Yes, painting brick is allowed—and these fireplaces make the perfect case for it.
Charlotte Lea for Natalie Myers of Veneer Designs Magnesia Zirconium Brick
Snagging a house with beautiful brickwork intact is like finding a needle in a haystack or chancing upon a veritable unicorn. It’s a serious win. Still, just because it’s there doesn’t mean it’s your style or that it vibes with all that you envision your home to be. So here’s our controversial opinion for the day: It’s OK to paint your brickwork—in fact, sometimes it can even make it even more of a stunning feature than it was to begin with.
One spot that often benefits from a quick coat of paint? Your brick fireplace. The right color can revitalize your fireplace’s brick facade and help make the feature a worthy focal point in your living room, family room, or primary bedroom. The best part? Painting brick is a relatively easy task, making it a great entry-level DIY for weekend warriors looking to add impact to their space. Peep the painted brick fireplaces below for the perfect spark of inspiration.
Good design doesn’t happen in a vortex, so it’s always wise to consult your surroundings when deciding what color to paint your brick fireplace. In the case of this cozy family room from designer Monica Kearns, a rich green-black hue plays off the nearby velvet couch while adding a moody vibe to the space. Never fear, color lovers—there’s plenty of ROYGBIV still to be found in the nearby bookcase. Love this color? It’s Greenblack by Sherwin-Williams
Erin Wheeler of Sunny Circle Studio
To set off the rich browns seen in the wood floors and furniture of this living room, designer Erin Wheeler of Sunny Circle Studio coated the traditional raised brick fireplace with a saturated peacock blue. To tie the feature into the rest of the space, she also carried the color onto the wall’s molding and trim details, creating a funky feature that still maintains the room's light and bright appeal. Love this color? Try Amalfi by Sherwin-Williams
You wouldn’t think that coral could find a place in a mountain home, but with designer Justina Blakeney at the helm, it just works (it is still California, after all). In the living room of her Spanish-style abode, the pro turned to two dusty-yet-saturated shades to transform the towering brick fireplace (and surrounding bookshelves) into a wow-worthy focal point. Love these colors? They’re Farrow & Ball’s Ointment Pink and Breakfast Room Green
Stephen Paul for Another Human
When you want to go funky in the rest of the room, painting your brick fireplace a deep, grounding shade can be a great way to anchor the space. Case in point? This fresh and playful living room, designed by Leah Ring of Another Human. To offset whimsical details like a cloud-like, baby blue couch and wavy, neon green stools, she chose a woodsy, verdant green to cover the fireplace and add some much-needed visual weight to the space. Love this color? Try Backwoods by Benjamin Moore
Charlotte Lea for Natalie Myers of Veneer Designs
A calming blue hue is always a welcome addition to a main living space, but stopping at the brick fireplace would have put a halt to the all-over retro vibe in this space. Instead, designer Natalie Myers of Veneer Designs carried the color right over the brick fireplace (which had already been painted black by the home’s previous owner) for a playful and timeless look that perfectly complements the room’s eclectic accessories. Love this color? Try Make Waves by Clare
Cati Teague Photography for Gina Sims Designs
If high impact is what you’re after, feel free to steal this tip from designer Gina Sims. To make the wall-to-wall brick fireplace a worthy focal paint, she teamed rich midnight blue and zesty orange grasscloth wallpaper together, dividing the duo with an expansive floating wood mantle. Because the two shades reside on opposite sides of the color wheel, they complement each other while working together to create maximum impact. Bonus: The way the light catches the inky hue makes the shape of the bricks stand out even more. Love this color? Try Goodnight Moon by Clare
For a soft and subtle look, mixing tones of the same hue can result in a calming and layered look. In this cozy living room by interior stylist Emma Jane Palin, a barely-there cream marries with an equally subtle blush for a quiet contrast that still lets the fireplace’s architectural details shine. Pro tip: Have a non-functional fireplace? Make like Palin and put it to work for plants, instead. Love these colors? Try Harajuku Morning and Modern Love by Backdrop
Emily Followill for Atelier Davis
When it came to renovating and designing a mid-century Atlanta home for her family, designer Jessica Davis of Atelier Davis paired her signature eclectic style with plenty of period-specific details. For the brick fireplace (and corresponding L-shaped bench), Davis turned to a creamy white to bring an airy aesthetic to the already expansive room. Even better, the neutral selection acts as the perfect backdrop for the sculptural art that holds court above the fire box. Love this color? Try Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams
Angela Newton Roy Photography for Jefferson Street Designs
Many view black paint as a dramatic light-sucker, but when used properly in a space it can be a great way to add a touch of grit and elegance. Case in point? The fireplace feature wall in this room by designer Cindy Eyl of Jefferson Street Designs. The light-filled living room was the perfect canvas for a moodier paint shade, allowing Eyl to go bold with the brick and bring visual interest to the mid-century fireplace and its complementary surroundings. Love this color? Try Very Black by Valspar
Kaitlin Green for Max Humphrey
Magnesia Brick When it came time to give this brick fireplace a homey feel, designer and author Max Humphrey leaned into Americana lodge vibes by painting one of his favorite motifs—a stripe pattern reminiscent of a classic Pendleton blanket—onto the brick. The selection of Curator Paints shades he chose feel perfectly retro, resulting in a cozy fireplace scene that just begs for a fire and a hot toddy. Love these colors? They’re Six Sods, Soft Sun, Merrion Square, and Saints and Scholars by Curator