Repainting an 80's Living Room Fireplace
You'd surprised what a fresh coat of paint can do to a room with a fireplace.
Our gas fireplace is in its original form made in the 80's with a mix of tile and stone. We painted around the fireplace knowing we would eventually remodel in the future. However, we really appreciated the texture, stone design, and overall vintage feel-that we decided to refresh it by painting it!
I feel very proud with the end results. This is a great affordable and starter DIY project that anyone can do. However, please do not shy away from asking for help when needed. Let me share with you the process and the budget of repainting our fireplace!
Prep and Clean
Make sure you remove any hardware or accessory that you don't want to paint or want to get rid of. We removed a class cover and a metal curtain. There was no purpose to keep theses items since they were old, dirty, and not aesthetically pleasing.
Also, the quarter round that used around our fireplace was cracked and coming off. I ended up removing it all and planned to install new quarter round trim.
Even though my fireplace is never in use- the amount of dust and dirt it collected throughout the months was ridiculous. I easily wiped it down with a paper towel and multipurpose cleaner, followed by a disinfectant wipe. Don't forget to add painters tape where it's necessary!
Budget and Buy Supplies
IMPORTANT: I DO NOT use my fireplace at all. Therefore, the type of paint I use was basic flat paint for interior and exterior use. If you do use your fireplace, please research or speak with staff at your local hardware store. There are specific paints that must be used that handles exposure to heat.
Items Bought at my local Home Depot:
Item | Cost | Use |
|---|---|---|
10 ft. x 25 ft. Clear 3.5 mil Plastic Sheeting | already owned: saved from previous house paint | Cover my floors around the fire place |
1 gal. #PR-W15 Ultra Pure White Extra Durable Semi-Gloss Enamel Interior Paint & Primer | already owned: saved from previous house paint | Used as primer: applied 2 coats |
1 gal. White Flat Masonry, Stucco and Brick Interior/Exterior Paint | x1 $23.98 | Applied 2 coats of white paint |
1 qt. #ECC-10-2 Jet Black Flat Interior/Exterior Paint & Primer | x1 $16.98 | 2 coats: painted inside fireplace, trim, and bottom tile |
UTILITY 2 in. Flat Cut Utility Paint Brush | x2 $7.36 | One brush for each color. Helped with the edges. |
UTILITY 3 in. Flat Cut Utility Paint Brush | x2 $9.36 | One brush for each color. |
​4 in. x 3/8 in. Shed Resistant White Woven Paint Roller Cover (2-Pack) | x1 $5.57 | One roll for each color. Smoothed out paint. |
7 in. Mini Roller Tray Black | x2 $6.96 | One tray for each color |
WM 106 11/16 in. x 11/16 in. x 96 in. Ash Quarter Round Moulding PreStained with Golden Oak Finish | x2 $15.92 | Trim around fireplace |
9 oz. Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive | x1 $7.48 | Glue quarter round to fireplace and floors |
3MScotchBlue 1.88 in. x 60 yds. Original Multi-Surface Painter's Tape | x1 7.48 | Placed around fireplace to avoid painting walls and floor. |
​ | Overall Total: $101.58 | Goal was to keep it under $100. This is close enough! |
Start Painting
After the second coat of primer- it already made a difference! Since I used semi-gloss primer paint, the gloss was noticeable. Once we added the flat white paint, the gloss was gone and it came out to look how I wanted it to be.
Choosing where to paint black, was a pretty hard decision. I could not find any examples of how it can turn out. We stuck with our design decision, and could not be happier. It is bold, different, and modern.
Bonus: Added New Quarter Round Trim
The old trim was barely sticking on with adhesive glue and staples. So I managed to by some quarter round in similar color, stained it with saved wood stain to match our floors, cut the correct pieces and installed to the fireplace with construction adhesive.
Newly Painted Fireplace
Black is one of our favorite colors. Black is used around the house as an accent color. With these new colors, it makes the fireplace look vintage in a way where it highlights the shape details lining the firebox and modern at the same time. The fun part is now adding decor! Stay tuned!
I am very grateful to Maria for helping me with the design and prep. Most appreciative to my partner and dad for supporting me and answering any questions I had.
Final Thoughts
This project took about 5 days to complete and cost a little over $100. This can be done easily with the right research, budget, and assistance from friends and family! Don't overwhelm yourself- taking breaks was essential in focusing on finishing the fireplace. Thinking about starting a DIY project? Share down below and let us know!
