Plus any suggestions for what to do with that kitchen opening would be good too. We're on a low - nil budget...

Paint it

I agree with billie - and painting it white can look great, depending on what colour that is on your other walls. You may want to match that. Here is how a creamy white would look: https://www.houzz.com.au/discussions/to-paint-leave-exposed-or-plaster-brick-wall-in-bedroom-dsvw-vd~892773

Paint or cover with wide plank barn boards.

Paint the bricks a light colour to reflect light into the room. Maybe, once a decision has been made about the air conditioner (remove and repair wall) then glue gyprock directly to the brick, if you want walls to match the rest of the house.

If you open the wall to the dining area think about the storage, and probably frige space, you'll lose.

White paint is easy to do and will always blend well with the room.
If you're a bit adventurous though, try a deep blood red paint or even black. Wonderful backdrop for the TV and makes a cheap feature wall. As for the kitchen door opening, on the cheap, a sliding door if you have room or washable fabric (curtains) bi parting so that you simply walk through the centre without hindrance. Good luck.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I'd love to cover the wall with wood, but we just can't afford it. Thanks Angie for the photo of your place, that does give food for thought :-) and I'm following that link provided for the exposed brick wall,thanks for that!
I'll post photos when we finish :-)

You can always use discounted roll of fabric and hang to cover whole space.
Get rid of the frill curtain in the kitchen and leave the rest alone. Looks great.

I think painting it will be the cheapest option, especially because you say you are going to mount the TV on it. Silly question perhaps, but what about the air con. already on the wall? Could look a little crowded.

We were hoping to replace the old air con and put the new one up and out of the way, but unfortunately it's just going to be too expensive, so we're going to have the TV on a TV unit we've already got.

For those who recommend painting, what colour? I was thinking cream, but also wondered about charcoal

I would go white, because it would brighten and put light into the room, make sure the other walls get a freshen up as well. If they are already cream, then go the cream on the brickwork. If you decide this doesnt work for you after its applied, you can easily go a darker colour, e.g. charcoal , on the brickwork as a feature wall.. I personally think it would contrast better with white, than cream if you go that way. You could introduce pops of colour throughout the room cheaply in the form of cushions, small rug near lounge, Photos or pictures in colourful frames (paint them yourself) or canvases ( your own photos?)

I would definitely paint the brick wall as this will make it blend in. In my opinion charcoal would be too dark as you already have dark heavy furniture so stick with the same colour as the rest of the walls. You could also get a large built in wall unit that would house the TV and hide the aircon unit if not operational. Ikea will have a range of inexpensive options. I agree take down the lace kitchen curtain and replace with a timber blind. I don't think you need to close off the kitchen but if you did I would add a door not a curtain. Depending on what is on the other side of the wall you could look at opening up the wall that backs on to the dinning room to create a more open plan look.

drywall with plasterboard will solve your problem it cheap and you can do it yourself

have you thought about jip rocking it?

a fresh coat of paint and it will look wonderful. Heres a bedroom we inherited when we brought the house - it had a very badly painted white wall hiding a dark brick. I choose the colour from the cushions on my bed and repainted the brick wall to match, its light and very soothing, all other walls, doors and ceiling are white. It just needs a bedhead or something on the wall now to complete it.

Repaint the wall in light gray if you like but continue color on the kitchen cabinets to make it look fresh and light. Try Big white from Taubmans its white with abit of gray in it nice and soft

If you are painting the brick, talk to your local paint or hardware supplier about what products and rollers to use. Brick needs to be sealed before you paint or it absorbs enormous amounts of paint. Also, a long nap roller helps get into any nooks and crannies. It's a bit time consuming, but definitely the cheapest option, and painting a contrast colour gives you a fab feature wall. Just remember that dark colours absorb light and light colours reflect it, so think about where your natural light sources are - ie how close to a window is this wall? Good luck!

If you paint it will still look like a brick wall and look cell like. Someone already suggested glue gyprock on we did this in a Besser block home. Husband did it himself. Gyprock not that expensive you could do that part yourself and just get someone to do the joints for you.

Cream or charcoal. OH GOD NOooooooo it's white or nothing or you will be looking to change in 18 months if that. I love exposed brick but yours is covered in that UGLY aircon a picture over brick is never a good choice. Try to get every thing off that wall and place a statement lounge or chairs in front. A large plant will work too. Less is definitely more with exposed brick

Second thoughts - the dining table would be a better placement on that wall and get a great but simple style light fixture over it

I agree with Karenleon if you can get rid off aircon. And move dining table in front of brick wall ,paint it in a light color and a statement pendant light, it would look good

Floor to ceiling flatpack bookcases. Either as an entertainment unit or a dining space, display walls can free up and house things of interest, are practical, easily changed and cover that wall! As furniture, the investment can be moved or taken with you so worth the expense.

Paint it to match other walls or contrast colour as feature wall. Have painted some ugly brickwork around a fire place in my home using an acrylic gloss. The colour is full strength lexicon white, like the woodwork in my home, the walls are satin finish half strength lexicon white. I am really pleased with the subtle feature of the glossy painted brick wall.

How did you go @emshaw1 ? I'm facing the same exposed brick dilemma in my house....
PS my parents had those exact same pendant lights in our lounge growing up

Does the aircon wall unit still work?

Brighten the room up by painting it white! It will give a modern, studio feel.

I kinda like the idea of swapping out the couch for the dining table in front of brick wall. Serving meals is closer to kitchen that way. But maybe this suggestion is t practical? Is it possible you can provide more pics of the whole space? And yes, a painted wall would improve the look.

POST CLOSED I suspect. Opened December 2014

Use white wash on the bricks. Do not use paint on bricks. An example is on the Block. It looks like plaster mixed with a lot of water and used to cover the bricks giving a beautiful effect.