Transform Your Living Room: A Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Your Fireplace

Tired of your outdated fireplace dragging down your living room style? A little paint might be all you need.

Wondering how to paint a fireplace? It’s so much easier than it sounds. Here’s the step-by-step on how to transform a fireplace with paint.

Remember this office from before?

It was a neutral room with neutral walls and neutral furnishings and neutral accessories…

…and a neutral fireplace.

But have you met me?

Ummm.

Just between us? I am not really and never have been neutral.

Instead?

I’m over the top with a helping of extra on the side.

And this is my office. This is where I work and where I dream and create and plan all the next adventures in my life, so I needed my workspace to be a little extra just like me.

So with a little paint and a little preparation, this fireplace isn’t neutral anymore.

Now it looks like this.

I know, right?

Did you gasp? Just a little bit?

Scroll up and look at the before and after. Isn’t it beautiful and bold and wait for it, wait for it….

….extra.

Did you know painting a fireplace is so much easier than it looks?

You just need a little bit of know-how and preparation and the right tools and paint and primer and FrogTape brand painter’s tape.

Here’s all the info that the step-by-step to get you started.

How to paint a fireplace in 7 easy steps.

How To Paint a Fireplace

Step 1: Preparation

Before you start painting the fireplace, it’s super important to prepare the surface to ensure that the paint adheres well and lasts longer.

Follow these steps to prepare your fireplace for painting:

• Clean the surface–start by cleaning the fireplace surface with a wire brush and a vacuum cleaner to remove any dirt, debris, or loose paint. After cleaning, wipe the surface with a damp cloth to remove any remaining dust.
• Fill any holes or cracks in the brick with caulk
• Cover surrounding areas–Cover any surrounding areas, such as the mantel, floor, or walls, with a drop cloth or plastic. This will prevent paint drips or splatters from getting onto other surfaces.

• before you paint remove any molding or wood slats that are decorative next to the wall
• set those aside (we’ll be painting those later)

Step 2: Tape off with FrogTape

Tape off around the fireplace with FrogTape brand painter’s tape.

You’ll want to tape the sides of the fireplace, the ceiling, and where the fireplace hearth meets the floor.

This is especially important with this project because we were going from a neutral surface to a bold color choice like SW Naval 6244.

After the tape is in place, press down or score the edges with a flat surface.

This ensures the tape provides a seal to prevent tape bleed.

Expert tip: return FrogTape to its original container keeps it from being damaged (such as the edges being nicked), and keeps dirt and debris off the tape. 

Step 3: Apply primer

Primer is so important to make sure your fireplace paint holds up over time. Don’t skip this step.

Primer helps to create a smooth and even surface for the paint to adhere to, and it also seals the surface, preventing any stains from bleeding through the paint.

Here’s how to apply primer to your fireplace:

• Choose the right primer
• Choose a high-quality primer that is specifically formulated for the type of surface you will be painting. For example, if you have a brick fireplace, choose a primer that is designed for brick surfaces
• I love this concrete and masonry primer from Sherwin-Williams
• I had the primer tinted because the paint was darker so it helped transition between the coats
• Using a high-quality brush, apply the primer to the mortar between the bricks
• You can continue painting with a brush, or use a roller for the flat surfaces of the bricks
• Start from the top and work your way down, using long and even strokes
• Be sure to apply the primer in a thin and even coat, and allow it to dry completely before proceeding to the next step

Here’s what the fireplace looked like after the first coat of primer.

Now it was time to add the paint.

The bold and beautiful paint color I chose for this project is Naval SW 6244. It’s a striking navy blue and will help to blend the vintage stove in with the rest of the room.

Step 4: Paint the fireplace

Now that you have prepared the surface and applied the primer, it’s time to paint.

Here’s how to paint the fireplace:

• Choose the right paint
• Choose a high-quality paint that is designed for fireplaces
• This Sherwin-Williams paint was designed to adhere to brick and was tinted Naval SW 6244
• The process for painting will be the same that we used for the primer
• Using a high-quality brush, apply the paint to the mortar between the bricks
• You can continue painting with a brush, or use a roller for the flat surfaces of the bricks
• Start from the top and work your way down, using long and even strokes
• Be sure to apply the primer in a thin and even coat, and allow it to dry completely before proceeding to the next step

• After the first coat has dried completely, apply a second coat of paint
• This will help to ensure that the surface is fully covered and the paint is durable
• You may need three coats when going from light to dark, but tinting the primer helped us and we only needed two coats

Step 5: Remove FrogTape

After the second coat is painted, remove FrogTape from the edge of the fireplace while the paint is still wet.

Pull the tape away from the edge to ensure a smooth line when you remove the tape.

Discard tape.

Step 6: Paint the molding

Remember that molding that was removed?

Paint and prime it separately. We also decided to install crown molding around the top of the fireplace and molding between the hearth and the floor. The crown molding was painted before installation as well.

Let the molding dry.

Step 7: Install the molding

After the molding dries, install the molding around the edges of the fireplace.

And now?

Want to see a little before and after?

From this.

To this.

It’s such a rewarding project.

It’s a DIY that makes such a difference without spending a lot of money.

It’s a project that transforms a fireplace into a beautiful focal point in the room.

Just remember, it is so important to prepare the surface properly, choose the right materials, and follow the steps to ensure your fireplace looks as beautiful tomorrow as it does today.

And just as bold.

disclosure: This post is sponsored by FrogTape.

All opinions are my own.

Please see my disclosure page for more information.

Once your fireplace is painted, finish the look with cozy decor or a rustic mantel to complete the transformation.