You may have a list of home-improvement projects you've been promising to get to. Maybe you started inside—by repainting the living room a mood-boosting shade or by redecorating the bedroom with comfortable furnishings. On walks around the neighborhood, admiring other houses, inspiration sets in. How can you update your brick house to make it the best-looking one on the block? Show
Paint can instantly refresh a home's exterior without any major renovation. Anyone who lives in a brick house is probably keenly aware of the great paint debate. One side is all for painting brick facades, while the other side is fiercely against covering up original redbrick exteriors. Ultimately, it's your personal preference. Once brick is painted, though, there's usually no going back (no pressure or anything!). For homeowners with their hearts set on repainting their brick exterior, we've rounded up eight different shades that are sure to boost curb appeal. Converted farmhouse with shingled roof features a neutral color palette. Farrow and Ball's Stony Brick was used for the door, and archived color, Clunch, for the brick. Laurey Glenn Choosing ColorsStick with a relatively neutral shade for the exterior, and choose complementary colors for the smaller details (like khaki shutters for a warm white facade or a forest green front door against a soft gray exterior). Whether you're dreaming of a creamy white cottage or a contemporary navy Craftsman, find inspiration for repainting your brick home with the paint colors below. Pure White by Sherwin-WilliamsIf you need some reassurance, see how designer Cheryl Luckett of Dwell by Cheryl Interiors transformed this wow-worthy Colonial with a coat of Sherwin-Williams' Pure White, SW 7005. The classic combination uses a warmer white. It's not too bright and works well for the sunny exterior. 2018 Idea House in Austin, Texas Front Exterior Curb Appeal Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller White and BeyondFrom classic white to earthy green to a more modern black, these colors will transform your home's brick exterior into the prettiest house on the block. This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn a small commission from purchases made through them, at no additional cost to you. You help to support resin-expert.comWhether you’ve just bought your first home and want to make it your own or you’re looking to breathe some life back into your home’s exterior, painting the exterior brick of your home is a good idea. Not only is it more cost-effective compared to other options, but it’s less limiting too. Since there are so many options to choose from, we thought you’d enjoy a quick rundown of some of the best exterior brick paint color ideas out there and why you should choose them. Table of Contents
Why Should You Paint Your Exterior Brick?Before we get into some good exterior brick paint color ideas, let’s cover why it’s a good idea to paint your brick home. Brick is a lot more porous than other common building materials like wood and is, therefore, more susceptible to things like moisture build-up, mold, insects, and the general build-up of dirt and grime over time. These unwelcomed additions to your brick structure can cause the brick to decay and break apart over time, and while this might not happen very quickly it’s easier to prevent the build-up completely than resurface a brick wall. When a brick wall is painted, these recesses are sealed up ensuring that your brick walls not only look good but are safe for years to come too!
One reason to paint your home that isn’t mentioned nearly as much as it should be is that painting out exterior brick significantly reduces maintenance costs. If you decide to leave your brick exposed, you will have to clean the surface and recesses regularly to ensure that it doesn’t degrade over time. Painting ensures that you have a smooth surface to clean, which won’t pick up dirt and grime very easily either.
What You Should Know Before Painting Your Brick WallsPainting bricks seems pretty beneficial, right? Objective, it is, but there are a few things you should know about painted brick before you give it a try. One of the first things that you know is that once you paint brick it can be challenging to remove, so it’s best to consider the color and whether you really want a painted brick home before you commit to it. You should also keep in mind that paint, at its core, is just another surface coating. This means that it can degrade over time and therefore needs to be maintained. This could mean repainting your home once a year depending on the state you live in, or it could start to peel and chip, which could look unsightly over time. Another thing that you should keep in mind is that exposed brick is really good at hiding imperfections and dirt. With paint being a solid color, it makes it that much easier to spot bits of dirt and grime on the walls of your home. This being said, painted brick is significantly easier to clean, so it’s a bit of a trade-off, but well worth it in our opinion.
How Do You Choose an Exterior Brick Paint Color?Wondering how to choose exterior brick paint colors? There are a few things to consider when choosing a paint color for your exterior walls. One of the first things you should consider is what impact you want the color of your home to have not only on your home but on the overall aesthetic of the houses on your street, or even your block depending on the type of neighborhood you live in. If you just want a color that makes you happy and you don’t have to appease a homeowner’s association, then go with whatever color, tone, and texture speaks to you (the ideal scenario!) However, if you enjoy keeping up with the latest trends then you should choose a color that’s easy to paint over and can mix well with your future options.
If you want something timeless but don’t want to commit to something too bland you can paint the primary surface with a fairly unassuming color and then go ahead and paint your trim pieces like your shutters or window sills with a more vibrant color. This also makes it a lot easier to update paint colors that might not age so well over time.
Exterior Brick ColorsWhen choosing exterior brick paint, it can be a bit daunting to choose between the sheer variety of colors available to you. This is why we have prepared a short list of some of the most common and least common exterior brick colors for your home. Be sure to check out the different shades and textures of the colors below, and to take a few samples home if possible.
Popular Exterior Brick Paint ColorsThe nice thing about painting the brick exterior of your home is that there are loads of brick paint colors for you to choose from. Depending on the aesthetic you have in mind there are various tones of the following colors to choose from too, so while it is possible (and more convenient) to shop online, why not head to the store and check out some paint samples? You can always order the color online and it might even be a bit cheaper.
Exterior GrayThese days, minimalist aesthetics are all the rage, and the nice thing about them is that they tend to be timeless, neat, and seamless. Gray can seem like a real downer of a color at first, but if you take the time to explore some different shades of gray you might find that certain shades are quite calming and neutral, which might be exactly what you’re looking for in an exterior paint for your home.
Exterior Blue and GreenIf gray isn’t really your speed and you’re in the market for more conventional colors to paint brick houses you should consider a nice blue or green color pallet. These colors are more accessible and give a brick exterior a more natural feel compared to blacks and grays, which might suit the shape of your home and overall aesthetic better. Blue and green are also more natural colors that won’t conflict with natural accents like gardens or flower beds, so if you have a green finger, these colors are a good option for your brick exterior. Since blue and green are both found in nature if you are having a hard time finding colors to go with your green and blue you have the option of using brown earthy colors to supplement and highlight your green and blue color scheme.
Exterior Beige and WhiteWhen most people think of white paint, they think of a bland face brick exterior to what was once an illustrious home, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Both white and beige are excellent choices for your brick exterior because they offer a clean, sophisticated look to pretty much any surface they’re used on.
The trick when working with light colors is to explore the different tones and textures. You might be surprised at the sheer variety of options such simple colors can offer your brick walls, and you might even find it a bit challenging to choose one once you’ve seen a couple of them. This being said, don’t dismiss colors that are typically perceived to be “bland” as they often have the most to offer.
Less Common Colors to Paint Brick HousesDon’t have a homeowner’s association to deal with? Don’t like the usual grays and whites that other homeowners tend to go with? Do you want to stand out and really make your home pop? Well, do we have some colors for you! Below are some of the less common but equally good paint colors for your brick home that could very well end up turning some heads for all the right reasons.
Pale GrayWhile this might be more common in the industrial chick of big city apartments it’s also a pretty common site in modern suburbia too. This color is understated, yet elegant, and it allows to shape and contours of your home to speak for themselves. In the last couple of years, gray has exploded in popularity among new homeowners looking to modernize their properties, and food good reason.
Stone BronzeIs this a weird recommendation? Maybe, but we did let you know that these were less common choices. We also mentioned that they look good, and we’d never lie to you! Bronze not only makes for great little ornaments and furnishings, but it can make a great color for your brick home too, but it’s typically lighter than the bronze you’re probably thinking about.
Light Tone BlackAs far as painting brick exterior ideas go, brick is pretty out there, even for us. If done tastefully, black can be used to color block certain parts of your residence and bring attention to parts of it coated in a lighter color. If done incorrectly, kids might be calling give your home “Dracula’s house” when Halloween rolls around. The trick then is moderation and proper planning.
Exterior PewterLooking for a more calming tone when contemplating painting brick exterior ideas? Maybe something that won’t make your home look like the home of a Disney villain? Well, then pewter might be exactly what you’re looking for! Pewter resembles a really light grayish-brown, but without the same intensity that brown hues often bring to painted brick.
Blue SlateYou might have an argument with onlookers about whether this is blue or gray, and the answer is that it’s actually both. Slate blue is a stone-like, calming blue that looks like a conventional gray with a light undertone lurking just beneath the surface. If you don’t want to go all-in with a modern aesthetic, this is a great way to modernize your old one.
Earthy GreenThis might be a tricky one to pull off depending on what’s available at your local hardware store and what idea you have for the color in your head. Like beige and slate blue, this earthy green hue has the potential to create a very cozy, homely feel that goes well with other nature-based colors and textures on the exterior of your home.
What Do You Need to Paint Exterior Brick?You don’t need an awful lot of tools to paint your exterior brick walls. All that you really need is the paint of your choice, a roller, some paint brushes for the trim pieces, your primer, a paint tray, and some tarp to protect your driveway and/or lawn. The most important thing to do in the preparation for painting your wall is to ensure you give it a good clean either by hand or with a pressure washer if you think that your wall can take it without causing any damage.
Should You Paint Your Exterior Brick Yourself or Hire a Professional?Much like anything else in life, the choice of whether to hire a professional or do it yourself comes down to a few factors. Do you have enough time to get it done yourself? Do you have the skill level to get it done on your own? Do you have all of the tools that you’ll need to do a good job? Can you get it done on your own, or do you need another pair of hands?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It a Good Idea to Paint Brick?Before you go and look at some brick painting ideas, you’ve probably wondered if it’s a good idea to paint your brick surface in the first place. Objectively speaking, painted brick not only lasts longer but is less susceptible to damage by exterior forces like rain, wind, and sunshine.
Is Painting Brick a Mistake?Is painting brick a mistake? Well, it can certainly go wrong if done incorrectly, but considering that the point of painting your brick is to make your home look good and make it easier to maintain, it is a good idea. You should always ensure that your exterior brick is clean, dry, and adequately primed before you begin the painting process.
Does Painted Brick Hold Up?Does painted brick hold up? This depends on what you expect from your paint. Paint is inherently perishable, so unlike exposed brick, it will need to be maintained, cleaned, and touched up over time. However, even though paint traps moisture, which can cause paint to peel over time, modern paints designed for exterior brick are extremely durable and don’t require all that much maintenance. What exterior paint colors go well with brick?Best Exterior Colors for Brick. * Sage green + taupe: Because red and green are complementary colors, these exterior paint colors work well with red brick homes. ... . * Plum + cream or taupe: Neutral brick houses benefit from a dose of rich color, such as plum.. What is the best color to paint a brick house?What is the best color to paint a brick house? The best exterior paint colors for brick homes are creamy whites like Alabaster (SW 7008) from Sherwin-Williams and off-whites with grey undertones like Sea Pearl (OC-19) by Benjamin Moore. Darker brick colors like Onyx by PPG are also trending in 2021.
What is a complementary color to brick?Neutral Tan
The versatile nature of earthy browns and yellows makes it a beautiful complement to your unfinished brick. Find a warm tan to paint your remaining room walls, bringing an inviting feel to your home.
How do I choose a color scheme for exterior of my house?Top Tips for Narrowing Down Colors. Identify Your Home's Style and Neighborhood. ... . Become a House Color Copycat. ... . Don't Get Caught Up in Trends. ... . Look to Your Home for Guidance. ... . Rely on Color Wheel Rules. ... . Whatever You Choose: Test, Test, Test!. |