Red Brick Wall

You may think an exposed red brick wall is an old fashioned style but you’d be wrong.

The last few years have seen home builders, architects and designers including the beauty of a brick wall in their homes with more and more frequency. Because of red brick’s texture, timeless character and undeniable charm, using it inside the home has become a very popular choice. In the past, red brick was considered a rustic finish only fit for a farm house or fireplace. But not any more. Today you’ll find brick used in a wide variety of home styles ranging from Ultra Modern, Industrial, Contemporary, Colonial and even Traditional. From entire brick walls to a simple red brick backsplash. Using exposed red brick is a great way to add elegance and personality to an interior design typically dominated by tile and stone. And it’s definitely not just for a fireplace any more.

But no matter what your reason for wanting to include some red brick, there’s no doubting the fact that interior brick walls are back in style and definitely here to stay.

Red Brick Walls Are A Growing Trend

Gone are the days when exposed brick walls are covered up and painted over. Interior red brick isn’t seen as an old fashioned style anymore so it’s actually being used in new homes of just about any style. But despite the growing popularity of red brick walls, most of us would still rather use them in the living room or around a fireplace. This is mainly due to the misconception that bricks are hard to clean and considered rustic. The idea that red brick won’t work in a more contemporary home is both outdated and untrue.

In fact, an exposed brick wall usually ends up being the star of the room. Bricks provide the perfect backdrop to highlight architectural features and other elements.

A red brick wall is versatile and can be used in just about any room of the house. Although they’re still most popular in a living room we see them in kitchens, dining rooms, bedrooms, offices and even bathrooms.

Bold and beautiful, exposed red brick used inside the home is a fantastic design choice that will serve you well for years to come.

Is Your Brick New Or Existing?

Including a red brick wall in your home is a great way to add another layer of detail and dimension. However, finding the perfect colors and accessories to go with the brick will be a challenge.

If you already have existing brick somewhere in the home then things are a little easier. You just have to coordinate your other colors with the color and tone of the bricks. It’s more limiting because you don’t get to choose the brick but at least one of the decisions is made for you.

If you’re planning to build a red brick wall then you have a lot more freedom to create the exact look you want. But with that added freedom comes more work. You’ll have to pick all your other colors as well as your brick.

Pro Tip: Start by picking up brick samples at your local masonry supplier. Don’t just use pictures. It’s always better to see an actual sample in real light. Brick will look differently in your home than it does at the store or in a photograph. Lighting conditions, bounced light and shadows will all effect how a material actually looks inside the home. Place samples where you want the brick for a day or two so you can see how they’ll actually look at different times of day.

Don’t order materials or spend any money until you find just the right color combinations and red brick tone.

Four red brick samples all with a different texture and tone.

Red Brick Comes In A Variety Of Colors

Did you know red brick comes in a variety of colors. Red brick is a very general term that should really be called reddish brick. There’s a wide variety of bricks that all qualify as red brick. Ranging from super red firehouse brick to more rustic reddish brown varieties and even brick that looks almost purple. Even brick veneer, which is what we most commonly use inside the home, comes in a wide variety of colors.

Pro Tip: If your designing a room from scratch we recommend starting with the brick and then choosing your other colors and accessories. There are only a few dozen brick colors compared with thousands of paints so it’s easier to start with the brick. And a red brick wall is your focal point so you really have to nail the color.

If the brick wall is existing then your life’s a little easier because that decision’s made for you.

Red Brick Walls

A red brick wall is a classic design choice that’s been around for centuries. Many homes still include a traditional red brick fireplace in the living room, although these days that usually comes with some built ins or a decorative surround. And brick is spreading into other rooms of the house too. We’re seeing it used more and more in kitchens, dining rooms, offices and even bathrooms.

A red brick wall is undoubtedly a focal point no matter what room you use them in. With a little creative thinking, that red brick wall can become something stunning you can design the entire room around.

Whether you just want to accentuate your existing brickwork or do something radically different, the following red brick wall designs will hopefully get you inspired.

City apartment with red brick walls that are slightly white washed. Black frame windows with drywall and concrete floors give the room a modern feel.

Red Brick Walls Are A Great City Look

A red brick wall or two adds a lot of contrast to an otherwise boring wall. If your used to plain walls covered with drywall and painted white then consider spicing your interior design up a bit by adding brick.

Check out the city apartment shown above. We see a lot more red brick used in urban areas because the buildings were built out of them. A lot of the red brick walls you see in city photos are actually the structural walls and not a facade. Many older buildings were built out of multiples layers of concrete, block, brick and steel to create strong walls that could support dozens of floors. Today’s buildings are pretty much all steel frame which is why they’re so high, but in my opinion they lack the charm of the older construction you’ll find in Brooklyn or Queens.

You can easily reproduce the look because of all the brick veneers on the market today. They glue right to the existing drywall and look just like real brick. It’s a great way to get the look of a chic city apartment no matter where you live.

Red brick accent wall in a monochromatic gray living room.

Red Brick Accent Wall

A red brick accent wall is a great way to amp up your living room design.

Check out the example above. This room has a silver and gray color scheme. it’s very monochromatic using only white and black to add contrast. The wood floors are perfect and so are the plants. Without them the room would feel much too cold and lifeless. But what really shines here is the red brick wall. It brings so much detail and color to the room. Brick is a wonderful contrast to a room with an interior design like this one.

Notice how the wall was kept bare. They could have decorated it with all sorts of pictures or furniture but they left it all brick. It’s a really smart choice because the beauty here is the brick itself. Anything else would just distract or take away from the brick. If your using brick as an accent wall then resist the urge to cover it up. Red bricks draw plenty of attention all by themselves so there’s no need to add anything further.

Beautiful living room featuring gray walls and red brick. White washed wood flooring.

Red Brick Main Wall

Here’s an example of the same basic design only flipped. In the previous picture the main wall was gray while the accent wall was red brick. In this example the main wall is red brick with a gray accent wall. As you can see either way looks great which is one of the reason red brick is considered such a versatile design choice.

Gray paint is a hot trend at the moment and it looks fantastic with red brick. What I love about this room though are those white washed wood floors. They’re not used that often but when they are you can get some spectacular results. The colors in the room all look great with a nice usage of real wood and glass. Lots of textures and materials with a vintage style area rug. The inclusion of plants and flowers is always a smart choice as long as they’re tastefully done. Try not to make your living room look like a jungle. Just a few small plants is usually enough.

Artwork is always a nice touch and the choice of a minimal or no frame is smart because it doesn’t distract from the brick. A darker shade of gray shade goes perfectly with the gray walls and other gray accents.

Overall a beautifully designed room featuring gray paint and red brick.

Red brick wall in a modern home featuring an all glass bedroom wall. Dark hardwood floors with white walls.

Red Brick Adds Contrast

A great way to add some much needed contrast to just about any room is by building a red brick wall. The bricks used above are a mid tone that contrasts the white walls, black window frames and furniture. But it’s not all about adding contrast with values and color. It’s also about style. Including some rustic elements into a more modern room is one of my favorite interior design styles.

By including an element that contrasts the overall style of any room it immediately draws attention.

One of the good thing about red brick is that it comes in a variety of finishes, colors and styles. Some are smooth and very red while others are tumbled and more muted. Some are bright while others are very dark. When your choosing a brick think first about the effect you want to wall to give off. Are you going for a harmonious feel or something different. We recommend you consider adding contrast by in terms of tone but also style. It’s a great way to ensure your brick will really stand out.

Red brick accent wall next to a stone wood burning fireplace surround with tan brick insert. Thick timber floating mantle.

Red Brick & Stone

Here’s another example of how brick can add contrast to a room with not only color but also texture and detail.

It’s obvious that the brick stands out against the extremely light fireplace stone and the white walls. Anything mid toned wood. But look deeper and you’ll see that there’s a lot more going on with this design.

Natural stone is irregularly shaped while the brick is very uniform.
Brick walls have a small grout line that’s typically 3/8 to 1/2 inch but stone grout is much thicker. In some cases it’s over an inch.
Stones range in size from small to quite large but the bricks are all the same.

As you can see there’s a lot more that contrasts with a red brick wall’s design when you build it with stone than just the color.

Modern apartment with a red brick feature wall, exposed black steel, wood cabinetry and furniture with concrete floors.

Red Brick Walls Are Modern

You may think interior red brick is an old fashioned traditional style but that’s not the case. It’s used in a lot of modern, urban, industrial and contemporary homes as well. The mix of old red brick and cement with newer super clean and crisp finishes is anything but old fashioned. Check out the example picture above.

This beautiful city apartment used the existing red brick as a feature wall which includes exposed steel beams and concrete slab floors. The cabinetry and furniture uses lots real wood with a natural varnish. No thick stains or coloring was used here. Just a simple finish that brings out the natural wood grains and fantastic coloring.

Many people still think modern homes are cold but that’s not true. Many use a variety of all natural materials like brick and wood that have warm colors and a mix of textures. The red brick wall is just one important element of this fantastic modern design.

Red brick kitchen wall with dark wood flat faced cabinets and cream colored stone countertops.

Red Brick Kitchen Wall

Did you know a red brick wall looks just as fantastic in the kitchen as it does in the living room. Check out the example picture above.

This beautiful modern kitchen features dark stained real wood flat faced cabinetry with cream stone countertops, a solid slab backsplash and a red brick accent wall. The windows are all black framed which is a stunning look when paired against brick. The two colors accent each other perfectly and give off a more modern feel. The flat faced cabinetry have no hardware which is the ultimate in refined design.

No matter what style kitchen you have including red brick somewhere in the design is a great idea. It brings color, texture and contrast to any room it’s in and works within a wide variety of styles.

Modern kitchen featuring gray flat faced cabinetry with no hardware, white countertops and a red brick wall.

Modern Kitchen With Red Brick

Here’s another example of a similarly designed kitchen featuring a red brick wall. Modern homes look great when they include some brick or other natural materials. These flat faced gray cabinets are super sleek and shiny using no hardware whatsoever. The countertops are white stone which wraps around to the sides of the cabinets and island. The backsplash is a solid stone slab that’s a bit warmer than the pure white countertop.

Pro Tip: Check out the stainless steel exhaust hood. If your adding a red brick wall to your kitchen using veneer and there’s appliances or cabinets on the wall then make sure you detach and re-install them after the brick is done. You want to make sure the bricks are all run behind anything that touches the wall. If you don’t then you’ll get some really weird edges around whatever is touching the brick.

Running your wall bricks behind appliances and cabinetry is a cleaner look and makes the brick wall look real.

Open floor plan living room, kitchen and dining area with matching red brick wall and fireplace.

Open Floor Plan With Red Brick

If you have a red brick fireplace and an open floor plan then a brick accent wall is a great idea. It’s a nice way of drawing an open floor plan together which makes the home feel connected. As you can see in the example above the fireplace surround and dining room red brick wall are built with the same brick. They’re both beautiful designs that can stand on their own but the connection makes them both a bit more stylish.

I’d continue the trend in other rooms of the home like a bathroom, office, dining room or even the kitchen. Nothing huge but a few small accent areas would be nice.

Pro Tip: An an interior designer I like to use common threads throughout a home. Like I said previously it doesn’t have to be huge. You don’t need a red brick wall in every room. But a small touch like a backsplash would be great.

Beautiful contemporary kitchen design with cathedral ceilings, exposed wood beams, real wood flat faced cabinets, and red brick walls.

Bricks Are A Contemporary Design

Exposed red brick is a very contemporary design choice. Many people think modern and contemporary mean the same thing but they don’t. The styles have a lot in common but there are very substantial difference. Red brick walls are just one of the common elements they both share.

Consider this beautiful contemporary kitchen with red brick 2 story walls. It’s a city loft with super high ceilings, lots of open space, natural light and huge windows. One of my favorite things about red brick is how great it looks in light. The more the better. All the subtle tones and textures just pop in sunlight and those warm undertones really shine. Throw in other natural elements like real wood and stone for a more harmonious design.

Pro Tip: As a general rule of thumb, real materials almost always go great together so work them into your design if you can.

What makes this kitchen contemporary are the other choices. The stools, flat faced cabinets, hardware, decorations and trim work all scream contemporary. Honestly, the design would work with or without the brick walls. But by including them it elevates the entire room to another level.

Gray kitchen color scheme with a red brick wall. Modern designed cabinets with flat faces and no hardware.

Red Brick And Gray Kitchen

One of the colors that goes really well with red brick is gray. We use it not only as a siding color but also inside the home as wall paint or cabinetry. In this case the designers went with both. Light gray flat faced cabinetry without hardware paired with a medium gray wall. Both colors are on the muted cool side without any undertones. The floors are a darker slate gray with very thin white grout lines.

If you like a color palette like this one then a red brick wall is a big plus. The bricks bring some much needed color and warmth to the room which is a benefit when your designing a kitchen.

Gray has some other big advantages too. It’s a neutral, so it’s safe to say it’ll probably go with almost everything else you have in the kitchen and it comes in a wide variety of tones which gives it even more versatility.

Pro Tip: If your using one main color throughout the room make sure to vary the values. A monochromatic theme still needs variety. try to use a light, mid and dark shade to keep things from looking boring.

White farmhouse double sink with marble countertops, chrome faucets and a red brick wall.

Red Brick Backsplash

Marble goes with just about everything. That’s kind of a general rule of thumb every kitchen designer knows. It’s harder to keep clean than granite or quartz and scratches a lot easier but it’s beautiful. And it looks fantastic when paired with a red brick backsplash. Check out the closeup pic shown above. That brick really pops against the white marble. Contrast is important if you want elements of your design to stand out.

The chrome faucet with white handles are the perfect choice and go nicely with the white under mount sink. Black cabinets complete the look which also go wonderfully with the red brick backsplash and marble.

All in all this is a perfect combination of finishes that would work well in a wide variety of kitchen styles.

Existing red brick wall in the kitchen incorporated into the design. Wall of glass with glass roof.

Existing Red Brick Kitchen Wall

Choosing the right finishes will help define your kitchen’s style and give it the feel you want. Open shelves, wood cabinets, metallic accents, stone countertops, stainless steel and a center island with seating are all pretty standard selections these days. But what if you’ve got a red brick wall to deal with?

If you’ve got an existing red brick wall in the kitchen then we recommend incorporating it into the design rather than covering it up. Brick is a beautiful feature that can easily be worked into just about any design. Choose colors and materials that work with your brick’s texture and tone rather than fighting against it. Try to avoid clashes if your brick has a lot of color. It’s easier if you’ve got a muted brick or something more neutral.

Pro Tip: If you can take a sample of your brick with you when selecting colors that’s a huge benefit. If not then take some really high resolution images. The last thing you want is to order everything and find out later that things don’t go well with your brick.

Red brick wall in an open floor plan modern home with vaulted ceilings and a glass roof.

Keep Brick Clean

If you’ve got a red brick wall then make sure to keep it clean.

Cleaning brick is actually pretty easy, but there are some guidelines to follow that can help.

First, stay away from acid based cleaners, any sort of power washing, sandblasting or hard wire brushes. These items can potentially remove color from the brick and damage it and the grout.
Use a regular household soap like laundry detergent mixed with water and scrubbing with a stiff-bristled brush.
You can also try a cleaning solution made from one part vinegar to five parts water. Natural cleaners generally work best.

If you need something stronger buy a cleaner that’s specifically designed for cleaning brick. You can find harsher cleaners in a home improvement store but try the milder solutions first.

Beautiful kitchen with taupe colored cabinets, wood butcher block countertops and a red brick backsplash wall.

Red Brick Kitchen Wall With Taupe

When your looking for the right colors to go with that red brick wall consider taupe.

Earthy colors and materials go really well with red brick. It’s hard to go wrong when you stick with a natural color scheme that’s on the neutral side. Here we see a mix of browns found in the wall paint, cabinets, flooring and real wood butcher block countertops. Even though the colors are all different they feel connected which makes a more harmonious design.

Red brick looks great in the kitchen either as an accent wall or a backsplash. People over look it for more common finishes like tile or stone but it’s definitely worth considering. Some of the finest kitchens I’ve seen used red brick. It’s a look that’s hard to match with other finishes.

The important thing with a color scheme like this is to vary the tones. Brick are a mid tone so surround them with lighter or darker shades. Stay away from other mid toned brown paints or you risk the color scheme becoming muddy. In order for the brick and other elements to stand out they need contrast. Play with lights and darks. Varying your tones let’s you push some things back while you pull other things forward.

A sense of depth is what you want in a high quality design.

Dark gray kitchen cabinets with white stone countertops and a red brick wall. Antique style black stove with a stainless steel hood.

Brick Backsplash With Exposed Beams

Here’s another great example of a red brick wall with dark gray cabinets and a white stone countertop and black stove. This color scheme uses a ton of contrast so each element really pops. You’ve got the far reaches of the value range with white and black along with some nice mid tones.

Wood pretty much always looks great with red brick. I love the look of exposed beams in a kitchen with or without the brick but putting the two together makes them both look that much better. The pairing highlights one of my favorite interior design tips.

Pro Tip: Try to use elements in combinations that accentuate one another. Both a red brick wall and real wood look great in a kitchen all by themselves. But when you pair them it makes each element really shine. They compliment and elevate one another because of how well they look together. When your selecting a finish for your kitchen always consider how it looks with everything else. Sometimes novice designers will pick a bunch of things that look great alone but don’t really fit well together. Try to design everything in a room as a unit and you’ll get better results.

Red brick accent wall in an open concept kitchen with folding patio doors.

Small Kitchen With A Red Brick Wall

Have you got a small kitchen? When it comes to an exposed red brick wall that’s not a problem.

The beauty of a real brick wall brings warm, cozy feeling to a small kitchen and helps it feel more inviting. Continue that feeling by including a real wood kitchen table, stone countertops and real tile, wood or stone flooring. Composite or man made materials work great in a kitchen too but sticking with natural materials adds to a small kitchens charm.

As we continue to say throughout this article, natural materials all work well with a red brick wall so try and use them where you can.

If you’ve got the budget for one, a folding patio door is great for creating an indoor/outdoor space that increases how big the kitchen feels. A high ceiling with some skylights are also nice touches that allow in tons of natural light. Natural materials like the brick, wood and stone all look much better with real lighting so try and bring as much of it into your kitchen as possible.

The modern cabinets add some much needed design contrast here splitting the room in two equal parts. The modern half and the more rustic half both sharing a very nice island with built in sink.

Some colorful plants or flowers are always a nice addition to any kitchen design. They keep the kitchen from looking too cold. It isn’t typically a problem if you have a red brick kitchen wall or backsplash but they’re still a nice touch.

Country style kitchen with red brick walls, white cabinets and lots of real wood.

Country Kitchen Design

A current trend among interior designers is using real brick in the kitchen as both an accent wall and backsplash material which is what we see above.

If you’ve never seen red brick in the kitchen then trust me, it’s a beautiful look. Particularly if the red brick and paint are selected as part of an overall color scheme for the room. Using brick in the kitchen is very popular at the moment since most kitchen designs are using tons of gray and white which both go beautifully with the brick. And if your going for a country style home then your in luck because red brick just naturally works with pretty much everything country.

But be careful. Brick isn’t the same as other more common kitchen finishes like tile or stone. It’s a unique look that effects every other element around it. Even though it’s a versatile look brick can be overpowering in terms of how much attention it draws. If you want something else to stand out against the brick then choose your colors carefully and make sure to include enough contrast.

Small rustic kitchen featuring red brick backsplash wall, white cabinets and wood countertops.

Rustic Kitchen Brick

Rustic kitchens are great because they include all sorts of cool materials, designs and textures you don’t often find in other styles.

I love looking through photographs of old fashioned Italian kitchens that used lots of wood, brick, stone and concrete. They’re always seem to be adorned with colorful plants, lots of pots and jars and an open window with a beautiful view. There’s so much life in these kitchens you can’t help but want to cook in them. This highlights one of the most common concerns I hear about modern kitchen that use so much gray and marble. They feel sterile and cold. Rustic kitchens are just the opposite.

If you want to recreate the look then start with a red brick wall. Nothing conjures up warm feelings quite like an old fashioned rustic kitchen using red brick. If you want an inviting kitchen that feels like home then this is a design worth considering.

All glass enclosed sunroom with red brick walls.

Red Brick Sunroom Walls

Red bricks aren’t just for interior walls. If you’ve got an all glass enclosed sunroom like the one above then consider using brick as your wall finish. It’s a great exterior material that works really well in an indoor/outdoor room.

One of the benefits of using red brick in a sunroom is how the bricks absorb heat. During the day your bricks will store heat from the sun. At night those bricks will release the heat which helps keep the sunroom warm. It’s a cozy feeling that helps keep heating and cooling costs low.

Custom built wine cellar with red brick walls, floor and ceiling. Custom built wood racks.

Wine Cellar With red Brick Walls

Red brick walls are a great addition to a wine cellar. If you planning on building one then you should consider using bricks. They not only look fantastic but provide a lot of functional benefits too. Wine cellars have a few requirements in order to keep your wine at the correct temperature and humidity which is helped by the brick.

Red brick walls help maintain a consistent temperature in the room.
Thicker walls with a good seal like brick also help maintain a consistent humidity.
Bricks and cement offer better insulation than drywall which helps regulate temperature and humidity.

For wine to age properly it requires temperature and humidity controls and the absence of light. Including red brick in your wine cellar design can help.

Beautiful wine cellar with red brick walls and dark wood.

Red Brick Walls Are Beautiful

At the end of the day we all want our homes to be beautiful.

I love this photo because it showcases how fantastic red brick walls can be when you pair them with the right accents. The black doors, rich real wood cabinetry and exposed beams and light brick flooring all contrast and accentuate the brick. This entire design does everything right if what you want is to highlight your brick.

Red brick wall and fireplace surround painted white in a sunroom with vaulted ceilings.

Painted Red Brick Walls

If you’ve got some existing red brick walls or a fireplace and aren’t crazy about the look then consider painting the brick.

It’s a daring choice that shouldn’t be done without a lot of thought. There’s no way to come back from it. You’ll never get all that paint off the brick or grout so make sure the look is what you want. personally, I really like painted white brick or German Schmear, but it’s definitely not for everyone.

Painted Brick. When you paint red brick white the paint covers everything equally. It’s a totally opaque look without any color variance. You end up with an all white wall with a brick look and texture. This is actually a look that’s getting more and more popular every year and some homeowners are actually building red brick homes and then painting them.
German Schmear. This look uses more of a white glazing or white wash. The paint isn’t totally opaque and doesn’t cover all the brick so you get some of the red coming through. Designs vary based on the end look your going for. Some German Schmear jobs have lots of red and some very little.

If you want the look and texture of a brick wall but not the color then it’s nice to know you have some options.

Conclusion: Red Brick Wall. Is It Right For You?

You may think an exposed red brick wall is an old fashioned style but you’d be wrong.

But no matter what your reason for wanting to include some red brick, there’s no doubting the fact that interior brick walls are back in style and definitely here to stay.

If you have any questions or comments e-mail us any time. We’d love to hear from you.