The Guide To Exterior Brick & Paint Color Combinations
- srcustommasonry
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Brick homes are timeless and classy. However, sometimes it can be hard to know what paint color to pair with your home’s unique brick siding. There are endless exterior brick and paint color combinations to choose from, each with its own flair and personality. Keep reading, and we’ll go over some of the most trendy combos as well as talk about other options that can really set your home apart.
The Best Paint and Brick Color Combinations
Here’s a rundown of the most common brick colors and some straightforward paint ideas that pair well with each one:
White Brick
When you’re working with white brick, you’ve already got a clean, flexible base. Most great exterior color palettes build off a simple trio: a main color, a trim color, and an accent color. With white brick doing the heavy lifting as the main shade, you can go a lot of directions without things looking overdone. Soft charcoals, muted blacks, and deep navy blues usually pair really well because they add contrast without fighting the brick. Think of these as the “anchors” that frame windows, doors, and gutters.
For the third color, the accent, you can keep it subtle or go a little bold, depending on your vibe. Warm wood tones, earthy greens, and even a muted copper look great against white brick because they add some warmth and texture. It’s basically about finding that balance: one color that grounds everything, one that brightens or defines, and one that gives the house a little personality without pushing too far. Keep the tones cohesive, and the whole exterior ends up looking intentional and effortless instead of overly “designed.”
Tan Brick
Soft greens, gentle browns, and warm grays tend to blend naturally with tan brick because they share that same earthy energy. These shades make the entire exterior feel pulled together. Even muted blues can work if you want a little color without stepping too far out of the palette. The key is choosing tones that feel warm, rather than sharp or overly bright. When you stick with colors that echo the warmth already in the brick, the house ends up looking comfortable and well-balanced.
Brown Brick
Brown brick already has a rich, sophisticated look, so the best paint colors are the ones that feel just as inviting. Creamy whites are a go-to because they brighten things up without making the brick look washed out. If you want something a little more modern, soft black or charcoal can add some nice definition, while lighter taupes and beige tones give the house a softer, blended look. Stick with colors that highlight the natural depth of the brick.
Gray Brick
Gray brick is everywhere right now! You probably noticed that most newer homes lean toward some shade of gray for their exterior. It’s clean, modern, and easy to match with other colors. Warm whites, greige, charcoal, and muted blues all pair really well. These colors add just enough contrast to keep the exterior interesting without overwhelming that sleek gray backdrop.
People are loving gray so much because it’s trendy but still timeless. It works with almost any style, from modern farmhouse to contemporary to traditional. It also hides dirt well and holds up visually in all kinds of lighting, which makes life easier for homeowners.
Black Brick
Black brick exterior is definitely bold and dramatic. The best color pairings are usually the ones that lighten things up without taking away from that strong style. Warm whites and soft creams are the most popular choices because they create a clean contrast that keeps the house from feeling too heavy and dark. Natural wood tones, warm browns, and muted tans also pair really well. They help bring in some warmth and balance out the intensity of the brick. If you want a more modern vibe, charcoal and medium grays can work too, as long as they provide enough contrast so everything doesn’t blend together.
Red Brick House Trim Colors
Warm whites are one of the safest and most popular choices because they brighten red brick tones without feeling too stark. They soften the overall look and make the red feel richer rather than louder. If you want something a little moodier, deep greens and charcoal grays also look great. They add contrast and help break up the brick in a way that feels grounded and classic.
Light taupe and beige are another solid option if you prefer something more neutral. Even soft blacks can work if you want a modern touch without going too extreme.
Should You Paint Your Brick or Leave It Natural
Natural brick has tons of depth, and a lot of people love the texture and warmth it brings without doing anything to it. If your brick is in good shape and you’re happy with the color, leaving it as is can be the easiest and most low-maintenance choice. It already has built-in character, and you never have to worry about peeling paint or regular touch-ups.
Painting your brick, on the other hand, can completely change the entire look of your home. It gives you more control over the style and lets you create something cleaner, brighter, or more modern. Just know that paint is a commitment. Once you paint brick, you’ll likely need to maintain it over the years, and going back to natural brick isn’t easy. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad choice; it just means you should be sure before you make the jump.
How Sunlight and Surroundings Affect Your Paint Choices
Natural light can change the look of exterior paint more than almost anything else. A color that feels calm and muted in the shade can look brighter or cooler the moment full sun hits it. Homes that get strong afternoon light often make colors appear lighter, while homes that stay shaded deepen the tones. That’s why testing paint swatches outdoors, in different spots, is always worth the time. It gives you a real sense of how the color will behave throughout the day.
Your surroundings matter just as much as lighting. Landscaping, nearby homes, roof color, and even the natural environment around your house all shift how a color reads. A shade that looks great next to green trees might feel completely different next to desert rock or a darker roof.
Here are the key things to think about:
Amount of direct sunlight your home gets
Morning light versus harsh afternoon light
How much shade your home sits in
Landscaping colors and plant density
Roof color and undertones
Style and colors of nearby homes
The Exterior Brick & Paint Color Combinations Conclusion
When you start looking at exterior paint color ideas with brick, there’s not just one perfect formula. It’s more about figuring out what feels right for your home and the kind of personality you want it to show off. Brick already gives you a solid foundation, so choosing colors is really just about finding shades that make your whole property come together. Whether your brick leans warm, cool, light, or dark, there’s always a color combo that can bring out its best features.
And if you’re in the Salt Lake City area and thinking about updating or adding stone or brickwork, reach out to our team at S&R Masonry. We handle everything from custom brick and stone installation to repairs, veneers, fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, and more. We take pride in doing clean, detailed work that lasts.
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