Tools and Materials

Tools

Materials

Note

Items may be Special Order in some stores. Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market. Paint colors may vary slightly from those shown.

How to Whitewash a Brick Fireplace

The fireplace we’re whitewashing is unpainted brick. If your brick fireplace is already painted, we’ll show you a different way to get a similar look later in the article.

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Instructions for an Unpainted Fireplace

A man cleaning an unpainted fireplace with trisodium phosphate and a scrub brush.

Before the painting process begins, you'll need to protect the area around the fireplace. Mask off the mantle and the trim. Then add a drop cloth to protect the floors. Make sure the fireplace is clean of any dirt and debris before applying any paint. Use trisodium phosphate (TSP) and a scrub brush to remove any soot from around the fireplace opening. Once it's clean, rinse the brick with water. Allow the brick to dry completely before starting the painting process.

A man mixing paint and water in plastic measuring cups to make a whitewash paint.

Now it's time to start the whitewashing technique. It's a watered-down paint technique that gives it a more translucent look. You'll want some of that raw brick color to come through, without totally painting over it solid. We used a 2 to 1 ratio, so we added 8 ounces of paint to 16 ounces of water and mixed it altogether. If you want it to be more see-through, go with more water. If you want more solid coverage, use less water.

A man testing the paint mixture on the fireplace with a white rag.

Now, it's time to test it in a small, inconspicuous area to ensure it's the finish that you want. If you need more paint, add more paint. If you need more water, add more water. Once you're satisfied with the look in your testing area, brush the mixture onto the brick surface. Then go back with the rag, removing paint from areas to give it some contrast. The key is to follow up with the rag immediately as the paint is still wet. If you take off too much with the rag, go back and brush it on again. It's really about finding your personal technique. We used a brush and rag combo.

Caution

Don't paint the inside of this fireplace since it'll be in contact with the flame. Stop where the face brick comes into the inside.

A man applying the paint mixture to the fireplace with a small paint brush.

The consistency of this is very watery. It's a messy job, so work from the top down because the paint is very runny. We used a chip brush because it's small and can get into the nooks and crannies of the brick. Due to brick's rough texture, have two or three chip brushes on hand for an average-sized fireplace. We applied the paint a few bricks at a time, and then went back afterwards to dab with the rag.

Instructions for a Painted Fireplace

A man using a sponge to apply paint to a brick fireplace.

For this brick, there's a white base coat. We went with a slightly darker gray beige tone to create the whitewash look. It's always recommended that you have some contrast between the colors.

Cut a sponge the size of your brick. Dampen the sponge and bring it out enough to stop it from dripping. Dip the sponge into the paint, and then blot any excess onto a scrap piece of cardboard or paper. Take the painted side of the sponge and press it onto each of your bricks. You can vary how much paint you put onto each brick to create a more natural look.

Whitewash a Brick Fireplace