Different Brick Wall Living Room Ideas To Try

Brick walls have been around for a long time, and were a common sight, especially in older homes or buildings. When drywalls, pre-fabricated walls, and building blocks weren’t invented yet, the ol’ brick wall was a necessity. Nowadays, you can still see them in older buildings, as well as buildings that want to retain that old-world look. Oftentimes, you can also see bricks being used as a decorative & aesthetic element in interiors, adding a sort of rough and rugged appeal to the space.

There are many contemporary ways to install or apply a masonry finish to your living room. Methods and techniques vary, as well as materials, depending on the look you want to achieve. Bricks are often used as accent walls, usually behind the sofa, the wall of the fireplace (real or otherwise), or even the TV wall. The depth and texture it gives instantly sets an attractive focal point in the space.

Bricks are one of the materials that have proven their timelessness. Not only do they look good, but they are also sturdy, which is why older buildings still have their original masonry intact! No matter what the style or color scheme of your space, these walls will surely be a great additional feature.

If you have a modern space that mainly uses white or any light colors for the walls and furniture, a red brick wall is an excellent choice to add contrast and texture to the space. The example above uses the home’s original vintage bricks to give it rough, imperfect edges and create visual interest.

Exposed Red Brick Wall Living Room

Exposed brick walls are often left unfinished, showing their natural color. Depending on how old or new your masonry is, and where the material is sourced, it could be a bright terracotta color, or a more washed-out red or orange. These surfaces are often used as accent walls and work well in spaces that mainly use whites or other subtle colors. Bricks are also often painted over, allowing just its texture/pattern to be seen through.

You might be surprised by what you’ll find on your walls when you tear down plaster walls or cement on old buildings. This small apartment living area pictured above has been transformed into a perfect ‘instagrammable’ space just by exposing its original brick walls. The white-painted walls and the light laminate flooring look gorgeous paired with the red tones and the simple, mid-century modern furniture pieces.

The colors that would complement this shade, however, depend largely on the color of your bricks. Because they are made out of clay, their color will vary depending on your location. You will have to determine their dominant color and determine their perfect pairs from there. Here’s an easy guide you can follow.

1. Reds – exposed bricks that have primarily red undertones work well with whites, light cream colors, and cool greens
2. Beige/brown – yellow-toned bricks go well with neutral paint colors such as taupes and grays. Both warm and cool-toned neutrals would work well.

Bricks with Fireplace

Bricks are known for their fireproofing capabilities, so they are often used on exterior walls, and around fireplaces. Which is why most old fireplaces would most likely be made out of them. They are very easy to decorate, as the material in itself already brings attention. Artworks, framed or unframed, really look extra appealing placed on masonry walls, especially with excellent lighting.

You can easily add the look to any modern space. The country-style living area above, installed thin cladding on the walls of its electric fireplace and wooden mantle to make it the focal point of the space. The natural red color of the clay gives it a warmer and cozier vibe.

Brick Accent Wall

Finding beauty in imperfections is what makes design so fun and interesting. Uncovering gorgeous brick walls from layers of plaster and making it the defining characteristic of the space, easily gives you a conversation piece in your home.  The uneven surface and varying colors of the masonry add a nice touch of texture and contrast to the simple color scheme of the room.

The many grooves/spaces between each piece also make it very convenient to place nails or screws, so you will also find wall-hung shelves on the walls. Overall, decorating these areas may seem a little intimidating at first, but it’s a pretty easy material to work around with. You can expose one a whole wall, or just apply cladding to certain areas, either way, they can instantly create a focal point in any space.

Faux Bricks

If you want to add that brick wall look but your apartment doesn’t have the right walls to install one, or you don’t want the mess involved with brick-laying, you can opt for a really realistic-looking wallpaper just like this modern living room did. The colors also complement the orange tones in the painting placed on it.

If you’d like to achieve a realistic brick wall look, but don’t want to bother with the installation process of real masonry, there are many faux options available that you can use depending on where you want to apply it. Here are some faux options you can consider for your living room:

Brick wallpaper – excellent quality wallpapers would definitely look like the real thing when installed properly. For walls not exposed to excessive heat or moisture, wallpaper would be a good alternative and would be faster to install. There are also textured wallpapers available if you want to give it a little more realism!

Faux brick panels – if you want a more 3D effect, but want the installation ease of wallpapers, you will find faux panels on your local hardware stores or even online. These panels come in different sizes and usually made from MDF or foam boards, and have a relief texture that mimics actual masonry. They usually have interlocking seams so that they install seamlessly.

Ceramic tiles – available in most hardware stores, ceramic tiles can come in varying sizes and color options. This is a great choice if you’re installing them in areas prone to water/moisture exposure. Try to choose interlocking style bricks so that the seams would look natural.

Brick veneers – the most popular type of veneers would be the Z-Bricks. They are basically thinner pieces used for facing/aesthetic purposes. They are lighter than normal thick masonry options and don’t require metal framing to install.

DIY methods – there are many different DIY methods for faux cladding or panels using different materials. The most popular ones include the use of putty or joint compounds, cut MDF boards, and even styrofoam.

Most of these faux options, except paper wallpapers and foams, can be painted or whitewashed. Please use the correct paint materials according to your substrate to achieve the best results!

White Bricks

The rough, imperfect texture of this white-painted masonry wall adds more style and attitude to this small nook in the living area. Painting the bricks white allowed the space to keep its white and gray color scheme, creating a light and refreshing atmosphere.

For spaces with colorful schemes or furniture pieces, white-painted walls are often used. For a little bit of contrast, you can also use gray or black painted bricks, to make light-colored pieces stand out. Other popular colors used over them would be yellow/cream colors and mint. There are many different combinations you can play around with to make your walls work for your space! Just remember that your color choices will affect the overall look of the space!

White-painted brick walls are a popular feature in mid-century style spaces and modern spaces in general. The white-painted masonry allows the unique texture to shine through. while keeping the wall surfaces subdued to help the furniture pieces stand out in the space. If you have existing wall paint that you would like to keep, you might wonder what paint colors go well with painted masonry. If you have white walls, then it’s a no-brainer that it would look good together.

Modern Room with Bricks

One style that particularly looks good with brick accent walls would be Mid-Century modern. The light, simple, and cozy silhouettes help tone down the texture-heavy surface. Mid-century spaces tend to use white walls a lot, so adding a masonry wall will add a bit of variety in textures. The natural wood accents of the barn door and flooring really tie the design together for a cohesive look. See more examples of living rooms with barn doors here.

Traditional Style Room With Bricks

Classic-style living rooms with white walls and arch ceilings, combined with white-washed brick walls create a really cozy and laid-back atmosphere. The exposed surface serves as a great accent wall that complements the clean and simple lines of the living room area.

Small Room with Exposed Bricks

A dark gray wall paint can make an attractive design when paired with an exposed masonry demising wall. A small living room can use dark wood and leather furniture to give it a masculine style.

If you want a small living area that goes for a laid-back ambiance with a rustic touch, combine masonry with wood finishes and a soft plush sofa to balance out the hard surface textures. A small wooden shelf with a neoclassic look can also be installed, giving you extra display space.

Loft With Exposed Brick

Bold red terracotta bricks are an excellent material of choice when you want an art wall that will stand out. It’s a plus if your loft living room benefits from a high ceiling and large windows to create a bright environment that helps keep the surfaces from looking too dark.

White Washed Bricks

The imperfections and strong texture of a white-washed wall are a testament to its natural age. The strong texture can be toned down with white paint and complements the simple silhouette of the modern furniture pieces used in the living room. See white washed brick fireplace designs here.

Painted Black Bricks

If you have a gray-and-white color scheme on your walls, a black-painted brick wall would be a good option for your accent wall. It gives your space a bold statement wall that will definitely make whatever you place against it stand out. See more black brick fireplace designs here.

Painted Gray Bricks

Gray bricks are also a nice option if you want to add a more outdoor-like feel to your living room. These options are also available in thinner profiles which is perfect for cladding/decorative purposes like accent walls. Gray ceramic tiles can easily be found and are easier to install than masonry. This is a great alternative for modern spaces looking to find a way to add a textured wall in their space while keeping the modern aesthetic.

Stacked Stone Brick Cladding

White slate tiles are also a great alternative if you don’t want to deal with the complicated installation process of traditional bricks. Slate tiles come in different sizes with pre-arranged random widths and thicknesses of slate, adding more texture and depth to any surface you apply it on. If red terracotta or painted options aren’t your style, you can also consider cream-colored bricks. Although not as common, cream tones add the same texture and depth to the space, but have a naturally neutral color that matches any style.

Black slate tiles are another great alternative to actual clay masonry. They also add a natural texture and depth to any wall and can be applied both indoors and outdoors. Slate tiles specifically look really good in modern spaces, so this material is the best choice paired with the electric fireplace and wall-mounted TV installed on the walls.

Painted Brick Fireplace Ideas

Using bricks for the small fireplace area adds a subtle rustic touch to this Country-style living room. The surfaces were painted in slate gray to give it a more modern vibe that matches the overall look of the space. The added depth and texture of the brick-clad mantle already make this small space the focal point of the living room.

You don’t always have to cover a whole wall with bricks. For example, a fireplace area painted over partially in white adds just the right amount of subtle texture in a classic-style living room with French doors.