Our fireplace was functional, but it didn’t match the cozy farmhouse vibe I had envisioned for our living room. While I gave it a quick refresh with paint shortly after we moved in, I always knew I wanted something with more personality and warmth. That’s how our Shiplap and Barn Beam Fireplace Mantel Makeover came to life—a project that added character without altering the gas fireplace itself.
If you love adding charm to your home with budget-friendly DIYs, you’ll want to check out my DIY Shiplap Wall Tutorial, where I transformed a plain wall into a feature that’s become a favorite in our home. That project inspired me to carry the shiplap idea over to our fireplace, giving it a cohesive look that ties the entire space together.
Shiplap and Barn Beam Fireplace Mantel Makeover
Fireplace Before: The Starting Point
When we moved in, one of the features I was most excited about was the gas fireplace. Coming from a home with an electric fireplace, I couldn’t wait to enjoy the cozy warmth of a real flame. However, the look of the fireplace itself left a lot to be desired. The mantel and surround felt dated, and the overall style didn’t fit the cozy, modern farmhouse aesthetic I was going for.
A quick coat of paint on the mantel and surround made an immediate difference, and we even spray-painted the vent covers with black stove paint to make them blend in better. But after living with it for a couple of years, I realized I wanted to take it further. That’s when I stumbled upon the perfect barn beam in a little shop outside of Port Perry—and the wheels started turning for a more dramatic update.
The Vision: Why We Chose Shiplap and a Barn Beam Mantel
The barn beam was a lucky find, and I immediately knew it would bring the rustic charm I wanted to the space. Pairing it with shiplap seemed like the perfect way to create a cohesive farmhouse look. Having already used plywood shiplap in other areas of our home, like the kitchen backsplash and a living room accent wall, I knew it would be a cost-effective and stylish solution.
The Process: Adding Character Without Altering the Insert
One of the biggest considerations for this project was safety. Since gas fireplaces have strict clearance requirements, we didn’t modify the fireplace surround itself. Instead, we built a shell around it that extended beyond the original dimensions. This gave us the freedom to add shiplap and the barn beam mantel without interfering with the functionality or safety of the insert.
Dean, my husband, built the structure and added custom brackets to support the barn beam mantel. The shiplap was cut from plywood sheets, continuing the budget-friendly trend we’d used in other parts of the house. Once the structure was complete, it was time to decide on a paint color—a step that turned out to be surprisingly tricky!
Choosing the Perfect Paint Color
Choosing a paint color might sound simple, but I went back and forth between two options: a clean white for a classic farmhouse look or a deep black for a bold, modern vibe. Both colors coordinated beautifully with our existing decor, thanks to the Valspar Pinterest Analyzer and Photo Match tools I used to find the perfect shades:
- Deep Well 4011-2 (Deep Kettle Black): A moody, gray-black that added sophistication.
- Heirloom Pink 7001-18: A soft white with subtle pink undertones that complemented our floors.
After polling my Instagram audience (who leaned slightly toward white), I decided to start with white. The beauty of paint is its flexibility—it’s easy to change your mind later!
The Result: A Fireplace We Love (For Now)
The finished fireplace with white shiplap and the barn beam mantel became an instant favorite in our living room. It added the farmhouse charm I was craving and made the fireplace a true focal point. But, as anyone who loves decorating knows, design is an ever-evolving process.
Recently, I decided to go bolder and painted the fireplace and the wall behind it a rich, dark green to help the TV blend in. The result is a dramatic, cozy look that I adore. You can catch glimpses of this update in my Color Drenching post and on social media. It’s a reminder that your home is never “done”—and that’s part of the fun!
FAQs About Our Shiplap and Barn Beam Fireplace Makeover
Yes, but it’s crucial to follow the clearance requirements specified by the fireplace manufacturer and your local bylaws. Consult a professional if you’re unsure.
We used plywood cut into strips, which is an affordable and versatile option for DIY shiplap projects.
We used heavy-duty custom brackets and supports to hold the beam securely in place.
Yes! Just ensure you use heat-resistant paint if you’re painting areas close to the insert.
Adding shiplap, a rustic mantel, or even a fresh coat of paint can make a big impact without requiring major renovations.
More Character-Adding DIY Projects
- DIY Board and Batten Tutorial
- How to DIY a Shiplap Wall the Cheap and Easy Way!
- How to DIY a Professional Looking Coffered Ceiling for Less than $500!
- How to Install Panel Moulding: Adding Character to Your Home
- How to Install Beadboard Paneling: A Step-by-Step DIY Guide
- How to Install a Cedar Plank Ceiling: Step-by-Step DIY Tutorial
- Shiplap and Barn Beam Fireplace Mantel Makeover
Updating our fireplace with shiplap and a barn beam mantel has been such a rewarding project. It’s become a cozy focal point that we love, and the best part is that it’s versatile enough to evolve with our style. Whether you’re dreaming of a classic farmhouse look or something bold and modern, there’s always room to experiment and make your space truly yours. What do you think—would you keep it white, go bold with black, or try something completely different? Let me know in the comments!
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OMG love it. The white is perfect and lets the wood tones come out in the wood mantel.
🙂 Thank you!
Love it! The white is AMAZING, great choice.
Thank you. It may just take some getting used to! It’s more rustic than the previous version. Lol.
Totally different but prefect. I’m just wondering where you hide the kiddo’s stuff. You’re home does look like a typical homeschool home.
Ceej Huber Lol. Well, that’s because we’re not a “typical” homeschool home, I guess. The kids do their lessons online now and have for a few years. They’re also all in high school, so it’s not quite the same as when they were little. We don’t need as much stuff. Their laptops go on a shelf in the basement and they go down to get them every morning and put them away every evening. Their books go in their rooms and they bring them up and down each day too. That up and down the stairs gives them at least a bit of regular exercise. Lol. We used to have way more stuff when I was teaching them and when they were younger and needed counters and math-u-see blocks and such. The main floor stays pretty clutter free because it’s easier to host friends and family that way, it drives me less bonkers and our doggie is safer that way too (he tends to try to eat everything even at five years old). It makes a huge difference since the kids are bigger.
Home Made Lovely having bigger kids does make a huge difference, my kiddo is now 10 and usually keeps the crazy to his room. Now I just need to decorate after my move.
Ceej Huber ☺️
Love your chairs. Can you tell me where they are from (and name if applicable)?
They are from Wayfair and were called Loredana Barrel Chair. But they seem to be out of stock now. 🙁 Sorry!
Love your fireplace! I think the white was the right choice!😊
Thank you, Sandra!
You could do that to your Sandy! A whitewash. Look beautiful😉
🙂
It’s all so pretty! I love your topiaries. Did you make those too?
Kristi Townsend Foster nope. Those are from Wayfair or Amazon. Olive topiaries.
Home Made Lovely thanks so much! ❤️
Your fireplace surround looks lovely. The white shiplap is pretty. I wonder if you’re torn a bit because the surround seems less noticeable (at least to me) painted white. I think your chairs would pop with it painted black. Either way, it’s beautiful.
Thanks, Deb. I am getting used to it this way now. 🙂
I love your makeover. Up to date and relaxed. Where did you purchase the two chairs ( discovered chairs). I have been looking for something similar but having a tough time finding them.
They were from Wayfair. But they seem to be out of stock currently.
So glad I found your blog! I want your kitchen! We just bought a condo and your ideas are spot on !
🙂 Thank you, Robin. And congrats on your new condo!
My first impression was that the room (that corner) is too top-heavy: the continuous black line of the curtain rods and the tv, along with the dark wood of the blinds and the mantle. However, I like the white in that it lightens up what is already an imposing focal-point. I am not enough of a designer to know the relative impact of black vs white in achieving your goal.
Have you considered having a smaller tv, one that is not almost as wide as your mantle? Or, perhaps moving the topiery’s to the floor would help.
Unfortunately a smaller tv isn’t happening. 🙂 But thank you so much for your thoughts!
I love the white, especially with the wood beam, but I do think black would also look amazing. It looks like the trim around the insert is now painted white & previously it was white – maybe painting it back to black will make a difference.
Sorry, meant to say the trim previously was painted black but now it is white.
🙂 I imagined that’s what you meant. Thank you for the input! 🙂
I might have used a gray. Going black w the tv above seems really heavy to me. It’s a lot of contrast right now, gray would soften that. The shiplap is always a look i love. Beautiful room.
Thank you!
Hello! I love this, we are thinking of doing something similar. Would you mind providing the dimensions? Wall to wall, size of the fireplace insert, hearth to mantel, flat screen size? Of course my husband wants a larger tv and we already have a 50 in! I just want to make sure it won’t take up too much space.
Thank you!