Brick Home Exterior Color Schemes
Brick adds a distinctive element to any home. To create a look that enhances that look of this feature, develop brick home exterior color schemes that work from the top down.
A {FRESH} Approach to Choosing Color
The FRESH approach is a five-step method for selecting an eye-pleasing color palette for your home’s exterior. When you use FRESH thinking to select the right color for each element — roofing, siding, doors, windows, shutters, trim and accents — you create a unified look that exudes curb appeal.
Fixed Features
There are many things to consider as you select your home’s exterior colors, with the most influential being the fixed features.
Fixed Feature = Permanent Design Element
These are the elements of your home that do not change often. These include:
- All or partial brick, stone, stucco, or concrete
- Roofing style, and color
- Chimney structures
- Porch, steps, retaining and walkways
- Decks, patios and hardscapes
Look at the fixed features of any attractive home and you’ll begin to see some repetition of tones. This duplication allows different materials and textures to all work well together. This is especially important for a home with a full or partial brick exterior.
Let the Color Cast of Your Bricks Be Your Starting Point
When choosing colors for your brick home exterior, find those that blend with or complement the predominant color or color cast of the brick. All of the colors need to harmonize with the brick to create the best look. If you are building a new home, select the brick first and then build a color scheme that will enhance this feature.
Color cast is that term used when talking about stone, brick, roofing, or other materials. Generally, these important elements of the home exterior are not a solid color, but a mix of colors. To describe these materials as a solid color would not do them justice since the beauty is in the variations of colors. The term “color cast” describes the dominant color in a material, which is made up of different colors. Color cast is a term that has roots in photography and describes an overall tint on a photographic image caused by sunlight or incandescent light.
Then consider the other four FRESH steps. You can find the details of just how to do that in the ebook FRESH Home Exterior Color Schemes for Brick and Stone, which is available to you with our compliments. Just click the link.
Continue Choosing Your Brick Home Exterior Color Schemes
Selecting an exterior color scheme for brick or partially brick homes begins by taking a close look at the bricks to see their true color. Your first thought might be that the color of your brick is merely red but look closer. Your brick can have a cast of another color or might be closer to pink or brown than red. Bricks come in a wide variety of colors.
Red, tan/buff, white/cream, pink, gray, brown and black are the colors that you usually see on residential exteriors. Within each color group, you will see bricks that are predominantly that color or have a cast of that color. The color, as well as the color cast, need to be determined to select the best color scheme for your brick or partially brick home.
Red Brick Home Exterior Color Schemes
There are many colors and types of brick but the most popular by far is red. This classic, all-American look has a timeless appeal. From clean, straight lines to rustic uneven edges, your red bricks play the lead role in the color palette. Looking for inspiration for your brick home? See “Five of Our favorite Red Brick Home Exterior Color Schemes“
Pink Brick Home Exterior Color Schemes
Don’t let preconceived thoughts of pink fool you. These bricks range from slightly lighter than red to neutral uplifted with a rosy glow. Add soft colors and an accent or two that have the same subtle radiance as your brick. If your brick is on the lighter side of red, check out “Five Fabulous Pink Brick Exterior Color Schemes”
White / Cream Brick Home Exterior Color Schemes
Though not usually pure white or cream, the clean look of light bricks is attractive on home styles from historical to modern. One advantage of white and cream bricks is their ability to harmonize with many colors. This makes it easy to find many white and cream brick exterior color schemes that will accentuate your home. See examples in “Five Inspiring White and Cream Brick Exterior Color Schemes”
Gray Brick Home Exterior Color Schemes
Bricks with a gray cast can be either a cool true gray color or a warm brownish gray. Match the temperature of your bricks to the temperature of your primary color and neutrals for the best gray brick exterior color schemes.”Five Great Gray Stone Exterior Color Schemes”
Black / Brown Brick Home Exterior Color Schemes
Not purely brown or black, these bricks feature rich dark neutrals that are brought to life by contrast and color. When creating black brick exterior color schemes give contrast with a light to medium main color and then add medium to dark accent colors. Here are “Five Beautiful Black Brick Exterior Color Schemes”
Buff / Tan Brick Home Exterior Color Schemes
Bricks that are predominantly tan, or tan overlaying another color, have a warmth that feels welcoming. Tan bricks are a natural partner for a palette of warm colors. Cool tones can work too, especially when used as accent colors in tan brick exterior color schemes. Find inspiration from our “Five Tantalizing Tan Brick Exterior Color Schemes”
More Inspiration and Your Free Ebook
The tips above can get you started. To get all of the details on how to create your best brick home exterior color schemes, download our complete guide – FRESH Home Exterior Color Schemes for Brick and Stone.
Find even more inspiring color schemes, check out the Best Exterior Color Scheme Match for Your DaVinci Roof.
To see more amazing brick and stone products, visit these companies:
- Acme Brick Company – brick.com
- Coronado Stone Products – coronado.com
- Glen-Gery – glengery.com
About the Author
Kate Smith
is an internationally recognized color expert, consultant, and designer. She is a skilled colorist & a color consultant. For over a decade, Kate has lent her expertise to DaVinci Roofscapes. Kate helps YOU select colors you will love for many years.