My latest fireplace makeover — and it didn’t cost me a dime.
This fireplace makeover has made me so happy. Not only did it brighten the room, it didn’t cost me anything.
Let me rewind to the beginning.
The fireplace was one of the first things I noticed when we toured the house. It felt enormous for the room’s size, but I liked that it made a statement.
What I didn’t love was the gray stone, especially paired with the cool-toned flooring. After we bought the house, I knew I wanted to update this front room quickly.
Because the fireplace is visible the moment you walk in, it was important to me that it felt more like something I would have chosen.
Eventually we plan to resurface the fireplace, smooth everything out, and extend the mantle so we can display large plants, stacked artwork, and books. But for now, a gallon of paint and a day of work got us most of the way there.
And once the paint dried, I found ways to style the mantel and hearth with plants, books, and artwork even without a deeper mantle.
This before-and-after makeover feels like a big win.
Fireplace Makeover (The Before)
Here’s what the fireplace looked like before (these photos were taken a few days before we moved in):
And the after images:
Why I Painted Our Stone Fireplace
I know painting stone isn’t everyone’s preference, and that’s okay. The important thing is that you love the choices in your own home.
I love how the fireplace looks now. It keeps the texture of the stone but reads neutral and, most importantly to me, reflects light back into the room.
Before, the dark stone seemed to absorb much of the natural light. With the paint on the fireplace and walls, the whole room feels lighter and brighter, which makes me smile.
How do you paint a stone fireplace?
Disclaimer: I’m sharing how I painted my fireplace as a DIY project, not as a professional recommendation. If your fireplace is functional and will be exposed to high heat, do thorough research first.
Materials
- Interior latex paint
- 3-inch paintbrush (2-inch if that’s what you have)
- Paint roller and cover (for any flat hearth or mantle surfaces)
- Painters tape
- Rags for cleaning
- Putty knife (optional, for scraping drips)
Fireplace Makeover How To
Start by cleaning the surface with a rag to remove dust and debris. Tape off any edges where paint shouldn’t go. In my case I only taped where the hearth meets the floor because the walls were being painted the same color as the fireplace.
Painting is straightforward but can be physical work. I began in the center and worked outward. If you want practice, try a small, less visible area first. The tricky part is getting paint into the crevices of ledger or stacked stone.
I used a 3-inch brush for almost the entire job. For larger, flat pieces on the hearth or mantle I used a roller with a 3/8-inch nap. I applied one coat, let it dry overnight, scraped away any drips with a putty knife, then applied a second coat.
What type of paint should I use?
Most how-tos agree that interior latex paint is fine for the exterior surfaces of a fireplace because it’s breathable. If you plan to paint the firebox or any interior surface exposed to extreme heat, use a high-heat or high-temperature paint designed for that purpose.
Many sources also recommend using a masonry primer before painting for better adhesion and durability. I skipped the primer because I didn’t have it on hand and so far the finish is holding up, but the primer is worth considering.
What paint color did you use?
I used Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace in a flat finish—the same paint I was already using on the rest of the interior. Since I already had the paint and supplies, this project didn’t cost me anything.
Is this room complete now?
The room isn’t finished. We still plan to add overhead lighting and sconces beside the TV, paint the original window frames black, and eventually replace the floors. The fireplace, however, is complete for now until a future phase when we resurface it and change the mantle.
We have other long-term ideas, like installing large bi-fold glass doors where the windows are and possibly vaulting the ceilings, but structural and roofing constraints may make some of those options difficult. I haven’t given up hope, though—vaulting made a huge difference in our dining room and I’d love the same effect here.
Aside From Painting, What Else Has Been Done?
Painting the Walls
All the walls in this room were painted the same color as the fireplace. That softens the fireplace visually so it’s still a focal point but doesn’t dominate the space as heavily as the original dark stone did.
Skylights
Extra natural light has made a big impact. We added five fixed skylights on the front porch roofline directly outside the large windows. The skylights were part of a roof renovation and have brought much more daylight into the living room than we previously had.
We explored adding skylights directly to the living room roof, but the house roof has a unique overhang that prevents that option. So the porch skylights were the next best solution. Large windows plus those skylights now deliver light into the room that the deep eaves used to block.
If you have any questions about the makeover, ask in the comments and I’ll do my best to respond.
If you liked this house project, you might also like…
- The fireplace hearth makeover I did in a reader room project — a favorite renter-friendly upgrade.
- The full reader room makeover reveal, featuring a primary bedroom with very high ceilings and a beautiful original fireplace.
- An article about how adding skylights transformed our home and increased natural light throughout.
- My DIY white oak built-in bookshelves that completely changed a room — now a favorite of mine.