7 Exterior Brick and Paint Color Combinations for Standout Curb Appeal

The best exterior brick and paint color combinations pair brick with creamy white, warm greige, sage green, black, or navy. The trick is to match your paint to your brick's undertone. Pair warm brick (rust or terracotta tones) with soft, warm neutrals. Pair cool brick (burgundy tones) with grays and blues.

Most brick homes still have doors, trim, soffits, and siding that need paint. You want combinations that work together, not against each other. If you are still deciding on brick itself, read our guide on should you paint a brick house.

How to Choose the Best Exterior Brick and Paint Color Combinations

Start with a simple method before you shop for paint. These steps help you pick colors with confidence.

Find your brick's undertone. Warm brick reads rust, orange, or terracotta. Cool brick reads burgundy or purple. Hold paint samples against the brick in morning, midday, and evening light, because the color shifts through the day.

Pick a contrast level. High contrast, like dark paint against brick, makes trim and details pop. A softer look uses colors a few shades from the brick.

Use a simple ratio. Let the brick be the main color. Make the trim your second color. Save the front door or shutters for the accent.

Match your trim to your mortar. This gives you a seamless look. Mortar ranges from white and buff to gray and charcoal.

Factor in your home style. Also consider how much sun the wall gets, since strong light changes how a color reads.

1. Black

Black suits any brick and delivers high contrast. It reads sharp, modern, and timeless. Use it on trim, window frames, and accents. Watch out on a small home, where all-black trim can feel heavy, so keep it to trim and accents.

Best if: you want a bold, modern edge.

Avoid if: your home is small and you want a light, open look.

Works well on: trim, window frames, and accents.

For inspiration:

• Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black

• Benjamin Moore® Onyx

• Benjamin Moore® Raccoon Fur

• Benjamin Moore® Soot

2. Creamy White

Creamy white is best for warm red brick. A clean, cool white can look harsh against red brick, so choose warm, creamy off-whites instead. This soft look brightens the home without hiding the brick. Use it on doors, columns, trim, and shutters.

Best if: you have warm red brick and want a bright, classic look.

Avoid if: you want strong contrast between paint and brick.

Works well on: doors, columns, trim, and shutters.

For inspiration:

• Benjamin Moore® Swiss Coffee

• Sherwin-Williams Westhighland White

• Sherwin-Williams Creamy

• Benjamin Moore® White Dove

3. Warm Greige

Warm greige is a mix of gray and beige that works with brick's warm tones. It feels updated without pulling attention from the brick. Match the greige to your mortar color so the brick stands out.

Best if: you want a soft, neutral update.

Avoid if: your brick runs cool and burgundy.

Works well on: trim, siding, and body.

For inspiration:

• Sherwin-Williams Gateway Gray

• Sherwin-Williams Keystone Gray

• Sherwin-Williams Mindful Gray

• Sherwin-Williams Functional Gray

4. Sage Green

Red and green sit opposite each other on the color wheel, so a muted sage balances red brick. Watch out for a bright or pure green, which can clash. Use muted sage on siding, shutters, or the front door. For more pairings, see our guide on red brick and paint.

Best if: you want a calm, natural color that softens red brick.

Avoid if: the only green you like is bright or pure.

Works well on: siding, shutters, and the front door.

For inspiration:

• BEHR® Simply Sage

• Sherwin-Williams Svelte Sage

• Clare All The Sage

• Dunn-Edwards Wishing Well

5. Light Blue

Light blue is a soft coordinating color for red brick. Airy blue-greens make a front door pop. Muted blue-grays look calm on shutters and trim.

Best if: you want a fresh, welcoming touch of color.

Avoid if: you want a dark, high-contrast exterior.

Works well on: front door, shutters, and trim.

For inspiration:

• PPG Vitamin Sea

• Benjamin Moore® Tranquil Blue

• Benjamin Moore® Harbor Fog

• Benjamin Moore® Colorado Gray

6. Navy Blue

Navy blue is a darker option that is not black. It works as both a neutral and a bold accent, with deep contrast against red brick. Use it on doors, shutters, and siding.

Best if: you want a rich, dark color with more warmth than black

Avoid if: you want a light, airy exterior.

Works well on: doors, shutters, and siding.

For inspiration:

• Sherwin-Williams Naval

• Sherwin-Williams Dark Night

• Benjamin Moore® Hale Navy

• Benjamin Moore® River Blue

7. Rich Purple

Some brick carries purple undertones you can highlight with a deep purple door or trim. Rich purple adds depth to neutral brick and gives you a standout exterior. Keep it to small areas so it stays refined.

Best if: your brick has purple undertones you want to bring out.

Avoid if: your brick runs warm and orange.

Works well on: the front door and trim.

For inspiration:

• Sherwin-Williams Plum Dandy

• Benjamin Moore® Tulsa Twilight

• Benjamin Moore® Passion Plum

• Glidden® Blackberry

Coordinate with the Rest of Your Exterior

Your brick is only part of the picture. Match the paint to the parts around it so the whole home works together. Use the table below as a quick guide.

Cost to Paint a Brick House

The cost to paint a brick house runs from $3,500 to $10,500. The range comes mostly from home size and location. The materials you choose, such as standard paint, whitewash, or limewash, also change the price. For a full breakdown, see our guide on the cost to paint a brick house.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

A large job, like a full multi-story exterior, is best left to a pro. The work is high off the ground and hard to finish well without the right gear. If you have the experience, tools, and time, you can paint small sections yourself to save money.