How To Whitewash A Brick Fireplace (Easiest Method for 2024!)

A Beginner’s Guide to Whitewash A Fireplace With Latex Paint & Glaze

With this easy step-by-step tutorial & video, I’ll show you how to whitewash a brick fireplace with paint so it transforms your entire room!

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Those beautiful modern farmhouse fireplaces with their light and airy whitewashed finishes serve as a beautiful focal point for any living room.   

On the other hand, if your fireplace is outdated, you can re-decorate the rest of the room to your heart’s content.  But it won’t change the look of your fireplace.

But no worries!  You won’t need a brand new fireplace or even a professional painter to come in.  I have an incredibly easy way to whitewash a brick fireplace with nothing more than a little white paint and clear mixing glaze.

I turned our eyesore of an orange fireplace into what is now my favorite feature in our home with a light whitewash! 

I’ll admit.  When I told my husband I was going to “whitewash the fireplace” he rolled his eyes because he cringes at the thought of painting over perfectly good brick.  And I get that!

Also, you don’t have to lose the integrity and character of your home’s original brick color as with a painted brick fireplace. With a whitewashed brick fireplace, some of that brick color will still show through – and you can pick which bricks do and which will be covered!

This step-by-step tutorial and video explain this white–9k0ol washing technique. It allows you to completely hide dark grout and even the ugliest bricks while allowing others to be a visible part of your fireplace’s color palette. 

How Do You Make A Brick Fireplace Look Modern?

For the last three years, I have stared at our boring fireplace trying to figure out how to easily update it for a fresh new look.  As I looked through Pinterest, I gravitated to those beautiful farmhouse fireplaces with the German smear or mortar wash techniques. 

Fortunately, after a little experimenting, I found a great way to get the same look with good old latex paint and a little glaze.  It’s amazing how such basic supplies can make a huge difference and add new life to your living room.

RELATED: 23 Tips for Decorating Your Living Room on a Budget

Common Methods to Whitewash Brick Fireplaces

As there are several ways to refinish brick, these terms can be confusing so hopefully here is some clarification on common ways to refinish fireplace brick:

German Smear – (sometimes referred to as German Schmear) This finish mimics the look of century-old castles and cottages in Germany with the combination of irregular stones and heavy mortar joints.  With a German smear, the surface of the brick is covered with a layer of watered-down mortar in a back and forth motion with a putty knife. 

The mortar adds a rough texture, thus creating a distressed and rustic look giving without much coverage.   German smear doesn’t penetrate the brick’s surface but just covers it.

Mortar Wash – It means the same as a German smear.

Limewash –  To limewash brick, slated lime, clean water, and a tint are used to penetrate the surface of the brick to create a course, chalky look imitating a common look in Europe before paint was invented. 

What’s the difference between whitewash and paint? Whitewash is simply using thinned latex paint on parts or all of the brick’s surface.  It does penetrate the brick like a limewash but doesn’t have the same texture as lime washing or German smear.

Lime-washing, German Schmear, and mortar washing are all involved processes that aren’t only messy but require some specified skills to get decent results. However, whitewashing your fireplace with paint and glaze is easy for beginning DIYers as there are no special skills needed. Plus, no matter your brick or grout color this process will yield beautiful, long-lasting results.

How To Whitewash A Dated Brick Fireplace With Paint

This easy, mess-free tutorial shows you how to whitewash a brick fireplace to get the same look as a German smear or mortar wash just paint and glaze.

 

How to Whitewash a Brick Fireplace: My Technique

As I mentioned, I scoured Pinterest for pictures of farmhouse fireplaces, and what I liked the most were those that had a German smear or a mortar wash.

I thought about learning how to do a true German smear or how to whitewash a fireplace with lime.  However, both looked really messy.  Also, it didn’t like how it looked, there would be no easy Plan B.  However, I felt like I could get the same effect with paint and clear mixing glaze.

So, I did some experimenting with paint and glaze to get the same look but more “workability”.  Unlike some whitewash recipes, the longer drying time of the glaze allows you to wipe the paint off the bricks if you decide you added too much.  

So you can get a good idea of the entire process, we will first use our whitewash solution on the grout lines, wiping off any excess as we go. Then, we will be strategic about covering up the bricks you like the least. For example, I covered several bricks that were an orange-brown color. Because I love the look of a red brick fireplace, I left the red bricks exposed.

How to Whitewash a Red Brick Fireplace

If your fireplace is all one consistent color like red brick, you won’t really have “ugly” bricks to cover since they are all the same. In this case, you’ll just randomly pick bricks that will be more covered with whitewash glaze than others. Just make sure they are spaced out over your red fireplace brick.

Next, you’ll take a step back and whitewash in small sections leaving some bricks more exposed and others more covered. You can see the whole process step-by-step below and also in the video.

This same process can be used to freshen up a brick wall, porch or you can whitewash a brick backsplash with this faux brick hardboard paneling. Whether you are just updating or preparing to sell your home, this is such an easy technique that is super versatile.

How Much Does It Cost to Whitewash a Brick Fireplace?

With this technique, you don’t have to spend a lot to get an amazing brick fireplace! I spent less than $20 on the whole project. That’s pretty incredible considering you are updating one of the main architectural features of your home.

How Long Does it Take To Wash a Brick Fireplace?

I started this process right after dropping off my daughter at school and finished by 2 pm that day. Also, I probably took a little longer because I was experimenting with what worked best. I love that this process was not only easy but could be done in a few hours.

Will Painting Brick Devalue Your Home?

If your fireplace is outdated, a whitewashed look is not only modern but also works well for various decor styles including traditional, coastal, farmhouse, or contemporary.

This method allows you to maintain the natural look of the brick, whereas a white painted brick fireplace completely covers the look of your brick. Whitewashing is less dramatic and accentuates your existing brick as opposed to a completely white brick fireplace that hides it.

How to Whitewash Fireplace Brick Easily – Supplies:

As an Amazon associate, I use affiliate links only for products I use and love.

To keep costs low, we are mixing our own whitewash paint for brick:

 

You can also use this technique on backsplash panels to get the same look in your kitchen. See the full tutorial here: The Best Faux Brick For a Backsplash

How To Whitewash A Fireplace: Video Tutorial

Below I give you ALL the details on how to white wash fireplace brick but I also made a video tutorial so you can see the exact technique I am using!

How Do You Whitewash Bricks? – DIY Tutorial: 

Step 1:  Find the look YOU want Before Whitewashing A Brick Fireplace

Don’t forget to take a before picture of your fireplace! I’d love to see how it turns out so tag me on Instagram @renovatedfaith.

The first thing to do is zone in on exactly what you want your fireplace to look like.  This process allows you to whitewash to varying degrees to get different looks – whether you want a whiter look with more coverage or a thin whitewash.

It doesn’t matter if the ideas you find are mortar wash, german smear, or limewash, just find some pictures of the exact look you want.

Take note of the following:

• Do I want a heavy “german smear” look?
• Do I want the grout to be white also?
• Do I want a more even, translucent, opaque look or a more contrasty look?

Here are some ideas to get you started:  White Washed Fireplaces

This pin was my inspiration for my own fireplace…Isn’t it pretty?!?
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This picture will be a guide for you while you are painting your own fireplace so you can be sure to get the look you want.
 

Renovated Faith: What’s in a Name?

Step 2: Dust the Brick Before Painting 

Brush off all the brick of your fireplace with a broom to remove any dust.  The last thing you want to worry about is getting gunk out of your paint job while you are trying to do your faux finish.

If you have a really dirty brick surface that needs an actual cleaning, mix a tablespoon of boric acid powder in a gallon of warm water. Use a face mask and scrub down the whole thing with an old rag or scrub brush and let it dry overnight.

Be sure to lay drop cloths when you are done dusting to ensure the paint doesn’t get on the flooring in your living or family room. I didn’t do this when I painted my cabinets and it took a little while to get the paint off our hardwood flooring.

Step 3: How to White Wash Fireplace Grout

My fireplace grout was dark gray and I wanted it to be white.  If your grout is already white, you can skip this step.

What kind of paint do you use to whitewash a fireplace?

When it comes to the best paint for whitewashing brick, use a latex paint but the brand is not super important like it is for furniture (The Best Paint for Furniture). For this paint mixture, I used one part paint and 1 part glaze so I combined 1 cup of glaze, and 1 cup of white paint. 

If you live in a particularly dry area, I would add up to one part water or more glaze. If you want a less translucent, more chalky look, add 1/4 cup plaster of Paris to your mixture but I just stuck with the glaze and paint.

A WORD ABOUT PAINT COLOR – There are literally hundreds of shades of white. Try to get the same white that goes with your mantel or trim. My mantel had a warmer look and my whitewash paint had a slightly bluer undertone and I felt like I could tell when it was done. This could be because I’m a perfectionist in recovery but it’s best to try to match white shades to get a consistent look.

A matte of flatte finish of latex paint is a good choice for a brick fireplace so it looks more authentic.

The type of paint

After you have combined the mixture of white latex paint and glaze, we are going to work on recoloring the mortar with our first coat.

With the paint glaze mixture, paint the space between the bricks to recolor the mortar.  Paint it on without being too concerned about getting the paint on the brick.  After you have done a section of mortar go back with a damp, clean cloth and white off the excess on the brick. 

I like microfiber clothes because they really scrub the paint mixture off the brick. If your rag starts dripping as you wipe the brick, you’ve got too much water in your rag. This goes faster a lot than the alternative which is using a small brush to only paint the grout lines.

Some bricks are more porous than others so if you are having a hard time wiping the excess paint off the brick, add a little more of the glaze to your whitewash mixture. The glaze is great at keeping the paint from drying too fast on porous surfaces.

Here’s how it looks once the old grout lines were painted white – already a huge improvement!

 

Step 4: How To Paint Fireplace Bricks For a Whitewashed Look

To finish the actual bricks, moisten one of the small sponges and dab it into the paint/glaze mixture.   

If you have any ugly dark bricks as I did, start with those first!  For me, these were the ones that were dark gray or a weird peanut butter color.  Those were scattered sporadically throughout so I dabbed each of those bricks first.  I added more paint to these bricks because those are the ones that I wanted to cover. 

If you whitewash a red brick fireplace or a fireplace with all dark bricks, just pick random bricks to be the ones that are whiter.

 Here is a video showing the EXACT technique I used: Painting A Brick Fireplace for A Whitewashed Look, YouTube

Next, it was time to whitewash some of the red bricks.  Since I wanted most of the red to show through, I only partially whitewashed most of these.   

Basically, I started with the ugly breaks going on pretty heavy and slowly worked towards other bricks going a lot lighter so the wash was more transparent.  Every few bricks I’d stand back to see what I thought.

Removing Whitewash From Brick – What if I Make a Mistake?

The great thing about using the glaze is that it has a longer dry time so if you do a few bricks too dark, you can go back with a wet rag and wipe off the paint.  I promise you cannot screw this up.  Just keep looking at your inspiration pic to give you a good goal to keep in mind.

If your paint has already dried, use some sandpaper to sand off the paint from the top layer of brick. Face masks are probably a good idea when doing this.

Step 5: How to Whitewash a Fireplace with Paint so it Looks Like a German Smear

Follow the same general pattern on the bricks in your inspiration picture with your whitewash mixture.  Just lightly dab the parts of the brick that you want to be white like in the video above.

Because our whitewash mixture contains glaze, if you get too much paint on a brick, take one of your wet cloths and wipe it right off!

Here’s the final look of the brick after I was done whitewashing.  I played with it a lot getting the brick to look exactly how I wanted it – painting, wiping off, and then painting again in moments of indecisiveness.

With an authentic German smear with mortar, you scrape in one direction and then scrape in the other in an “X” motion to get the mortar in all the crevices.  After you’ve painted most of your bricks, you can do this same action with a wet rag to give it the same look.  You can see how I used that technique here.

Take a step back to look at the entire thing and see if you need a second pass on any of the bricks to get the desired effect.

If you get a small spot of paint on the surrounding area like your flooring or wall, simply wipe it off with warm water and dish soap in a spray bottle.

 

How To Whitewash A Brick Fireplace: Before and After

Isn’t it a vast improvement?  I love the final result and the way it brightens up the whole room.  Also, it’s a drastic change but you can still see the original surface of the bricks coming through as opposed to completely painting it white. 

I’ve had several people say that it changes the whole look of the room and really brightens things up.  The fireplace was a drab and dated eyesore before but now I’m so proud to say it is the focal point of our living room. 

I’m so pleasantly pleased with how this home improvement project turned out and I only paid about $15!!!

DON’T FORGET TO TAKE A PICTURE!

When you are done with your fireplace makeover, I’d love to see how it turned out!  Post your before and after photos here!

My sweet boy Jake loves the look of whitewashed brick too!

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Now our fireplace retains the original character of the brick but is now updated and consistent with the rest of our decor.

I had so much fun decorating the fireplace for fall with my blue thanksgiving decor here.  It’s amazing how its new look made me excited about decorating it for the first time.  No longer was a dark, dreary eyesore but now it is has a fresh, updated look I can be proud of.

Here is how I decorated my fireplace for fall.  You can read more about how I painted these dollar store pumpkins here: Fall Mantel with Blue Pumpkins

You can also see my Christmas mantel in this post here: Red and Aqua Christmas Decor

DON’T FORGET TO TAKE A PICTURE!

Now that you are done, I’d love to see how it turned out! ❤️  Be sure to post the before and after pictures on Instagram and tag me @renovatedfaith

 
FAQ’s: Whitewashed Brick Fireplace

Here are some common questions about this technique for refinishing a fireplace: 

Is it hard to whitewash brick fireplaces?

This method for whitewashing brick is much easier than other methods and can be done at a fraction of the cost. One variable is the texture of the brick you are whitewashing. If your brick is extremely porous, you can add a little more glaze to your whitewash mixture to ensure that the paint doesn’t dry up on you too fast.

Should I whitewash my Brick Fireplace? Is Whitewashing Brick a Good Idea?

I can understand being hesitant about painting your fireplace in any way, shape or form. When I started this process, I decided that if the whitewashing didn’t work, I could always paint my fireplace white. Fortunately, the whitewashing technique was a big success and I’m so glad I took the risk!

Can you whitewash painted brick?

You could use this same technique brick that has previously been painted since the ingredients are just paint and glaze.   For example, if a fireplace had been painted gray, you would probably use less of the whitewash mixture on your sponge since the painted brick will not absorb as much paint as brick will.

Can you whitewash a brick fireplace with lime?

You can certainly lime whitewash a brick fireplace using professional supplies like natural lime slate, and tint but the option in this tutorial with the plaster of Paris will give you the same look of lime wash or German smear because of the extra grit created from the plaster.

How to Whitewash Brick with Chalk Paint

One of the most common questions I get regarding whitewashing a brick fireplace is, “Can you white wash brick with chalk paint?” You can but the problem with most chalk paint is that it’s very expensive in comparison to latex.  Also, this technique includes the glaze which gives you more time to work with the finish before it dries where chalk paint will dry up on you making whitewashing a brick fireplace difficult.  To read more about my thoughts on chalk paint, click here: Why I Don’t Use Chalk Paint on Furniture A Better Alternative to Chalk Paint

German Smear Vs. Whitewash

This brick whitewash technique is so much easier than an actual German Schmear technique. Also, because it only involves paint and glaze, you don’t make a huge mess and there’s no learning curve involved. German smear is beautiful but sometimes it can be difficult to get a consistent look on the whole fireplace without getting it too heavy. Also, it’s much more cost efficient per square foot to use paint and glaze.

Can you use this same process to whitewash brick exteriors?

You could use this technique to whitewash brick exteriors but I think it would be time-consuming especially if you had to color the grout white also. To white wash a brick house, you’d probably want several people helping you. This technique would be much more manageable for a brick accent wall or interior brick backsplash in your kitchen. My aunt and uncle actually used it on the exterior brick walls of their sunroom. Be sure to use exterior grade paint when whitewashing exterior brick.

Does whitewashed brick last?

Whitewashed brick fireplace will hold up the same way a painted wall in your home will. The brick will retain the paint color as long as the fireplace is still standing.

What about whitewashing brick with gray paint? (How Do You Graywash a Brick Fireplace?)

If you whitewashed your brick fireplace with a light gray or charcoal-colored paint, it would definitely be more of a muted whitewash effect, giving the fireplace a more subtle look than the contrasting look of German smear.  I would test a small area first to make sure you like it.  Otherwise, the process to gray whitewash brick fireplaces is exactly the same – just with a different shade of paint.

What About Giani Brick Transformations?

I consider this technique to be a light whitewash for brick fireplaces where Giani Brick Transformations is a much deeper wash that is almost a solid color. You can get the same effect by painting the whitewash mixture all over your fireplace. Just be sure to work in sections wiping off any excess as you paint.

How To Whitewash Brick With Black Grout

A question I received recently was “how do you whitewash a brick fireplace with dark grout?”  This method will still work beautifully but you might need to repeat the second step where you paint over the grout to make sure the old grout color doesn’t show through.  Paint the grout once and see how it looks before painting it a second time. Just painting the grout alone might give you the better results you wanted.

When To Whitewash A Brick Fireplace (How Long Does It Take)

The good thing about this process is that it takes very little time in comparison with other brick whitewashing techniques. I did the entire process one day while my daughter was at school and I’m sure I took longer as I wasn’t sure what I was doing at first.  Considering that I was also taking pictures and videos, you should be able to paint a brick fireplace with this technique in a few hours.

What Is The Best Glaze for Whitewashing Brick Fireplaces?

After trying several glazes for my faux furniture stain tutorial, I realized that the Valspar Clear Mixing Glaze was my favorite product by far. The difference between paint and paint with a glaze is the transparency and dry time.

For example, a black paint gives you full coverage but a black stain allows for some transparency so you can see the character of the wood. The main reason we are using the glaze for this project is so the paint doesn’t dry up on us before we are ready.

How Do You Gray Whitewash A Brick Fireplace

Whitewashing with white paint will give you a grayish look because of the nature of how the paint covers. But if you want a true gray-washed fireplace, whitewashing brick with gray paint is the way to go. Use a shade of light gray paint instead of white latex paint.

How Do You Whitewash Brick On A Fireplace?

To give you a quick summary of the process above. Make “fireplace brick paint” with latex paint and glaze. Then, paint just the grout lines in small sections and immediately wipe any paint that got on the brick surface. Then, go back and paint the bricks in various amounts of paint for a modern look.

How do you whitewash a fireplace with Home Depot’s Fireplace Brick Paint?

The reviews on Home Depot’s Whitewash Kit for Whitewashing Fireplaces were not great so I opted for this technique. Also this whitewashing technique is cheaper.

Can You Use This Process With a Stone Fireplace?

You can use the exact same process on your existing stone fireplace. Test the glaze mixture in an inconspicuous area to see how much it absorbs into the natural stone before doing the entire thing.

What is the best mixture to whitewash a fireplace?

For stone and brick fireplaces, I like to use an equal parts mixture of latex paint and glaze.  The reason I don’t use a paint and water mixture is because the glaze keeps the paint moister for longer so that you can do any touch-ups before the paint dries.  If the mixture is too thick you can always add a little water.

Can this be used to whitewash fireplaces with black stains?

You can use this process but for that particular case, the first step is to clean your fireplace brick with trisodium phosphate (TSP).  Let it dry overnight before doing the whitewash process.  If you have bricks that are still dark, just dry brush a little more white paint over those bricks and no one will suspect a thing.

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How To Whitewash a Fireplace – Final Thoughts:

With this tutorial, you can update the entire look of your fireplace and living room with a few low-cost supplies that will give you the best results possible.  The best part is that it’s a super user-friendly process and you can easily take off the paint before it dries if you decide the look is too heavy. 

This unique look gives new life to your living room while still maintaining the look of your brick, without taking a long time. My husband was also happy that we maintained the look of the initial brick in our home.

Whitewashed fireplaces are such a staple in interior design because they still give you a natural look that conveys so much character.

So start looking on Pinterest for some ideas to replicate and before you know it, your own fireplace will be even more inspiring! Good luck and feel free to comment below with any questions.

How to Whitewash A Brick Fireplace, Before and After Comparison

The Best Tips For Whitewashing a Brick Fireplace: YouTube Video

What are your thoughts, my friend?  Do you think the makeover was worth it?  Can you relate to what it feels like to be broken?  I love to hear your thoughts and questions!  Scroll down to leave a comment and I WILL reply! ❤️

Blessings,

 

 

 

 

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How to Whitewash a fireplace With Paint

How To Whitewash Brick Fireplaces, The Easy Way