5 Fireplace Makeover Ideas for Transforming Your Living Room

Renovation options for fireplaces range from eye-catching centerpieces to simple background decor; find one that best expresses your personal taste and choose a color that will stand the test of time and complement its surroundings.

Christin upgraded her beige tile surround with new white marble tiles to modernize the room on a budget without needing professional tiling skills. Heat-resistant peel and stick technology enabled her to complete this update effortlessly without tiling skills being necessary.

Paint

If your fireplace is an eyesore, now may be the time to take drastic measures and apply a coat of white paint to revitalize its appearance. A clean canvas for future decorating opportunities awaits!

Painting brick can seem like an overwhelming task, but Allison Hepworth of House of Hepworths demonstrated its ease by painting her peach-colored brick wall – it turned out beautifully and exactly as desired!

Tile can transform the appearance of both your hearth and surround. Christin used an easy DIY technique to transform her beige tile surround into a stunning art tile display.

If you’re not quite ready to commit to an entirely new surround, try updating just your hearth with new tiles or stone instead. Add picture frame trim for an eye-catching focal wall effect like Sara did here.

Mantle

A mantel is more than just an object-displaying platform–it’s an eye-catching focal point that sets the atmosphere for your room. A few innovative ideas can transform an otherwise innocuous hearth into an eye-catching displaystopper!

This outdated beige tile fireplace surround and unremarkable wood mantel needed an extensive transformation in order to bring vibrancy back into their room. A fresh coat of white paint provided the much-needed update, while new picture frame molding added an elegant flourish.

Another excellent way to spruce up your fireplace is installing new surround material. This project can be accomplished at an average price with many choices available to you – Cara painted her brick fireplace before replacing its standard crown molding-style mantel with one made from thick rustic wood that matches her updated farmhouse style.

Lighting

Lighting is key when undertaking a fireplace makeover; use sconces or recessed lighting above the mantel to highlight decorative items while creating an inviting glow. Furthermore, installing built-ins will add functionality by providing storage solutions for books and media equipment near your fireplace.

If your brick fireplace surround is looking dull, try covering it with tile to give your hearth a facelift. Heat resistant peel and stick tiles such as those used by Faith at Pinteresting Plans could give it an impressive transformation; alternatively you could cover old brick with designer stone tile for a stunning modern touch; for more instructions see How to Tile a Fireplace Surround for step-by-step guidance.

Furniture

An elegant fireplace should be the focal point of a living room, not an eyesore that brings down its entire environment. But an outdated or worn out fireplace can quickly make any living room seem depressing – don’t despair though: with some creative makeover ideas at hand it could change all that.

Allison Hepworth from House of Hepworths created an eye-catching brick fireplace by modernizing it with paint and decor changes, as well as installing built-ins on both sides to display decorative items while providing functional storage solutions.

Add trim to a basic fireplace surround to instantly give it an eye-catching aesthetic. Try wood trim like Tamara did or switch things up with shiplap or paneling for more farmhouse charm.

Bookcases

Bookcases and built-in shelving are an effective way of using wall space that would otherwise go unused, perfect for displaying collectibles and providing concealed storage of personal items. Furthermore, bookcases can add style and unify the overall appearance of a room when placed against fireplaces or other focal points in any room.

This living room featured yellowed plywood panel walls, an outdated mantel, and soot-covered firebox that created an outdated and dark atmosphere. By painting both mantel and surrounding walls white, homeowner Stephanie created an eye-catching focal point.

Ursula Carmona used white paint to transform her brick fireplace, giving it an updated, elegant appearance and helping it fit in with her decor. After applying multiple coats of the soothing hue, Ursula decided to add faux stacked limestone facade for a chic update.