The best fireplace remodel ideas start with what you already have. If the firebox and chimney work, you can change the look completely by painting or limewashing the brick, refacing the surround with tile or stone veneer, or replacing the mantel. If the fireplace is drafty or never used, an insert or a built-in electric wall may suit you better. Below you’ll find what each option does, what it costs, and what to check before anyone picks up a hammer.
TL;DR
- Cosmetic updates (paint, limewash, a new mantel) are the cheapest route. Refacing with tile, stone veneer or slab costs more but changes the whole room.
- Refacing typically runs $600 to $4,500, while a full replacement runs $2,400 to $8,100, depending on size, material and fuel.
- Anything that can burn needs clearance from the fire, and chimneys need a yearly professional inspection. Settle this before you choose finishes.
- A built-in wall with an electric unit adds a focal point and storage, but the framing, power and ventilation need planning up front.
Table of Contents
- Start with what kind of fireplace you have
- Refresh ideas: change the look without demolition
- Reface ideas: replace the surround
- Rebuild ideas: change the fireplace itself
- What a fireplace remodel costs
- Safety checks before you choose finishes
- Our perspective
- When to hire a remodeler
- FAQ
- Sources
Start with what kind of fireplace you have
Three questions sort almost every project.
- Do you burn wood in it? If yes, the firebox, flue and clearances limit what you can do to the surround.
- Do you want heat, or just the look? A masonry fireplace that is open to the room is a poor heat source. Many homeowners keep it for ambiance and heat the house another way.
- Is the problem the surface or the structure? Dated brick, a small mantel or a tile surround from the 1990s is a surface problem. Cracked masonry, smoke in the room or a leaning chimney is a structural one, and that gets fixed before any decor.
Your answers decide whether you’re in the “refresh” group (ideas 1 to 5), the “reface” group (6 to 9) or the “rebuild” group (10 to 12).
Refresh ideas: change the look without demolition
1. Paint the brick
Painting brick is the lowest-cost update and the one most people try first. The standard method is to scrub the brick with trisodium phosphate (TSP) and a wire brush, then apply a masonry primer and a neutral latex paint, as Tar River describes. Use heat-resistant paint on any surface close to the firebox opening.
Painting is hard to undo. Brick is porous and the paint soaks in, so think of it as permanent. If you love the texture of old brick, skip to the next idea.
2. Whitewash or limewash for a softer finish
A diluted wash leaves the brick visible while muting the orange and red tones. Tar River gives a 2-to-1 water-to-paint ratio for a semi-transparent whitewash. Test it on a hidden section first, because bricks absorb differently and a mix that looks right on one wall can go chalky on another.
This is the best answer if you want to modernize a brick fireplace but still want it to look like brick. Limewash gives a mottled, European look. A thinned whitewash gives a lighter, more even one.
3. Paint or refinish the firebox
A sooty firebox makes the whole fireplace look old, even when the surround is fine. Cleaning it and refinishing it with a high-heat product is a small job with a big visual effect. Dark, matte interiors tend to look cleaner and make flames stand out.
4. Replace the mantel
A mantel sets the style of the whole wall. A chunky 1980s oak shelf pulls a room toward the past, while a clean beam, a simple stepped profile or a slim floating shelf pulls it forward. Designers now treat mantels like architecture, thinking about proportion, profile and finish as part of the room. A mantel alone commonly costs $500 to $5,000, depending on size and whether it is prefabricated or custom.
Keep the mantel clear of combustibles near the opening. Check the clearance for your specific firebox before choosing a wood mantel, and use the manufacturer’s numbers or your inspector’s, not a guess.
5. Add built-ins on either side
Flanking cabinets and shelves turn a lone fireplace into the center of the room. Closed cabinets below hide media gear and toys. Open shelves above show off books and art. This is where custom carpentry pays for itself, because stock cabinets rarely fit the width of a chimney breast.
Reface ideas: replace the surround
Refacing means changing the material around the firebox, not the firebox itself. It’s the usual answer for a surround that is dated, damaged or simply the wrong color.
6. Tile
Large-format porcelain, handmade-look zellige or simple subway tile each suit a different style. On a smooth, clean surface, some products can be applied directly. On uneven surfaces, a skim coat of cement board or mortar levels things out first. Tile typically costs $10 to $50 per square foot installed for a surround, which makes it the budget-friendly reface.
If you’re weighing a DIY tile job against hiring out, our tile installation guide walks through the steps and where a professional earns the fee. Setting tile near heat is not the place to learn on the job.
7. Stacked stone veneer
Stone veneer is thin cut stone fastened over the existing surface. It gives the weight and texture of a full stone fireplace without rebuilding anything. Stacked stone with multi-tone layering is a leading surround material this year. Expect roughly $45 to $75 per square foot installed.
Texture can look heavy in a small room. In a low-ceilinged living room, a flat-faced ledger stone in a light tone usually works better than chunky river rock.
8. Floor-to-ceiling slab
Porcelain or natural stone slabs with matching veining carry the pattern up the full wall. The look is very clean: few grout lines, no visible mantel needed. Feature walls that extend one material from floor to ceiling are a strong current direction, and they change how the whole room reads, not just the fireplace. Natural stone costs about $50 to $150 per square foot installed for a surround, and slab work needs a precise template, so it isn’t a weekend project.
If you want to see how a designer approaches contemporary materials on a full wall, these full-height feature wall designs show some of the options.
9. Fluted or reeded detailing
Vertical fluting on a surround or mantel is one of the clearest 2026 looks. Clean architectural profiles and symmetrical, tiered mantels are showing up in new work. It reads as modern but not cold, and it can be built in plaster, wood or tile. Painted in the same color as the wall, it adds shadow and depth without adding color.
Rebuild ideas: change the fireplace itself
10. Install a gas, pellet or wood insert
An open masonry fireplace sends warm room air up the chimney. Certified inserts burn more efficiently, and the EPA describes them as a more efficient alternative to traditional open masonry fireplaces. When retrofitting one, the EPA recommends a stainless steel chimney liner and an insert that is specifically tested and approved for your fireplace type, as the same document explains.
The insert is also a design choice. A black or stainless surround with a clean glass front looks very different from a cast-iron stove-style unit, so pick the finish before you pick the tile around it.
11. Build an electric fireplace wall
A built-in electric fireplace wall suits homes with no chimney, or with a chimney nobody wants to maintain. You frame a wall section, recess a linear electric unit at a comfortable viewing height, and surround it with shelving, cabinets or a media niche. It adds a focal point and storage in one build.
Things to settle before framing:
- Power. Most units need a nearby outlet or a dedicated circuit. Have an electrician confirm this before the drywall goes up.
- TV height. If a television goes above, check the manufacturer’s heat guidance for the unit. Many people prefer the TV beside the fireplace, not over it.
- Access. Leave a way to service the unit and reach the wiring.
- Storage. Cabinets on either side hide cables, consoles and games. Deep drawers below are more useful than open shelves in a family room.
The same logic works in a finished basement, where an electric unit gives you warmth and a focal wall without a flue. Our basement finishing ideas cover where it fits in a lower-level layout.
12. Turn the fireplace into a divider
In open floor plans, designers increasingly use fireplaces as architectural dividers between living and dining areas, not only as wall-mounted focal points. Double-sided units that connect two rooms are part of this trend. It’s a major structural job, and it needs engineering, permits and a builder who has done it before. If you’re opening up a kitchen at the same time, see our open concept kitchen ideas.
What a fireplace remodel costs
National averages from HomeGuide give a useful range:
| Project | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Reface the surround | $600 to $4,500 |
| Replace or rebuild the fireplace | $2,400 to $8,100 |
| Replace the mantel only | $500 to $5,000 |
| Tile surround (installed) | $10 to $50 per sq. ft. |
| Stone veneer (installed) | $45 to $75 per sq. ft. |
| Natural stone (installed) | $50 to $150 per sq. ft. |
These are national figures. Labor in the St. Louis area, the height of your ceilings and the state of your chimney all move the number. The biggest drivers are the material, the size of the surround, and whether the project stops at finish work or includes chimney and firebox repairs. Stone costs are higher at the top end: a floor-to-ceiling stone surround and hearth can be quoted in the thousands to low five figures.
Prices change, so get a written scope with materials, labor and cleanup listed separately.
Safety checks before you choose finishes
Look good, but burn safely. Heating is the second leading cause of home fires, and from 2005 to 2007, 31 percent of nonconfined residential heating fires happened because the heat source was too close to combustibles.
That has direct design consequences:
- Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from a fireplace or wood stove. That includes a mantel garland, a wood shelf and a pile of firewood.
- Have the chimney inspected and cleaned every year by a professional, especially before you cover or reface anything near it.
- If you add a wood stove or insert, confirm it has been tested by a qualified laboratory.
- Ask the city or county about permits. Rules differ between St. Louis city, St. Louis County and neighboring Missouri and Illinois jurisdictions, so check yours.
If the chimney inspection finds cracks, a failing liner or water damage, fix those first. A beautiful surround on a bad flue is a bad investment.
Our perspective
We see the same pattern in older St. Louis homes. The fireplace is the focal point of the room, but it was built for another era: a heavy oak mantel, orange brick, a tile surround in a color nobody chose on purpose. Owners often assume they have to tear everything out. Usually they don’t.
Our advice is to match the effort to the problem. If the brick is sound, start with the least invasive change that fixes what bothers you. If the whole wall feels wrong, plan the wall as a single design, including shelving, lighting, and the TV, before ordering any material. We build 3D designs so homeowners can see the finished wall before work starts, and that avoids the most common regret: choosing a stone sample that looks different at full scale.
We also push back on one trend. A floor-to-ceiling slab looks great in photos, but it only works if the room proportions, ceiling height and furniture layout support it. A simpler surround done well beats an ambitious one done halfway.
— Kierin
When to hire a remodeler
Painting, limewashing and a mantel swap are realistic DIY projects for a careful homeowner. Hire a professional when the job involves any of these:
- Framing a new wall or built-in
- Running electrical for an electric unit
- Setting heavy stone or slab
- Changing the flue, liner or insert
- Combining the fireplace with a larger renovation
We handle remodeling in St. Louis, including kitchens, bathrooms, basements and custom living spaces, with free 3D design to plan each project. If your fireplace sits in a basement or family room you plan to renovate, tell us about the whole space. You can see our published project pricing on our pricing page, or contact us to talk through your plans.
FAQ
How can I modernize a brick fireplace?
The simplest options are painting, whitewashing or limewashing the brick, or covering it with tile or thin stone veneer. Whitewash keeps the brick texture visible, while paint and veneer change it fully. Finish by updating the mantel and the firebox, since those two details date a fireplace faster than the brick does.
How much does it cost to reface a fireplace?
National averages put refacing at $600 to $4,500, depending on the material and the size of the surround. Tile sits at the low end and natural stone at the high end. Ask for a written quote, since local labor rates and surface repairs change the total.
Can I put an electric fireplace in a wall?
Yes. Built-in electric units are installed in a framed wall and finished with shelves, cabinets or tile. Plan the power supply, the viewing height and service access before the wall is closed, and follow the manufacturer’s clearance instructions, particularly if a TV will go nearby.
Is a wood-burning fireplace worth keeping?
It depends on how you use it. Open masonry fireplaces are inefficient for heating, and the EPA points to certified inserts as a more efficient option. If you burn wood only occasionally, a refresh and an annual chimney inspection may be all you need.
Sources
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Fireplace Remodel Cost?
- Found Rocks: Stone Fireplace Cost in the US
- Tar River: Fireplace Makeover Ideas
- The Spruce: 6 Ways to Refresh an Outdated Fireplace
- Citadel Spaces: Fireplace Surrounds
- DreamCast Design: Designing With Fire in 2026
- Acucraft: 2026 Fireplace Trends
- ArtFasad: Fireplace Feature Walls 2026
- U.S. EPA: Subpart AAA review
- U.S. Fire Administration: Fireplace and Wood Stove Safety
- U.S. Fire Administration: Heating Fires in Residential Buildings
- U.S. Fire Administration: Home Fire Safety
- Full-height feature wall designs
