No matter the design style—modern, midcentury, farmhouse, or traditional—a painted white brick fireplace is always an upgrade. But painting the fireplace to match the beating heart of the room is a clever way to introduce texture to a monochromatic room or contrast with the other colors (navy, black, gray, and wood tones) found on the walls, floor, or in built-in features.
Painting a brick fireplace (doing a DIY or hiring a pro) is a simple and affordable way to makeover your space. This relatively inexpensive update can make an immediate improvement to your room.
If you are the sort of person ready to replace an out-of-date block fireplace or include one into your remodels, then check out a collection of white brick fireplace concepts. These concepts encompass a variety of styles to suit your design tastes and can help your space with embellishment.
1. Small Fireplace
Including a small fireplace with a white brick surround works in a pinch to make any eat-in kitchen feel cozier, as it’s visually striking. It injects warmth and coziness, which is perfect for family gatherings and casual meals.
The white bricks are a perfect contrast to a lot of different color palettes, making them a great decor choice that can be changed out every season or when you grow tired of the look. To add to the overall coziness of the feel, there is a colorful painting over the fireplace wall from Britt Design Studio. Not only does this artistic piece catch the eye, but it also has character.
This combines the functional warmth of the fireplace with the visual warmth of the artwork, resulting in an environment to enjoy food and art. Drawn together, these design elements create an eat-in kitchen—a relaxed and casual dining space perfect for gathering with family and friends.
2. Built-In Firewood Niche
If the living space has a large brick fireplace that visually dominates the rooms, giving it coats of white paint can change the dynamics of the room entirely. Here, for instance, the midcentury modern-style brick fireplace was given a coat of chalk white by Tina Ramchandani Creative, which is a perfect example of how it can impart balance and harmony in a design.
Since a fireplace is often the focal point of a living room, the right color can greatly tone down the sometimes jarring look of brick and allow it to blend with the other design features in the room. The ability to integrate perfectly in midcentury modern interiors, characterized by their simplicity, functionality, and clean lines, is essential.
Ramchandani has pulled it off well by opting for a brighter shade, thereby enhancing the lightness of the area on the whole and allowing the fireplace to be an understated yet classy feature in the room. With this strategy, you can see how well-calculated color selection can make a great architectural feature become less of a distraction, help it integrate into its landscape better, and make the place feel more inviting.
3. Modern Mantel Mirror
For a modern touch, hang a modern black rimmed mirror over your white-bricked fireplace. The difference in materials creates a contrast that catches the eye and draws you into the space.
This style is on full display at Emily Henderson Design, where a sculptural black vase with a tall, leafy branch sits on the lifted hearth and contributes to the modern feel.
4. Modern Farmhouse Style
A white painted brick modern farmhouse living room fireplace by Michelle Berwick Design. It is a natural fit with the shiplap above the mantel and white walls and vaulted ceilings of the light-filled space. Also, it adds a light touch of texture that enriches the space.
5. Colorful Mantel Decor
Colorful photographs are great for breaking up a white brick fireplace mantel to add color into your décor. Black and white frames can be mixed from Calimia Home for a cohesive look. This method balances color with uniformity, and it creates an approachable focal point in your area.
Mixing decorative stuff with pictures can improve the aesthetic of your space. Natural greenery with potted plants or fresh flowers as accessories makes your design less stiff and more vibrant and lively.
6. Decorative Firewood Display
While many times when homeowners decide to paint a red brick fireplace, it is to try and update it while the old brick fireplace appears to no longer have a place in the story, a less appealing story for the brick cape, painting of the brick can help keep the texture and charm.
A non-functional London chimney from Studio Peake, for instance, has been jazzed up with decorative firewood to help set a warm tone.
7. Fireplace Accessories
Fireplace tools and accessories are also a great way to add functionality and style to a living room. LA-based Britt Design Studio, for instance, selected an arched brass bamboo fire screen to complement the white brick fireplace. By utilizing this option, it effectively breaks the around straight lines that is present within the design to produce a more visually appealing space.
Not only does going with this option add an element of shape contrast to the overall design, but it also adds a sense of warmth and depth to the look as a whole. Unique fire screens, tool sets, and decorative log holders can be conversation starters and complement your own tastes and design choices.
Brass and bamboo also bring a little nature into the space to round out the modern feel of the room with some organic materials. Once fireplace accessories are carefully selected, they can turn an average feature into a striking centerpiece that enhances the functionality of any home while also providing aesthetic appeal.
8. All-White Glossy Paint
Before painting your brick fireplace white, the first thing to consider is what is the best finish you would like to use. In part depending on the condition of the bricks; in part depending on the character of the adjacent wall finish. Taking these points into account can create a complete and effective outcome.
As a porous and rough surface, brick can strongly influence the ability of paint to adhere as well as how it will look. Matte and satin finishes are much more appropriate for rough or porous textured bricks, as they give a more uniform appearance. On the other hand, glossy looks may work well with smoother brick finishes, contributing a touch of class to the overall aesthetic.
One recent Leanne Ford Interiors project captures the essence of this metamorphosis. We had a lovely farmhouse living room in this project, which gave a beautiful clean canvas where traditional and contemporary can coexist harmoniously with a modern makeover.
9. White Grout
For an unified look with an all-white fireplace, use white grout on black firebox tiles. This way, the firebox is seamlessly incorporated into the finish.
This elegant mantel, styled with plants, art, and decor, is a painted white brick example from Ashley Montgomery Design. Here, the white grout with the black firebox tiles integrates the design and adds interest to a simply styled white brick fireplace.
10. Whitewashed Brick Wall
Brick that has been whitewashed will have some of its original color shining through, resulting in a different effect than just painting it over completely. Jessica Nelson Design // This whitewashed brick fireplace wall is acting as a subtle divider between a kitchen as well as a living-dining room in the renovation project.
This created a nice contrast paired with a bright white painted wood mantel for an updated modern farmhouse feel. Using whitewashing helps keep the personality and texture of the original brick but elevates the aesthetic to actually complement modern decor, stylishly marrying rustic charm and modern design.
11. Home Office Fireplace
This design is versatile; whitewashed brick goes with both traditional and modern interiors. Charbonneau Interiors clad the original fireplace in a whitewashed finish in this large home office. If you prefer this option, it guarantees that the fireplace fits perfectly with the elegant wall and ceiling moldings to make the whole thing one homogeneous look.
Whitewashed brick is a great choice for achieving a pleasing visual within the interior design of a space, creating an architectural focal point that flows and integrates well with decor used in a room. This combination creates texture and dimension, offering a cohesive blend between traditional and modern style.
12. Brick With Tile Inserts
If you are looking for an accent on an all-white brick fireplace facade, you can add some tile designs for a dynamic appearance. Michelle Berwick Design balanced a strong, modern dark-stained wood mantel against stark square black tiles, such as in this fireplace design.
It allows the downstairs fireplace to be the star without unbalancing a low-ceiling space. Fireplaces are an often overlooked part of your home—but with some unique tile inserts and a big beautiful mantel, you can turn that boring old fireplace into an attractive focal point that really lifts the overall look of the room.
13. White Brick Firebox
To achieve a fresh, contemporary look, consider painting the brick of a remodeled modern fireplace in a clean, crisp white. This choice brightens the space and creates a striking contrast against the darker tones typical of traditional fireplaces, resulting in an atmosphere of sophistication and modernity that enhances your home decor.
Calimia Home strategically placed a beautifully woven basket inside the firebox to enhance its aesthetic appeal and introduce layers of warmth and texture to this inviting focal point. This thoughtful design choice creates a more visually pleasing and cozy atmosphere.
14. Arched Brick Opening
An arched doorway can add a touch of a Mediterranean vibe to your white-brick fireplace. In this Leanne Ford Interiors design, the bricks in the decorative fireplace have been painted matte black, creating depth and an effect similar to the soot-stained interior that you get in a wood-burning firebox. Inside, firewood is stacked with the short ends facing outwards for visual interest.
15. Black-and-White Fireplace
For a punchy black-and-white look in your living room, pair a white-painted brick surround with a white wood mantel. Create contrast with a black frame trim around the firebox and black subway tiles on the hearth.
Similar to Jessica Nelson Design, the method combines textures and colors in a way that factors as a statement that affects the visuals of your living space.
16. Craftsman Style Fireplace
In this Craftsman home living area by Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design, the brick fireplace and built-in bookshelves were painted white for a fresh, tailored look.
Not only does this stripe of paint bring in more of a contemporary feel to the room, but it also acts as a neutral canvas for displaying decorative objects and books.
17. Brick, Wood, and Stone
Using a whitewashed brick and stone ledge cap with a weathered wood mantel can really help achieve a cozy feel. A design that exudes comfort and charm, this makes for a great addition to elevate the aesthetics of any corner!
This selection of lines encapsulates the feel of rustic sophistication, inspired by warm cabins in forests or cottages by the sea. Bringing harmony of nature with elegance to add a sense of warmth and usability
This living room example by Bria Hammel Interiors has a lot happening with the soft, muted hues of the light brick and the rough texture of the stone ledge cap contrasting beautifully with one another. This pairing underscores the consideration of material and color in striking a harmonious balance within a space.
18. Stepped Brick Fireplace
Nothing screams overpowering more than a red brick fireplace, but a coat of white paint can easily make it a beautiful architectural centerpiece. A white paint job refreshed a stepped, double-sided, weathered red brick fireplace to a modern style in an open-concept space by Chango & Co. This technique improves the look of the space and upgrades the proposed design.
We painted the fireplace white, taking care of the tired red brick that used to dominate the room and, in turn, created an absolutely gorgeous focal point for the room. This alteration helps to optimize the look and feel of the open-plan space as a whole, creating a seamless and more contemporary appearance.
19. White Firebox Insert
For a more seamless, well-coordinated aesthetic, pair a gorgeously painted white brick fireplace with a complementing white firebox insert. It gives your space an integrated feel that combines style with utility.
Together, these two go a long way in adding visual beauty to your home and provide an elegant point of interest that draws the eye.
20. Stepped Brick Fireplace
Use white paint to convert an overwhelming red brick fireplace into a statement architectural design. In a whitewashed open-plan room, Chango & Co. gave a stepped, double-sided faded red brick fireplace a quick coat of white paint (above).
This update not only brings light and brightness in the room, but it also brings the overall aesthetic in the space together for a cohesive feel!
In a sense, the tasteless treatment turns the interior into a rare area of life, while the crisp white does the opposite, allowing the fireplace to stand out with contrast to its surrounding decor and making it a point of interest rather than an eyesore.
This option is in line with a more significant trend where the use of lighter shades is preferred because they are beautiful and capable of creating an impression of openness and unity.
21. Curved Brick Fireplace
If you have a curved brick fireplace with a bump-out facade, paint it the same white as the walls to minimize its visual impact. This method also aids its task as part of the room. Elevate this aesthetic by layering intentionally selected objects, light fittings, and a circular timber-framed mirror. A prime example is the bright, neutral space above, created by Ashley Montgomery Design.
The continuity creates a smooth visual, binding the space together and improving the overall feel of the room by allowing the area to feel more open and breathable.
Adding different textures in the decor is very helpful to enhance the overall look of the space. Woven baskets, soft textiles, and metallic decor pieces can spice up the room without putting the focus on the fireplace shape.
22. No Mantel Brick Fireplace
If you want to achieve a minimalist look, leave your white brick fireplace wall without a mantel. Texture became the answer to achieving texture in a modern living room setting, with textured features and accents to a white-painted brick fireplace wall by Ashley Montgomery Design. This design also incorporates built-in shelving on either side, where the complementing objects and styling also help to enhance this space visually.
Opting for a palette of neutral, muted tones provided an aesthetic that is cohesive without being disruptive, while still allowing for pops of personality to peek through in the decor. Various materials such as wood, metal, and glass also add complexity to the design without being overwhelming.
If you’re opting for a minimalist look, try using fewer of your decorative items but bolder ones on your built-in shelves. You could arrange art books in stacks horizontally, for example, to keep them from looking cluttered while adding interest.
23. Cream Brick Fireplace
Instead, opt for a creamy hue in place of white paint for a more inviting feel. Blogger Ursula Carmona at Home Made By Carmona painted her dorky corner brick fireplace the same warm color as the walls to create an integrated look. To make the entire place look classy and welcoming, she used some gold on the mantel and hearth as well.
In fact, the fireplace blended seamlessly into the room with the help of a cohesive color palette. It also established accessibility that added to a connected and more harmonious space.
Carmona added decorative elements like textured throw blankets and colorful art to add warmth to the space. These additions were specifically selected in keeping with the creamy color of the room, making everything interlinked and free-flowing.
24. Black and White Brick
By the way, if you are looking to draw the focus to the architectural features of a brick fireplace, paint it black and white! Leanne Ford Interiors made this possible by painting the lower portion and hearth jet black and the chimney and sides white. It provides contrast and definition. And, stack firewood on either side of the fireplace for a rustic feel.
Not only does this color palette accentuate the architecture of the fireplace, but it also provides a strong anchor point within the space. Black and white is always a classic option that complements a variety of decorating styles ranging from modern minimalism to warm, farmhouse vibes.
To make it look complete, add some decorative elements that speak to your personality. Incorporating texture, such as scatter-woven baskets for logs or metal candle holders, can add warmth and visual appeal to the space.
25. Antique Mantel
Complete Your Space Tired of the high-contrast aesthetic in your space? Create one with a whitewashed brick fireplace wall and antique mantel paired together.
For a touch of historical charm, combine the two, as featured in this traditional bedroom by Marie Flanigan Interiors. Plus, a stunning four-poster bed—also in the same dark-stained wood as the fireplace mantel—can make for branding consistency in the space.
26. Midcentury Modern Style
Ideally, fireplaces with a central location are aesthetically pleasing on the outside; but if a home renovation involves knocking out walls to have more open space that central fireplace may no longer be the ‘star’ of the show.
If they can’t, here’s an idea: paint an off-center brick fireplace white This helps it play nice with an open-plan approach, such as this midcentury modern living room by Cathie Hong Interiors.
27. Dark Stained Wood Mantel
Lovely Indeed took a mostly grimy Bakelite brick fireplace from the 1950s and gave it a simple DIY paint makeover. A black fireplace screen was affixed to the brick facade for safety and a family-friendly environment.
Well, Lovely Indeed has breathed new life into this antiquated feature (and made it just a little bit less dangerous for children and pets).
The bricks were first cleaned of soot and grime in preparation for the transformation. After that came the important primer coat, which aids the paint in sticking to the bricks.
28. Wood Mantel With Shelving
Combine a white brick fireplace surround with a wooden mantel (and an extra shelf!) for a built-in look with help from Leanne Ford Interiors. This arrangement forms a perfect space to display pictures, plants, or anything else you want to put on display.
It brings a blend of function and contemporary sophistication to the space. Help make it more pleasing to the eye by choosing decor that complements the color scheme of your space. Think about adding earth tones, soft textures, or bright accents for a punch of color.
You can also include lighting elements such as sconces or small focused lights that highlight whatever you are displaying and even add a little ambiance to the room. Also, considering various heights and arrangements when forming objects on your mantel as well as shelf will certainly assist in executing an aesthetic display.
29. Semi-Whitewashed Brick
Choose to have your brick be semi-whitewashed, and you are guaranteed to add volume and warmth to a modern farmhouse fireplace. Read this: The Art of Exposed Brick In this design by Jessica Nelson, a handful of red bricks on the floor-to-ceiling fireplace remain to create a nice contrast. That is paired with a pale wood mantel and open shelving, creating a bright and welcoming look.
Mixing different textures, such as rustic brick and polished wood, also gives the room an eye-catching centerpiece. This adds a little rustic warmth, which is a hallmark of modern farmhouse style.
30. Chunky Wood Mantel
A simple upgrade fits in both modern and farmhouse spaces with a chunky modern wood mantel on a white brick fireplace. This design move—as seen in this living room from Kate Marker Interiors—instantly increases the beauty of the space while also being classically adaptable to various interior styles.
The contrast of the white bricks and the natural wood tones teams up to create a stunning centerpiece that will enhance any room decor. This contrast creates additional layers of interest in the space while enhancing a balanced, harmonious design.
You can also add some decor to match either style to elevate this design choice. For instance, adorn the mantel with glass vases filled with seasonal flowers or rustic lanterns to add warmth and texture.
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