When remodeling or furnishing your home, you want to choose the best quality paint products and pieces to enhance the beauty of the room you’re decorating. Through this post ,we will explore how to transform your fireplace surround to match the personality of any room in your home. Fireplaces like any other home appliance need to be checked upon regularly and cleaned. If you’re looking to redecorate, your fireplace is a great way to completely change the look and feel of a room.

To get started you’ll need to have some tools and materials handy.

1. Rag Cloth, Brush
2. Water and Vinegar solution, in a spray bottle, in a 50/50 solution
3. Paintbrushes, a thick textured roller and painter’s tape
4. Indoor primer (oil-based, and stain resistant)
5. Indoor, heat resistant latex paint (flat, semi gloss or gloss)*

*Oil or silicone based

Start by clearing off your fireplace, including the removal of pictures or ornaments on and around the mantel and hearth. If you have a brick fireplace and are planning on painting it, make sure you also clean the surface of the brick. Using a brush, do a once over to make sure all the dirt, dust and soot is clear. Then spray the brick with your 50/50 solution of water and vinegar, and then pat it with a cloth to make sure you’ve gotten all the debris so the paint will adhere properly. Tape off any areas you want to remain paint free.

Outside Surround

Priming the brick or surround is helpful if you want to avoid soot stains showing up in your new paint job. Buy a stain blocking and oil based primer to seal the brick or wood. This will also make sure the paint sticks and lasts on your fireplace surround without chipping and staining. Always be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions on the can before starting.

Choose an indoor latex paint for the surround: you want a flat, semi gloss or gloss paint that is rated to withstand high temperatures generated by a fireplace (around 250 degrees). Painting a wood frame or mantel with this type of paint is always a good idea.

For brick, have a textured roller handy in order to cover the brick easier. Since brick is very porous, make sure you apply at least 2 coats of paint, after priming, before you go over it with a small paintbrush to fill in any spots that didn’t get coverage. Remember: although this paint is heat resistant, it is only to be used for painting the exterior of a fireplace.

Voila! Now you have a wonderful looking painted fireplace! Adorn it with your favorite decorations, or even with some of these great accessories and you’re going to have a beautiful room that creates the perfect cozy environment for you, your family and friends!