Dear Danica, Should I Paint My Brick Fireplace Black & Add Built Ins?

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Dear danica,

What should I do with this fireplace? Paint it the same as the walls? What should I do with the ceiling? Hate the popcorn! Need a new light! Last, but my biggest dilemma is storage. Built ins or not? We want to keep the tv where it is (not over the fireplace). Would love to hear your thoughts!

– Kylea

This living room has such great bones! The natural light, the beams, the texture on your walls! Let’s address your questions one by one.

Should I paint my brick fireplace the same color as the walls?

I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but if I had to guess why you’re unsure about what to do with the fireplace, it’s because it’s big, it’s a lot of white against your dark walls, and it stands out perhaps a little too much? Sometimes massive brick fireplaces feel stately and other times they feel bulky. I think yours has massive potential to be stately. How you design it, and around it, makes all the difference.

Painting the fireplace the same color as the walls would solve all the dilemmas I mentioned above, while simultaneously creating a little more work for you in other areas of the room. If the fireplace is the same color as the walls, it would blend in more, it wouldn’t feel as big and bulky, and you’d remove that stark white contrast against your dark walls.

That being said, the vibe of the entire room would shift. It will feel much darker simply because there isn’t a light colored feature that acts as a relief to your eyes. (This is the additional work that I mentioned above.) Adding a light colored sofa and chairs, a rug, and drapery to your windows can help balance the room. Aim for beiges and mid-tone colors, rather than pure whites.

Take the photo below as a prime example of everything we’ve talked about so far.

Something To Note:

When everything is the same color, there needs to be textural differences to create dimension. Without several different textures throughout the space, the room can fall flat. That’s why the photo above works. Smooth walls with box trim next to rough brick is the ultimate texture combination.

You’ve got a lot of texture in your living room so I’d focus on adding some smoother textures.


Another option would be to paint the fireplace a slightly darker color. Something in the beige family to reduce the contrast. Try Oatbran by Valspar and see how it works with your walls.

What should I do with the ceiling? I hate the popcorn!

I agree with you about the popcorn. It’s gotta go. Check out this tutorial on how to remove a popcorn ceiling without replacing the drywall. It’s a messy process, but it’s free to do! (Bonus: A smooth ceiling would count as a smooth texture in the room!

On another note, I’d love to see those beams wrapped in wood. Something that’s in the same color family as your floors. You’ve got beautiful beams, show them off!

My biggest dilemma is storage. Should I add built ins or not?

It looks like you’ve got the depth to add built ins and this would also be a perfect opportunity to add another smooth texture to the room. You mentioned that you don’t want to move the TV which does limit your built in options. So let me present you with two options:

OPTION 1:

Add low cabinets that fit below the TV. Almost like a bench seat, but with a hard surface top. The cabinets could either be stained wood or painted the the same color as the walls.

OPTION 2:

Move your TV to the left wall, above your sofa, and add a pair of arm chairs to the window wall. This would allow you to do floor to ceiling built ins without sacrificing the TV or hanging it on the fireplace. Let me tempt you with a prime example that you could follow.

My one rule for you would be: if you do built ins, do them on both sides of the fireplace to maintain symmetry. Other storage options could be a hutch or ottomans with storage inside.

I hope this at least mildly helps! You have great ideas, and hopefully this provides a little guidance as you move forward with your plans.

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