7 of the Best Home Exterior Brick and Paint Color Combinations

Natural brick homes come with a dominant color built-in. However, most brick houses still have doors, soffits, trim, and possibly siding that will eventually need a fresh coat of paint to maintain the home's curb appeal. This means you'll need to find the best exterior brick and paint color combinations that will complement each other without taking away from one another’s charm. So what color should you paint a brick house?

To help you decide, we've put together a list of the best color schemes for brick houses. Some of these colors work with brick as an accent, while others are more neutral. Some complement red brick, and others pull from the brick. Find your favorite or work with an exterior painter near you to narrow down the best paint color for your brick home.

1. Black

The pairing of black and brick is timeless and modern all at once. Darker colors like black offer high contrast with any brick color, helping to emphasize a home's details for a sharp, crisp look. Black and brick are a sophisticated and classic combination for any home style. Shades of black range from deep and pure to light velvet tones, some of which are borderline navy or purple.

For inspiration: 

• Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black

• Benjamin Moore® Onyx

• Benjamin Moore® Raccoon Fur

• Benjamin Moore® Soot

2. Creamy White

White trim is a popular choice for exteriors that's always in style. However, a clean, cool white can look too harsh against a red brick exterior. Instead, go for warm, creamy off-white colors. These neutral shades wouldn't be mistaken for white if used indoors, but outdoors they coordinate beautifully with the earthy tones of red brick.

Try creamy whites on doors, columns, trim, shutters, and other architectural accents.

For inspiration:

• Benjamin Moore® Swiss Coffee

• Sherwin-Williams Westhighland White

• Sherwin-Williams Creamy

• Benjamin Moore® White Dove

3. Warm Greige

Greige is all the rage, and it's likely not going anywhere soon. This understated neutral combination of gray and beige pairs well with brick's warm, earthy tones. One great way to use greige is to find a shade that matches the grout color between your bricks. Greige trim can provide a muted look that helps brick stand out and play the focal point in your home's façade.

For inspiration: 

• Sherwin-Williams Gateway Gray

• Sherwin-Williams Keystone Gray

• Sherwin-Williams Mindful Gray

• Sherwin-Williams Functional Gray

4. Sage Green

Red and green are complementary colors that can balance each other visually. However, you need to be careful when pairing red brick and paint in any shade of green since many shades can clash and end up looking like a Christmas decoration.

To avoid this and bring out the color of the brick without overwhelming it, try a very toned-down, muted shade of green like sage on sidings, shutters, or entry doors. Sage can range from delicate, beige-like shades to muddy, earthy tones, any of which pair well with the natural tones found in red brick.

For inspiration:

• BEHR® Simply Sage

• Sherwin-Williams Svelte Sage

• Clare All The Sage

• Dunn-Edwards Wishing Well

5. Light Blue

Speaking of complementary colors, blue is another nice coordinating color for a red brick home. You can use blue in different ways. Light, airy shades of blue-green can make your front door pop. Meanwhile, muted blue-grays create a cohesive look when you use them on shutters and trims.

For inspiration:

• PPG Vitamin Sea

• Benjamin Moore® Tranquil Blue

• Benjamin Moore® Harbor Fog

• Benjamin Moore® Colorado Gray

6. Navy Blue

If you're looking for a darker color but don’t want to use black, you can turn to another category of complementary blues. Navy blue is unique in that it serves as both a neutral shade and a pop of color. The bold blues offer deep contrast with the red tones of a brick home.

Unlike some other combinations on this list, brick often takes a back seat when paired with navy. The red tones of brick tend to look more subtle and nuanced against navy highlights. You'll find dark navy blues in a range of tones that you can use for doors, shutters, and siding. Some feature grayish undertones, while others skew more toward dark green.

For inspiration: 

• Sherwin-Williams Naval

• Sherwin-Williams Dark Night

• Benjamin-Moore® Hale Navy

• Benjamin-Moore® River Blue

7. Rich Purple

Not all exterior bricks are the same. You may notice some unique undertones in the red bricks on your home's façade. Some bricks carry purple tones, which you can highlight with a bold trim or front door paint color like purple. A deep purple adds dimension to otherwise neutral brick. To create a hip home exterior that stands out in the neighborhood, try pairing brick with sophisticated purple paint.

 For inspiration: 

• Sherwin-Williams Plum Dandy

• Benjamin Moore® Tulsa Twilight

• Benjamin Moore® Passion Plum

• Glidden® Blackberry

Cost to Paint a Brick House

The cost to paint a brick house can run anywhere from $3,500 to $10,500. This wide range is largely due to variations in price based on home size and location. The materials you choose can also impact costs. The range of options includes standard paint, whitewash, and limewash, depending on your maintenance needs and style preferences.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Consider the size of the job and the skill required when deciding between DIY and hiring a professional exterior painter. It’s best to leave a large job, like painting the full exterior of a multi-story house, to the pros. However, if you have the experience, tools, and time, you can paint small sections of your brick house to save a bit of money.

Nick P. Cellucci contributed to this article.