Whether you are just moving into a new-to-you home or you are ready to update the home you have to give it a new look or better function, the high cost of remodeling can put the brakes on big plans.
Even if you have the funds, it’s always worth at least considering if there might be more clever or affordable ways you could update your space while keeping more of your hard-earned money in your pocket.
How We Transformed Our Fireplace
When we first bought a 1950s house last year, we knew we loved many things about it. We loved the view from the main living rooms, the property location and size and the solid structure of the home. But, honestly, the living room fireplace wasn’t at the top of our list of favorite features. Not only did we not like the design, quality or the color of the stone, but the grout was a shade of mauve. The pink-hued fireplace seemed to stick out like a sore thumb in the room and made everything else around it feel dated.
Immediately, we started brainstorming ways to refresh the fireplace. We could have removed all of the stone to give it a totally new look, but our budget was a big limitation. Over time, we plan to remodel several other parts of the house, so there are many projects in line ahead of the fireplace.
For months we talked about painting the stone to give it a fresher look while it awaited a remodel, but wondered if it would help the overall look enough to be worth our time. We feared we might even regret painting it. But one weekend we decided we really had nothing to lose. We didn’t like the look of the fireplace now. We weren’t even enjoying the feel of the rest of our living room because of it. If we didn’t like the fireplace as it was, would we dislike it more if it was painted? Our answer was no.
Using Chalk Paint on Stone
We wanted to try Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (in Paris Grey). This was because it wouldn’t require priming or advance preparation of the stone. We decided to clean the stone first with water to make sure it was free of dust. This was also an easy way to check for any loose grout or stone. It didn’t take long at all to paint the fireplace. We were amazed by the finished product!
Paint on the fireplace was an instant improvement to our room. While we also considered white as a color option, we really like that the gray feels so natural in the room. The neutral tone blends with the rest of our color scheme, too. A neutral shade also helps to fade the fireplace into the background of the room, rather than making it stand out as a feature.
Furniture Arrangement
Because the design of the fireplace is asymmetrical, we arranged furniture and other elements to help the room feel pulled together and balanced. While we still have long-term plans for a new mantel or even updating the whole look of the fireplace, we are so happy with how this project turned out.
With the painted stone, we don’t feel we have to change the fireplace right away, and we can focus on completing other projects. We may even just leave the fireplace as it is! That’s the great thing about a low-risk project like paint. It offers you a quick change, and you just might like it enough to make a bigger remodel unnecessarily.
How To Transform a Room Easily and on a Budget
1. Use paint to refresh and update a room, accessories or furniture.
2. Select neutral tones to help any less than desirable items become less of a main focal point.
3. Try arranging furniture, curtains or accessories to balance out any unfortunately placed or otherwise unattractive architecture or features in a room such as windows, doorways, or fireplaces.
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