Thanks for the advice Karolina. You are correct in saying that it would only be the wooden part that I would paint (apologies if I wasn't clear originally!).

I saw this picture that I quite liked. The grey is quite dark, so it might be too dark for my room, but maybe if I kept the rest of the room neutral, it might work?

Thanks!

If you want the look of the fireplace you posted but are scared that the dark grey will flood your room, you could paint just the one panel/side wall with the grey, paint the fireplace frame white, and then paint the rest of the room a more light neutral colour. It will also create a more contemporary look and create more focus to your fireplace.

Alternatively you may feel more safe to paint the fireplace frame a neutral colour to match the neutral walls.

When you are ready to replace the fireplace, I would suggest a bio ethanol burner as a simple solution with minimal DIY work and an option of different styles.

Good luck, and please feel free to visit our profile if you're in need of more fireplace inspiration!

I have just painted (well had painted !) my walls in a very light grey nearly white & have had the fire surround painted a dark grey. It has a black hearth. Looks great.