3 Tips for Creating a Modern Whitewashed Fireplace

Recently, we made a quick, low-cost update to our builder grade home with a whitewashed fireplace. Our front living room went furniture-less and drab longer than I’d like to admit. With its odd shape, bay window, and pinky brick fireplace, I all but gave up trying to figure out what to do. Plus, the boys loved it as an all-purpose room for nerf battles, bowling, and indoor soccer. At some point, I decided it was time to take it back and make it the best it could be. On a very limited budget. Very. Limited.

Whitewashed Fireplace

After sprucing it up with mirrors, artwork, a rug, and splurging on a couple of chairs, it was time to tackle the big pink elephant in the room. The fireplace.

Of course, the accessories and furniture help, but there was no getting past the fireplace! So, we went with the best, least expensive option- whitewashing.

3 Tips to Modernize Your Fireplace with Whitewash

1. Wash the Brick

Before painting, make sure your brick is clean. I started by dusting & vacummuing away cobwebs (eww). Next, I sponged the brick with 1 part vinegar and 2 parts water to remove any residue. For stubborn areas, I used a soft bristle brush. Bob Vila from This Old House has more great tips.  

2. Choose the white paint carefully.

If you’ve been using a white paint consistently throughout your space, chances are it will work here. Because brick has a lot of colors and tones, the white may appear differently after applied to the brick. Consider the paint undertones here and take note of whether it’s a warm or cool white. Many sites recommend a 1: 2 ratio of paint to water, but we did much less paint than that.

3. Paint One Coat at a Time. Repeat

The cool thing about whitewashing is that you get to choose how much brick you want to show through. Applying the paint/water is tricky though and can be difficult to apply consistently. It also can look darker/lighter once dried.

Although it took longer, we learned it was best to try for one thin application, let dry, and apply again for more white. Since you actually wipe off the paint/water mixture right after you apply it, you’re controlling how opaque you’d like it to be. (I’m still considering another application!)

Our Fireplace Details:

Whitewashing felt like a huge gamble. I mean, there’s no going back on this one right? It either works or it doesn’t.  I didn’t have a plan B. Which is probably not advised, but I figured it had to be better than pink.

Ultimately, we went with Behr Polar Bear White which is a slightly warmer white, but no yellow undertones. Because our trim work is more of an off white (now, that’s a long story), I wanted it to go well with the trim but also not have a big cream fireplace. The pressure here on choosing the right white was intense. In the end, I think it works. It achieved my goal and toned down Big Pink and modernized our 1980’s living room ever so slightly.