I recently bought my first home, and the family room has old wood panels and a fireplace that I'm thinking about updating. I'm considering painting the fireplace and the brick pillar white to give it a fresh look. I'm also looking for advice on how to make the room feel more modern and stylish. Any suggestions on colors or changes I should consider? Thanks for any help! Here's a link to some photos: [Image Link](https://imgur.com/a/00gPrHz)
4 Answers
I wouldn’t paint the brick at all, but cleaning it could really help. As for the paneling—if it's not real wood, try cleaning it with TSP, priming it well, and then just paint it. That should give you a nice fresh look without messing with the fireplace.
Just sharing a quick thought—painting brick isn’t just about trends; it can be damaging too. Focus on making the room feel vibrant and true to its style with some nice décor and furniture! A few well-placed plants and some stylish lamps could do wonders. Plus, think about refinishing any brass on the fireplace for that polish it needs.
Painting the fireplace might not be the best idea. Many people regret it later because it's irreversible. Instead, focus on updating those wood panels first—maybe paint them to make them look more modern. Take a moment to live with the changes and see how it feels before going for a big decision on the fireplace.
Definitely don’t go for painting the brick! It could mess up the look and is becoming an outdated trend. How about giving the room a Mid-Century Modern touch instead? You could get some colorful furniture, maybe hang some cool artwork, and add in some plants for a fresher vibe. Refinishing the fireplace could also make a huge difference!
I feel you on not painting brick; it can really take away from the charm. If the wood paneling is dated, you can make it look fresh with some paint, just sand it a bit before applying a good primer.