17 Ways to Transform a Fireplace With a Simple Coat of Paint

A super-white paint contemporizes the elaborate, antique fireplace mantel, helping it blend more seamlessly with the modern stone material surrounding the firebox. The designer behind this living room, Augusta Hoffman, wanted to maintain architectural intrigue while also incorporating notably modern furnishings and artwork.

Here's another example of a white-painted fireplace, but given the material (a rough exposed stone), designer Lauren White opted for a lower sheen and extended it across all the walls.

Designer Lydia Pursell covered every single surface save for the floors in blue paint. It's a bold and unexpectedly mod approach in a classic dining room that exudes confidence.

In this eclectic living room, a tile fireplace surround really pops against the crisp white painted mantel and walls. Then, touches of blue are sprinkled throughout to play it up even further.

White is clearly a popular paint color for walls and mantels, but this living room designed by Nanette Brown makes a strong case for the polar opposite: black. A dark wall makes a fireplace feel even cozier.

In this Connecticut farmhouse designed by Elizabeth Bauer Watt, custom-colored lacquer was applied for a sleek, uniform surface. The burled wood surround matches the cream fabrics and coffee table, for a nice balance between warm and cool tones.

In this contemporary dining room designed by Studio DB, the light gray painted mantel matches the painted trims and moldings for a subtle yet transformative layered look. The bright and cheerful artwork creates texture and dimension, and, along with the gold lighting, warms up the cooler elements of the room.

Try the same look but opt for a brighter, more unique paint color for a bolder impact. In this space, Heidi Caillier chose an orange clay tone that contrasts nicely with the green shades in throughout the living room.

Instead of completely renovating an old fireplace, work with the existing design. For example, "bespoke encaustic tiles sit beautifully with the original deep green glazed tiles of the fireplace," say the design duo behind 2LG Studio. Embrace the colors with little decorative pieces in a similar tone and then paint the mantel a color that helps transition the tiles to the neutral wall color.

Though sophisticated, this dining room designed by Arent & Pyke adds some playful personality by running with a bird theme. From the antique bird statue watching over the fireplace to the bird's next on the mantel, these little details add a sense of humor to the formal and stylish space. And though the white mantel is a simple, go-to paint option, it really marries the swirls of the natural stone and the yellow and white artwork.

Though unexpected, the bold marigold paint color on the mantel in this quirky sitting room designed by the Novogratz really flatters the surrounding wall treatments. It also brings out the rich tones in the rug.

Exposed stone and brick can look too dark and damp depending on your taste, but it's nothing that can't be fixed with a bit of paint. This floor-to-ceilings fireplace in a living room designed by Leanne Ford incorporates the best of both a classic mountain chalet and the Malibu coast thanks to the coat of white paint.

The eye-catching pick paint covering this mantel really makes the entire fireplace stand out. Interior designer Kristen McCory tells us it was inspired by her client's grandmother's favorite lipstick color.

"The clients wanted to elevate their space and I knew the full wall fireplace was an opportunity to do that! I randomly came up with this idea to do a tiered thing to it and covered it with my ever favorite concrete skimcoat," says Leanne Ford.

In this child's room designed by 2LG Studio, the pastel yellow door and mantel soften the graphic black and white features. The perfect way to make a traditional room feel youthful and fun!

Brick doesn't always vibe with sleek monochromatic decor, luxe natural stone materials, and modern art. The solution? Just paint over them with a dark or black color. This will create depth and make the old-timey character of bricks more discreet.

Though subtle, the black-painted fireplace stands out against the navy walls for a cozy, understated color-block effect. Designed by Heidi Caillier, this living room is a winter oasis.