Updated: July 19, 2024
Painting brick is a tried-and-true way of updating your home’s exterior without replacing the masonry. While some brick styles have stood the test of time, others have become dated more quickly. Moreover, many homeowners prefer a solid field color for their home as compared to the natural variety of brick. If you’re considering painting your brick home, we have some tips and tricks to ensure your success. In this post, we’ve compiled 15 of our favorite painted brick houses with before-and-after photos to inspire you.
If you’re considering painting your brick home, our expert designers will ensure that your vision comes off without a hitch. Choosing the right color for your type of brick, style of home, and design dreams can be tricky. Our exterior designers take into consideration your home’s environment, the condition of the brick, and your preferences to create the best design possible for your particular home. Get started today!
Painting Brick Houses
There is an ongoing debate about whether painting brick is a good idea. At brick&batten, we believe that choice is entirely up to the homeowner. There are many factors that go into this decision. For example, painted brick has maintenance requirements because it can chip and discolor over time. Furthermore, paint is harder to remove if you change your mind later and want to go back to natural brick. Many people also love the style of traditional brick and therefore opt for a more subtle change like limewash or German smear.
If you’re having trouble deciding, it’s always a good idea to work with an expert (yes, we’re referring to ourselves).
Choosing Color for Painted Brick
While brick houses are most often painted white, the whole spectrum of the color wheel is in play when considering painting your brick home. When choosing an exterior paint color in any application, there are a few things to consider. Since paint colors have varying light reflectance values (LRV), they appear different in direct sunlight, shade, depending on which direction your house faces, or with certain landscaping. Therefore, where you live is a major consideration in what color you paint your home. Additionally, you want to consider the style of your home and personal design preference. It’s OK to like something that’s not trending on Pinterest! Your neighborhood rules or historic ordinances might also affect your options. Finally, exterior renovation can be an expensive undertaking. Choosing a color that you’re going to love for years to come is important!
#1 // Revere Pewter + Ashwood Moss
Ashwood Moss by Benjamin Moore is an up-and-coming color we think you’ll see more of in the coming years. As exterior design trends lean more into the warmth of beige and green, colors that blend the two into a visually interesting neutral will only become more popular. We love this application of Ashwood Moss on the siding paired with Revere Pewter on the brick. It turns this commonplace home exterior into a unique, distinct two-tone transitional house.
#2 // Alabaster
You’ll find that many painted brick homes are painted white, like this example using Alabaster by Sherwin Williams. We love how the fresh coat of white paint freshens up the look of this transitional estate. Alabaster is an 82 on the LRV scale, meaning it reflects more of the sun and will appear brighter in the sun versus the shade. Here, it’s paired with Jogging Path by Sherwin Williams, a warm greige shade we’re loving.
#3 // Iron Mountain
Dark gray and black are seen less commonly on painted brick houses. However, when paired with the right design features, colors like Iron Mountain by Benjamin Moore are showstoppers. In this painted brick house before and after photo, you can see how the deeply saturated color with blue undertones gives the sprawling ranch a modern feel. Iron Mountain also works well in cooler, sunny climates to absorb the light and keep the house warmer.
Embark on a fresh new look for your home’s exterior with Brick&batten’s specialized paint selection service. Capture and upload a high-resolution photo of your home to receive handpicked paint color recommendations from skilled designers. Begin your paint color transformation here.
#4 // Revere Pewter
Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore is a solid choice for painting brick houses, as demonstrated in #1 above and in this before and after photo. Here, it’s used alongside Black Beauty by Benjamin Moore on the siding. A greige like Revere Pewter works well because it walks the line between warm and cool, making it suitable for many applications. However, different undertones may shine through depending on the accent colors and lighting. As such, we highly recommend testing this color before painting your entire home.
#5 // Shoji White
Another great off-white option for your painted brick home is Shoji White by Sherwin Williams. It’s a beautiful neutral color without being too bright. We love it paired with the contrast of black windows and the natural balance of wood accents on the home above.
#6 // Seapearl
Our designers reach for Seapearl by Benjamin Moore again and again when choosing white paint for brick homes. With an LRV of 77.95, it is still an airy color option without too much brightness. Furthermore, Seapearl‘s gray undertones make it a more exciting off-white color. The color’s warmth works well with natural accents like stone and wood, as well as the brick it’s painted on.
Looking for exterior designers near you? Brick&batten’s exterior design services team is ready to work with you one-on-one to create a stunning new look for your home.
#7 // Wrought Iron
Wrought Iron by Benjamin Moore is another common near-black paint color chosen by our designers. It is a bold, saturated shade that works well in many applications. It is often used as a trim and window color, but we enjoy the depth it gets with the texture of the brick.
#8 // Olympic Mountains
If you’re looking for a warm off-white white to freshen up your dated façade, look no further than Olympic Mountains by Benjamin Moore. Especially on homes where there might be brick discoloration or masonry in need of repair, painting over these imperfections and any needed patchwork can be a great choice. This before and after photo shows how well Olympic Mountains pairs with the landscaping and black accents.
#9 // Repose Gray
Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams is a soft neutral gray color that works well on brick. It leans warm, which brings a lot of interest, especially in locations with four seasons. However, Repose Gray can be a tricky color to work with because of its green and purple undertones. In this example, the Simply White trim and black accents help reduce the risk of seeing purple.
#10 // Black Forest Green
Black Forest Green by Benjamin Moore is a fantastic moody exterior paint option. It’s a unique color with undertones that lean black or green depending on the lighting and accent colors. In this before and after example, the brick texture makes the dark green color even more interesting. Black Forest Green is also used on new vertical siding. The wood panels lighten up the mood a bit on this painted brick house.
We always recommend sampling and testing paint colors before committing. Factors such as natural lighting, undertones, and your property’s fixed elements will have a significant impact on how a color will appear on your exterior. Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.
#11 // Cape May Cobblestone
If you’re looking for a modern gray for your brick home, Cape May Cobblestone by Benjamin Moore is an excellent choice. It has proven to be a versatile neutral in our exterior design palette. This shade of gray falls more to the warm side but does not have much of an undertone. It is an elegant and classic choice for your brick home exterior update.
#12 // Kendall Charcoal
Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore is a classic dark gray that is deep and rich in color. It has a brown and green base, but works well with both warm and cool accent colors, depending on a home’s fixed elements. Some people fear purple undertones with gray paint colors, but we have not had that experience with Kendall Charcoal.
#13 // Pale Oak
Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore is a great neutral option for painted brick houses. We like it as a contrast for darker trim colors or windows. It also pairs beautifully with natural accents like wood, copper, and stone. A warm greige/taupe color, Pale Oak works well on many different home styles and applications.
#14 // Deep Creek
We love choosing exterior paint colors with personality and depth. Deep Creek by Benjamin Moore is our go-to medium brown shade with a modern feel. With an LRV of 13, it is very light absorbent. It works well in both shady locations and cooler climates. Our designers often pair it with both off-white and black, depending on the style of the home.
#15 // Iron Ore
Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams is another dark, moody exterior paint color option that we love at brick&batten. In this painted brick house before and after photo, we see how this almost-black shade helps the home’s the gorgeous scenery shine. Iron Ore is a very dark color (LRV: 6) and isn’t for everyone’s tastes. However, it can take on a more muted tone when paired with black trim.
Which paint color will you choose for your brick house?
As this list of painted brick houses with before-and-after photos proves, there are a lot of color options to choose from. From white to black, and everything in between, you can find a great paint color option for any style of brick home.
Our designers are experts at choosing the right exterior paint color for brick homes. If you’re unsure about which color options to pick, our exterior design service can help or let us help by getting started with our paint visualizer. We love making dream homes a reality, so let’s get started today!
Painted Brick House FAQs
Is painting a brick house a good idea?
Yes, painting a brick house can be a good idea if you want to update dated masonry, create a more cohesive exterior color palette, or give the home a cleaner overall look. However, painted brick does require maintenance over time, and the paint can be difficult to remove if you later decide you want to return to natural brick.
What are the best colors for painted brick houses?
The best colors for painted brick houses depend on the home’s architecture, fixed elements, surroundings, and the amount of natural light it receives. White and off-white shades are popular, but warm greiges, soft grays, deep greens, charcoals, and near-black colors can also work beautifully when they complement the rest of the exterior.
Designer insight: Our designers don’t choose a brick color in isolation. They consider the roof, trim, siding, windows, landscaping, and undertones already present so the finished exterior feels intentional rather than pieced together.
Should you paint brick white?
Yes, you can paint brick white, and white or off-white is one of the most popular approaches for updating a brick exterior. Softer whites such as Alabaster, Shoji White, Seapearl, and Olympic Mountains can create a fresh look without feeling overly stark, but the right shade depends on your home’s lighting and existing materials.
Can you paint a brick house a dark color?
Yes, you can paint a brick house a dark color. Shades such as charcoal, deep green, brown, and near-black can give brick homes a more dramatic, modern appearance, especially when balanced with the right trim, wood accents, landscaping, or other exterior materials.
How do you choose an exterior paint color for brick?
To choose an exterior paint color for brick, consider the home’s architectural style, roof, windows, trim, landscaping, location, and natural light before making a decision. Exterior colors can look very different in direct sun versus shade, so testing samples on the actual home is an important step before painting the entire exterior.
Designer insight: This is one of those decisions where seeing the entire exterior together matters. A color that looks great on a swatch may feel completely different once it’s covering a large brick façade and interacting with your home’s fixed elements.
Is limewash an alternative to painting brick?
Yes, limewash can be an alternative to fully painting brick for homeowners who want a softer or more subtle update. German smear is another option for changing the appearance of traditional brick without creating the same solid field of color as paint.
Does painted brick require maintenance?
Yes, painted brick does require maintenance. Over time, exterior paint can chip, fade, or discolor, so homeowners should expect occasional touch-ups or repainting to keep the finish looking its best.
How can brick&batten help you choose a paint color for a brick house?
Our expert designers at brick&batten can help you choose a paint color for a brick house by evaluating your home’s architecture, existing materials, surroundings, and personal preferences as part of the exterior design process. A photorealistic rendering can also help you visualize how the paint color works with the rest of the home before you commit to painting the brick.
