How to Paint a Brick Fireplace: Your Complete Guide (2025)

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Painting a brick fireplace is an affordable way to give your fireplace a makeover or just change the look to fit your style. There are various ways to paint interior brick, including using specific techniques like white-washing or lime-washing.

Although painting brick is extremely impactful visually and looks luxe, this project is actually a pretty budget-friendly upgrade. I hope you enjoy this step-by-step guide where I’m sharing my painted brick fireplace before and after, as well as all the steps so you can learn how to paint a brick fireplace properly.

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How to Paint a BRick Fireplace

First, let’s start with the basics. Can brick be painted? Absolutely! However, there are various ways to update a brick fireplace using paint and other materials. Here are a few options to consider.

• Standard painted brick (which this tutorial will focus on)
• Whitewashing brick
• Graywashing brick
• Limewash
• Overgrout (sack finish)
• German schmear techniques or mortar wash (which I’ve done on my current fireplace)

Each of these methods will result in a different look, have a different timeline for completion, and cost different amounts based on the materials needed.

For this article, we are going to focus on how to paint a brick fireplace with acrylic latex paint.

Choosing the Best Paint for Interior Brick

Painting fireplace brick is a fairly basic process, however you will want to obtain the proper type of paint and materials. The best paint for brick is generally acrylic latex paint.

This allows you to have a lot of flexibility on:

1. The sheen you choose.
   • For a more organic look stick with a matte or low-lustre finish. For a more dramatic look, consider a gloss or high-gloss finish.
2. Color options to paint your brick fireplace.
   • Using interior acrylic latex paint means you can choose any color you want for your brick. Not all brick fireplaces have to be painted white, as has been the trend in the past. Consider bolder colors like charcoal, deep green, or softer neutrals like taupe. Conversely, if you are using a masonry paint like this one, you do have color options, but they are limited.
3. Affordability.
   • While brick paint does exist as a “brick transformation kit,” it isn’t necessary. Using standard interior paint does the job just as well for less cost.

Please note, this recommendation is for how to paint interior brick. Exterior brick will require a different method (and typically uses exterior paint) to perform better with temperature changes, heavy moisture, and color fading.

You also do not need high-heat paint for a brick fireplace as the face of the brick typically doesn’t get hot. However, if you choose to paint the firebox itself, or a metal fireplace cover, you do need high-temperature paint.

Do I have to Prime Interior Brick Before Painting?

Even though you can use standard acrylic latex paint for your top coat, it is vital that you use a proper primer prior to painting brick.

Masonry primers are generally thicker, provide a protective coat against raw brick, and act as a binding agent for your topcoat of paint.

If you are painting raw brick, masonry primer will be the best foundation as it is thicker and the porous brick will soak up the first coat quickly.

While masonry primer is your best option, you can also use a high-quality interior primer in a pinch. As paints and primers continue to develop, there are more options on the market than ever before.

Here are some options for the best primer for brick:

Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Fireplace Brick

If you’re like me, you most likely have stood in front of your fireplace many times asking, “should I paint my brick fireplace?”

As I’ve renovated houses over the years, I find that the potential projects that I’m continually coming back to and questioning are the ones that pay off the most in the long run. So if you’re consistently questioning whether or not to paint your brick, I’d say go for it!

More often than not, you’ll feel relieved over finally making a decision and making your fireplace fit your style.

Materials Needed to Paint Brick

First, gather your materials. These are the materials needed to paint your brick by hand. You can shop them all in one place here. While this article focuses on a brick fireplace transformation, the same method applies to brick walls and other interior brick structures.

1. Primer
2. Paint of choice (I used this paint in the color Perfect Taupe)
3. Painting tools in various shapes and sizes depending on your needs:
   • Short handled angle brush is a necessity
   • High nap rollers (small or large depending on your fireplace size)
   • Foam brushes work great for tight crevices
   • Artists paintbrushes are perfect for detail work
   • Paint trays and liners (or you can use tin foil as a liner) for your size roller
   • Plastic wrap or brush cover to preserve brushes if needed
4. Painter’s tape
5. Drop Cloths
6. Ladder, if needed
7. Vacuum
8. Cleaning materials (rags, water, soap)
9. Wire or stiff-bristled brush
10. Degreaser if brick has heavy soot or dirt

Alternatively, you could also choose to use a paint sprayer if you have access to one or want to invest in one. Paint sprayers are amazing tools that significantly cut down the time it takes to paint.

If you choose to spray paint, ensure that your sprayer can handle the thicker masonry primer. Additionally, you will have much more prep work to tape off and protect surrounding areas from overspray.

Whether you choose to hand paint vs. spray paint your brick fireplace, follow these simple steps for a beautiful finish.

Step 1: Thoroughly Clean Your Brick

The best foundation for any painting project is proper prep. Say that 5 times fast.

First, you should thoroughly clean your brick. How you do this will depend on the condition of your brick.

1. If your brick isn’t overly dirty, you can get away with a dry scrub to loosen dirt and debris, using a wire or stiff-bristled brush.
2. If it’s really grimy and has a lot of soot or grease on the brick, use soap and water or a degreaser like TSP with your stiff-bristled brush.
3. Use a damp towel to spot clean any areas that might need a little more elbow grease.
4. If you do use any water, let the brick dry thoroughly as it is porous and will have soaked up some moisture.

Once you’ve removed all dirt, grime and soot from the brick and mortar, vacuum the entire fireplace from the top down to remove any remaining dust or debris. Pay special attention to areas with loose mortar or tight crevices.

Step 2: Tape and Cover Surrounding Surfaces

Next, protect your surrounding surfaces. Tape off where needed and lay a drop cloth to catch spatters.

Step 3: Prime Raw Brick

Next, if your brick has never been painted, apply 1 to 2 coats of primer.

Each fireplace is going to be different. However, the easiest and quickest method is to roll the primer onto the face of the brick. Then, use a brush to get into the spaces the roller can’t reach, like deep mortar lines.

If your brick has already been painted, like mine was, you need to discern whether or not primer is necessary.

Painted brick that is chipping or flaking heavily, will be helped by a coat of primer to get the best finish for your project. If the painted brick is in good condition, you may not need to prime it as the previous painter may have already done this.

Step 4: Painting Fireplace Brick

Once your primer is fully dry, you can proceed with your topcoat of paint.

Use the same method as the primer. Roll first onto the face of the brick. Then, paint within the mortar lines or any cracks and crevices the roller didn’t cover with a brush.

Of course, you can also use a paint sprayer as an alternative.

Painting Tips

There are a few painting tips I found useful as I painted our four-sided fireplace.

• Enlist help. My fireplace is extremely large with four sides and an almost 20-foot vertical. It took approximately 17 hours to paint over the course of several days. An average-size fireplace can likely be painted in a day, but help is always beneficial.
• Work from the top down. This way, you aren’t leaning on fresh paint to reach above where you’ve already painted.
• Once you’ve painted a section and moved down, make sure to look back up within 10 minutes to smooth out any drips. Drips will be common on the underside and corners of the bricks.
• When using a brush, circular motions work well to get into tiny crevices.
• Using a roller nap of 3/8″ or more will get into the grooves the best, but will also cause the most drips! Be cautious not to oversaturate the roller.
• Unload your brush on the face of a brick every now and then to avoid dripping. You can do this by simply pressing the brush hard on its side and drawing it off the brick. Backstroke any drips.

Decorating your fireplace mantel

After painting comes the fun part — decorating your fireplace. If you have shelves, a mantel, or any other surfaces adorning your fireplace, you have the perfect opportunity for adding a little decor.

Aside from the new coat of paint, a few well-placed items will help this feature shine. Shop some of my go-to fireplace mantel decor items below, which make for the perfect finishing touches.

Questions About Painting Fireplace Brick

Is Painting Fireplace Brick Expensive?

Depending on your situation, you’ll likely be able to update your fireplace by painting the brick for under $200.

Luckily, I was able to use all leftover materials from previous projects, so this project was 100% free for me. Even the paint was leftover from my mudroom makeover.

However, even if you have to purchase all the materials needed for this project, it is still very inexpensive.

Can You Paint a Fireplace Hearth?

You can certainly update a hearth with paint. Mine is concrete that was previously painted brown. I mixed a variety of paint colors to create a dark gray. Then, I didn’t love it so I lightened my mixture and painted a very light coat of lighter gray overtop. I left some of the dark gray visible to give it more dimension.

On the opposite side, I tried a lighter taupe and a light gray to see if a color outside of the gray family would work. I think they all “work” but I haven’t yet decided if I love my final coat enough to leave it.

Perhaps I will try again! Do you have a favorite?

Stay Connected

This was a beast of a project! While it wasn’t difficult, it was tedious and time consuming. But worth it, in my opinion! I hope you found this tutorial for painting fireplace brick helpful. Let me know what you think in the comments!

Make sure to subscribe to the blog and to YouTube to watch the renovations happen!

If you decide to update your fireplace with paint, I’d love to see your before-and-afters! Have fun with the project!