11 Interior and Exterior Paint Colors That Complement Red Brick
Even the Big Bad Wolf would swoon over these red brick and paint color combos
You love your red brick house and its timeless look, but if you’re ready to change your home’s overall appearance without sacrificing your prized brick feature, knowing which paint colors complement red brick is essential.
Before you bring home an armful of paint swatches or learn how to paint walls, check out these inspirational color combination ideas from some of the top paint brands to help you add the perfect splash of color to your brick home.
1. Brown
Nothing says earthy quite like this dynamic duo. Be it brown accents or even a brown roof, this color blends seamlessly with red brick, pulling hints of brown out of your brick and translating that beauty straight into the perfect curb appeal.
Dark brown paint helps define the borders of your red brick home, while a lighter brown or beige can help bring attention to your windows if you paint your window trim with this color.
For inspiration:
Sherwin-Williams® Sable
Sherwin-Williams® Van Dyke Brown
Ecos Paints® Brown Suede
BEHR® Rave Raisin
2. Gray
Gray is a versatile color that has a way of making red brick pop. This neutral color comes in many shades, giving you several options that work well with the unique shades of your red brick.
There are several types of paint for gray, making the possibilities seem endless. Limit your color options to bluish-gray, earthy taupe, and gray shades with warm violet undertones to emphasize the red brick without clashing with its naturally warm appearance. For a darker aesthetic, consider a matte charcoal gray.
For inspiration:
Clare® Flatiron
Benjamin Moore® Weimaraner
Sherwin-Williams® Keystone Gray
Benjamin Moore® Graphite
3. Sage
When it comes to the best paint colors for red brick, sage might be your local interior painter's biggest design secret. Whether you opt for a darker or a lighter tone of sage, this color packs a heavy punch of contrast against the darker shades of red bricks.
You can make the most of sage-colored paint by using it for an unforgettable front door, window trim, siding, and more. Consider pairing sage walls with white trimming for an extra dimension to your home’s appearance.
For inspiration:
BEHR® Simply Sage
Sherwin-Williams® Maxi Teal
Clare® All the Sage
Sherwin-Williams® Sheraton Sage
4. Black
If you’re looking for a stylish, modern look for your red brick, black paint and brick are like two peas in a pod. Again, neutrals have a way of accentuating red brick without taking away from the stunning natural beauty that the brick has to offer. Black paint highlights darker shades on your bricks for a darker, moodier appearance.
For a gothic or sleek modern vibe, go for high-gloss paint with more emphasis on black exterior window trim, siding, soffits, and fascias. For a regal, Colonial-style home, use black paint on your shutters and white on the trimming, columns, and siding.
For inspiration:
Sherwin-Williams® Tricorn Black
Glidden® Onyx
BEHR® Limousine Leather
Valspar® Cracked Pepper
5. Yellow
Yellow might not be the first color that comes to mind when you think of colors to pair with red brick, but don’t let this seemingly incompatible duo keep you from thinking outside the box.
Dark yellow with an orange hue can pull out the warm undertone of your bricks and make you feel like you’re about to walk down a yellow brick road straight into the Wizard of Oz. A light, creamy yellow can also add a subtler ambiance to your red bricks that still packs the wow factor.
For inspiration:
Dunn-Edwards® Goldenrod
Valspar® Pale Maize
BEHR® Laser Lemon
Sherwin-Williams® Goldenrod
6. Blue
For another untraditional spin on a red brick home, consider using blue paint for a breath of fresh air. Though blue is a cool shade on the color wheel, you can pull off a deeper navy blue—or one with a slightly green hue—for a surprising color combo that won’t disappoint.
For inspiration:
Sherwin-Williams® Naval
Backdrop® Surf Camp
Clare® Deep Dive
Farrow & Ball® Hague Blue
7. Off-White
To add some contrast to your exposed brick, use an off-white to bring out the rich color in the brick. Painting trim or an adjoining wall with off-white can highlight your brick's brighter tones without removing the warmer colors in the palette.
Using an off-white allows your overall palette to remain neutral while you can still have some contrast between the brighter and darker tones. Off-white paint can also help to create an airy, expansive feel to the space around your brick, allowing your room to look larger.
For inspiration:
All-in-One® Linen
Benjamin Moore® Ancient Ivory
Sherwin-Williams® Dover White
Behr® Weathered White
8. Teal
Teal is a bold choice to go alongside exposed brick, creating an inviting contrast to show off a broad color palette. Since the red and orange tones in brick are opposite the green and blue tones in teal on the color wheel, the two colors will play off of each other and create a charming and bright look.
Teal can help to bring a more modern feel to the rustic surface of your brick while setting off the warm tones on the brick’s surface. A touch of green in your teal goes a long way to giving your brick a refreshing companion.
For inspiration:
Backdrop® Sicily or Cyprus
Lick® Teal 01 Matte
Benjamin Moore® Teal Ocean
Sherwin Williams® Intense Teal
9. Rose
To reduce contrast while still adding to the rustic look of brick, rose can extend the color palette into the romantic realm of pink. You can create a look that oozes cozy charm and screams modern farmhouse with this warm tone.
Rose-colored paint, just like the glasses, will give your space an optimistic outlook, adding some color while remaining in the warm area of the color wheel. Rose-colored paint can be used to keep your rustic look feeling homey and not too industrial.
For inspiration:
Benjamin Moore® Rose Silk
Valspar® Spanish Rose Shadow
Clare® Subrosa
Behr® Rose Pottery
10. Terracotta
To keep a rustic, neutral look to your space, you can pair brick with some warm and rustic colors that will pick up these tones in the brick itself. These earthy, rust colors will add some homespun appeal to your natural brick surfaces.
Terracotta is a bright, warm color that stays just this side of bold, making your overall palette bright without being jarring.
For inspiration:
Benjamin Moore® Burnt Russet
Glidden® Rusty Red
Magnolia Home® Work Worn Wood
Backdrop® Ghost Ranch
11. Plum
If you want to make a bold statement while bringing your brick into a fresh, modern era, try using plum as a compliment to it. Since plum brings in some of the red color of the brick, it will blend a little bit, but the blue hue in plum will also offset it with a bright, contemporary twist.
Adding plum to your space isn’t necessarily traditional, but it will give your palette a cooling dose of color.
For inspiration:
Benjamin Moore® Velvet Plum
Behr® Plum Rich
Sherwin-Williams® Plum Dandy
Farrow and Ball® Brinjal
Allie Ogletree contributed to this piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
When choosing a siding color to complement your home’s red brick exterior, start by examining the shade and undertone of the brick. Some have a muted rust color that pairs well with a light or dark gray paint color, while more red-toned bricks look best against light neutrals like off-white or beige.
Plenty of exterior paint colors make red brick homes shine from all the way across the street. For a pop of color, try shades of blue or green, and for a more neutral look, use shades of cream, gray, and white.
The best trim color for red brick exteriors is arguably white. But for best results, look for a shade of white with a warm, soft yellow undertone. We also recommend off-white, satin, or light gray hues to make the red brick shine.