Ideas

15+ Easy Fireplace Makeover Ideas for Your Home

A fireplace makeover completely changes the feel of your living room without a massive renovation budget. I pulled together my favorite hands-on projects you can easily tackle this weekend.

1. German Smear Brick

Red brick fireplace being covered with a white mortar wash using a sponge — Soften red brick with a German smear

Smear white mortar directly over your dated red brick to soften the entire room. You just wipe it on with a sponge and scrape off the excess until you get the coverage you want. It completely hides stubborn soot stains while keeping that gorgeous brick texture intact.

Just make sure the brick is completely clean before you start mixing your mortar.

Why it works: The irregular white wash breaks up heavy, dark masonry and instantly brightens the space.

2. Faux Wood Beam Mantel

A thick stained wood hollow mantel being slipped over an existing thin white mantel — Build a slip-cover faux wood mantel

Build a hollow wooden box out of cheap pine boards to slip right over your existing builder-grade mantel. You can distress the edges with a hammer and chain to give it an authentic rustic vibe. Stain it with a rich walnut color to bring out the natural grain of the wood. It slides directly onto a basic wooden cleat screwed into the wall studs. This completely hides the old shelf without requiring any heavy demolition.

3. Peel-and-Stick Tile Surround

Applying patterned peel and stick tiles over an old green ceramic fireplace surround — Cover old tile with peel-and-stick vinyl

The magic of peel-and-stick vinyl tile is how fast it covers ugly ceramic squares.

You literally just measure, cut with a utility knife, and press them right over the old surround. It completely transforms the hearth in less than an hour. I always seal the edges with a tiny bead of clear silicone to keep them from lifting.

Bold geometric patterns
Classic subway tile
Vintage Moroccan prints

4. High-Heat Black Spray Paint

Shiny brass fireplace trim being sprayed with matte black high-heat paint — Update brass inserts with high-heat paint

Standard brass fireplace inserts instantly date a room to the late nineties.

You can cover all that shiny metal using a single can of high-heat matte black enamel. Tape off the glass doors and spray in light, even coats to prevent drips.

The flat black finish makes the firebox look deeper. It completely modernizes the whole setup for under ten bucks.

5. Chunky Floating Shelves

Thick wooden floating shelves installed in the alcoves next to a painted brick fireplace — Fill empty alcoves with floating shelves

I absolutely hated the awkward empty alcoves sitting on both sides of my fireplace. Adding thick floating shelves filled in that dead space and gave me tons of room to display my thrifted plant pots. We built them from standard plywood and stained them to match the central mantel.

It makes the whole wall look like expensive custom built-ins.

6. Roman Clay Finish

Troweling a smooth, mottled Roman clay finish over a fireplace wall — Create a plaster look with Roman clay

A smooth Roman clay finish gives your fireplace the organic, earthy look of ancient plaster. You trowel it directly over drywall or primed brick in sweeping, overlapping motions. The natural variations in the clay dry down to a beautifully mottled, stone-like texture.

It feels incredibly high-end but only takes a Saturday afternoon to apply.

Putty knife
Roman clay mix
Clear topcoat sealer

7. Stenciled Hearth Floor

Painting a black and white geometric stencil pattern onto old hearth tiles — Stencil outdated hearth tiles with floor paint

A single reusable tile stencil costs less than twenty dollars and completely revamps cracked hearth tiles. You just roll on a durable floor paint and seal it with polyurethane to handle stray ashes.

8. Shiplap Over the Mantel

White horizontal shiplap boards installed above a wooden fireplace mantel — Install shiplap above the mantel

I always gravitate toward projects that require minimal power tools. Nailing horizontal shiplap boards from the mantel up to the ceiling draws the eye up immediately. You just use a simple brad nailer and a level to keep the gaps perfectly straight. Painting the boards a crisp white makes the ceiling feel at least two feet taller.

9. Whitewashed Stone

Brushing a thin white paint wash over dark river rock fireplace stones — Lighten heavy stone with a whitewash

Mixing equal parts white latex paint and water creates the perfect glaze for dark, heavy stone. Brushing this diluted whitewash over the rocks lightens the whole structure while letting the natural texture peek through.

10. Painted Tile Surround

Rolling dark charcoal paint over a dated beige tile fireplace surround — Paint outdated tile a moody dark color

Prime your outdated glossy tiles with an extreme bonding primer before applying any topcoat. Roll on a durable urethane enamel in a deep charcoal or navy to ground the space. Let it cure for a full week before you even think about lighting a fire.

Why it works: The heavy-duty paint bonds securely to slick surfaces and stands up to the heat of the firebox.

11. Add a Slat Wood Wall

Vertical wood slats installed over a dark background above a modern fireplace — Build a modern slat wood feature wall

Thin vertical wood strips cost barely anything at the hardware store but create massive visual impact. You attach these wooden slats to a dark painted backing board to make the wood tones pop. Spacing them exactly half an inch apart gives the fireplace a sleek, mid-century modern aesthetic. It completely covers ugly drywall and adds incredible architectural texture to a boring flat wall. You can even run the slats all the way around the sides to wrap the entire chimney breast.

12. Over-Grouted Stone

Applying thick white mortar between fireplace stones to create an over-grouted look — Soften stacked stone with an over-grout technique

An over-grouted finish creates the cozy, rustic appearance of a centuries-old European cottage. You pack extra mortar between the existing stones until it sits flush with the rock faces. Sponging the wet grout slightly over the edges softens those harsh, jagged stone lines. This technique totally neutralizes the busy, chaotic look of outdated stacked stone. It leaves you with a smooth, cohesive surface that feels warm and inviting.

13. Build a Faux Fireplace

A DIY faux fireplace built from MDF with an electric insert glowing inside — Build a faux fireplace on a blank wall

The beauty of a faux fireplace surround is that you can put it on any blank wall. You literally just frame out a simple box with two-by-fours and wrap it in MDF board. Paint it a moody accent color and slide an electric insert right into the center opening.

It adds instant architectural charm to a plain, boxy living room.

MDF trim boards
Electric log insert
Crown molding scraps

14. Dark Moody Paint

A completely black painted brick fireplace and mantel with brass accents — Paint the entire fireplace a dark matte shade

A monochromatic black fireplace creates a dramatic, modern focal point that anchors the entire room.

You paint the brick, the mantel, and the surrounding trim the exact same dark matte shade. It completely hides soot stains and makes your television screen blend right into the wall.

Add a few brass candlesticks on top to make the dark paint really shine.

15. Add Corbel Supports

Thick wooden corbels installed underneath a previously floating fireplace mantel — Install chunky corbels under a floating mantel

Most builder-grade mantels look like they are just floating awkwardly on the wall without any structural support. Screwing two chunky wooden corbels underneath the shelf instantly gives the fireplace a custom, finished appearance.

16. Concrete Skim Coat

Troweling a feather-finish concrete skim coat over old fireplace tiles — Skim coat old tile with feather-finish concrete

A twenty-pound bag of feather-finish concrete costs under twenty dollars.

You can trowel this smooth concrete layer directly over old ceramic tiles or ugly brick. It dries incredibly fast and gives you a sleek, industrial surface.

Just seal it with a matte water-based polyurethane to keep the dust down. It feels remarkably modern and clean.