Color and Brick Tones

Brick is a wonderful low maintenance fire resistant material. Generally it is only used on the outside of the house or for fireplaces. Its high level of flame resistance is the reason it is the most common material used in fireboxes and fireplace surrounds.

Your homes style will determine whether your fireplace surround is simple with a few rows of bricks or a mammoth structure. Besides the fireplace you may come across brick in the décor if you have ever added a room or converted an attic. That leaves you with a unique surface to decorate.

How the brick in your home comes across depends on the color and how well it fits into your color scheme. Dark red bricks can come across as brooding unless the décor compliments it in such a way that is more rustic.

Brick color is determined by the materials that go into the making of it. Different minerals will yield different colors based on how they react during the firing process. The colors can range from dark reds to light buff and everything in between. Adding sand or limestone coatings during firing will also affect the color as well as the texture.

In order to fit brick into your home décor you first must decide if you want to downplay the brick or bring it out as a prominent feature. Use the color of the brick to choose colors that will act according to your decision. Should the brick be a color you cannot stand you can always paint it.

The color of the brick should be treated like any other element you are trying to blend. Let the color wheel be your guide in choosing harmonious colors.

Bricks that are a variation of light red like pink or salmon play well with soft yellows, cool green and antique whites.

Yellow or buff colored bricks will combine best with neutrals. Try a cool gray or warm brown the best choices will be grayed shades that will pick up the natural earth tones in the brick.

The more difference between the brick and the connecting wall when it comes to color the more you will draw attention to the brick. It is a good idea to use accessories with touches of the brick color throughout the room this will tie the scheme together.

The common thought may be to try and draw the eye away from the brick by using a highly contrasting color on the walls. This actually has the opposite effect. To make the brick blend in more and fade into the back ground choose neutral colors in the same tonal range. Not only will it allow the brick to blend but it will also create a more unified whole.

If you are unhappy with the natural color of the brick then try painting it. To make the brick stand out in the room paint it to match the baseboards and window trim. If this is to much attention to the structure use color a shade or two lighter or darker than the walls. Next paint the mantel to match the trim.

When you are working around a fireplace match the brick to the wood work to make it the centerpiece of the room. Or do like above and paint it to blend and match the mantel to the rest of the trim in the room.

When painting raw brick you will want to get advice from a professional. In general you will need a quality latex usually reserved for outside applications. This will stick better to the brick than most interior paints.

When painting over an already painted brick surface start with a stain blocking primer that will degloss the surface, this will save you a lot of time because you will not have to sand the surface first.

Use a brush to apply the primer being sure to work it into all the little cracks and crevices. Now you are ready to apply two coats of your chosen paint. Avoid oil or alkyd paints as they are prone to trapping moisture.

For a top coat use a high gloss or semi gloss paint, this will show off the texture and be much easier to clean.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Leon Tuberman has been in the interior design and furniture industry for almost 40 years. He owns a popular furniture store that specializes in handmade furniture for every room in the home. Whether you're looking for heirloom quality dining room furniture or Arts & Crafts bedroom furniture you're sure to find everything you need.