Is Painting Your Brick House Worth It? Here’s What to Know First
Right, let’s address the big, slightly dusty elephant on the street—should you even paint your brick house? It’s one of those things that feels a bit rebellious, like cutting in your own fringe or letting the kids eat cereal for tea. Brick, after all, is classic. Solid. Timeless. But it can also look, well… tired. Especially when it’s that orangey-red shade that only looks good during golden hour and even then, only from a distance.
Before you dive in with a roller and a dream, let’s get realistic. Painted brick looks beautiful—but it’s a commitment. Once it’s painted, there’s no going back unless you want to sandblast your way into a midlife crisis. But on the upside, a good paint job can boost your curb appeal like nothing else. Think fresh, modern, clean. Like your house had a spa day and now wants to show off.
Painting can also help with uneven colouring, mismatched brick patches, or that one spot where someone added a random extension in the 80s (why is it always a different shade?). It also gives you more flexibility with your landscaping, shutters, and trim—suddenly that deep green door you loved on Pinterest doesn’t clash with the exterior anymore.
Of course, there are a few things to consider: painted brick needs upkeep (think re-coating every 5–10 years depending on weather), it holds moisture differently, and it can’t always be pressure washed like raw brick. But for many families—mine included—it’s 100% worth it. Especially when your house stops looking like a school building and starts looking like the home of someone who owns matching patio chairs.
7 Timeless Colors That Look Beautiful on Brick Homes
Choosing a colour for your brick house feels a bit like naming a baby—you want something that feels classic, works in every season, and won’t make you cringe in five years. After weeks of stalking houses in my neighbourhood and creepily slowing down near anyone who’d painted their brick, I found a few shades that just work.
Soft white is an obvious winner—it brightens everything, hides imperfections, and makes even a lumpy brick wall look deliberate. But not all whites are created equal. Creamy whites (think Alabaster or Swiss Coffee) feel warmer and more forgiving than a stark builder-grade white. They’re also better at hiding garden splashes or the odd crayon swipe—ask me how I know.
Greige is another hero colour—part grey, part beige, all grown-up sophistication. It looks amazing with greenery and works whether you’ve got a red roof or a charcoal one. Speaking of which, deep charcoal or even soft black (like Iron Ore) is the go-to if you want drama. It makes greenery pop and gives serious “stylish family home with good snacks” energy.
Muted sage green, warm clay, and soft coastal blues are also making waves—especially on ranches and Cape Cod-style homes. These tones feel more personal, a bit unexpected, but still incredibly grounded and liveable.
Before committing, sample your favourites on a patch of brick and stare at them for a few days at different times of day. It’s basically mood lighting for your house, and you don’t want any surprises.
How to Brighten a Red Brick Exterior Without Losing Character
If your house is red brick and you’re not quite ready to cover it in paint, don’t worry—you’ve still got options. Not every makeover requires a full-coverage paint job. In fact, with the right touch, red brick can look fresh, inviting, and even a little romantic (yes, I said romantic… and yes, I’m still talking about bricks).
First up: limewashing. It’s the laid-back cousin of full-on painting. It lets some of the brick peek through while toning down that intense red. It’s breathable, natural-looking, and gives your house that “we inherited this cottage from a charming elderly couple in Tuscany” vibe. Whitewashing works similarly but leans more rustic and patchy—very Pinterest farmhouse.
Next trick? Update the trim, doors, and shutters. Honestly, this can make your brick look totally different without ever picking up a roller. A navy blue door with brass hardware, dark green shutters, or even a dusty rose trim (yes really—it’s gorgeous with deep red brick) can completely shift the vibe.
And let’s not forget the power of landscaping. Red brick often looks best with cooler-toned greens and purple-toned flowers—think lavender, sage, hydrangeas. It balances the warmth of the brick and softens the whole look.
You don’t need to erase the red to make it shine—you just need to style it like you meant it all along.
Fresh Ideas for White Painted Brick (Without Feeling Too Trendy)
White painted brick is having a real moment, and fair enough—it’s clean, timeless, and instantly makes your home look more cared for (even if the inside is full of laundry baskets and half-eaten toast). But the goal is to make it feel fresh, not like you copied the same Pinterest pin as everyone else.
Start by adding contrast. Deep green or charcoal shutters, black light fixtures, and warm wood doors keep the white brick from feeling flat or sterile. Add in texture with vertical timber cladding, chunky planters, or even a cheeky vine growing up the side (bonus points if you can keep it alive).
You can also play with tone. Instead of a crisp decorator-white, try a warm white with yellow or beige undertones—it feels cosier and more family-home than showroom. And if you’re feeling brave, go for a two-tone effect. Maybe white brick with a soft sage trim, or even a washed clay pink on the chimney. Unexpected combos = instant charm.
Oh, and lighting matters more than you think. Add warm-toned outdoor lighting to soften the white at night and make it feel welcoming, not cold. I swapped our porch light for a vintage-style lantern and suddenly it was less “new build” and more “French countryside by way of British suburbia.”
White brick is a blank canvas—but you don’t need to keep it blank. Let it tell a story, even if that story includes a soccer ball lodged in the hedge and a scooter parked sideways by the door.
Modern Farmhouse Meets Family Home: Painted Brick Done Right
You don’t need goats and acres of fields to pull off the modern farmhouse look—just a bit of design balance and, ideally, somewhere to hang a wreath. This style works beautifully on brick homes when done right, especially if you’ve got kids and still want something that feels grown-up and grounded.
Start with colour. A soft white or light greige brick sets the tone. Pair it with matte black accents—window frames, lights, gutters—and layer in warm natural materials like timber porch posts, cedar planters, or even a reclaimed wood bench. The contrast makes everything feel fresh without being fussy.
The real magic of modern farmhouse is in the details. Oversized house numbers, lantern-style lights, and a tidy gravel path can make your entryway feel pulled-together even when the inside looks like a tornado named Liam came through.
Try mixing in traditional farmhouse touches—think vertical shiplap or a metal awning—with more contemporary lines, like squared-off garden beds or minimalist outdoor furniture. It’s that tension between old and new that makes it feel intentional.
And of course, this style loves seasonal touches. A grapevine wreath, a crate of mums, fairy lights along the fence—it all adds to that “we totally have our life together” feeling, even if you’re hiding a laundry mountain just inside the door.
Cape Cod, But Make It Current: Coastal Brick Exterior Ideas
There’s something undeniably sweet about a classic Cape Cod home—the symmetry, the shutters, the sort of house that looks like it serves lemonade and always smells faintly of suncream. But if yours is looking a bit more “faded postcard” than “beachy dream,” painting the brick can be your shortcut to coastal cool without selling your soul (or your front garden).
Start with soft, weathered colours. Think whitewashed brick, pale blue-grey tones, or even a gentle taupe that works like driftwood in paint form. These hues immediately freshen things up and pair beautifully with deep navy shutters, crisp white trim, and stone or shingle details.
To keep it feeling coastal without going full nautical, add texture. Shiplap, wooden garage doors, a trellis or two, or even just wicker planters soften the edges and give it that “charming with a breeze” effect.
The key here is restraint. Don’t throw anchors and lifebuoys at your house (unless you actually live next to a dock). Keep it subtle and let the paint do the heavy lifting. Add a little porch swing, a splash of sea-glass green on the front door, and boom—you’ve got yourself a Cape Cod that feels fresh, family-friendly, and a tiny bit windswept (in the best way).
Budget-Friendly Painted Brick Makeovers That Still Look Designer
Let’s talk money—because while I would love to redo our entire exterior with artisan lime paint flown in from Tuscany, the truth is, I’ve got a budget and two kids who think sand counts as a snack. But that doesn’t mean your painted brick house can’t look stylish. You just need to be clever with where you spend and how you style it.
Start with a refresh—not a full repaint. Sometimes just repainting the trim, front door, and one wall that catches the most sun can make the whole house feel new again. Touch up what’s chipped, power wash what’s grimy, and consider a partial limewash or two-tone look to keep costs low and charm levels high.
When it comes to colour, pick a tone that works with your existing roof and driveway. This avoids extra costs later and makes it all feel more cohesive. Warm greys, creamy whites, and clay tones tend to be the most forgiving and timeless.
Style-wise, focus on the “frame” of your house. Big impact happens at the entry—think statement door colour, chunky house numbers, and oversized planters you found secondhand but pretend were designer. Even just switching to warm light bulbs in your outdoor fixtures can elevate everything.
You don’t need to hire a whole team. Just grab a paintbrush, a playlist, and maybe a mate who owes you a favour. Your brick home will look miles more polished—and you’ll still have money left over for ice cream and new garden shears.
Final Thoughts: Because Painted Bricks Deserve a Bit of Sass Too
Look, painting your brick house isn’t about impressing the neighbours (though a little healthy fence envy never hurt anyone). It’s about making your home feel more you. Whether you go crisp white, moody charcoal, or somewhere breezy and beach-inspired, the magic’s in the details—and the personality you bring to it.
As a family, we’re not exactly pristine. There’s chalk on the drive, rogue scooters in the flower bed, and a window that’s always smudged by someone’s jammy hands. But now that we’ve painted the brick, it’s like the rest of the house finally matches the inside: warm, lived-in, and kind of lovely, even with all the chaos.
So don’t wait for “the right time” or the mythical clean weekend. Pick a colour that makes you smile, patch-test like your sanity depends on it, and give those bricks the glow-up they’ve probably deserved for years.
Then go have a cuppa in the garden, admire your handy work, and pretend—just for a moment—that no one’s drawing on the patio with yogurt.