Get your fireplace redo ideas here! These before and after fireplace makeovers will give you both the ideas and the information so you’re ready for your DIY fireplace remodel, whether you’re refacing a dated fireplace or updating a builder grade fireplace.
Want to add a new fireplace or replace the old one? Learn how to build a DIY faux fireplace and check out our top picks for electric fireplaces and mantels.
25 Best DIY Fireplace Makeovers
Is your fireplace the statement piece you want for your living room or is it more of an outdated fireplace eyesore?
Whether it’s brick, stone, or simply drywall, make your fireplace the focal point you want with a DIY fireplace makeover!
We’ve gathered the best fireplace remodel ideas that you can do yourself to modernize a fireplace surround and give it a whole new look, on a budget.
These ideas can be used for a woodburning fireplace or a gas fireplace, to add character and update the look of the fireplace surround and area, to add fireplace built-in shelving and cabinets, and more.
Take a look, pick your favorite, and don’t settle for that ugly, old fireplace!
This post started with 10 of our favorites, then grew to 25, and now features nearly 50 beautiful fireplace remodel ideas that you can do yourself!
1970’s Fireplace Remodel with New Mantel & Airstone Surround
Like many homeowners, we had a nice living room fireplace that just didn’t jive with our remodel and updates.
As we remodeled our Jordan House, we knew we wanted to keep this fireplace.
When we removed the walls to open up the main level living room and kitchen area, the all-white fireplace felt lost on the now- large wall.
The raised hearth felt like it encroached on the open space we were creating.
Now it looks like this — a beautifully remodeled modern gray mantel and stone fireplace surround that stands out as a focal point in our open living room space!
We still want to add the built-in bookcases around the fireplace like we visualized in the initial concept plan, but that’s on the back burner for now while we keep working on our Birch House basement (among other things).
Watch the video tutorial and before-and-after fireplace remodel progress in the playlist here:
And now, on to more of the best fireplace remodel ideas!
If you’ve remodeled your fireplace based on this inspiration or follow our fireplace makeover tutorials, we would love to see photos! Submit your brag photos and project information here.
Easy Fireplace Makeover Updates
If you’re not ready for a full fireplace remodel yet, try these easy updates to makeover the fireplace and give it a new look.
Black Painted Brick Fireplace + New Wood Mantel
When we first moved in to our 1970’s rambler Birch House, one thing I really loved was the beautiful curved brickwork on the huge brick fireplace wall. They just don’t build houses like this anymore!
But the brick color was really brown and dated, so we painted it black and then added the easiest DIY wood mantel in the world.
Paint covers a multitude of sins (and ugly stuff), and a dark paint color can turn a basic wall into a gorgeous focal wall.
This fireplace wall at Tanya’s was very busy with gray stone brick, wood paneling, and brass vents. She unified the whole wall by painting it all dark gray.
Stone Fireplace Wall Update
In our Canyon House, we had this huge stone fireplace wall. Rather than do the work to remove and replace it, we embraced it and made it a feature wall by adding a mantel.
The mantel really helped define the space and make it a focal point instead of an overwhelming large feature (plus now we can decorate around the fireplace!)
Painted Stone Fireplace Makeover with Live Edge Mantel
A dated stone fireplace surround and unimpressive basic wood mantel got the update here at Colleen’s house!
She painted the stone brick fireplace and replaced the mantel with a beautiful live-edge wood plank that fits her modern rustic style perfectly.
Painted Brick Fireplace Update with Thick Wood Mantel

In similar style, Carrie painted her brick fireplace navy blue and then replaced the thin crown molding type mantel with a thick rustic wood mantel.
This definitely makes a the fireplace a beautiful focal point!
See the details at Lovely Etc.
DIY Floating Mantel from a Barnwood Beam

Upgrade the look of an in-wall fireplace with a floating mantel!
Sarah scored this old barn beam for just $10 and turned it into a gorgeous floating mantel for her fireplace.
Read all about it at Grace in My Space.
Stone Fireplace with DIY Farmhouse Mantel Surround
Sara’s living room features this beautiful large stone fireplace, but the wood slab mantel just wasn’t making the statement that she wanted.
They wanted to highlight the stacked stone but give the fireplace wall some extra oomph, so they built a gorgeous farmhouse mantel around the fireplace.
Restored Stone Fireplace Makeover
Some of us like to paint a brick fireplace, and others are looking to restore a painted brick or stone fireplace. It’s the circle of remodeling ?
Sarah’s stone fireplace was painted red — sooo bright and not her style (seriously, look at the before pictures).
She removed the old paint and then use a bit of whitewash paint to redefine the stone texture to restore it and make it look even better than the original!

Rather than remove the paint from her painted brick fireplace, Brittany faux painted it to look like brick again!
See the how-to at Pretty Handy Girl.
Restained Brick Fireplace Makeover
If you like the brick but want a different color to fit your style and decor, you can re-stain the brick like Jodi did!
Would you believe this lovely statement mantel began as a super basic drywall-only fireplace box?
These DIYers added the tile hearth and fireplace surround, a bit of plywood and some picture frame molding.
DIY Faux Chimney with Trim

For another easy update that makes a big statement, use a few pieces of trim to add a faux chimneypiece above a basic fireplace.
Adding height to a fireplace like this makes it a focal point and you can change up the style of trim to fit your style — classic like Tamara’s here, or use shiplap or paneling for a more farmhouse style.
Maybe the fireplace itself doesn’t need the update — maybe it’s the walls around it that do!
Sara added a beautiful paneled accent wall on either side of her fireplace and it made the whole wall a gorgeous addition to her elegant living room.

The beige tile surround on Christin’s fireplace was feeling dated.
So what’s a DIYer to do but bust out a can of spray paint?!
See how to spray paint a tile fireplace surround at My Homier Home.
DIY Fireplace Remodels with Built-Ins
If you’re looking to really make a statement with your fireplace remodel, add built-in shelving around the fireplace.
Built-ins can add storage and style to any room, but they look especially great as fireplace built-ins to create a classic focal wall with lots of storage.
DIY Fireplace with Built-In Bookcases & Hidden TV
Add classic home style to a builder basic home by adding an entire fireplace built-in wall!
Shannon started with a basic blank wall, added the fireplace, and the built-in bookshelves, and (my favorite part) a hidden TV enclosure above the fireplace!
White Painted Brick Fireplace & Built-Ins
Sometimes a bit of paint is the fastest and easiest way to make over a fireplace!
This bright white fireplace started as dark brick, dark wood built-ins, and dark wood paneling… not the light, bright, and modern space that Megan wanted.
Stone Fireplace Remodel with Built-In Shelves
Jamie & Morgan started with a huuuuuge stone fireplace and hearth, which they removed and then filled in the space with a modern flat fireplace wall and built-in shelving for storage.
New Fireplace Install with Built-In Bookshelves
The Anderson Family started with a very outdated but empty living room and created this beautiful fireplace and built-in bookshelf wall from scratch.
In a similar, our Park House fireplace was a total fake… but we loved our faux fireplace and mantel just the same!
This was part of our family room great wall of built-ins and was the perfect addition to what was just a basic room before.
We built it all from scratch, on a budget, and topped it with a rustic wooden mantel (and framed the TV to match).
Corner Fireplace Makeover with Wood Panels
Many homes of a certain era have this interesting design feature: a corner fireplace, often with a TV nook above.
The Foss family updated the basic sheetrock above the fireplace with some basic beadboard and wood panels in a shaker or board and batten style.
DIY Built-In Electric Fireplace with Storage

This built-in electric fireplace wall is 100% DIY! It makes for a great focal point on a blank wall, and the built-in storage cubbies are removable to access the electrical components for the fireplace and the TV that’s hung above.
Build it with the tutorial from Woodshop Diaries.
Brick Fireplace Remodel with New Faux Chimney

You don’t have to paint a brick fireplace to update it!
Stephanie’s fireplace had dark wood built-in bookcases and a dark wood mantel with a brick surround.
She gave the bookcases and the mantel a coat of white paint and added a faux chimney extension to the fireplace surround. It looks amazing!
See the process by Simply Swider.
You’ll Also Like: Easy Brick Fireplace Makeover Ideas
Brick Fireplace Remodel with Built-in Bookshelves

This big brick fireplace got a modern update! They added built-in bookshelves and cabinets on both sides and a new mantel and TV area above the fireplace.
She highlighted the brickwork above the fireplace by covering up the sides to enhance the brick keystone curve and give it a whole new style.
New Gas Fireplace with Stone Surround and Built-in Shelving
This is an amazing glow-up! Becky took this blank wall from basic 70’s wood paneling to a stunning stone fireplace with gorgeous wood built-in cabinets. The seamless mantel is gorgeous!
Brick Fireplace with Built-In Cabinets and Bookcases

A basic red brick fireplace and oak mantel got a fabulous new update! Some new trim and it never hurts to install some built-in bookcases!
See more of this project by Naptime DIY.
Built-ins are a great way to handle an off-center fireplace like this. See more ideas for decorating around a non-working and/or off-center fireplace.
Whitewash Painted Brick Fireplace with Built-Ins

Whitewash painting the brick on this fireplace was the frosting on this living room makeover cake! The updated wood mantel over the brick and the built-in bookcases frame it in so nicely.
See more at Finding Home.
Electric Fireplace Feature Wall with Shelves

If you have a large wall, adding a fireplace and shelves can really help fill the space instead of being dwarfed by it.
Lindsey started with the faux mantel, then added the shelves and a board and batten accent wall, and then upgraded from a faux fireplace to electric and added a stone hearth.
See more about this electric fireplace feature wall at Repurpose and Upcycle.
DIY Electric Fireplace Wall with IKEA Bookshelves

We couldn’t talk about built-ins without an IKEA hack!
New build homes often have large blank walls, and Jillian made hers a statement by adding this DIY electric fireplace wall flanked with IKEA Billy built-in bookcases.
Read all about this DIY IKEA bookshelf electric fireplace wall at Free and Unfettered.
If your fireplace remodel needs a new look instead of a full sledgehammer removal, you can reface the fireplace surround and cover it up for a great new style.
Stone to Shiplap Modern Fireplace Remodel
Thalita’s dated stone fireplace got a gorgeous modern remodel! Now it’s a shiplap fireplace with marble tile surround and a gorgeous large wood mantel.
The surrounding shiplap walls also help make the off-center fireplace feel intentional instead of awkward.
Corner Fireplace Remodel with Tile & Mirror
Sometimes there are features in your home that are just too much work to remove, so you gotta work it.
That was the case with Sabrina’s corner fireplace remodel. Taking down the huge mirror above the fireplace would have meant a lot of messy drywall work, so instead, Sabrina added trim and molding to frame with mirror and make it look intentional — and amazing!
She also replaced the dated marble surround with white marble hexagon tile, and painted the curved mantel and brass fireplace pieces. Stunning results!
Refaced Brick Fireplace Remodel with Wood Panels & Tile

Jon and Sherry from took their basic brick fireplace and added new wood panels and beautiful white marble tile to give a contemporary look.
You’ve never guess there was red brick underneath all the beautiful new tile and trim!
See the process at Young House Love.
Refaced Brick Fireplace with Concrete and Shiplap

This dated fireplace was very old and in need of a makeover. Now, this formerly off-center fireplace with stained brick and mortar looks AMAZING!
Ashley kept the original brick fireobox and inlaid hearth, but framed over the brick to apply a feather-finish concrete to the fireplace and to add gray vertical shiplap above a rustic wood mantel — resulting in a gorgeous modernized style.
See the concrete and shiplap fireplace process at Cherished Bliss.
Stone Veneer Over a Brick Fireplace

Lori truly had an… interesting… before with her brick fireplace painted in white and burgundy!
She refaced the all brick fireplace and hearth by adding tile over the brick hearth and a lightweight faux stone veneer over the rest of the brick fireplace wall, right up the ceiling.
See the before and after at Dining Delight.
DIY Stone Fireplace from Scratch

If you don’t have a fireplace to update, you can get a lot of style building from scratch.
Becky used the same type of faux stone facade as above, but instead of adding on an existing fireplace, she start with a blank wall and built the enclosure and fireplace wall for a new electric fireplace.
Read more about it at Boxwood Design Co.
Build an Electric Fireplace Wall

Along the same lines, Kristin built an electric fireplace wall from scratch — but wrapped it in gorgeous gray shiplap instead of stone or brick.
Check it out at Simply DIY Home.
DIY Concrete Fireplace Remodel
The old fireplace stone veneer was not Tasha’s style and not in good shape, either.
To fit her more modern style, she removed the faux stone veneer, wrapped the brick fireplace wall with drywall/cement board, and then skim coated concrete to make a completely updated and modern fireplace wall.
Brick Fireplace Remodel

Layla updated this floor to ceiling fireplace for her friends to give it a whole new look!
The team build a new wood facade to break up the exposed brick fireplace wall and give it some modern style with a new wood and MDF mantel and shiplap style faux chimney piece.
Read more about this fireplace remodel at The Lettered Cottage.
DIY Brick Fireplace Remodel

For a similar look, Bree took her basic in-wall gas fireplace and remodeled it into a modern classic brick fireplace!
She replaced the old mantel with a gorgeous barnwood mantel and added shiplap above.
Get the details of this brick fireplace remodel at Rain on Pine.
Tile & Shiplap Fireplace Remodel

An inset fireplace alcove can look dated and easily cluttered.
Rachel made hers look amazing and modern glam by adding a black tile fireplace surround and thick wood mantel, and filling in the upper recessed section with shiplap.
Check out this fireplace makeover at Joyful Derivatives.
Concrete Corner Fireplace Remodel

This corner fireplace was in working condition, but the basic concrete fireplace surround wasn’t Cara’s style and also was flaking and making a mess.
So she wrapped it all in shiplap and added a wood mantel — now it’s the perfect farmhouse fireplace!
See the corner fireplace remodel at The Inspired Workshop.
Refaced Wood Fireplace Makeover

Stephanie had an older basic wood panel fireplace surround that just didn’t work with her style.
She updated the fireplace by using recycled hardwood paneling to give it an earthy style — a huge difference from the basic paneling before!
Read about the wood fireplace paneling at The Divine Living Space.
Stacked Stone Fireplace Remodel to Brick

This gorgeous modern and classic brick fireplace began as a full-wall stacked stone fireplace!
Crystal removed all the stone and then added the thin brick fireplace surround and built the mantel from just one sheet of MDF.
Get more info about this gorgeous DIY fireplace remodel at Living in Laundry.
DIY Tile to Faux Brick Fireplace Surround

The plain fireplace with a basic tile surround wasn’t a fit for what Brooke wanted.
So she removed the tile and replaced it with faux brick tile, then added a wood mantel.
See the details of the faux brick fireplace update at Restore Decor and More.
New Fireplace Tile Face Update
Faith was tired of the basic square tile surrounding her fireplace, so she added new mosaic tile (and spray painted the brass fireplace door, too).

For an even easier fireplace tile surround update, you can use heat resistant peel and stick tile!
Jenna used “paint and stickers” to give her fireplace a fresh new look on a budget, without needing special tiling tools or skills.
Get the details on this peel and stick tile fireplace makeover at Lantern Lane Designs.
Brick to Tile Fireplace Remodel

There was so much to cringe at in this fireplace before…. the oddly proportioned (and wavy?!) mantel, dirty stained brick, and a raised hearth that Stephanie wanted gone.
So she removed the hearth, covered the brick with large rectangular tiles, and build a beautiful new modern mantel.
See the whole fireplace makeover at Swing N Cocoa.
Painted Wood Fireplace Redo with White Marble Tile Reface

Amy gave her parents’ fireplace mantel and tile face a whole new look!
The beautiful but dated woodwork was painted white, and the old beige square tile face and inlaid hearth were replaced with modern beautiful white marble tile in a herringbone pattern.
See more photos at The Blissful Bee.
More DIY Fireplace Redo Ideas
Got an awkward fireplace setup? Or no fireplace at all? Try these ideas to update the fireplace area or create a fireplace in your home.
Awkward Fireplace Alcove Ideas

When they were given an old electric fireplace mantel, The Rooster and the Hen gave it a coat of paint and a nice modern makeover.

Want to build your own fireplace for style, but don’t actually need a fireplace for heat?
Build a faux fireplace and mantel!
Cover a Tile Hearth with Concrete
Sarah wanted to keep the exposed stove and woodburning fireplace in her 1906 farmhouse, but the previous owners’ strange tile laying job on the hearth beneath the fireplace was just odd.
So, they trimmed up the shape and laid a modern concrete hearth over it!
This content was originally published here.