You could paint them white and paint the mantel blue to match the kitchen

No painting brick. You need more light in the room. More tables and lamps.

Paint the mantel to match the kitchen cabinets, leave the bricks bricky, add some art and stuff on either side (unless you need storage in which case built-ins might be worth looking into).

It is overall quite pleasant and doesn't NEED a major overhaul!

I would not paint the brick. It’s a natural element and in great condition. I would find a smaller piece of art, scan some inspiration pictures to find elements I’m drawn to and go on a shopping hunt to dress up the mantel.

I would be inclined to paint the brick white to harken back to the subway tile in the kitchen and get a mantle with a stain to go with the flooring. I like the look of built ins flanking a fireplace and your room could handle the weight of them but if you don't need the storage not sure it is worth the price.

I wouldn't paint the the brick. I agree with Sophie that you need more lamps in the room.

To me, the mantle looks kind of wimpy and a bit high.

I vote no paint, I like it as is! The mantle seems a little on the high side to me though, and I would paint it the same color as your kitchen cabinets. Also, slide the rug over so the front legs of your couch are on top of it.

I would not paint that particular brick.

My thought was painted or washed white...maybe someone could do a mock up. I think a chunkier mantel similar to floor color would look nice. That couch looks super comfy!!

I happen to love painted brick and I think Catt Combs suggestion is great--Paint the fireplace a soft white and the mantel navy blue to coordinate with the kitchen (which is really nice!).

The bricks of the fireplace look perfect!

Don’t paint the brick, definitely replace the mantle with a chunkier one and lower it.

This will give you an idea of what your fireplace would look like whitewashed and with built ins. Ignore the paint color and way they decorated it.

https://www.infarrantlycreative.net/how-to-paint-a-brick-fireplace/

I am in the don't paint the brick camp. Painted brick looks cheap and flat. Once you paint you have to keep on painting it for it to look nice and there is no turning back. Brick was not meant to be painted. The moron who had my house before me painted the gameroom fireplace. It took me hours of faux painting to have it some what look like brick again. I would remove the mantel all together. Not every fireplace needs to have a mantel. Built ins are a personal preference. I like them myself.

I am in the don't paint the brick camp. Painted brick looks cheap and flat. Once you paint you have to keep on painting it for it to look nice and there is no turning back. Brick was not meant to be painted. The moron who had my house before me painted the gameroom fireplace. It took me hours of faux painting to have it some what look like brick again. I would remove the mantel all together. Not every fireplace needs to have a mantel. Built ins are a personal preference. I like them myself.

Leave the brick alone. Paint the mantle something other than white.

And throw away that "wall art". I refuse to take advice or directions from wall art; it is in no position to know. Plus, it screams "Home Goods" or "Marshall's"

@BeverlyFLADeziner - thank you. I love that.

I agree that the mantel is the odd man out. Beverly's choices look great.

Painting brick obscures the grout lines and often give the fireplace a plasticy look. Sometimes the brick is terrible and it the only choice. Or the house decor is very modern and the white brick works with the space.

I think a mantel change and completing the room decor with lamps, art and a bigger rug will make the fireplace recede.

@wickedwhite I love all 3 of those designs!

A rug that has yellow as well as brown makes sense for the room.

I am going to weigh in on the PRO paint side. Our house was built in 1927, and the original fireplace is just brick, even the mantel. It always sucked the light out of the room.

Some years ago, against my wife's will, I painted the brick our trim color. It was the best thing we ever did to that room.

I wish I had a decent "before" and "after" photo, or even a more recent one, since a good amount has changed in that room, but here is an old, bad photo of the painted brick and a hearth-mounted stove (which I am not suggesting)

I would not suggest that you paint the brick any color but your trim color, and I prefer some contrast with the walls, but painted brick is lovely. If you do it yourself, use a thick primer, like block filler, first.

I love the brick - so I don't think you should change the material. However, I do think that it would look cute if it was painted to match your cabinets in the kitchen! I think bookshelves would look too cluttered with your side chairs there. Your kitchen is beautiful by the way!

I agree with others on don't paint the brick. Your fireplace is a nice, soft brick look. Every so often you see harsh looking fire engine red brick fireplaces, and in that situation I think a light milk wash can be very nice in toning it down. But again, that does not apply to your style of brick. Yours is quite pleasing.

I'd paint it. Not white wash, but full paint.

I hope up you don't paint the brick. I would like to see a large, chunky wood beam for the mantle mounted lower than your current mantle. I love your dog art and the word art just annoys me.

Thank you all so much for the advice and comments. Once I finish the updates, I'll post another pic.

If YOU want to change the brick, go ahead. Especially if this brick doesn't match any other brick on the house. YOU have to live with it, not us. I've seen brick fireplaces painted with great results. And, later on, you can change the color as styles change. You can't change that brick (that you aren't liking)!

I'd do black, leave the mantel white, have walls the same as the kitchen. It's great there, it would look great in the family room. This post is SO old, I'm sure the original person made their choice long ago! I'm just commenting because it has come up again, and I want to put in my 2 cents worth!

Gosh, I must have mis-read the post date! It is very current! My thoughts still stand.

I would leave the hearth alone but drywall and trim around it. I also think the walls on either side of the FP are crying for shelves. Our FP had an identical look 20 years ago, a solid brick wall with a large piece of wood serving as a mantel, and this is how it looks now. We purchased a mantel already put together and put it in place after the drywall was installed. I also have the same layout, more or less, that your room does, and it works well. You have a lovely home and your kitchen is gorgeous!

It appears you have an eclectic style that leans toward contemporary so I wouldn't hesitate to either paint/whitewash the brick or resuface it with a different material. Take your time, look at pics of fireplaces and choose what you love. It's a major focal point so you don't want to make a rushed decision.

Whitewash pics.

Love your dog art!

I like the whitewashed brick. I'm not a fan of brick at all (except as pavers) - I don't like it as wall treatment - but as bricks go, yours is not bad.

I am following this thread as I posted a similar question late last night. I have a very similar room, perhaps a bit more narrow. Beverly FLADeziner, I love your ideas.

Thanks so much to everyone who shared their opinions. I'll have to post another photo when we get everything finished, including some of the great suggestions shared here. :)