How to Choose Trim Color for a Brick House
- 1). Choose neutral colors for trim on blond or pale brick. Vibrant colors wash out blond and pale brickwork or make them look dingy. Use beige, taupe or creamy white to complement the pale yellow or peach hues of blond brick. Paint large areas such as siding or carport walls and roof, known as fields, in the lightest shade. Paint unattractive elements such as gutters the lightest shade, as well, to make them blend in and disappear. Apply a much darker shade of the same hue to the door and other architectural accents such as shutters.
- 2). Use shades of gray for trim on off-white brick, which often has gray mortar. Grays can be cool with blue undertones or warm with yellow undertones, such as dove gray, so weigh which type of gray looks better against your brick. Consider the darkest shade of gray or a deep red on the door for a distinctive entry. Avoid using white paint adjacent to the white brick, because it will make the brick look dirty.
- 3). Select classic colors for trim on solid red or terra cotta brick. Deep forest green with beige, black with white or charcoal gray with ivory give a red brick house a sophisticated look. Deep green with beige or navy blue with cream complement terra cotta brick. So do softer greens and blues. Red and terra cotta make green and blue look more intense, so choose the deepest or most muted shades for architectural features such as shutters and doors. Use light neutrals such as cream, ivory, white or light beige for field areas and unattractive features.
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Draw a color for the front door from those present in multicolored bricks.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Be more creative in selecting trim colors for multicolored bricks. Many bricks have a dominant color easily seen from a distance, but when you look closer you can see traces of other colors. Pick up any of those colors for your trim. For example, a brick that looks like a neutral taupe may have a hint of plum. Consider plum, burgundy or a bittersweet chocolate, which has a purple undertone. Rich colors such as these give a door and shutters personality. Remember that paint colors will appear brighter after drying. Avoid using several different hues, even though they may all be present in the brick. Select one or two colors as accents, and keep the rest of the paint colors light and neutral.
