Preparation and Design

• 1). Determine a budget for your fireplace upgrade project. This will decide the materials you use, the quality of materials, the types of accessories and the overall effect you achieve.
  
  
• 2). Decide the type of effect you want your fireplace to achieve. Do you want to juxtapose a very modern slate fireplace with a more classically furnished room, or are you interested in an overall flow to the room with a consistent look and appeal?
  
  
• 3). Determine the availability of specific design items in your area. Lava rocks may be more easily acquired in some geographic areas than others, and the same applies for accessories. Utilize the talents and culture of local artists, and employ those themes when decorating and designing the fireplace redo.
  
  

Changing The Look

• 1). Change the look of your fireplace with a new coat of paint and fresh grout or mortar for an inexpensive update to a blah fireplace. Painting both the inside and outside of the fireplace, as well as the hearth or surround, with fire-safe paint can spruce up the space while saving you the time and cost of a complete renovation. If you’re looking for a simple pick-me-up to the space, paint is often the best option.
  
  
• 2). Tile the fireplace and surround to update the look and feel of the entire room, especially if you use a mosaic tile to create a pattern. Colored tile, custom-colored grout, and textured or painted tiles can all completely change the appearance and appeal of a fireplace, and tile can often be installed without a professional (though professional assistance can be helpful).
  
  
• 3). Add a pre-fabricated mantel or build your own mantel for both a new look for the actual fireplace and a new look for the surround. It also gives you space to add fresh accessories to the area. Choose a stained wood, a paint color that complements your accessories, or texture the mantel with a faux stucco or granite.