I'd paint it white. Use Romabio. It's looks more organic vs. a couple coats of paint.

Thanks so much. Was just reading about it in past posts and went to their website looking at all the before and afters. Def seems like the way to go.

Following. I have a similar fireplace in my family room. My hesitation is that it would be very difficult to undo. Thx

Totally! I want it to recede and brighten up the room but afraid it will just standout more. Designer friend was over yesterday and suggested going darker (no!) or enclosing the brick and putting on stone facade on (no again - $$$). I will def post pics if and when I do it.

I think you can keep what you have and just switch out the mantle to s more rustic one that goes across the length of the bricks.

I totally agree that mantle has to go - is totally out of proportion.

I wouldn’t paint it. I think your issue is lighting And too much stuff. The brick is already fairly light. Also the shoji white looks kind of dingy in the low light so maybe a different wall color though improve lighting first as that may make the wall color better.

also the mantel is all wrong for the style of fireplace. If it can be removed completely without too much damage I’d do that if that isn’t possible I’d replace with a thinner more streamlined mantel.

Why do people want to slop white paint on brick and stone taking away any warmth and character ? Your floor is dark are you going to slop white paint on that too ? Go to a big box store and look at those cheap fake plastic brick panels. That is what your brick will look like painted.

Once painted the paint can never

ever be removed and will have to be repainted over and over again. It will look like a gloppy mess.

Your furniture is dark, your wall art is dark , your fabrics are dark and you have little lighting. Concentrate on the things that are really making your room dark and it isn't the fireplace. Your fireplace and floors are the best features in your room.

I think you have to take a really hard look at the entire room not just the fireplace. You've got a lot of different elements going on in the brief snap shot we are seeing. 3 different and completely unrelated art pieces within a 10' or so span. Colonial fireplace tools, copper pots screen and irons. A completely contemporary TV console. A somewhat rustic leather chair. Pewter dish and candlesticks (back to the colonial or early American feel and a bamboo picture frame ala Hollywood Regency. Those are only the items I can see. What is on the other side of the room? What other colors do you have in the space? I see lime green candles and blanket? A lighter and less dark room isnt going to happen just from painting the fireplace. You already have white walls. You need to address the whole room and move forward with an overall plan to elevate the entire space to something you envision before you do something permanent like paint the brick. Outline your goals. Look at some inspiration photos and decide what it is about each photo you love. Post more pictures of the entire room and then seek help on how to get the space to completion. ;-)

following

There is too much stuff in the room, which won’t be helped by painting the fireplace. I am not a fan of the color of the brick next to the floor. I also don’t like the angle of the floor planks. I would give the whole room a good decluttering and facelift, and make a decision about painting the brick after functionality and organization are addressed. If you do decide to paint the brick, which is neither unethical nor a crime, you can use masonry primer and paint. Painted brick is beautiful, and you can really make that fireplace and the whole room stunning.

Or masonry paint. Behr makes a great one.

Yes, paint it out. There are many on this forum who will NEVER paint brick or wood. Katerine on this thread just finished hers - Take a look at the before and afters. https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5870506/paint-advice-please#25193837

Our before and after! Hubs was super nervous about painting but afterward was so glad we did it As it really brightened the room. We used a masonry primer and then masonry paint and fat brushes. Took about a day. Wall color is SW Gossamer Veil, FP is SW Drift of Mist, and trim is SW Highly Reflective White. I say go for it!! :)

I love the transformation from the one thing disliked the most in a space to a focal point that brings joy every time you look at it. #thepowerofcolor

The texture, stack, color of the brick and the shape of a fire place is designed specifically for the style and era of a home. Painting brick and stone is like trying to turn a tutor home into a MCM and usually turns out mishmashed.

To each their own , but the examples above of the painted stone and brick fireplace look cheap , flat and tacky.

I've seen several posts on how to bring back the character and warmth in the snowstorm kitchens that was all the fad. I've only seen two on how to remove the paint from brick , but I'm sure there will be many more as the trend fades. Guess what, your stuck with it. You can't remove the paint.

The texture, stack, color of the brick and the shape of a fire place is designed specifically for the style and era of a home.

Hahaha! And think some of them were drinkin' when they were making the plans back in the day because a lot of them are a hot mess.

Painting them is usually the most passive response to really, really bad, original scale, color and design choices.

Maybe it helps to see it first:

White Bricks

Whitewashed Bricks

Charcoal Gray with Satin Nickel Fireplace Doors

Of course, you can do something different with the mantel, but this should help you imagine what you might like.

Wow that charcoal is dramatic!!

I still like the original.

Never paint brick. The problem is everything around it. Painted brick is a cheapening effect, there are ways to wash the brick so as not to permently changing. But I would change the mantle, room color, artwork etc—that will make the difference

And you dug out a 2 yr old post to say all this

I would just leave it as is as brick in its natural shades stands out. But, what I think the issue is your mantle. The mantle looks outdated and does not seem to fit with the brick work. Maybe switch out the mantle and brighten the wall colours if you want to brighten the room. Or make the wall where the brick fireplace is into a feature wall colour that is brighter than the rest of the room plus, switching out the mantle will look nice too.