
Small projects around the home can make such a huge difference, especially if you are living in a house that needs updated!
A corner wood burning stove makeover idea for my corner fireplace was first to come to mind.
And wow, what a difference in looks and with my state of mind.
Here’s my corner fireplace DIY refresh project details. I hope it inspires you to refresh a little corner in your home, too.
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A Corner Wood Burning Stove Makeover Idea
Corner fireplaces can be so beautiful or so awkward.
The Quirky Cape Cod (the current investment property) corner wood burning stove fireplace is definitely a bit awkward. But really, it’s quite a cute little corner with potential.
I also thought it would be the perfect starter project for the Girl Planted Blog.
Paint Is The BEST and Cheapest DIY Update
The entire cape cod was many shades of brown when we purchased it.
I love using a bright white paint color for instant gratification. It just feels so fresh and bright to me.
I used KILZ because the fireplace also smelled a little funny to me. I love KILZ paint and use it as my base + primer ALWAYS.
I also love creating a blank canvas whenever possible when it comes to an interior design project. Sitting in a blank white box for a bit helps me to creatively imagine all types of design possibilities.
I didn’t hesitate to paint this fireplace white, especially because I knew I had to live with it for a few years, while I waited patiently to be able to do the full house design refresh.
Which is in progress as I type this.
THE BEFORE AND AFTER

Corner Fireplace DIY Wood Slats
I used 30, 1×4 pine boards, glued and then nail-gunned to the wall for the wood accent wall above the stone.
I spaced the boards out ever so slightly, but didn’t care if they were perfect, which totally made this space and my vision come to life!
Knowing that this refresh of the corner fireplace was a temporary thing, as the entire thing will be coming out of the house during the final renovation and design, made my decision to update it for the in-between super easy.
The ceilings in this house are a MESS. I decided to live with them as-is. The texture is so thick and rough that painting would have been a waste of money.
The ceilings will all be getting the VIP treatment after demolition is finished during the full re-design.
I also updated the walls with white beadboard panels from Home Depot. With 48 x 96 in sheets for less than $30, I knew I could grab a handful and completely transform this space.
What You'll Need For This DIY Project:
- Kilz Paint (All Purpose White)
- Paint Brushes And Rollers
- Painters Tape
- 1×4 Pine Boards
- 48 x 96 inch beadboard panels
- Caulk
- Liquid Nails
- Wood Putty
- Sanding Block
- Brad Nails
- Air Brad Nailer Gun
- Cordless Circular Saw
- Jig Saw
This Corner Fireplace DIY Refresh Total Cost
My budget for this DIY project (with a purpose of enjoying where we live even though just temporary, while we wait for the main design projects to begin) was $200.
I already had all of the power tools so I needed to buy the wood, panel boards, caulk, liquid nails and painters tape.
Taxes included, I spent $186.45 for this entire refresh project.
DIY Project Notes
I used my cordless circular saw to make cuts for the wood used above the fireplace and attached them to the wall using both liquid nails and brad nails.
I used liquid nails for all the panel boards and very carefully cut the boards using my jig saw. I feel lucky to have a steady, illustration artist hand so I found it easy to cut these long boards.
I did ALL the cuts myself. I took the time to learn how to use power tools and jumped right in! I quickly discovered a love for DIY and found this project extremely therapeutic and satisfying.
My point? Don’t wait for someone else to help you make changes to your home. You should totally go for it!
Making A Temporary Space In Your Home Beautiful
Living in a home that needs a full renovation (seriously) is tough, but add four kiddos, one with special needs into the mix, and the entire situation can be somewhat of a nightmare.
The house doesn’t work for us as it currently stands, but that’s sometimes what happens when you buy a home for the investment potential.
My solution? Make each space beautiful, fresh and cozy while we wait for the real renovation and interior design plans to begin.
For my family of 6, this meant living in this quirky cape cod for 3 years before we finalized the design details. We currently hope to be here a total of 3 years and if all goes well, buy our next home.
A big part of my plan is to refresh some spaces, one at a time, to feel more like a cozy home and embrace the house as-is, while we wait to do the larger projects.
Final Thoughts
Bottom line: love where you live, no matter what your circumstances may be.
Find inexpensive ways to refresh a space or in this case, a little corner of the room. It’s not a lot, but it can (and does) bring so much joy!
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See you soon! xo
