Fireplace Makeover - Simple and Affordable

Sometimes all your space needs is a little refresh. Check out our fireplace makeover. It was simple and affordable, all without any demo.

Today, I want to share with you my living room makeover. More specifically my fireplace makeover. When we first moved in, this wall was so bland. The mantle was just drywall that didn’t extend far enough to add decor to the top. It also had a speckle-y granite tile surround that I personally did not like. I knew I wanted to do something but I also needed time, budget and priority to all align. I am happy to say that has finally happened and I am really happy with the end result. Let’s get into it! First though…

BIG NEWS – We Now Offer Design Services

Before we jump into the project, we have big news to share. Hand Gathered home has started offering e-design services! Our team specializes in affordable and simple design options to anyone, anywhere. So whether you are across the country or in our own neighborhood, we can easily help you accomplish the look and feel that you want in any space of your home. Maybe you have a bookshelf that you need some help styling or a room that needs redesigned, or even a whole home that needs a facelift. We would love to help you create a vision and a plan so that you don’t waste any more time, energy or money. If you have any questions, please email us at handgatheredhome@gmail.com.

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VIDEO – Affordable and Simple Fireplace Makeover

Before – Fireplace Wall

The “before” photo. As I mentioned before, this wall was pretty boring. As a quick fix, I initially painted the drywall and the tile, just to give it a quick refresh, without spending any money. I knew, however, it would just be a temporary fix until I could make it more of what I want. For this space, I decided on board and batten. There’s something about the floor to ceiling board and batten that I love! The look is coastal, while also creating a cozy cottage feel.

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How to Install a Board and Batten Fireplace Wall

You might be wondering how to install a focal wall like this. Here’s what you’ll need.

1×2 boards (these are the vertical pieces
1×4 boards (these boards run horizontal at the top)
Nail Gun
Stud Finder
Saw
Caulk (make sure it’s paintable!)
Caulk Gun
Paint (I love the Behr Premium Plus from HD)
Wood Filler
Sandpaper

#1 – Measure

First, you should measure your wall and figure out how many battens you need. I usually grab and extra 1-2 boards, just to be safe. There’s nothing worse than having to run back to the store mid project (or even worse, when you’re SO close to being done).

#2 – Cut & Install

Measure and cut your boards to the right length. I install the top horizontal trim pieces first, and then get the battens in place after that.
Once you have everything measured and cut, use your stud finder to find the studs and mark them with a pencil. Then you can go ahead and start to install your vertical battens with your nail gun, where you have marked the studs. Sometimes this causes them to be unevenly spaced, since the studs aren’t always even. In this case, if you want everything symmetrical, I would just measure out and nail the battens into the drywall where you want them, and then try to nail into the baseboard and upper trim piece, so that it’s secure. And then it will also be caulked, which will help it to stay put as well.

#3 – Fill holes & Caulk

Once you have all of your nail holes filled, give the dried wood filler a light sanding so that everything is smooth. Go ahead and take your paintable caulk (double check that it’s paintable!!) and caulk all of the seams where wood meets drywall. (**Anywhere where wood meets wood, use wood filler and then sand smooth once it’s dry**). I like to use baby wipes when caulking, to wipe off excess and smooth it out. It works so well and doesn’t have to be messy.

#4 – Paint and Decorate

The best part! Once your caulk is dry, paint your wall and decorate until your heart is content. I like to get a project started and I like to be done with it. Those are my two favorite parts to a project. I sometimes have to dig deep down to find the discipline that it takes to finish the project, once the excitement of starting finally wears off… Anyone else?

The Mantel Process

For the mantle, my dad first helped me cut the boards to size. Then, I wrapped the existing drywall mantel with the boards. I believe we used 1×12 common boards. You can use select pine boards as well, as it’s a little nicer of an option. However, the common boards are a great budget friendly wood. I gave each board a good sanding until they were smooth, and then actually beat them up with some miscellaneous tools anyway, as I wanted more of a rustic/worn look.

Once we measured everything, we made our cuts and then it was as simple as nailing the boards in place, filling in the gaps with wood filler, sanding that down and then staining. Around the edges of the mantel I sanded them so there would not be any sharp corners or edges. I also beat the wood up a bit, using a crowbar and hammer. This gave the wood a textured and aged feel so that the wood would look a bit more rustic and organic. I love how the wood mantel paired with the board and batten gives this room a coastal cottage type look. I don’t live anywhere near the ocean, but I love the look of a laid back coastal cottage vibe.
Once the mantel was in place, I stained it using special walnut. It was the perfect light/medium wood color that complimented my flooring really well and helped me achieve the coastal cottage feel I was going for.

For styling, I had a mirror hanging above the mantel. However, I have an older ceiling fan that is directly across and above the mantel and it would constantly be reflected in the mirror and personally I don’t enjoy looking at the fan more than I have too. Instead, I opted for a simple gallery wall, arranging the photos in a slightly more organic way, with some large and small frames. On the mantel itself, I added some pampas grass to a vase for height and also an iron candlestick holder with candles for added dimension. The colors are all neutral, to keep the feel light, bright and airy.

In the future, I may consider doing something to the tile surround on the mantel. Perhaps a mosaic tile, a concrete finish or a stencil pattern. For now though, I’m very happy with the look of it. This is a great beginner DIY project. In total we spent $100-$150 on supplies and I can’t believe what an impact the board and batten wall makes and how much more complete the room feels. If you are debating an accent wall or a simple mantel redo, I encourage you to go for it! You can do it. Thanks for following along with our affordable and simple fireplace makeover!

If you haven’t checked out our e-design services yet, we’d love to see you over there! We’d love to meet you and help you achieve your design dreams.

After

I’m so so happy with the way this simple and affordable fireplace makeover turned out. This entire room feels so different and just completed. I’m so glad I took the plunge and just went for it. Is it perfect? No. Am I a master craftsman? Definitely not. But I didn’t let that stop me and I’m so glad I didn’t.