How to Whitewash a Stone Fireplace: Easy Step-by-Step Tutorial

Inside: If you’re looking to update a dark stone fireplace without replacing it, whitewashing is an easy, affordable DIY solution that gives it a softer, more modern look. In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through exactly how I transformed a dated fireplace step by step.

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It’s hard to love your living room when the very focal point is the thing you hate the most.

Unless we build from scratch and get to pick every detail in our home just to our liking, we all have to live with something that just sticks in our craw every time we look at it.

The thing that keeps us from enjoying the whole room. Because that’s all we can see.

One of my good friends downsized recently and the sellers had updated their new home with a fresh gray and white color palette. But they left this sore thumb:

Dark, glossy, brown stone on the fireplace. And the surrounding light and bright colors in gray, cool tones made it look even darker. And orange. A golden, orange, dark hole.

The solution?

A can of paint and a few hours. No special painting skills are even required. And now it fits right into the room seamlessly.

The basic idea is simple: thin white paint with water, brush it onto the stone, and blot away the excess so some of the original color still shows through. Then you can build up the whitewash until it looks just right.

Let me show you just how easy this fireplace makeover is!

Supplies You’ll Need to Whitewash a Stone Fireplace:

• Water-based white latex paint in a matte or flat finish
• Water
• Mixing container
• Large paint brush
• Small paint brush  
• Rags
• Drop cloths
• Painters tape
• Disposable gloves

How to Prep a Stone Fireplace for Whitewashing.

The first step in prep is to clean the stone. This fireplace stone had been sealed so it was pretty easy in this case—we just wiped it down with a wet rag. For more porous, rough, or sooty fireplace surrounds, you can also clean it with TSP. (Let the stone dry before applying the paint.)

Next, cover the walls, floor, and firebox to protect them during the whitewashing process. This is a very drippy, splattery project so protect or move everything in the surrounding area. I used a plastic drop cloth and painters tape:

SH&H Tip: Have all of your supplies handy because your hands will be covered in paint during this process. The gloves on the supply list are a good idea—truth be told I’m usually not very good about it and I was really glad I wore them.

How to Whitewash a Stone Fireplace: Step-by-Step Instructions.

Step 1: Mix the Whitewash Solution.

I bought a quart of this Rustoleum “Chalked” paint in Linen White because it has a very matte finish. If you already have flat white paint, it will work fine. You’ll want matte with no sheen because that helps the stone to look natural, not painted.

The glossy sealer on this stone made this fireplace even more unappealing and orange. Rustic stone should be just that. Rustic. The matte finish paint helped solve this sheen issue.

The whitewash “recipe” is this:

A 50/50 half paint to half water ratio.

Mix the paint and water well in a plastic paint container or tupperware that you can easily hold while you whitewash. How much whitewash to mix will depend on how large your area is. I barely used any of the quart of paint for this small area. 

SH&H Tip: Before committing to the whole fireplace, test the mixture on one inconspicuous stone. If you want more of the original stone to show through, add a little more water; for more coverage, add a little more paint.

Step 2: Paint in the Mortar Lines First.

I’m going to say this second step is optional. I wanted to make sure the grout lines came out more white than the stone so I painted the white wash onto the mortar first with the smaller brush.

Some will get on the stone but that’s ok. I wiped away most of what got on the stone during this step.

Step 3: Apply the Whitewash Mixture to the Stone.

1.  Dip the large paintbrush into the mixture about 1/2 to 1/3 of the way up the bristles and drain a little bit of the excess in the side of the container to help avoid some of the dripping.

2.  Start with a small section at the top and paint the mixture on the stone. Starting at the top keeps you from dripping on areas you’ve already done. Check for drips and wipe off with a rag. 

SH&H Tip: If your stone is super rough or you are whitewashing on brick, use a paintbrush with very stiff bristles and stipple the whitewash mixture into crevices that painting over won’t get to. 

3. Then do the “dab” and “blot“. Dab the paint with a rag. This technique creates more dimension than wiping the paint off. Depending on how porous your stone is, it will grab the paint differently, so you’ll get to know your stone as you work on it. Just experiment to get familiar with how the stone is soaking up the paint. (I think the sealer on this one made it hold slightly less.)

4. Make sure to continue to work in small sections, painting and blotting as you move down the fireplace, and wiping off the dripping paint as you go. Small sections are necessary so the paint won’t set before you get to mottle it, erasing the brushstrokes.

After you’ve made your way all the way down through the hearth, go back and make sure you’ve covered all of the edges around the firebox or sides with the small paint brush. 

5. After completing the first layer, you’ll still see a lot of brown showing through:

Stand back and assess and repeat with more layers until you’ve achieved the desired effect you want. It’s helpful to take a break in between or even overnight.

My friend didn’t want the stone totally white, so I applied one more layer of whitewash following the same steps. Then we picked out a few stones that need extra attention to finish it up.

We left it at this point, agreeing that if she wanted to go even whiter I would come back and apply even more. (She ended up being happy with it like this because she likes still being able to see a bit of the stone’s color.)

Tips for Getting a Natural-Looking Whitewashed Stone Fireplace.

• You should be able to complete at least your first coat in one day. If you have a large area, you may want to let it sit overnight before applying the finishing layers so you don’t overtire and you can stay consistent.

• Have LOTS of rags available. Once they have a good bit of paint on them you’ll want to switch out or you’ll be dabbing on more paint than dabbing off.

• Staining pads are another handy tool you can use to wipe up drips.

• If a drip starts to set before you can wipe it, scrub it with a wet rag. You’ll remove your whitewash from that stone but it’s no big deal to touch up one or two stones.

• If you feel like you’ve applied too much paint in an area, you can also wipe this with a wet rag or mist with water and wipe. The beauty of water-based paint!

• If you want the end result to be a whiter stone fireplace, you can adjust the equal part paint mixture to a higher ratio of paint and less water. Don’t leave out the water altogether though—you may end up with painted stones that look a solid color, but not natural.

• If you have a large area and a partner, assign one person to paint and the other to dab so the look will stay consistent.

Can You Use the Same Whitewash Technique on a Brick Fireplace?

I’ve also used this same whitewashing technique on fireplace brick for a home staging client. Their living room had very little light and the dark red brick fireplace looked dirty and outdated. To upgrade this all-important room in selling a house, they hired me to whitewash the brick before it went on the market.

I’ll say the brick surface took a lot longer than the stone because the texture of the brick is very porous and rough. And also because of all of the mortar joints. And this original brick color was dark. But it still wasn’t difficult. And I didn’t have the luxury of going back the next day so I did the whole thing in about four hours.

And the whitewash brick fireplace did make a huge difference in the family room, so it was totally worth it!

FAQs About Whitewashing a Fireplace:

Why whitewash a fireplace instead of painting it solid?

Whitewashing lets some of the natural stone or brick peek through for a softer, more organic natural look. It creates depth and texture, which solid paint can sometimes flatten out. Plus, whitewashing is more forgiving if you’re going for a lightened, aged effect rather than a completely new color.

What’s the difference between whitewash and limewash?

Both create a lighter, aged look, but whitewash uses diluted paint that sits on the surface, while limewash is made from limestone and soaks into porous brick or stone. Whitewashing is generally the quicker and easier DIY option.

Does a whitewashed fireplace get dirty or need to be sealed?

Whitewashed stone can still collect dust and soot like any other fireplace surround. I didn’t add a sealer to this project. If you’re considering sealing a working fireplace, make sure any product you use is compatible with your specific stone, paint, and fireplace application.

What kind of paint should you use to whitewash a stone fireplace?

A water-based white latex paint in a flat or matte finish works well for whitewashing stone. I used Rust-Oleum Chalked paint in Linen White for this fireplace because I wanted a very matte finish with no sheen.

What is the best paint-to-water ratio for whitewashing a stone fireplace?

I used a 50/50 mixture of white paint and water for this fireplace. You can add more water for a more transparent wash or slightly more paint if you want more coverage, but it’s best to start light and build the color gradually.

Painting that first stone is the scariest because you think “what if I make it even worse than before?” I’m here to tell you that I have never heard of anyone that was sorry they did this project. Actually the opposite. They wish they hadn’t been afraid because whitewashing brick and stone is so dang easy.

If you have a stone fireplace that you don’t like, have I convinced you to go for it? If you do, show us in the comments!

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