Building Components
Decorating
How to Make an Interior Brick Wall Work
Learn how to preserve, paint, clean and style a brick wall to fit your design scheme
An interior brick wall can be considered a timeless treasure, an eyesore, a quirky feature or many other things. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and bold brick certainly draws a lot of glances, imploring passersby to consider it, judge it and deem it either beautiful or too gritty.
But with the right design knowhow, brick can add a unique, perfectly imperfect touch to any room — it has an organic character not found in plain plasterboard and can suit modern, traditional, eclectic or contemporary spaces equally well. So before you write off brick, get to know some basics of preserving, finishing, styling and otherwise falling in love with brick.
But with the right design knowhow, brick can add a unique, perfectly imperfect touch to any room — it has an organic character not found in plain plasterboard and can suit modern, traditional, eclectic or contemporary spaces equally well. So before you write off brick, get to know some basics of preserving, finishing, styling and otherwise falling in love with brick.
Cleaning
If your wall needs a little cleaning before sealing, a mixture of vinegar and water will generally do the trick. Simply spray the solution lightly onto trouble spots and rub with a towel, scrubbing with a coarse-bristle brush only where necessary to remove stubborn soil or grime. In general, it’s best to start with a gentle approach in an inconspicuous area to make sure your brick won’t crumble, and use harsher cleansers only where absolutely necessary.
If your wall needs a little cleaning before sealing, a mixture of vinegar and water will generally do the trick. Simply spray the solution lightly onto trouble spots and rub with a towel, scrubbing with a coarse-bristle brush only where necessary to remove stubborn soil or grime. In general, it’s best to start with a gentle approach in an inconspicuous area to make sure your brick won’t crumble, and use harsher cleansers only where absolutely necessary.
Moisture and grouting
In moist areas like bathrooms, it’s especially important to make sure your brick is well sealed to avoid mould and other issues.
Where grout is worn away or in bad condition, it is possible to repoint or regrout the brick to restore a more solid surface. This requires the existing grout to be carefully routed out to at least two centimetres in depth before being refilled with new mortar, so it’s something you’ll want to do just once and then carefully seal and maintain it.
Keen to try a brick accent in your interior? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz to discuss your options
In moist areas like bathrooms, it’s especially important to make sure your brick is well sealed to avoid mould and other issues.
Where grout is worn away or in bad condition, it is possible to repoint or regrout the brick to restore a more solid surface. This requires the existing grout to be carefully routed out to at least two centimetres in depth before being refilled with new mortar, so it’s something you’ll want to do just once and then carefully seal and maintain it.
Keen to try a brick accent in your interior? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz to discuss your options
Finish options
If you prefer to cover or soften your brick, there’s an option for everyone.
White: A few coats of white paint is a popular choice for those who want to preserve the texture of their brick wall but give it a cleaner, more modern look. One advantage of this look, besides its ability to brighten a space, is the way it can help a space feel less busy, blending together different elements such as bulkheads, window trims and the ceiling for an overall larger and more streamlined effect.
If you prefer to cover or soften your brick, there’s an option for everyone.
White: A few coats of white paint is a popular choice for those who want to preserve the texture of their brick wall but give it a cleaner, more modern look. One advantage of this look, besides its ability to brighten a space, is the way it can help a space feel less busy, blending together different elements such as bulkheads, window trims and the ceiling for an overall larger and more streamlined effect.
An all-white look is especially effective for brick walls in a bedroom as it has a dreamy, cloud-like appeal.
What You Need to Know Before Painting Brick
What You Need to Know Before Painting Brick
Whitewashed: For a true whitewashing effect, mix a small amount of water into your paint (roughly one part water to three parts paint as a starting point) and loosely apply the mixture with a large brush, letting it absorb and reapplying in uneven patches to achieve an aged finish. Just be sure to tape off any skirting boards, trims and mouldings, or adjacent walls and cover the floor with a drop cloth – drips are to be expected.
Exactly how much water you use and how unevenly you apply the mixture will determine whether you create a patchy, broken-in effect (as shown here) or a more even, cloudy wash (as in the previous photo). Use more water and even coats for overall softness, or drier paint to let more brick remain uncovered.
Bag of Tricks: A Guide to Bagging Brick Walls
Bag of Tricks: A Guide to Bagging Brick Walls
Grey: Another beautiful option for painted brick is a warm, soft grey. This has an earthy, organic quality while still creating a clean look; it’s an excellent compromise between white and au naturel brick.
Stained: If you have a lighter brick palette and would prefer a deeper and richer tone (as shown in this picture), you can stain your brick much like wood to change the colour without completely erasing the variation and texture.
If you’re careful with your handiwork (and use a small brush in key areas), you can leave the occasional brick uncoated to create a faux-vintage look, with the illusion of a few bricks having been replaced over time.
Embrace the Travel Bug at Home With Maps
If you’re careful with your handiwork (and use a small brush in key areas), you can leave the occasional brick uncoated to create a faux-vintage look, with the illusion of a few bricks having been replaced over time.
Embrace the Travel Bug at Home With Maps
Warning
Keep in mind when painting brick that although it is possible to strip paint from brick later, the ability of brick to absorb paint into its porous core makes this a somewhat tricky task.
Masonry paint stripper gives off strong fumes and takes time and effort to be effective, so it’s best used as a last resort. If you’re unsure whether you’ll still love painted or refinished brick down the road, skip any trendy colour choices and work with what you have with some of the following styling tips.
Keep in mind when painting brick that although it is possible to strip paint from brick later, the ability of brick to absorb paint into its porous core makes this a somewhat tricky task.
Masonry paint stripper gives off strong fumes and takes time and effort to be effective, so it’s best used as a last resort. If you’re unsure whether you’ll still love painted or refinished brick down the road, skip any trendy colour choices and work with what you have with some of the following styling tips.
Other options
In a room with a long, exposed brick wall, the amount of brick can be overwhelming. But rather than changing the original colour, try breaking up the brick with art, furnishings or a mirror to give the eye a visual break while letting the texture peek through in smaller doses.
In a room with a long, exposed brick wall, the amount of brick can be overwhelming. But rather than changing the original colour, try breaking up the brick with art, furnishings or a mirror to give the eye a visual break while letting the texture peek through in smaller doses.
Mirrors: A large floor-length mirror will also reflect the opposite wall or space, making the two disparate surfaces feel more visually tied together.
Conversely, in a smaller space or where less brick is exposed, a mirror can help brick visually repeat so it seems more present in the full space and appears to be sprinkled more evenly throughout instead of the room looking ‘lopsided’ with just a single brick accent.
Art: A brick wall can make a nice backdrop for a gallery wall, but keep in mind that hanging art (especially a heavy piece) on brick requires extra effort.
You’ll need to drill into the mortar (not the brick itself) to a depth of at least 2.5 centimetres with a specific masonry-use drill bit, and be sure to use masonry screw anchors to reinforce the connection. Once this is done, you’ll be able to hang art as usual and create your own hip gallery space.
See more spaces designed for art lovers
You’ll need to drill into the mortar (not the brick itself) to a depth of at least 2.5 centimetres with a specific masonry-use drill bit, and be sure to use masonry screw anchors to reinforce the connection. Once this is done, you’ll be able to hang art as usual and create your own hip gallery space.
See more spaces designed for art lovers
Open shelves: Layering open shelves over brick, especially in a kitchen, creates a very warm, intimate feel. To echo the brick, display solid dishes and containers in earthy tones and materials, with muted bronze shelves for a transitional look or lightly finished wood to go rustic and eclectic.
Punk: For an edgy appeal, consider a graffiti-inspired look, especially for a teenager’s bedroom or a cool hangout space. You can remove a smaller area of paint later on if you change your mind or simply paint the entire space white to update it in the future.
Colours: If your brick wall is already bringing in lots of colour, the safest bet is to pair it with a variety of neutrals, mixing light and dark tones to pick up the subtle variations in the brick without fighting it.
However, if you do want to mix in more hues for a livelier look, consider a traditional Persian rug. The same ruddy brick tones will typically be mixed with coordinating or complementary colours, such as rich blues and pops of hot orange.
Faux brick
Feeling a little brick envy now? An authentic brick effect can be created with half-brick dressing, which can be layered over an existing wall or chimney breast to give true depth and texture without dramatically shrinking the space or requiring a structural overhaul.
Feeling a little brick envy now? An authentic brick effect can be created with half-brick dressing, which can be layered over an existing wall or chimney breast to give true depth and texture without dramatically shrinking the space or requiring a structural overhaul.
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Browse more exposed brick for inspiration
If you found this story helpful, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
Browse more exposed brick for inspiration
If you’re lucky enough to have a home that includes a beautiful exposed brick wall, in many cases you won’t need to do anything more than show it off. However, to make sure your brick stays stunning, you’ll want to seal and protect the surface to reduce the risk of disintegration over time.
To keep a space feeling bright, a slight gloss finish can help your brick look lustrous, which is perfect for a slim entry or hallway space. Otherwise, a matt sealant won’t change the look of the brick but will help keep out mites and dust to help it stay beautiful longer.