The Pros + Cons of Painted Brick
Painted brick — well, what a touchy subject! Depending on what side of the painted brick debate you fall on you might think the idea of painting brick on the exterior or interior of a home is an absolute travesty or you might think that it updates the charm + character of your home.
Wherever you fall, painted brick is all the rage right now in the design world because brick has a chameleon-like quality that makes it super versatile. Depending on the application, it can take on a more traditional or even modern vibe.
So, let’s assume you’re the latter (like us) + believe it adds exquisite charm — whether you’re thinking of painting the brick exterior of your home, that old fireplace or a full-on wall we’ve got your back.
We’re going to deep dive into the PROS + CONS of painted brick, look at color inspiration, and answer some fairly common questions about painting brick. Alright already babe, let’s go!
THE PROS OF PAINTING BRICK
If you’re considering painting brick in your home (our on the exterior), it’s likely you’ve got a fairly dated part of your home you want to change. Out with that old nasty orange drabby look + in with a new crisp clean one.
Painted brick is fun because, well, it changes the appearance of your home instantaneously. Whether you’re working on a project inside or on the exterior, it’s sure to wow you.
While brick has a lot of natural color variation, painting brick unifies it. This adds a rich depth + texture without being overly obnoxious or busy. Plus who doesn’t love a ton of added charm + revived character? What can I say, I always take into consideration how design can really have an impact on us *wink*
Another fantastic reason to consider painting the exterior brick of your home is the added curb appeal. Especially if the mortar is chipping out. But first, you’ll need to have it repointed (which is a fancy way for saying fix the mortar problem to ensure the structure is stable).
Not to mention, there are literally hundreds (if not thousands) of different directions you could go with the painted brick look depending on whether your ultimate goal is to create a dark moody vibe or a light + airy sophisticated one. Either way, let’s savor all the color talk for later!
Now when it comes to getting the best bang for your buck, the cost of painting brick, as opposed to making major structural changes (or more involved remodels), is relatively affordable. And our DIYer’s love this trick because of its affordability, massive impact + low difficulty level is a massive win-win!
THE CONS OF PAINTING BRICK
Let’s consider all the cons because like most good things in life there’s a few cons + maintenance is one of them. Without question in our minds, painted brick homes are stunning but over time they can show wear + tear or even dirt + mildew build-up (especially light-colored painted brick).
In other words, you’ll need to treat your home to a house-bath every now + again. And being exposed to the weather the older the brick is, it may fade in non-uniform ways.
On the other hand, if you’re painting a gas fireplace or another brick application on the interior of your home, you probably won’t be dealing with as many maintenance issues (outside of touch-ups every now + again) but there’s still one fairly big downside we haven’t discussed yet.
It’s difficult to go back.
In fact, it’s nearly impossible + extremely expensive to try (psst… who loves a good migraine). So, if you’re a fan of the painted brick look, you’ll want to ensure that this is absolutely something you’re going to love for the long haul (or be willing to change the look of in the future).
One thing we recommend for you DIYers is to consider the type of paint you’re using to paint brick. For instance, latex paint is a big no-no because it seals the brick not letting it breathe + thus traps moisture. To avoid yet another migraine, as well as potential damage to your home, you’ll want to consult a professional paint expert on what type of paint to use.
If you’re wondering what we recommend, RomaBio — it’s a mineral paint specially formulated to ensure what we just talked about doesn’t happen.
PAINTED BRICK COLOR INSPIRATION
Now that we’ve weighed both the pros + cons of painting brick in your home let’s uncover just how painted brick can transform a space.
LIGHT COLORS
Painting brick a crisp clean white, a creamy off-white or a soft yet neutral color affords your home some flexibility in terms of style. While any color options in this color range would help to modernize it there’s a timeless quality that is also enriched here by going lighter. Not to mention, light colors allow everything else like plants or furniture to really pop or standout.
Notice how the black fireplace + hanging rattan chair really separate from the walls.
SATURATED COLORS
Dark, black or moodier colors definitely isn’t a look everyone loves — but they’re absolutely statements we love around here. In fact, once you style the exterior of a home in navy you realize just how much contrast you can really create.
Another look we love is going darker with fireplaces + the exterior of bricks homes. In the case of the fireplaces, you certainly want to be sure that your room has enough natural light so that it doesn’t feel too dark. When painting the exterior of a home a dark or moodier color everything around it pops.
Trust me, an all-black fireplace or a dark moody exterior is an incredibly sexy thing love!
Whichever way you spin it, painted brick isn’t for everyone but it sure is gorgeous in our eyes. If you like it, it’s not right or wrong… it’s simply you.
And if you’re getting ready to bite off a painting project of your own but feel like you need help picking the right paint colors? — I get it. In fact, I literally eat sleep + breathe paint swatches.
Don’t fret, grab your calendar + let’s carve out a time for us to chat.