painting

Painter's tape keeps paint neatly on intended surfaces. Tape off any stone borders or hearth areas you want to keep their original material exposed. Remove tape immediately after painting.

Shop Paint Designed for High Heat

Specialized paints withstand the extreme heat from fireplace flames better than standard options. Ensure whichever brand you select meets ASTM E136 standards.

What to Look For

Brand Recommendations

We recommend specialty high heat paints like or . Multiple coats ensure maximum durability. For white-washing, Brick-Anew specifically formulates for brick facades.

Apply Primer and Paint

Armed with all our prep work and product suggestions, now comes the fun part--actually painting! Use these techniques for foolproof application.

Primer Promotes Paint Adhesion

Quality primer helps the topcoat grab and bond tightly. Opt for bonding primer made specifically for masonry. Apply an even layer using a foam roller, allowing it to fully dry first.

Use Angled Brush for Mortar

Once primed, apply two to three coats of topcoat color using a premium nylon or polyester brush. Choose an angled cut brush to maneuver easily into brick grout lines.

Patience With Multiple Coats

Resist the temptation to rush through and skip coats! Applying less paint saves no time since multiple thinner layers take longer to dry than fewer thicker ones. Use long, even brush strokes to ensure uniform coverage across the entire brick facade.

Achieve Different Looks

Depending on whether you want your brick fireplace to blend in or get noticed, paint allows creating an array of styles. Explore popular painted brick fireplace ideas...

Modern, Muted Earth Tones

For contemporary cool, muted clay colors feel both soothing and chic. Shades like foggy gray, hazy blue, or trendy greige (gray-beige) work beautifully.

Classic Clean Whites

Crisp white painted brick achieves a quintessential fireplace aesthetic with timeless appeal. For variation, try warm antique white or bright snow white.

Saturated Statement Hues

Unexpected pops of color like cobalt blue, emerald green or marigold yellow transform brick from basic to bold focal point.

Whitewashed Brick

As mentioned earlier, whitewashing mutes red brick's pattern for a modern look. White-washing also creates a neutrally bright base for adding color washes over top.

Maintain Your Painted Fireplace

Put in a little routine care to help your freshly painted fireplace maintain its fabulous facelift for years...

Let Paint Fully Cure

Hold off building fires for a few weeks after painting. Follow manufacturer guidelines for topcoat cure times to prevent premature peeling or chipping.

Gentle Regular Cleaning

Over time, smoke and soot will still accumulate. Use soft microfiber cloths with mild soap and water to gently wipe down the brick occasionally. Avoid harsh chemical cleansers.

Touch Up When Needed

Inspect for signs of paint wear once per year. Use high heat paint to spot treat any distressed areas, matching the original color. Address minor touch-ups promptly to prevent bigger cracking issues.

Painting brick fireplaces breathes exciting new life into tired spaces. Following proper preparation steps and choosing complementary hues tailored to your decor results in a striking, on-trend focal point. With this complete guide outlining process, products, colors, and maintenance, you have all the expertise needed to pick winning paint colors for your brick fireplace's stunning makeover!