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Painted Marble Fireplace Surround: Two Years Later

Yes, you can paint a marble fireplace surround with chalk paint, but would we still recommend doing this project two years later? Wait until you see how this painted marble fireplace looks today.

When we moved into our home in 2006, a neutral color palette meant shades of brown and cream.

So the cream colored marble we chose for our gas fireplace surround worked beautifully!

But when we repainted our downstairs with Revere Pewter, suddenly that neutral cream stopped feeling so neutral.

It looked way more gold than off-white.

And my husband and I spent the next few years debating what we should do about it.

We finally decided that we were going to replace the marble, but then I discovered chalk paint…

Ugh.

I cringe every time I see that picture!

Anyway, we decided to give chalk paint a try before replacing the marble.

I shared all the details about how to paint your fireplace with chalk paint in this post.

Before painting the marble, we also made some changes to the builders-grade mantel.

Now here we are, two years later, and this painted marble fireplace surround project has been one of our most popular DIY posts on this blog!

Are you thinking about painting your gas fireplace surround too?

Curious how the paint has held up after almost three winters of fireplace use?

Wondering whether I’d do this easy DIY fireplace makeover again?

Well, let’s take a look.

Chalk Painted Marble Fireplace Surround After 2 Years

First, a little background, this fireplace sits in the most used room of our home.

We use the fireplace about 5 times per week from December through February, sometimes more. And depending on the weather, a few times a week in November and March.

I don’t have young children or dogs, so that may affect how much wear the hearth area gets.

Here’s how my fireplace looks today.

Gas fireplace with a chalk paint marble surround and hearth with a fire burning inside and an iron scrollwork screen in front. A basket of throw blankets is on one side of the hearth and a crate with throw pillows is on the other. The mantel has a black vintage lantern on one side and an antique copper bucket filled with greenery. A large round mirror with paned dividers hangs over the fireplace.

I snapped this photo just before sitting down to share how this project has held up with you!

Quite a difference from that before picture up there, isn’t it?

Doesn’t even look like the same space!

Except for that amazing leather basket and our carpeting, pretty much everything around the fireplace has changed.

But let’s take a closer look.

I painted the quarter-round trim after the initial project and didn’t have any sealer left because I’d used it on my daughter’s desk.

Close up of the hearth of a gas fireplace with a painted marble fireplace surround and hearth

So the quarter-round trim has gotten a little scuffed, and doesn’t have the same shine to it that the fireplace surround has.

But it looks way better now than it did when it was white…

It’s funny how we’ll live with little things like that for years, isn’t it?

I honestly don’t ever notice it until I take a close-up picture!

There’s also a small chip on that corner from when I dropped a brass candlestick.

And a few specks of dust.

Close up of the hearth of a gas fireplace with a painted marble fireplace surround and hearth

Here’s another close up of the hearth, and you can see there’s a little more dust.

Apparently I’m not as good a housekeeper as I thought.

There are a few minor scuffs and two more tiny chips.

Most of those scuffs are from my decorative wrought iron fireplace screen, and they’re pretty much covered up when the screen is sitting in place.

Overall, those chips and some scuffs are all the damage to the painted marble surface we’ve had.

I’ve had way more damage happen to the white painted mantel, and wood’s supposed to be painted!

See that large brown spot on the white painted part of my mantel on the picture below?

Apparently command hooks adhesive does not release if it’s been heated up… Instead it takes a chunk of paint along with it.

Side angled view of a gas fireplace with a painted marble fireplace surround and a white wood mantel.

Here are a few more closer photos to let you see the rest of the surround.

Gas fireplace with a painted marble fireplace surround and a white wood mantel.

I have to say I’m incredibly thrilled by how well this inexpensive fix has held up!

Considering that the entire project cost less than $25 to complete, I would definitely recommend using Rustoleum’s Chalked Paint to paint a marble fireplace surround on a gas fireplace!

It’s a great way to inexpensively solve a decorating dilemma.

And since everyone loves a good before and after, here you go! You can definitely see how much of an impact that simple change made!

Side by side comparison of a gas fireplace before and after painting the marble surround

If you have any questions or suggestions, contact me or leave a comment!

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Pinterest graphic for painted marble fireplace surround follow up post

Maria LeGare

Thursday 8th of July 2021

I am in the same pickle you were 2 years ago. I have green marble . Honestly I’m ok with it ( green is my favorite color), but my brothers are always joking around w me about the color. My husband is easygoing but really doesn’t want to tear the trim around the marble. I think I’m going to try this. Thank you!! Maria

AnnMarie

Thursday 8th of July 2021

Hi Maria - Thanks so much for your comment. We love how paint can transform a room. Let us know how it looks after you finish! :)

Wendi

Sunday 21st of March 2021

Do you use your gas fireplace often? Am worried of the heat, as we use ours often. Yours looks great!

AnnMarie

Monday 22nd of March 2021

Hi there! Anne uses her fireplace all the time! About 5 times per week from December through February, sometimes more. And depending on the weather, a few times a week in November and March.

Krista Carroll

Tuesday 23rd of February 2021

I noticed your fireplace is gas log. Any idea how this paint would hold up on marble around a wood burning fireplace? I love the look and really want to update my "cream/tan" marble.

Anne

Wednesday 24th of February 2021

Hey Krista! I'm not sure how the paint would hold up on marble surrounding a wood-burning fireplace. You may end up having to redo it if it doesn't hold up? We decided to try this option because we knew we would replace the marble if it didn't work out. Maybe a paint that's made for grills would be a better alternative? Good luck!

Sonya

Friday 5th of February 2021

I have been wanting to do this to the tile around my fireplace and love how your turned out. I need to go back to your original post to see exactly how you did it. Thanks for the update it appears that it has held up very well.

Anne

Monday 8th of February 2021

Hey Sonya! It was such an easy project and so affordable to do! Thanks so much for checking it out!

JENNIFER | The Flowering Farmhouse

Friday 5th of February 2021

Oh your post is so timely! I am now motivated to paint my fireplace. I was concerned whether it would hold up or not. Thanks for the inspo!

Anne

Monday 8th of February 2021

Hi Jennifer! Seriously still one of my favorite DIY projects, EVER!