Painted brick is having a major moment, and rightfully so. It can instantly refresh an exterior without having to undergo an extensive (and expensive) renovation. Magazine pages and Instagram feeds are dripping with jaw-dropping before and afters, from creamy white cottages with a new lease on life to handsome charcoal Craftsmen with “New number, who’s this?” energy. But on the flip side, the vocal unpainted brick contingency clutches their pearls when beautiful brick homes, often historic, are permanently covered with an of-the-moment hue. Which leads us to this timely design dilemma: Should you paint brick? The short answer: It depends. Before committing to this long-term relationship, it is important to examine the pros and cons. Southern Living magazine offers the following advice to guide you through this trending yet almost irreversible dilemma.
When To Paint Brick Paint is the magic eraser of the design world. It’s a reno-free refresh with big wow-factor results that’s relatively easy and affordable. So when do you know that paint is the best choice for you? Deciding factors should include such items as if the home looks tired or ugly, architectural interest, or was built with inexpensive and unattractive bricks. If so, it’s probably time to paint!
When Not To Paint Brick If the brick is appealing, hit pause and ask yourself why you want to paint it. Just because it’s trending doesn’t mean it’s right for your home. If it’s a beautiful Tudor or colonial-style home, consider leaving it to preserve the integrity of the design. Paint is used as a remedy for an unattractive or outdated brick home.
Not all Bricks are Created Equal While most bricks today are mass produced, there is a subset of reclaimed bricks salvaged from historic structures across the country. . If the brick is beautiful but not your speed, consider other updates first, like painting shutters, refreshing the front door, or if it’s in the interior, lightening up the adjacent walls. While there are expensive chemical treatments to remove the paint, it’s not a flawless process and the bricks will never be the same, so it’s best to consider it an irreversible design decision.
