Home Improvement
Painting
Exterior Painting
By
Kristin Hohenadel
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Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel has written on design for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Slate, Fast Company, and the international editions of Elle Decor.
Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process
Published on 08/14/23
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Painting your home's exterior can up your curb appeal and change your home's identity, and painting a brick house can have an even more dramatic effect that instantly modernizes the facade and changes the overall look and feel of the home.
Painting brick can be a controversial subject, however, with purists who insist on keeping brick natural, and enthusiasts who swear by the transformative powers of a coat of paint. Naysayers are generally concerned about modifying the character of historic homes and disrespecting original architecture. But there are many brick homes that are not historic, built with inexpensive brick that may have a dated look or an unappealing color that many homeowners choose to paint over when remodeling and landscaping their front yards.
If you're considering the idea of painting your own brick home, check out these painted brick houses in a range of styles and settings, with before-and-after photos to help you visualize what a makeover might look like before you take the plunge.
01 of 16
Before: Brick + Siding
This 1970s brick Cape Cod-style home from Chandler Rose Photography was a fixer upper with built-in curb appeal thanks to two large oak trees.
After: Cottage Vibes
Painting the home white removed the contrast between the red brick and the siding, giving the home a quaint cottage feel.
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02 of 16
Before: Traditional
Joelle Masterson of Epically Stylish transformed her brick home with a coat of bold paint.
After: Modern Black and White
The traditional facade was updated with Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black, a true black paint that pairs with white trim and accents to create a striking, high contrast look.
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03 of 16
Before: Patchy Red Brick
Love & Renovations painted both the brick and siding of this home to give the exterior a cohesive look.
After: Cool Gray
The finished DIY paint job was completed in less than a week, with cool medium-toned gray paint on the brick that adds dimension to white siding and trim and complements the roof tiles.
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04 of 16
Before: Brick Farmhouse
A Farmhouse Reborn wanted to restore some of the original charm of this two-story farmhouse that was built in the 1890s with white siding before getting a 1970s makeover with thin red bricks cladding the facade.
After: Creamy and Light
Painting the brick and front porch railing and columns in creamy off-white (Greek Villa by Sherwin-Williams) made the home look more like the original depicted in an old photo of the home provided by the great-great-granddaughter of the couple who originally built the house.
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05 of 16
Before: 70s Brick
A Beautiful Mess wanted to lighten up the curb appeal of this 1970s dark brick ranch home.
After: Soft White
A coat of white paint and a pink door that complements the roof tiles adds welcoming curb appeal. Removing the old storm door, changing the lighting, and adding flower beds completed the makeover.
Tip
It's a consequential decision to paint over natural brick, in part because it can be difficult, costly, and labor-intensive to remove paint from brick without damaging your facade. Depending on your house and neighborhood, you may also face restrictions on painting a brick home, so be sure to do your homework before you start a project.
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06 of 16
Before: Red Brick + Glass
A Beautiful Mess painted the red brick to modernize the back of this ranch-style home.
After: Lightened Up
White brick lightens up the back of the home and complements the walls of glass on the sunroom and converted garage that glow when lit from within.
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07 of 16
Before: Beige Brick
Mel Bean Interiors freshened the exterior of this partial brick and stone home by painting the brick.
After: Soft White
Painting the exterior brick with Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige (lightened to 50%) created a bit more contrast that helped define the brick and stone portions of the facade. The window trim was painted with Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore, a charcoal gray that complements the roof tiles and provides contrast with the light brick and stone.
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08 of 16
Before: 1990s Brick
The House That Lars Built painted this 1992 home to change the look and banish the the dubiously textured manufactured brick that had squiggly worn-like cut-out details.
After: Smooth and White
The worm-y brick was patched with concrete, a process that took many hands and several weeks. Then the facade was sanded down and finished with mineral silicate paints from German company Keim to create an old-world European limewashed brick look. A dark front door color for contrast, a newly landscaped front walkway, and new brass address numbers over the door completed the makeover.
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09 of 16
Before: Orange Brick
Reasons to Come Home gave the orange brick exterior of this home a facelift that started with a change of color.
After: Solid Gray
Gray brick paint with a greige undertone (Sherwin-Williams Gauntlet Gray), black shutters, and a new roof makes the home look current and updated. The existing door was painted in a fresh shade of blue-green (Sherwin-Williams Waterscape).
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10 of 16
Before: Brown Brick + Olive Siding
A Beautiful Mess wanted to update the dated looking brown brick and olive green facade of this home.
After: All White
The brick and trim of the home was painted by a professional paint company in the same uniform shade of white to save time, using pre-tinted Behr Masonry, Stucco and Brick Paint. The front door was swapped out for a midcentury modern-inspired door that was better suited to the architecture of the home.
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11 of 16
Before: Peachy 70s Brick
Blogger Pam Penick grappled with the idea of painting the unloved peachy-tan '70s brick on her home exterior for 13 years before finally deciding to go for it.
After: White and Updated
Many of the brick homes in this northwest Austin, TX, neighborhood had been painted dark gray for a more modern feel, but Penick wanted a lighter look that wouldn't get bleached out in the scorching Texas sun. Before painting, she used online virtual design company Brick & Batten to help visualize a redesign. The brick was refreshed using Romabio mineral masonry paint that was tinted to match the rest of the paint on the facade.
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12 of 16
Before: Red
A Beautiful Mess changed the look of this red brick home with a coat of soft white paint.
After: Off-White
They wanted to find a white paint that wasn't too stark and sterile or yellow, choosing Timeless from Clare, an off-white that reflects light and looks soft, unifying the home's facade and front columns.
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13 of 16
Before: Plain Red Brick
Shoe Makes New gave this red brick home a DIY transformation that included painting the facade.
After: Clean and White
The red brick facade was lightened up with white paint, complemented by new shutters in olive green, a new outdoor light fixture, and a new black front door.
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14 of 16
Before: Red Half Brick
Just Call Me Homegirl wanted to create a more cohesive look for this half-brick house.
After: Black Brick
Painting the red brick bottom half of the home made the brick recede. The newly painted black brick complements the black shutters for a crisp black-and-white facade that is offset with colorful landscaping.
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15 of 16
Before: Brown Brick
DIY'er Katrina wanted to give this tired brown brick facade a lift with a simple DIY makeover.
After: White
Using a paint sprayer that she already had on hand to paint the brown bricks in a bright shade of white resulted in a cost-effective makeover with a big payoff that modernized the facade of the home.
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16 of 16
Before: Red Brick Bottom
Lisa at Garrison Street Design Studio changed the color of the brick and the siding to give this home a modern makeover.
After: Light Brick + Black Siding
Black siding on the top half of the home gives it presence, while painting the formerly red brick on the facade in a light neutral shade and accenting with white shutters creates a harmonious balance between dark and light.
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