16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (2024)

Table of Contents
Before: Brick + Siding After: Cottage Vibes Before: Traditional After: Modern Black and White Before: Patchy Red Brick After: Cool Gray Before: Brick Farmhouse After: Creamy and Light Before: 70s Brick After: Soft White Tip Before: Red Brick + Glass After: Lightened Up Before: Beige Brick After: Soft White Before: 1990s Brick After: Smooth and White Before: Orange Brick After: Solid Gray Before: Brown Brick + Olive Siding After: All White Before: Peachy 70s Brick After: White and Updated Before: Red After: Off-White Before: Plain Red Brick After: Clean and White Before: Red Half Brick After: Black Brick Before: Brown Brick After: White Before: Red Brick Bottom After: Light Brick + Black Siding Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts FAQs References

Home Improvement

Painting

Exterior Painting

By

Kristin Hohenadel

16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (1)

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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16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (2)

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

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (3)

    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

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (4)

    Painting the home white removed the contrast between the red brick and the siding, giving the home a quaint cottage feel.

    Continue to 2 of 16 below

  • 02 of 16

    Before: Traditional

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (5)

    Joelle Masterson of Epically Stylish transformed her brick home with a coat of bold paint.

    After: Modern Black and White

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (6)

    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.

    Continue to 3 of 16 below

  • 03 of 16

    Before: Patchy Red Brick

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (7)

    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.

    Continue to 4 of 16 below

  • 04 of 16

    Before: Brick Farmhouse

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (9)

    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

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (10)

    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.

    Continue to 5 of 16 below

  • 05 of 16

    Before: 70s Brick

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (11)

    A Beautiful Mess wanted to lighten up the curb appeal of this 1970s dark brick ranch home.

    After: Soft White

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (12)

    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.

    Continue to 6 of 16 below

  • 06 of 16

    Before: Red Brick + Glass

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (13)

    A Beautiful Mess painted the red brick to modernize the back of this ranch-style home.

    After: Lightened Up

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (14)

    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.

    Continue to 7 of 16 below

  • 07 of 16

    Before: Beige Brick

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (15)

    Mel Bean Interiors freshened the exterior of this partial brick and stone home by painting the brick.

    After: Soft White

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (16)

    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.

    Continue to 8 of 16 below

  • 08 of 16

    Before: 1990s Brick

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (17)

    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

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (18)

    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.

    Continue to 9 of 16 below

  • 09 of 16

    Before: Orange Brick

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (19)

    Reasons to Come Home gave the orange brick exterior of this home a facelift that started with a change of color.

    After: Solid Gray

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (20)

    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).

    Continue to 10 of 16 below

  • 10 of 16

    Before: Brown Brick + Olive Siding

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (21)

    A Beautiful Mess wanted to update the dated looking brown brick and olive green facade of this home.

    After: All White

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (22)

    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.

    Continue to 11 of 16 below

  • 11 of 16

    Before: Peachy 70s Brick

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (23)

    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

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (24)

    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.

    Continue to 12 of 16 below

  • 12 of 16

    Before: Red

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (25)

    A Beautiful Mess changed the look of this red brick home with a coat of soft white paint.

    After: Off-White

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (26)

    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.

    Continue to 13 of 16 below

  • 13 of 16

    Before: Plain Red Brick

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (27)

    Shoe Makes New gave this red brick home a DIY transformation that included painting the facade.

    After: Clean and White

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (28)

    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.

    Continue to 14 of 16 below

  • 14 of 16

    Before: Red Half Brick

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (29)

    Just Call Me Homegirl wanted to create a more cohesive look for this half-brick house.

    After: Black Brick

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (30)

    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.

    Continue to 15 of 16 below

  • 15 of 16

    Before: Brown Brick

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (31)

    DIY'er Katrina wanted to give this tired brown brick facade a lift with a simple DIY makeover.

    After: White

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (32)

    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.

    Continue to 16 of 16 below

  • 16 of 16

    Before: Red Brick Bottom

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (33)

    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

    16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (34)

    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.

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

As an expert in home improvement and painting, I can confidently provide information related to the concepts used in the article about exterior painting. Painting the exterior of your home can have a significant impact on its curb appeal and overall appearance. One specific aspect mentioned in the article is painting brick houses, which can instantly modernize the facade and transform the look and feel of the home.

The article acknowledges that painting brick can be a controversial subject, with purists advocating for keeping brick natural and enthusiasts believing in the transformative power of paint. Concerns about modifying the character of historic homes and disrespecting original architecture are also mentioned. However, there are many brick homes that are not historic and are built with inexpensive brick, which may have a dated look or an unappealing color. In such cases, homeowners often choose to paint over the brick when remodeling and landscaping their front yards.

The article provides before-and-after photos of painted brick houses in various styles and settings, showcasing the potential of a makeover. Some examples include:

  1. A 1970s brick Cape Cod-style home that was transformed into a quaint cottage with white paint, removing the contrast between the red brick and the siding.

  2. A traditional brick home updated with a coat of bold paint, such as Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black, creating a striking, high contrast look with white trim and accents.

  3. A patchy red brick home where both the brick and siding were painted, resulting in a cohesive look with cool medium-toned gray paint on the brick that adds dimension to white siding and trim.

  4. A two-story farmhouse built in the 1890s with white siding and later covered with thin red bricks in the 1970s. The brick and front porch railing and columns were painted in creamy off-white, restoring the original charm depicted in an old photo of the home.

  5. A 1970s dark brick ranch home that was lightened up with a coat of white paint, a pink door that complements the roof tiles, and additional changes, such as removing the old storm door and adding flower beds.

The article reinforces the importance of considering the consequences of painting over natural brick. Removing paint from brick can be difficult, costly, and labor-intensive, potentially damaging the facade. Homeowners should also be aware of any restrictions on painting brick homes in their house and neighborhood.

In summary, painting the exterior of a home, particularly brick houses, can dramatically change its identity and curb appeal. While there are differing opinions on painting brick, many homeowners opt for this transformation to modernize their homes. It is crucial to consider the potential challenges and restrictions before undertaking such a project.

16 Before-and-After Painted Brick Houses That Prove the Power of Paint (2024)

FAQs

What is the downside to painting a brick house? ›

Painting over brick is essentially a death sentence for brick because you're stripping it of its natural ability to breathe and release any moisture that becomes trapped. Because of this, any moisture trapped inside the wall will begin to erode the brick, wearing it down over time.

Learn More ›
Does painted brick increase home value? ›

Pros of painting a brick house

Huge visual impact — Painting brick gives your house a whole new look and can even add to your home's value by upping your curb appeal. It sets it apart from your neighbors' homes and looks unique with a more uniform effect than unpainted brick.

Continue Reading ›
What is the most popular color to paint a brick house? ›

White Paint Colors for Brick Exteriors

There's a reason so many folks are painting their brick houses white: It's practically fool-proof and will deliver a charming result every time.

Continue Reading ›
Why is it controversial to paint brick? ›

We recognize the valid concerns around painting brick: “Paint acts as a membrane over masonry, suffocating it.” (Mkay, gross, yeah.) “Paint can cause structural damage because it traps moisture between this “membrane” and the brick.” (Ew again.) “Paint can flake and peel over time.” (Not cool.)

Read More ›
How long does a painted brick house last? ›

How long does a brick paint job last? As with any exterior paint job, the average lifespan for painted brick is between 10 and 12 years. Your freshly coated bricks will have the longest lifespan with regular maintenance and cleaning.

Explore More ›
What is the best exterior brick paint? ›

In terms of the type of paint used for brickwork, most experts suggest that acrylic latex is the number one choice. Elastodynamic also gets an honorable mention, but acrylic latex is the favorite for a few reasons: It's designed to be weatherproof. Can prevent cracks in the brick.

View Details ›
What color brick makes a house look bigger? ›

Choose light colors

Making the exterior of your home a light color is the best way to make your home look larger, brighter, and more inviting. Light colors such as white, ivory, pale gray, and sage green reflect higher amounts of light than dark colors, tricking the eye into perceiving the home as larger than it is.

Find Out More ›
How much should it cost to paint a brick house? ›

The average cost to paint a brick home is about $7,000 but can range from $3,500 and $10,500 for a 2,500-square foot home. The per square foot cost generally falls between $1.40 and $4.20. The price you pay to paint a brick home may vary based on labor and paint prices.

Read More ›
Is it wise to paint a brick house? ›

Is Painting a Brick House a Good Idea? The answer is no, never. While painting a brick house may seem like a good way to update its appearance or cover up damage, it has some downsides. Unlike painting other types of surfaces, painting brick can be difficult to undo once it's done.

See Details ›
What color looks good on brick? ›

Whether you're going for a deep warm living space or a bright pop of color in your kitchen, orange paint is the way to go. Airing on the more modern side, white paint is a great compliment to your exposed brick wall. Especially those white shades with warmer undertones.

View Details ›

Does painted brick look nice? ›

There are many reasons to paint your home's brick. Not only does it enhance the look of your home, but it's also low maintenance and gives you more design opportunities down the line.

See More ›
What color accents brick? ›

Natural brick pairs best with rich, earthy colors

You don't have to use all neutral paint colors, either - just keep the 'red / orange / yellow' of the brick in mind as a color already in your palette. Tip: look for shades of a color that are 'grayish' or 'brownish' to get that earthy look.

See More ›
Will I regret painting brick? ›

Paint Can Damage the Brick

Beyond aesthetics, however, a shoddy paint job can damage your brick surfaces. Clay and shale make brick porous, which means brick walls will naturally expel moisture from your home during wet weather. It's a great material that actually adjusts to the weather to protect your home.

Explore More ›
Does painting a brick devalue it? ›

But buyers value authenticity.

That said, LoPorto emphasizes that if your brick is already painted, it won't have a huge impact on a home's value one way or another. If it's not? “If you've got a home with an all-brick facade that you plan to sell, save yourself time and money — leave it be,” she says.

Read More ›
Why is everyone painting their brick house white? ›

Original brick can deteriorate over time and water can be trapped within the pores. Painting the brick could offer a layer of protection. Painted brick can also be easy to maintain. Use a hose to simply remove dirt and debris from the home.

Keep Reading ›
What do I need to know before painting a brick house? ›

"Assess the mortar by looking for any cracks, holes, gaps or crumbling. If any imperfections are found, repair the brick using appropriate patching or using acrylic exterior caulk to fill blemishes,” says McCoy. “Allow the brick surface to dry completely before applying primer or paint.”

See More ›
What is the upkeep of painting brick? ›

In fact, painted brick requires regular maintenance–touch ups for chipped areas, cleaning on lighter colored brick, and fresh coats every so often. Moreover, painting your brick traps moisture and doesn't let the brick breathe.

See More ›
Is staining brick a good idea? ›

One of the best ways to update the look is to stain it. As long as your brick is structurally sound and the surface isn't painted. Look for brick stains that are non-toxic, non-VOC, water repellent, UV resistant, and mold and algae deterrent and therefore sustainable. In my books, that's a good thing.

Show Me More ›
Should I paint my brick house before selling? ›

If your brick house has historical or architectural significance, painting it may diminish its value or authenticity. It's essential to consider the historical context and potential impact on property value.

Learn More ›

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