Brickworks in Denali Stone, Snapped Twig, Sequioa Grove, Scorched Earth, Pampas Grass, Cordovan Saddle, Antelope Canyon, and Minnesota Falls

Common Brick Colors

Brick houses typically come in a wide range of colors, from vibrant oranges and reds to light tans and earthy browns. These colors set the foundation for the entire exterior color palette.

For instance, red exterior brick exudes warmth and passion, while brown brick offers a more subdued, natural look that can evoke a sense of comfort and stability. Many brick exteriors also feature variations and speckles within the dominant color, adding depth and interest to the surface.

Recognizing Undertones

Beyond the surface color, every brick carries undertones that can significantly influence the overall appearance when paired with paint. Some red bricks might have a hint of orange, while others lean towards a cooler, almost burgundy tone. Similarly, brown brick can range from a light, sandy beige to a deep, chocolate shade.

Identifying these undertones helps you select the right exterior paint color. For example, a brick with warm undertones pairs beautifully with creamy whites or muted golds, while cooler brick tones might benefit from grey or blue accents.

Exterior Brick Paint Color Ideas That Work Across Home Styles

These exterior brick and paint combinations focus on ideas that translate across architectural styles, from traditional to contemporary.

Red Brick Exterior Paint Color Ideas

When working with red brick, the key is to choose complementary colors that either amplify its vibrancy or provide a striking contrast. For instance, crisp white exterior paint can create a dramatic look that emphasizes the brick’s rich hues. Alternatively, softer tones like light grey or even pale blue can provide balance and put a modern twist on traditional red brick facades.

In addition to the main color of the house, details like the color of the front door, shutters, and trim can tie the look together. A red brick home with white windows and a bold front door is a stunning example of how contrast can enhance architectural details.

Brown Brick Exterior Paint Color Ideas

Brown brick, with its earthy tones, lends itself well to a variety of color palettes that can be both modern and traditional. One popular approach is to pair brown brick with soft, neutral colors such as beige or taupe. This creates a cohesive look that emphasizes the natural beauty of the brick without overwhelming the senses.

For a more dramatic approach, consider pairing brown brick with darker hues like charcoal or deep forest green. This pairing not only enhances the brick’s rich tones but also adds a layer of sophistication that can make a home stand out. Incorporating accents like wood or stone details can further complement the overall exterior color scheme.

Tan & Light Brick Exterior Paint Color Ideas

Tan and light brick offer a naturally warm foundation that feels especially at home in coastal, desert, and contemporary architecture. These exteriors benefit from paint colors that enhance their softness. When choosing paint colors for brick exteriors in this palette, the goal is to keep the overall look relaxed, balanced, and cohesive with the surrounding environment.

Pairing tan brick with a warm white creates a clean, airy contrast that brightens the façade without feeling stark. Combining tan brick with greige or a soft grey introduces a slightly cooler note, giving the exterior a more modern, architectural edge while still preserving warmth. For a richer, more grounded look, muted earth tones—such as clay, sand, or soft taupe—echo the natural undertones of the brick and produce a layered, organic finish. 

Pairing Exterior Paint Colors With Brick Accents

Creating a well balanced exterior color scheme goes beyond simply matching colors; it is about blending hues to create a dialogue between the brick and other architectural elements (outdoor patio tiles, for example). Here are some ideas on how to pair exterior paint colors with brick to achieve various design aesthetics.

Classic and Timeless Combinations

Classic combinations often rely on neutral tones that have stood the test of time. For example, a brick house featuring red brick can be complemented with crisp white trim and a soft grey exterior paint.

This timeless color palette not only highlights the natural beauty of the brick but also provides a cohesive look that is both elegant and understated. Details like white windows and a simple, solid-colored front door can further enhance this classic appeal.

Modern and Trendy Pairings

For a modern look, consider more contemporary color choices that contrast with traditional brick hues. A red brick exterior can be paired with a sleek, dark paint color such as navy blue or charcoal grey to create a striking, urban vibe.

Modern pairings might also incorporate metallic accents or stainless steel fixtures, lending an edgy contrast to the natural warmth of the brick. These choices can transform a traditional brick home into a design-forward statement.

Unique and Bold Statements

If you or your client wish to make a bold statement, experimenting with unconventional color combinations can yield stunning results. Think of pairing a deep red brick with unexpected hues like turquoise or even a rich purple. These vibrant choices can set a home apart, creating a focal point that draws attention to its architectural details.

Bold statements work especially well for projects where the homeowner is eager to express personality and creativity — and where the exterior paint serves as an artful counterpoint to the brick’s natural texture.

Red brick rowhouse in Philadelphia. Photo courtesy of Dan Mall.

English cottage in Eardisland, UK. Photo courtesy of David Tip.

Earth Tones With Dark Brick

For brick exteriors with darker, more natural hues, earth tones can create an organic and harmonious look. Pairing dark brown brick with warm, earthy shades like olive green, burnt sienna, or even mustard yellow can evoke the beauty of nature.

This approach works particularly well when the overall design incorporates natural elements such as stone accents or wood details. (We love it for brick and stone exteriors, too.) The resulting palette is both inviting and rich in character, perfect for homeowners who appreciate natural materials.

Historical Color Combinations

Historical color combinations nod to traditional architecture and can be a great source of inspiration for brick homes with classic designs. For instance, red brick paired with deep, muted tones like forest green or burgundy can evoke the grandeur of historical estates.

These combinations often reflect the cultural heritage of a region and can be further enhanced by incorporating period-appropriate details such as vintage shutters or ornate trim colors. The result is a home exterior that feels both timeless and steeped in tradition.

Regional Color Combinations

Different regions often develop distinct color palettes that reflect their local environment and cultural influences. For example, a brick house in a coastal area might feature a lighter, breezier color scheme with soft blues and sandy tones, while a home in a more arid climate might showcase warmer hues that complement its natural surroundings.

Understanding the regional context can help in selecting an exterior paint color that not only works with the brick but also resonates with the local landscape.

Colore Frattura + Lapidary + Brickworks + Dzek + Formafantasma: ExCinere  + Lido

Tips for Choosing the Right Brick and Paint Colors

Selecting the perfect brick and paint color combination for a home requires careful attention to detail. Here are some practical tips to guide the process.

Testing Colors in Different Lighting Conditions

Lighting plays a crucial role in how colors are perceived. It is important to test paint colors in different lighting conditions — morning, afternoon, and evening — to see how the hues change throughout the day.

By testing colors on a sample area of the home exterior, designers and homeowners can be sure they are choosing the right color that enhances the brick’s natural tones.

Considering the Surrounding Landscape

The exterior paint color should complement not only the brick but also the broader landscape around the home. Whether it’s the lush greenery of a garden, the rugged texture of stone, or the subtle hues of a wooded backdrop, the surrounding environment should influence the overall color palette.

A harmonious design will consider the interplay between the home’s exterior and its natural setting, ensuring that elements like the garage door, front door, and outdoor floor tiles create a unified aesthetic.

Harmonizing With Exterior Accents

Finally, finding the best exterior brick and paint color combinations involves harmonizing the chosen colors with other architectural details. The color of the trim, shutters, window frames, and even outdoor kitchen can significantly impact the overall look of the home.

For example, a red brick home might benefit from contrasting trim colors that highlight the texture of the brick. Meanwhile, a brown brick house might look best with subtle hues that accentuate its natural warmth.

Choosing Brick First Makes Exterior Paint Decisions Easier

Brick is the permanent element, while paint is the flexible one. Once installed, brick sets the foundation for tone, texture, and contrast across the entire façade, and every color choice must respond to it. Paint then becomes the tool for refinement—adjusting warmth or coolness, sharpening contrast, or softening transitions. By selecting the right brick upfront, these combinations become far more intuitive, cohesive, and successful from the start.

Match Brick Tone to the Kind of Paint Contrast You Want

Matching brick colors for house exteriors to the type of paint contrast you want is one of the most effective ways to control the overall look of the building.

Go With Dark Brick When You Want High Contrast

A richly colored brick like OUTERcle’s Brickworks Cabochon Edge in Scorched Earth color already brings depth, texture, and visual presence to the extrerior. Because the brick carries so much character, it naturally pairs well with higher-contrast paint choices—such as warm whites, deep reds, and muted greens—that read crisp and intentional against its darker, earthy tone.

This type of brick is especially well suited to modern or more dramatic architectural styles, where strong definition and material contrast are part of the design language. Instead of competing with the brick, the paint appears cleaner and more refined, creating clear lines and balanced transitions between surfaces. 

Use Red Brick When You Want Classic, Flexible Paint Pairings

Installing red brick is one of the easiest ways to achieve classic appeal while keeping future paint choices open, and OUTERcle’s Mason Denaili Stone demonstrates this versatility. Red brick acts as a neutral foundation with warmth, allowing it to coordinate effortlessly with whites, soft off-whites, light and mid-tone greys, and even bold, dark trim colors.

Because it carries familiar character, it adapts well across traditional, transitional, and even modern home styles. Just as importantly, red brick makes it simple to update paint down the line, giving homeowners and designers the freedom to refresh an exterior without worrying about color conflicts.

Choose Light or Tan Brick for Softer, Low-Contrast Exteriors

Choosing light or tan brick is ideal when the goal is a softer, low-contrast exterior. Our Brickworks Mason in Pampas Grass illustrates this approach beautifully. This lighter brick tone naturally calls for more subtle paint pairings—such as warm whites, greige, soft grey, or muted earth tones—that blend rather than compete.

In bright climates or natural surroundings, these combinations create a cohesive, sun-washed look that feels calm, balanced, and connected to the environment. Because the brick itself is gentle in tone, paint colors read more uniform and restrained, resulting in exteriors that feel intentional, serene, and effortlessly refined.