Painted brick is super trendy these days, but natural brick colors can still make for a gorgeous home. Help your brick house look its best by painting your trim a color that will complement it, not fight with it.

1. ASSESS THE SITUATION

First things first: take a good look at your house, including the roof. Your trim color will need to play well with both your brick and roof colors. Do you want to go light or dark? Blend in or contrast? As with most design decisions, beware of going too “matchy-matchy” so your house doesn’t end up looking like a big brown—or red, pink, tan or orange—blob.

2. DO SOME RECON

Take a walk or drive and scope out what other people have done. When you see a house with the same color brick as yours, study the trim (discreetly, so you don’t freak out the neighbors). Or do the same thing virtually with Pinterest or Houzz.  After a while, you’ll get a sense of what you like and don’t like, which will give you direction on where to go next.

3. PAY ATTENTION TO THE UNDERTONES

All brick is not the same, not even if it’s the same color family. Some shades are warm while some are cool. Even if you’re not a fan of your brick color, ignore its undertones at your peril. As designer Kylie Mawdsley says, “if you ignore its preferences, NOTHING will look good – you gotta work with whatcha got!”  

4.  PICK A COLOR FROM YOUR BRICK

Most bricks are not one flat color. Take a brick to the paint store and find swatches that match one of the colors in it. If you don’t have a spare brick, grab a bunch of swatches and do the same at home. If you decided you like light trim, match the lightest color in your brick. If dark trim holds more appeal, match the darkest color. See? It’s not as hard as you thought.

5.  TESTING 1…2…3

Before you commit to a color that might not look as great as you think it will, buy a sample of your favorite or even your top two or three. Paint a large posterboard or two and tape them up on your house where you can see it in context. Batchelder and Collins suggest you “walk out to the street and look at it during different times of the day; depending on where the sun is in the sky, the color can take on different hues and tones.”

6.  STILL NOT SURE?

Better Homes & Gardens offers a list of “Best Exterior Colors for Brick” for brick that’s red, orange, neutral or white that might help you feel more comfortable about  your choice. Plus, you can request a consultation and we’ll send someone out to talk to you about what you’re looking for. Consultations are free! Request yours today.