My tiling is DONE for my front room fireplace! I am dang proud of myself. Remember my front room fireplace update? Well, I’ve added the fireplace tile and am dedicating a post to celebrate! If you’ve ever thought of DIYing your fireplace tiling, this is your sign to do it!
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Step 1: Decide on your tile.
Most of the fire tiles I looked up had an ¾ inch thickness, but I picked bricks with an ½ inch thickness. I needed ½ inch because I only recessed the drywall a ½ inch, so I needed the wall and the tile to be flush.
I went through several tile samples before I found the one that gave me the look I was going for. Once I ordered it, I laid it out across the back of the fireplace to visualize if this was truly what I wanted.
Step 2: Visualize your plan.
If there’s anything I’ve learned from my DIY projects it’s that you need to lay out what you’re thinking before you actually install it.
I taped off a section of my floor the same size as my fireplace and laid my tile across it, so I could visualize what it would look like. This step helped me figure out what pieces I would need to cut and see potential problems that would come up that I could solve before actually installing the tile.
This is a super important step in DIYing because you’d rather face the problems before you’re in the thick of your project. It’s better to take the time to visualize and plan, so you have a better final product AND better enjoy the process to make it happen.
Step 3: Cut and prepare tile.
Since I chose a herringbone pattern for my tile, I knew I would have several tricky cuts to make. I used my Kobalt wet tile saw, which uses a diamond-coated blade to cut the tiles while keeping the blade wet.
After each cut, I placed the tiles together to ensure they lined up correctly and fit just right when I installed them on the inside wall of my fireplace.
Pro Tip: Wear safety goggles! I forgot to put mine on and got a tiny piece of tile stuck in my eye! Not my proudest moment. So remember, safety first, always.
Step 4: Tile your fireplace.
Now that you have your plan and the cuts made, it’s time to tile! I started tiling from the bottom moving upward and as I was going I could tell I didn’t want big gaps in between the tiles. I used tile spacers to help the tile stay in place and get the right sizing in between each one.
Once I got into the groove of making the herringbone pattern, I left the edges off and decided to put those tiles on at the end. I thought this would help the process go faster, but overall it still took me at least 10 hours to complete this project!
I tiled the entire inside of the fireplace–sides, back, and the top in a herringbone pattern. To get a finished look, I even tiled the top inside of the fireplace. Although this part probably wouldn’t be seen, I still wanted the entire thing covered in tile to have a complete fireplace.
I kept going back and forth about adding grout or not. Adding grout would fill in all the small gaps between the tiles, but I think I like it the way it is. I’m definitely digging the perfectly imperfect look.
What’s Next
Next, I’m planning on adding brick on the floor that will come out a little bit farther than the fireplace to create a hearth. And then I’m planning to add limewash to the wall above the mantle to add some mood to the room. It’s coming together!!
Bonus: Christmas Decor
‘Tis the Christmas season, so here’s a little bonus for you to get links to my super cozy Christmas decorations. Since I was gone filming for a month and would be back home right before Christmas, I hired someone to decorate my house for me. Best decision ever!
It was so comforting to come back to a Christmas-ready house.
Are you so in love with these decorations too? The faux taper candles look so real and I love that you can turn on the fake flames and have them lit all night to set the mood.
One of my favorite pieces is these starlights. I’m convinced they belong on my garland!
I could just be in this room cozied up on the couch all day long enjoying this space. You deserve a living room you love this much too. You can check out the rest of my Christmas decoration links HERE.
DIY Fireplace Tiling
The before and after of this front room fireplace is so satisfying to see. I am creating my dream home one project at a time. There’s something so gratifying about knowing your own hands created the space you live in. Buy the tools, do the projects. Stop pinning. Start doing.
Follow me on Instagram @angelarosehome for more DIY inspo and project tips!
