A brick or stone fireplace is an area that many homeowners avoid when planning or doing renovations. Redoing it is too pricey, and they would rather spend that money on something else that needs fixing. However, there is an easy way to freshen up your fireplace that is fun and affordable.

Read on to find out how you can freshen up your fireplace in just a few hours using a color washing technique.

A Step-By-Step Guide to Color Washing a Fireplace

Here are the supplies you will need:

  • Water-based paint and water
  • Smaller and larger brushes
  • Rags and stain pads
  • Gloves
  • A mixing container
  • Water misting bottle

Clean the Bricks/the Stone

Before you begin painting, it is important to thoroughly clean your fireplace. Getting any dust, ash, or debris off the surface will give the best results later on. You can clean it by using a wet cloth or by vacuuming it. It is up to you.

Protect All Surrounding Areas

After cleaning everything, it is time to cover any surrounding areas, so you don’t get any paint on them. This painting method is rather messy, so make sure you protect the floor, the mantel, and the hearth.

Prepare the Color Wash

Preparing the wash is fairly simple. You just need to mix the paint and the water in a 50/50 ratio. It doesn’t need to be precise, so you can just eyeball it.

Make sure your mixing container is large enough for this amount of liquid and that your brushes can fit into it.

Start Painting

Firstly, start in a small, inconspicuous spot on the stone, and test out the color. If you want it to be darker, add more paint. If you’d prefer a lighter shade, add more water. After you’re satisfied with the color, you’ll be ready to start.

Start from the top of the fireplace, and paint a few bricks at a time as you make your way down. Remember to lightly mist the bricks before painting them because that will make the paint stick better.

Apply the paint to the mortar or grout lines first and then on the brick faces. Swirl your brush a bit to get the paint into uneven or hard-to-access places. If a spot is particularly hard to paint, use a smaller brush.

If your fireplace has no doors, make sure to paint the inside of it as much as you can, as that is also visible.

Let It Sit

After you’ve painted everything, let it sit until the next day. That way, the bricks will fully soak in the paint. Then, check to see if you need to apply more paint to certain areas to enhance the color and do so if necessary.

More Tips

  • If you want to experiment with colors, try mixing different shades or painting different bricks in different colors. It will create a stylish look you won’t be able to resist.
  • Add as much water or paint as you need to get the exact shade you want.
  • Wash your brushes as you paint to prevent paint from sticking to them.
  • Try sanding some surfaces after painting if you prefer a more vintage look.

In Conclusion

As you have read, color washing your fireplace is a pretty easy task. Still, it can help transform your entire home and give it a new look. Get creative, relax, and paint. We promise you will love the results.