How to Whitewash Fireplace Brick

Recently, we made a quick, low-cost update to our builder grade home with a fireplace makeover. 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. So if you’ve ever wondered how to whitewash fireplace brick, this post is for you!

Like many of its 80’s contemporaries the fireplace was flexing some serious pink brick color. Along with the white carpet and oak trim it was a whole thing. We replaced the carpet with laminate wood floors and painted the wood trim. Then, it was time for the fireplace update!

I tried making the most of this space with mirrors, artwork, a rug, and splurging on a couple of chairs. But it was time to tackle the big pink elephant in the room. The fireplace.

So, we went with the best, least expensive option- whitewashing. It’s similar to painting, maybe a little messier but I like the look of whitewash brick. When it’s done, you can still see some of the original masonry, it’s just a lot less reddish pink. Overall, I’d say this project belongs in my 6 Easy Home Updates Under $200 list. Later, I took the plunge and Painted a Brick Fireplace in a different home – check out that post to see the modern before and after.

Steps to Whitewash Fireplace Brick

1. Choose White Paint

Ok, this might actually be the hardest step. It’s important to choose the right white paint for your home. If you’ve been using a white paint consistently throughout your space, chances are it will work here. However, because fireplace 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.  In later projects and homes, I’ve made it a priority to commit to true neutral white paints. You can see my favorite neutral colors for a full list.

Can you whitewash with regular paint?

Yes, you can! I used regular interior latex paint that you would use for walls and selected a matte finish. Much to my, and other people’s surprise, you don’t need a fancy paint. It will just be mixed with water and goes on easily.

This guide focuses on our fireplace but it could be applied to a red brick wall as well. I’m not sure how it would hold up on exterior brick and I imagine it would wear over time.

2.Wash the Brick

Before painting, make sure your brick is really clean. I started by dusting & vacuumming away cobwebs. There were more than I expected (yikes!) Next, I sponged the brick with 1 part vinegar and 2 parts water to remove any residue. Crazy how it can build up over years without realizing it.

For stubborn areas, I used a soft bristle brush. If I did it again, I might use TSP which I’ve since used on other fireplace makeovers (like this tile fireplace and my current stone fireplace). It’s pretty important to get the brick clean so the paint goes on evenly and adheres to the surface.

3. Mix the Paint Solution

For this purpose, white wash is essentially watered down white paint. Historically, true whitewash included lime but here, were just using regular latex paint and water.

Many sites recommend a 1:1 ratio of paint to water, but we did much less paint than that. We used approximately 1 part paint to 3 parts water mixed in a big home depot bucket. Mix it well!

4. Paint One Coat at a Time. Repeat

The cool thing about whitewashing fireplace brick is that you get to choose how much brick you want to show through.

Although it took longer, we learned it was best to try for one thin application, let dry, and apply again for more white. We applied with a big, soft sponge starting from top to bottom. We used a total of 3 very thin coats of whitewash.

Because the whitewash solution is so thin and watery, it’s helpful to have wiping rags nearby to soak up any drips or if the wash goes on too heavy for your liking.

5. Let Brick Air Dry

Last step is the easiest, just give it time to dry. For me, the fireplace took a couple days to dry completely as the brick soaks up the moisture. Over time, whitewash brick just looks better and better. If desired, more coats can be added for a less transparent look.

pros & cons of a whitewashed fireplace

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.

If I had to do it again, I would suggest other neutral white paints, such as the ones used in my Neutral Paint Guide. I would also probably do another coat with less brick coming through, but that is just my preference changing.

One of the aspects of whitewashing a fireplace is that you keep all that beautiful brick texture. If you’re wondering why texture is so important to a space – check out my guide to the 7 Elements of Interior Design for an easy rundown.

Final Thoughts

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. Thinking about whitewashing your fireplace? Just let me know if you have any questions & be sure to save this post for reference!