Here are my best tips on easy ways to improve an older outdated fireplace!
If you’re newer to my blog, I might be able to lie to you convince you that my mantel and tile surround have always looked like this:

But, it hasn’t. A few short months ago, it looked like this:

bleh. Very outdated!
Here are a few ways we’ve managed to transform our outdated mantel and tile surround:
1. Paint!
It should come as no surprise that paint made a huge difference for our mantel and tile. When we had our oak trim painted white, we had our painter caulk, sand, prime, and paint the mantel and tile too. The color change was immediate and such an improvement! The paint color is Benjamin Moore’s White Dove, which is lovely soft white.

We had our painter do this, but it wouldn’t be too difficult to do it yourself!
2. Decorate with new (or new to you) accessories!
This breakdown is from a previous post, and it looks a little different now, but I was able to redecorate the mantel relatively inexpensively! I found a lot of this loot from Goodwill!

3. Hide the kinda ugly fireplace with a cute bench and standout throw pillows!

There. That’s better. I hardly even notice the big black fireplace behind those darling throw pillows.
We’ve been able to make this fireplace look a whole lot better without spending a lot of money! That’s just how I roll.
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I was super excited yesterday to find out that my Goodwill Frames to Fabric Art project was featured over at Roadkill Rescue. If you are into home decor blogs, then you probably know that Roadkill Rescue is kindofabigdeal. (Sorry, had to toot my own horn for a second!) If you love trash to treasure furniture and decor make-overs, then you’d love Roadkill Rescue, be sure to check it out!
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I was super excited yesterday to find out that my Goodwill Frames to Fabric Art project was featured over at Roadkill Rescue. If you are into home decor blogs, then you probably know that Roadkill Rescue is kindofabigdeal. (Sorry, had to toot my own horn for a second!) If you love trash to treasure furniture and decor make-overs, then you’d love Roadkill Rescue, be sure to check it out!
Have a great day! 🙂
I’m linking up at: Mom4Real, Give Me The Goods Monday, Tatertots & Jello, It’s Overflowing
I used to have a fireplace that looked just like that but we now rent a home since we are military and move every 3-4 years. Hopefully someday we will have another mantel to decorate but for now I have a mini one that I like to decorate for the holidays and seasons.
A mini-mantel is better than no mantel at all! 🙂
Oooh you must have been excited to get the Roadkill Rescue email!!! Congrats! 🙂
Great tips for easily updating a fireplace.
I just told MH readers to watch for your guest post tomorrow!
Thank you ma’am! Can’t wait to see it live! 🙂
Hi! Visiting from Show Me The Goods link party and am your newest follower. LOVE your home! Especially love your DIY boxwood wreath – that’s been on my project list for a while!
I think we have your exact fireplace. I’m really toying with what I want to do with all of our trim. Thanks for the ideas.
Ack! Thanks for the help. Our fireplace is almost a twin to yours. Right now the tv stand is blocking it. I’m hoping to block it off with a media wall or work it in (now possible thanks to your ideas).
I have an outdated fireplace and love your remodeled version. In the first picture you have original baseboards the same color as fireplace wood. In the remodeled picture I do not see any baseboards. Did you paint or replace all woodwork after painting fireplace?
Hi Kelly! Blame it on terrible photography, but the baseboards are still there. We painted them the same white as the fireplace. 🙂