by Painted brick. Five years ago, designers were still debating if it was sacrilege. Now it’s literally the move for every outdated fireplace. Here’s what’s actually working.
Mounted TV With Floating Walnut Shelves
The way this white brick catches afternoon light makes the whole setup feel intentional. Walnut shelves flanking the TV — not built-ins, just floating brackets from West Elm — hold the brass candleholders and ceramic vases without screaming “I tried too hard.” Black insert keeps it modern. The chunky knit throw draped over the sofa arm? That’s the move that makes it feel lived-in instead of staged. Works because the TV becomes part of the design instead of fighting the fireplace for attention.
Thick Reclaimed Wood Mantel on White Brick
This reclaimed beam — actual reclaimed, not the distressed stuff from Home Depot — weighs about 80 pounds. That heft makes everything on it look expensive. Three ceramic vases with eucalyptus stems, vintage books, brass candlesticks. Nothing matches perfectly. The matte black fireplace doors and tool set anchor the whole thing. Plus, the cream shiplap on the adjacent wall extends the farmhouse vibe without going full HGTV. Been getting compliments every time someone walks in.
Linear Gas Insert With Brushed Brass Screen
Linear inserts changed the game for dated brick fireplaces. This one sits flush with the white brick, no weird gaps or trim trying to hide mistakes. The brushed brass screen detail — totally optional but worth the $200 upgrade — catches light in a way that chrome never does. Floating walnut mantel holds just enough: ceramic vase, eucalyptus, brass candlesticks, coffee table books. The woven basket at the hearth keeps firewood organized without adding clutter. Simple, but it reads as high-end.
Asymmetric Mantel Styling That Actually Works
Three brass candlesticks at varying heights. That’s it. The vintage wooden dough bowl with eucalyptus and dried cotton stems anchors the left side while the botanical print leans against the brick on the right. Nothing’s centered. The weathered wood beam mantel has enough character that you don’t need to style every inch. One woven basket beside the hearth, partially burned candles with wax drips — it’s the imperfections that make this feel collected instead of bought all at once from Target’s Hearth & Hand line.
Floating Media Console Below Mounted TV
This setup solved the “where do the remotes go” problem. Floating walnut console from Article mounts right below the TV, holds the sound bar, hides cords. The built-in shiplap shelves flanking the fireplace — IKEA KALLAX turned on their side and painted white — display ceramics and framed botanicals without feeling cluttered. Brass candlesticks, ceramic vases, eucalyptus. The beige linen sectional with six textured pillows keeps the room from feeling too curated. Total living room MVP.
Statement Pendant Light Above the Mantel
Nobody talks about lighting the fireplace wall. This geometric brass pendant from Rejuvenation hangs 24 inches above the mantel, casts warm ambient glow that makes the white brick texture pop at night. The reclaimed wood mantel holds brass candlesticks and eucalyptus in a ceramic vase. Built-in shelving on both sides — painted white shiplap with brackets — displays books and pottery. Woven basket with firewood, cream area rug with jute weave, fiddle leaf fig in the corner. The elevated angle shows how the whole wall works as one composition instead of separate elements fighting each other.
Black Metal Chandelier With Edison Bulbs
The statement black metal chandelier with Edison bulbs — $180 from Wayfair — makes the white brick texture dimensional at night. Chunky floating wood mantel styled with brass candlesticks, eucalyptus stems in a ceramic vase, vintage books. The TV mounts above with a gallery frame treatment so it looks intentional. Flanking built-in shelving holds woven baskets and ceramic bowls. Cream linen sofa corner with textured pillows keeps it from feeling too styled. This is what every farmhouse Instagram page is trying to copy right now.
Minimalist Styling With Matte Black Accents
Three stacked books, one black candlestick, dried eucalyptus in a small ceramic vase. That’s the entire mantel. The woven rattan tray holds brass matches, the snake plant in a concrete planter adds life without requiring styling. This proves you don’t need to fill every surface. The white painted brick does all the work — the subtle texture variation and mortar lines create enough visual interest. Best for smaller living rooms where too much decor makes the space feel cluttered.
Whitewashed Shiplap Framing the Brick
The whitewashed shiplap framing creates a built-in look without the carpenter bill. Reclaimed wood mantel holds seven elements: vintage brass candlesticks, white ceramic pitcher with eucalyptus, antique books, small potted greenery, galvanized metal tray. Large rustic mirror above flanked by black iron sconces. The woven basket with firewood anchors the hearth. Cream area rug with jute weave ties it together. This setup gets compliments every time — everyone asks where the mirror came from (it’s from HomeGoods, found it for $89).
Whitewashed Brick With Black Modern Insert
Whitewashing instead of full paint coverage keeps the brick texture visible. The matte black modern insert — gas, not wood-burning — sits flush with zero awkward trim gaps. Rustic wood beam mantel styled with ceramic vases and eucalyptus branches. TV mounted above, floating white oak shelves flanking both sides hold woven baskets and leather-bound books. Large cream sectional with six textured pillows, chunky knit throw, jute rug. Two fiddle leaf figs in ceramic planters. The late afternoon light makes the whitewashed texture glow.
Botanical Styling With Trailing Plants
Terracotta pots with trailing pothos, snake plant, fiddle leaf fig cuttings in glass vases. Natural wood bowl with eucalyptus stems, brass candlesticks, linen-bound books stacked asymmetrically. The botanical approach works because it adds life without feeling cluttered. Modern fireplace screen in matte black. Cream linen sofa with sage green throw pillow visible in the corner. Morning light through the side window creates soft shadows beneath the mantel. If you’re into the whole plant-forward look, the bedroom version of this is even better.
Walnut Mantel With Minimal Ceramic Styling
Ceramic vase with dried eucalyptus, three art books with linen covers, brass candlestick with ivory pillar candle, small succulent in terracotta. That’s the entire mantel. The floating walnut shelf — mounted with heavy-duty brackets, not those flimsy ones from Target — holds everything without sagging. Woven basket with firewood at the hearth edge. The afternoon light creates defined shadows across the mantel objects. Gray sofa in the background keeps the focus on the fireplace. Honestly, I’d skip overloading the mantel — this amount of restraint looks way more expensive.
Whitewashed Brick With Gallery Frame TV
The gallery frame treatment around the TV makes it look like art instead of electronics. Whitewashed brick preserves the original texture — you can still see the mortar lines and variations. Floating walnut mantel holds vintage brass candlesticks, coffee table books, ceramic vase with eucalyptus. Cream knit throw draped over the nearby armchair, two fiddle leaf figs flanking the fireplace. Abstract art leaning on the mantel instead of hanging creates that collected-over-time vibe. Three friends bought this same TV frame after seeing mine.
White Oak Mantel With Brushed Gold Sconce
The brushed gold geometric wall sconce above the mantel — $120 from CB2 — adds dimension without taking up mantel space. White oak mantel holds brass candlesticks, concrete planter with eucalyptus, single oversized art book. Matte black firebox insert, minimalist black tools. Cream linen armchair angled nearby with sheepskin throw, woven basket with firewood. The whitewashed brick shows subtle texture variation that catches afternoon light. This whole setup skews Scandinavian without feeling cold or sterile.
Reclaimed Wood Beam With White Pumpkins
Whitewashed red brick with the original texture showing through. Chunky reclaimed wood mantel styled with vintage brass candlesticks, weathered wooden dough bowl filled with white pumpkins, antique leather-bound books, wire basket with throws. TV mounted above with thin black frame, floating shelves displaying ceramic vases and framed photos. Beige linen armchair with knit pillow, jute rug, fiddle leaf fig. The golden hour light streaming through the side window creates dimensional shadows across the brick texture. Total farmhouse energy without feeling too HGTV.
Fresh White Paint With Perspective Shelving
Fresh white paint — three coats of Sherwin-Williams Extra White — covers the dated orange brick completely. Reclaimed wood beam mantel holds ceramic vases and eucalyptus stems. Black metal fireplace screen, stacked firewood in woven basket. TV mounted above with hidden cable management, floating shelves holding family photos and potted succulents. Cream linen armchair with chunky knit throw. The golden hour light pouring through side windows creates dramatic shadows across the brick texture. This is the before-after transformation everyone pins but never actually does. If I had to pick one, I’d start with the white paint and black insert swap.