We’re big fans of painting brick, and we’re here to help you figure out color palettes that can work if your brick is in need of a refresh. BUT we also totally understand clients who want to leave their brick natural! A red brick house can be beautiful; however, it’s a strong look and can be one of the toughest to work with, particularly for color palettes. We get clients writing in all the time asking us about trim colors that we recommend to go with their red brick houses, what siding colors work best to complement their red brick façades, and more. We figured this roundup might help some of you make decisions on how to update your red brick homes.
Having trouble envisioning updates to your red brick house? That’s why we created our virtual design services. We will help you see what your exterior design updates will look like before you commit by providing you with a rendering of the new look.
#1 // Traditional Two-Story Gets Dressed Up
This traditional two-story red brick home has beautiful architectural lines — it simply needed updated accents to modernize it and dress it up. Benjamin Moore paint colors provided the fresh color palette: Revere Pewter on the trim, Dragon’s Breath to stain the wood siding, and Black on the windows. A darker color on the roof, new wood-look garage door, and copper gutters are the elegant final touches.
#2 // Modern Elements on Classic Red Brick Ranch
This style of red brick ranch home is a classic found in American neighborhoods built after World War II. Modernizing the front porch with new materials made the biggest impact in bringing it into the 21st century. Our designers also recommended removing the shutters (because they weren’t sized correctly) and updating the windows and front door. The wood accents and copper gutters coupled with Sherwin Williams’ Urbane Bronze on the trim tones down the contrast, making the curb appeal more understated.
#3 // Traditional Two-Story with Color Blocking
This traditional two-story home had a second-story pop-out with a Tudor-influenced façade that felt both a bit dated and unfinished. We recommended new Hardie® Panel vertical siding in Benjamin Moore’s Graphite for a color-blocked look. Revere Pewter on the trim highlights the roofline. A new portico over the front door and an elevated walkway lead the eye to the front door.
#4 // Refreshed Red Brick Estate
A few simple updates brought new life to this beautiful traditional two-story. Painting the siding and trim in Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal and the windows, gutters, new double front door, and metal awning in Onyx provide contrast against the natural red brick. A roof that’s a couple of shades darker than the original ties everything together.
#5 // New Windows + Wood Accents
Another beautiful traditional home that got a facelift from simple updates. New modern black grid windows and a couple of awnings provide a touch of modernity. Next, wood gable accents and a gorgeous double front door coordinate with the copper gutters to accentuate the home’s layers. Finally, a bluestone walkway and new front steps keep things grounded.
#6 // Red Brick + Wood Veneer
This modern home had a darker red brick that lends itself nicely to pairing with wood siding. We recommended using a composite wood grain siding option from Woodtone under the front gable. Black and charcoal gray comes in on the new roof, modern garage door, exterior lighting family, and the trim, rendered in Benjamin Moore’s Onyx. Finally, we recommended new James Hardie standard vertical siding on the upper level, painted in Benjamin Moore’s Rockport Gray.
#7 // Tasteful Updates on Historic Home
This gorgeous historic red brick house got a fresh look with a few intentional updates. First, we recommended new Marvin windows and a new double steel door. Other black accents include the X-style porch railing between the existing brick columns and a Bahama-style shutter over the set of windows to the left of the entrance. Classic copper lighting from Bevolo honors the past. Lastly, Tivertino panels modernize the front door surround on up to the roofline.
#8 // Traditional Ranch with Warm Neutrals
The bright red brick on this traditional mid-century ranch felt high-contrast against the pure white accents. Plus, there was a lot going on with the dark shingle siding, deep blue front door, and the dated gray shingle roof. We recommended letting the brick shine by muting the color palette. The new metal roof is in an understated warm brown that pulls out the copper gutters and exterior lighting as well as the gorgeous new wooden front door. We added an eyebrow roof over the garage for interest. The trim, eaves, soffits, and the new garage door are rendered in Benjamin Moore’s Pale Oak. And new Hardie® Shingle Siding painted in Rockport Gray brightens up the front porch area.
#9 // Red Brick House with Dark, Modern Materials
Moving into more modern design territory is the new exterior design of this split-level home. The red brick is more of an accent on this façade because the siding on the upper level is dominant. We recommended replacing the old siding with Hardie® Panel vertical siding and painting it — and the chimney — in Benjamin Moore’s Graphite. The trim and eaves are rendered in Sherwin Williams’ Tricorn Black, which plays well with the black lighting family, garage doors, windows, and new chimney cap. Wood and copper accents bring in natural elements that pull out the warmth of the brick.
#10 // Traditional Home with Warm Grays and Stone
As you can see, many traditional red brick homes were originally paired with bright white siding and trim — a color palette that we prefer to tone down a few notches. On this home, we recommended Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal on the siding with Pale Oak on the trim. The entryway got a major upgrade with gorgeous new wooden double doors, a lovely surround and overhang, statement sconces, and a fresh stone-and-pavers walkway leading up.
#11 // Large Traditional Home with Modern Touches
We rendered this large traditional red brick home with an exterior design that includes modern touches: new garage doors, updated lighting, and a fresh front porch overhang. We provided an idea for new James Hardie siding surrounding the central two-story bank of windows to emphasize it, rendering it painted in Benjamin Moore’s Winterwood. Onyx on the trim provides contrast. Warm stone siding grounds the home, and we also used it to wrap the chimney for added interest.
#12 // Limewash!
We love limewash. It’s a great compromise between painting brick and leaving it natural. The red brick on the lower half of this home is rendered with a Romabio limewash custom tinted with Benjamin Moore’s Seapearl. Limewash gives you the flexibility to allow some of your brick’s natural color to show through, as above. It also works well on brick walkways! Here, we’ve paired the limewash with a full Benjamin Moore paint color palette: Seapearl once again on the siding, Simply White on the trim, Sea Haze on the shutters, and Black on the new front door.
Red Brick Houses Can Feel Both Timeless and Modern
As you can see in these examples, red brick houses don’t have to feel dated. You also don’t have to paint your red brick if you love it but want some more modern curb appeal. Basically, you can have your cake and eat it, too. It’s our job to show you how.
Red brick can be gorgeous. It can also be tricky. That’s why it makes sense to work with an expert when you’re planning an exterior makeover for your red brick home. We’d love to partner with you on making your curb appeal dreams a reality! Get started today.
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FAQs
How can I make my red brick house look better? ›
3 Ways to Take Your Brick House Curb Appeal to a Whole New Level
What Colours compliment a red brick house? ›Best Exterior Colors for Brick
If you're stuck, consider these combinations for exterior colors with brick that's red, orange, neutral, or white. * Sage green + taupe: Because red and green are complementary colors, these exterior paint colors work well with red brick homes.
But no matter what your reason for wanting to include some red brick, there's no doubting the fact that interior brick walls are back in style and definitely here to stay.
Should you paint over red brick? ›While the value may increase because of curb appeal, painting brick can cause issues. Paint can trap moisture and damage the brick in the long-term. It also can appear dirty and need to be power-washed, unlike unpainted brick.
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.
Paint the Brick
Painting the brick is the most extreme solution for a dark brick exterior, but it brightens the look. It's a good option when you don't like the brick color at all. Neutral paint colors ranging from white to taupe tend to look best.
Although this traditional material goes well with nearly everything, the best front door paint colors for red brick houses are often dark, contrasting hues. Hunter greens, gunmetal grays, blues, or hybrid colors that are a mix of one or two rich colors are especially stunning paired with classic white or cream trim.
Does painting a brick house reduce its value? ›Painting brick is a great way to upgrade curb appeal and increase your home's value. Using a dark color like slate grey or even a classic white can create a major visual impact when painted correctly. Provides protection from the elements.
What color makes red brick pop? ›Gray is a nice, neutral color that can really make your red brick pop. Choose a grayish-blue as opposed to a gray that has tan undertones to complement the red.
What flooring goes with red brick walls? ›A lighter shade of vinyl flooring – perhaps a pale grey or brown – is ideal if you're looking to emphasise the boldness of indoor brickwork, bringing out the deep tones of red bricks without feeling as if they overpower the room.
What color roof is best with red brick? ›
Synthetic-cedar-shake shingles offer the best color roofing shingle for a red-brick house. The tan, beige, and brown color of these shingles perfectly complement the warm-red-brick siding, bringing warmth and charm to the home.
What color brick is most popular? ›According to a recent survey, the group reported that the top residential color choices include whites, grays, tans, and buffs (a light yellow-brown color) – in line with younger homebuyers' preferences for lighter exteriors made from natural materials and modern design over boxy architecture.
What color garage door goes with red brick house? ›Brown garage doors with red brick houses are a classic color choice. Overall, neutral colors such as white, beige, and grey are the most common color choices and look great. Black garage doors can provide a nice contrast.
What color windows go with red brick? ›Dark Brown Windows
Dark brown is another great, dark neutral that looks good with red brick. If you have the right kind of brick, even a light brown might look great too. When you choose a dark brown you might want to lean into other brown accents for your exterior, especially in wood.
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When should you not paint brick? ›#2 It Can Cause Serious Structural Damage
If you paint the exterior brick and there's moisture trapped in it, "once you go through a freeze-and-thaw cycle, [the brick can] degrade as moisture freezes inside it," Palmer says.
Whitewashing brick is very quickly going out of style. Most whitewashed fireplaces look half done. In this particular picture, the fireplace started out with some pretty grey brick, and the painter did a really good job covering everything evenly without leaving streaks. Lots of whitewash jobs don't turn out this good.
What color siding goes with red brick? ›The best siding colors with red brick include light neutrals like white, gray, brown, and off-whites like beige and tan. Greens and blues also work. The main thing to remember is to choose colors that highlight the tone of the red brick.
Does gray go with red brick? ›Gray has been a very popular exterior color for years now and it's a perfect pairing for red brick. If your brick has any variation with darker sections here and there, these colors might be the perfect choice for your next painting project.
Does vinegar damage red brick? ›Never use vinegar on any kind of paver, brick, flagstone or concrete; it WILL damage the surface.
What color brick makes a house look bigger? ›
Light colors such as white, ivory, pale gray, and sage green reflect higher amounts of light than dark colors, tricking the eye into perceiving the home as larger than it is.
How can I tone down red in my house? ›What Color Tones Down Red? Green color tones down the red color because green is the opposite color of red color on the color wheel. Therefore adding green color to the red color neutralize the medium and if you add a little more green, the medium will turn into green color.
What are the Popular Front Door colors for 2022? ›It's black that's set to be the most popular front door color of 2022 with blue and green also favored. Some 56 per cent of experts surveyed for the Fixr (opens in new tab) paint and color trends 2022 report agreed that black will be the most popular front door color choice in 2022.
What is the luckiest front door Colour? ›Red is probably the most popular color for a feng shui-inspired front door. In feng shui, red represents good luck, protection, and fire energy.
What does a red front door on a house symbolize? ›Red front doors
In early American history, a red front door indicated travelers were welcome to spend the night. Perhaps this is why red is a popular front door color for many Colonial-style homes. Red doors also indicated homes involved in the Underground Railroad where fleeing slaves could be safe.
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 the best exterior paint for brick? ›As mentioned, when choosing exterior brick paint, elastodynamic and 100% acrylic latex paint are the two best options. It is important to apply at least two coats to achieve its highest durability. For the best results, you need to brush and roll the bricks as you usually do with any other wall.
Is it a good idea to paint over brick? ›Bricks will absorb moisture from the interior of a home and they need to be able to expel that moisture; applying paint to the exterior can cause the paint and masonry to lift, peel or crack as it can become susceptible to freeze thaw cycles in cold climates.
What color compliments red? ›Primary red works well with yellow, white, tawny-orange, green, blue and black. Tomato red works well with cyan, mint green, sand, creamy-white, and grey. Cherry red works well with azure, grey, light-orange, sandy, pale-yellow, and beige.
Is red brick warm or cool? ›Red brick can be warm with tones that lean towards rust or terracotta. They may also be cool and be closer to burgundy.
Should roof be darker or lighter than house? ›
In the debate over dark vs light-colored roof shingles, lighter ones win hands down when it comes to deflecting heat. In warm climates, heat can build up in the attic, lowering the energy efficiency of a home.
What color of house sells best? ›"Generally, going with neutral colors like shades of white, beige, taupe, and grays lead to a faster sale," she shares. "Neutral colors are also more appealing to potential buyers because many want the creative freedom of a blank canvas to add their personal touches to when looking for a new place to call home.
What is the most popular brick size? ›The most popular brick size is a Modular brick measuring at 3-5/8" thick by 2-1/4" high and 7-5/8" long.
Which brick pattern is the strongest? ›The strongest of the patterns is the herringbone. It can be laid at a 45 or 90 degree angle. The pattern has many angles that can be described as energetic, and can truly engage your visitors as they make their way to the entrance of your home.
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The Best Brick and Paint Color Combinations for Maximum Curb ...
Exterior Paint Color Combinations for Red Brick | House Design Ideas
Mix 1 cup each of table salt and dish soap to make a paste. Then, apply it to the brickwork in an even layer. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, scrub the wall with a brush, then wipe the paste off with a wet cloth. For stubborn stains, get an acid cleaner, which you mix with water and spray onto the wall.
Can I change the colour of my bricks? ›Brick tinting is the process of physically changing the colour of brickwork to match surrounding areas by applying a bespoke coloured tint to each individual brick or the mortar joints.
How do you refresh brick exterior? ›Combine a tablespoon of bleach with a gallon of warm water in a bucket, then apply the bleach with a sponge to the brick. Use a scrub to tackle hard-to-reach areas or difficult stains. If the bleach begins to dry on the brick, spray a small amount of water on the area to keep it moist.
How do you brighten exterior brick? ›How to brighten up my brick exterior? Using a garden hose is a great way to brighten up a brick exterior, direct the water spray at the top of the wall and move side to side going downwards to wash the grime away. In the more grimier parts allow the water to stay on the spot for a more thorough cleaning.
How do you refresh an old brick wall? ›Warm water alone is typically sufficient in cleaning exposed brick but if the wall is particularly dirty, then the dish detergent and table salt mixture can cut through grease and stains. Apply it to the brick and let it sit for about 10 minutes before using the brush to scrub away the dirt.
Should brick be stained or painted? ›
The stain is just as long-lasting as the brick it is applied to. Painting brick makes a larger environmental impact as more chemicals and toxins are introduced to the structure and surroundings. As painted brick needs more maintenance, every three to five years, more paint is needed to be applied to the brick.
How much does it cost to change brick color? ›Brick staining costs $0.70 to $1.90 per square foot. It'll cost $1,100 to $3,000 for the average home with 1,580 square feet of exterior brick wall. For a 300-square-foot area, you'll pay $200 to $600. For the same area, materials and supplies cost between $25 and $80.
Can you just paint over bricks? ›Yes. The brick surface(s) will have to be scrubbed thoroughly with soapy water. Once dry (give it 24 hours to make sure the surface is ready for paint), at least one coat of primer must be applied. Wait another 24 hours before painting.