I’m usually hesitant about painting original brick—sometimes it adds character buyers really like.
- Painted over brick once, regretted it when I saw the trend swing back to exposed. Kinda wish I'd just cleaned it up.
- If the brick is in bad shape, paint can hide a lot of sins—but yeah, you lose some of that “old house” charm.
- Agree on the Hot Wheels! Found a Matchbox car behind ours... made my day way more than the new mantel did.
- My rule: if you’re not 100% sure, leave the brick alone for now. It’s a pain to undo.
End of the day, whatever makes you happy in your own space.
Not sure I totally agree on leaving the brick untouched if you’re on the fence. In my experience, buyers are split—some love original, some want a clean, modern look. If you’re thinking resale, I’d say look at what’s selling in your area. Painted brick can actually boost value if it fits the neighborhood vibe. Worst case, limewash is a middle ground—lets some texture show through and isn’t as hard to reverse as full paint. Just my two cents... trends change fast, but so do buyer preferences.
Title: Ever regretted a fireplace facelift? Quick poll time
I get what you’re saying—trends are all over the place. I used to be team “never paint the brick,” but after seeing a neighbor’s whitewashed fireplace, I kinda changed my tune. It looked way less heavy in their living room. Still, I’d be nervous about going full paint since that’s pretty much permanent. Limewash feels like a safe bet if you’re indecisive... or just prone to changing your mind every couple years like me.
Still, I’d be nervous about going full paint since that’s pretty much permanent.
That’s exactly what’s holding me back. I keep looking at our old red brick and thinking it could use a refresh, but the idea of making a permanent change stresses me out. I’ve read that limewash is more forgiving, so I’m leaning that way too. Haven’t pulled the trigger yet—just not sure I’d love it long-term. Anyone actually regretted limewashing?
Never Regretted Limewash, But Understand the Hesitation
- I get where you’re coming from—once you paint, there’s no going back.
- Limewash is a solid middle ground. It’s breathable, ages well, and you can wash some of it off if you don’t like the look (at least for a while).
- I’ve used it on a few properties and honestly, haven’t regretted it yet. It gives that updated vibe without feeling too “done.”
- If you’re worried about resale, most buyers seem to like the lighter, softer look over harsh paint.
- Worst case, if you hate it down the line, you could always go full paint later... but I doubt you’ll need to.
It’s not as scary as it seems once you take the plunge.