How to paint an old brick fireplace.
I was excited to have a fireplace in the living room but that excitement quickly faded when we realized it was in the only space that could hold our tv. After a lot of discussion, we decided that the only place for the tv was over the fireplace. Not my first choice but, when you live in a small space, you do what you gotta do.
The mantel wasn’t wide enough to hold our tv, so we did what any good DIYer would do…
We slapped a piece of plywood up on the mantel, hooked the tv up and called it done.
It stayed this way for 6 months until I couldn’t stand to look at it one any longer.
It took awhile to find the perfect piece of wood but we eventually got there. Now the mantel looks 100% better, the tv fits and we ditched the ugly plywood.
Now that we finished the mantel makeover, it was time to paint the old brick fireplace.
When we moved into the house the brick surround was painted black and inside was a bunch of propane logs (with about 20 years of dog hair and dust). It was dirty, dusty and completely gross. I wasn’t sure how I wanted it to look but I knew it needed to be cleaned up. I removed the screen, as well as the gas logs, and gave the firebox a much needed cleaning.
We lived with the surround painted black for months, trying to figure out what we wanted to do. Unfortunately, inspiration never hit. After we finished the mantel, though, I decided to freshen up the surround. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money or time doing a makeover, so I decided to just give the fireplace a fresh coat of paint.
Before any paint went up on the old brick, I donned my snazzy yellow rubber gloves and gave the surround a thorough cleaning with hot water and TSP.
The rest was easy. A couple coats of the paint we used on the mantel, SW Alabaster, and the old brick fireplace makeover was looking fresh and new.
It only took 6 months and a little bit of paint on the old brick fireplace, but it’s looking so much better and brighter.
The walls are on the list for paint (eventually) so that will change things, too.
I still want to do something fun to the surround but I can live with this…for now.
Check out a couple of other projects we’ve been doing around the house
L. E. Bruce
Love the white bricks. Really brightens up the room!
Chris R Bodurtha
Love poking around home goods. I usually head to kitchen gadgets so that or decorative pillows would be my purchase
Melanie
Thanks for the opportunity. I need two baskets for my kitchen!
Kim
Great job on the fireplace makeover and I love the gallery wall beside it. The main thing I gravitate to in HomeGoods are the pillows and tableware. 🙂
Ann E
I need new bathroom rugs, so I’d probably do that or be frivolous and hit lighting. LOL.
Jacki Salinas
I would love to know how you attached the wood piece to the top of your mantel as I have the same issue – – very narrow mantel. Thanks!!
Kristi
Hi Jacki! I did on post on how we did the mantel and linked to it in this post. In case you missed it, here is the link.
http://www.chatfieldcourt.com/diy-fireplace-mantel/
Hope that helps. 🙂
Jacki Salinas
On, forgot to say I’d probably buy lamps at Homegoods ?
Norma Fisher
Love Home Goods. They have a horse picture I’ve been wanting for 1-1/2 years.
Linda
I love your white fireplace. Helps me firm up my plans to paint my own red brick fireplace, which is in a dark room, to update and lighten the space. I love Homegoods and usually go first to the lamps and furniture. Always on the lookout for fabulous lamps to update my spaces.
Brenda, Florida
Brenda, Florida
I love how the fireplace looks fresh and bright! I have lived in my “cozy little cottage” for 3 1/2 years and still have a blank wall in my little dining area, I have looked and looked, but just haven’t found the right thing, so I would look for a wall piece that fits my beachy cottage look. Have a good week and thanks for the chance of a reward.
Karen
Just redid our fireplace and mantel too. Yours turned out beautiful. Looking for accessories to finish off the room, so Home Goods is my place always a favorite of mine. Enjoy your projects!
Sherry Darlington
I too lived with a less than lovely fireplace for several years. I convinced the hubs to paint it & the results were beyond amazing. We sorta whitewashed our gray stone & added some taupe. Now I need some spring decor from Home Goods to freshen it up.
Stacie
I need to decorate the bathroom i’m remodeling.
Suzanne Douglass
Loving the white brick. It is inspiring me to lighten up my fireplace!
Diva Odete Kreszl
Love, love, love the fireplace makeover! Visiting your blog and reading your posts are such a visual treat!
Debra Schramm
I’d purchase some piece of art to go on my mantel!
Pat DonBrosky
Would love to find a Spring picture to remind me that it’s bound to arrive here in New England … eventually!
Nancy
Your fireplace looks great, Kristi. The extra piece of wood needed to hold your TV actually was a wonderful addition to the mantel. It looks like it’s always been there. Like it belongs. Well done! Thanks for the generous giveaway, Krist. If I won I’d buy new towels for our bathroom. I’ve had the same ones for more years than I care to reveal and would love to have some pretty new ones for our (still new 🙂 bath. Hugs, Nancy
Joanne Vest
I go t Home Goods every chance I get! I am on the hunt for a black and white stripped pitcher. I have the red and one and the yellow one. Our kitchen/pub room is black and white. We have a garden window above our sink. Great spot for decorating!
I just love reading all of your inspirational blogs! Keeps my mind very active!
Jo
I would buy new planters and flowers because spring is coming. (It is right?)
Kaycee F
Your fireplace makeover has come out beautifully! Beefing up that mantle and painting the brick really made a huge difference, well done. I am a Homegoods junkie too, right now I am currently looking for new table clothes for the kitchen and dinning room tables. Thank you for sharing and inspiring, and for the opportunity to enter your giveaway.
Martha Dexter
Hello, I also love what you did.I Love Home Goods,we have to travel a bit to get to one,but will,becuse they have great stuff! I need things to help me get organized.Keep up the good work. Thanx,Martha
Stephanie
Everything you do, looks fabulous! I am so glad I found your blog. I am seriously addicted to Home Goods, I have been looking to purchase a spring wreath!
Diane
Your fireplace looks so good! I would probably buy new spring/summer pillows for my couch if I won your give-away. Thanks for doing this!
Karenann
Thank you for such a nice giveaway opportunity! I would use the giftcard for some nice dinnerware. I could really use some nice dishes! Your fireplace looks fantastic!
Chris K
The fireplace looks great! I would buy a le creuset Dutch oven, if they have one.
Cathy
Keep up the great work!
Pat M
I’ve love everything you’ve done to this cute little home and it’s coziness really appeals to my sense of what a home should be. The fireplace makeover is such an improvement. Good call on both the mantle and painting the brick.
I love Home Goods but have to limit my trips there in order to have money left over to feed myself and my dog (just kidding). Should I win your giveaway, I would look for new bedding for my bedroom. Did I mention I have a dog? A big dog? 77 pounds of dog who sleeps with me at night on a queen sized bed? Requires frequent replacement of bedding, trust me, and Home Goods never disappoints. Thanks for the opportunity.
Linda
Oh my, just about anything from Home Goods is fabulous!! Love that you have upstyled your fireplace – what a difference!
HS
I would get decorative pillows and rugs.
Rose
I love Home Goods. I am looking for something (wire basket) for fruit. I am also looking for something to give my grand daughter to decorate her bedroom for her birthday.
Carly Williams
I would buy new wall decor for our living room.
Sue
What I would buy at Home Goods, if I should win. Well, to being with I would shop the throw pillow aisle. I need some new throw pillows in my living room. Then I would head over to the Spring Décor section to find something cute for Easter or Spring.
Love the look of your fireplace. What a clean fresh start to Spring right there!
Love your blog. Keep up your good work!!!
Debbie H
Love the fresh look of the fireplace. If I won I would buy a bathroom mirror. I do not have a mirror in the entire place except a hand mirror. LOL Not much of a primper obviously. Moving into a new place I have a long list of things to buy.
Lynda
I would have to check out the new Easter stuff. Love spring and all the cute bunny decor!
Mary Cloud
I’d probably pick up some new throw pillows
Kim
Your fireplace looks amazing. I love the white. You are a worked bee for sure. HomeGoods huh? Oh boy, I could go crazy in that store, but I would probably walk out with a few cake plates. I have a weakness. 😉 Fun giveaway!!
Margaret
I just recently downsized and am trying to find a new more casual style for our 1926 home. I’d probably enjoy finding some great accessories for Spring at Homegoods!
Dawn
Thank you so much for the giveaway. I would love to treat my daughter with something special for the nursery she is decorating.
MARTHAIA
Looks great ,I would get some new lamps from home goods.Thanks
Carolsue
They have really nice dog beds. I’d buy my favorite pooch a new bed!
Leslie
Fireplaces are such wonderful features – I’m lucky enough to have one – but they can be such huge design challenges if they’re from another era. Love how you address yours to make it work for the TV and updated the brick to create an appealing area in your living room. I’m a huge HomeGoods fan so settling on just one thing I would buy is tough, but I think I’d put the gift card toward some fresh, new accent pillows and perhaps some fun new table linens to celebrate spring!
Nancy
It looks absolutely lovely!! What a difference! Amazing what a bit of paint can do….
Makes me want to paint….everything.
Nancy
wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com
David
We have wood floors like your home, so I would use the card to buy a new rug for our dining room.
Laura
I would buy colorful spring decorations! I love transitioning from winter to spring with pop of color!
Karen K from Buffalo
I, too, have a narrow mantel & have been frustrated with it for 6 years!! I am so happy you tackled this problem on your’s so I can see how easily it is fixed! Hubby won’t be happy, but I will! Thanks again & blessings to you & your new home!
Emeryl
We desperately need a new rug for our dining room. The old one is ripped and probably made more of dropped food than rug now.
Kathy
I’d look for Rae Dunn pieces to add to my collection. Love to hunt for good bargains at HG!
Lu Ann
I am loving your fireplace makeover! At Home Goods, I would purchase some wall art. We just repainted and I got rid of all my old and looking to refresh with new!
julie
id love new pillows
Renee
I am always on the hunt for the perfect throw pillows for my couch. They are an easy accessory to update that make a big change in the look of a room!
Melissa Capone
I would buy decor for our new home 🙂
<3
Brenda Haines
I would buy paint to finish some walls that are getting drywall hung and mudded this weekend. Thanks!
Kaycee F
I was just in Homegoods, I guess I have Lemons on my mind for decorating this spring, I purchased 2 boxes of faux lemons, two kitchen towels with a beautiful lemon print made in Portugal, and a nice pure white cotton throw (no lemons on it) also made in Portugal! There were a couple lemon printed design tablecloths, also made in Portugal that I was swooning over, but they were too small! I’ve got to check out the other Homegoods stores nearby to see what they have for tablecloths! I wish everyone good luck!
Tracy
Hi. If I won I think I would just shop around for usual items. I like items that start a conversation and have interest. I also enjoy their snack food stuff there. Thanks.
Mary Clark
It’s time for some new planters and outdoor candles! And thanks for the inspiration! I finally re-did the interior of my fireplace. Dirty work, but my gas logs needed a good scrub.
Tisa
I love the mantel! It looks great. I love all things paper at home goods. But I have my eye on an office chair. I would definitely grab the chair.
Erin
Wow! Love what you did with your fireplace! I would definitely buy some new pillows and new kitchen accessories if I won the gift card!!
Jasmine
The mantel does look very fresh! If I won…actually I would buy something for my mantel! I have been searching for inspiration myself on what to do with the top to hike my cords and make it look pretty!
Rebecca Nelson
I just saw a great lamp and wonderful dishes that would go perfectly with the ones I have now.
Kaycee F
I shopped another HomeGoods today, lots of boxes were being unpacked!!!! So many spring beauties!
fabiola garcia-guzman
Hi Kristi…
I don’t see any electric connection here in the mantel. How did you connect the tv to the electricity? BTW looks very pretty. Thanks for sharing. Hope to see you next week.
fabiola garcia-guzman
I would buy a luxury sheet set for my king bed. Thanks for the giveaway and for sharing.
Pat F.
Beautiful fireplace makeover! Love it! Thanks for the opportunity to win the Home Goods gift card. My family room is dark and could use some type of lamp to brighten up the evenings.
angela smith
I would love to buy something to make my wall pop more .it’s dull
Susan M.
A pillow or two or three or four or…. Did I say I’d head to the pillow aisle? Fingers crossed and thanks for the opportunity1
Jenny Gebhardt
Your fireplace makeover is stunning! I would probably buy some new spring decor!
Debbie
The best part of shopping at Home Goods is just seeing all the wonderful things they have for sale! I would make my choice after shopping for hours!
Suzanne Douglass
I can’t wait to update the fireplace at my new house!
Candace Geldreich
Beautiful mantel
judy
My house really needs sprucing up. If i win, which i hope i do, my house will be grand!!!
Kathleen
Love your updated fireplace…what a difference!
Home goods has so many gorgeous items. I would buy some new dishes.
Sally
I love the fireplace transformation and especially love the small stool with the pitcher of tulips.
At Home Goods I would purchase bedding for my granddaughter. She wants a room redo. She will be in middle school in September.
Laurie
Beautiful job on the fireplace!
Laurie
Thank you for the giveaway! If I were to win I would look new pillows!!
Patty Morris
I would buy baby clothes. I went from 1 granddaughter who is 2 years old to now 2 more grandbabies. So excited. YEAH!!!!
Pamela Smith
Oh Home Goods! Love that place! There is so much to choose from. Right now I am looking for a large piece to hang over my sofa, so that would be my first thing to look for. Then it’s whatever else catches my eye! Thanks for the giveaway!
Jen @ Noting Grace
I love how the white makes the fireplace pop! Such a simple, yet stunning transformation. I’d be honored if you would share this for my I DIYed that linky party!
Kristi
Thanks so much Jen, I appreciate your visit and the invitation to your linky party. 🙂
STEPHANIE ABBOTT
That fireplace turned out great! I’d love for you to join our link up To Grandmas House We Go.
Kristi
Thanks so much Stephanie!
Marilyn Lesniak
Thank you so much for linking at overthemoon! I look forward to seeing what you share every week. Please come back for WonderfulWednesday or ThursdayFavoriteThings. Don’t forget to comment your link #’s so I can be sure to visit and you get a chance to be featured! Pinned and shared.
Kristi
Thanks so much Marilyn, I appreciate the pin and share. Hope you have a great Thursday!
Erlene
Sometimes subtle changes make a HUGE difference and your fireplace makeover looks great. Thanks for sharing it on Merry Monday.
Kristi
Thanks so much, Erlene. The power of paint never disappoints. 🙂
Starla
So glad I stumbled across this! I have a brick fireplace and it needs work.. it was painted years and years ago. It’s a cream color now but I really want to do something different. Could I send you a picture of it and you give me your thoughts? Lol. My precious Nana passed away last year and I am left with a lot of home improvements that need to be done. It’s a tough job being only 25 with no home experience, lol. xo
Kristi
Hi Starla. I’m so sorry about your Nana.
Glad you found Chatfield Court. Home improvement can be overwhelming for anybody. I certainly feel that way a lot of times too. Please send me a photo of the fireplace and the room as a whole. I’d love to see if we can get you some home improvement experience under your belt. 😉
Theresa
Love how it turned out. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Pinned & shared.
Kristi
Thanks so much, Theresa, I appreciate it!
Tom Watts
Nice to see an idea I can copy. We have an old mid-century modern home the former owner painted the brick fireplace gloss black UGH! I will probably buy tools for the f/p after the redo. Thanks for the ideas?
Kristi
Thanks Tom! It was a really easy redo but it made a huge difference. Paint is amazing that way.
Ugh…gloss black! Mine was eggshell black so it was easy to cover. Good luck with your redo. 🙂
Tom Watts
My fireplace was painted an ugly gloss black by a former owner and I look forward to changing it, your ideas have merit thank you. I will probably buy new f/p tools from home goods
Sara
Love the fireplace refresh so very much! It looks so crisp and bright! You did a wonderful job! I think I’d buy some new bedding! Ours is practically falling apart at the seams! Literally! ? Thanks so much for the opportunity!
Kristi
Thanks so much for your sweet comment and your interest in the giveaway, but it ended in March. So sorry Sara. Stay tuned because I’ll be having another one next month. 🙂