How to Choose Exterior Paint Colors for a Brick Home

Brick homes are common throughout Easton, Bethlehem, Nazareth, and all of the Lehigh Valley - from 19th-century row homes to 1950s split-levels. Choosing the right trim and accent colors to complement existing brick is one of the trickier exterior color decisions a homeowner makes. Here's how to approach it.

First: Don't Paint the Brick (Usually)

Before choosing colors, consider whether painting the brick is the right move. Painted brick is a one-way door - once painted, removing paint from brick is extremely difficult and damages the surface. In most cases, preserving unpainted brick is the better long-term decision, both aesthetically and structurally.

Brick breathes naturally. Paint on brick can trap moisture and lead to spalling (where brick surfaces flake off). If you have newer brick in good condition, we strongly recommend leaving it unpainted and focusing on trim, shutters, doors, and any non-brick siding to update the exterior.

That said, if the brick is old, stained, or you want a fully cohesive painted look - it can absolutely be done correctly. See the section below on painting brick.

Identifying Your Brick's Undertone

Brick isn't just "red." Lehigh Valley brick homes have many different brick tones:

• Red-orange brick: Common in older Easton and Bethlehem homes. Warm undertone.
• Pink-red brick: Slightly cooler. Common in mid-century construction.
• Brown-red brick: Darker, earthier tone. Older construction, also Easton row homes.
• Gray or charcoal brick: Less common, newer construction or specialized brick types.
• Tan or buff brick: Common in 1970s-1990s construction throughout suburban Lehigh Valley.

Identifying your brick's undertone - warm vs. cool - determines what trim and accent colors will harmonize vs. fight with it.

Trim Colors for Brick Homes

For Red and Red-Orange Brick

The safest trim choices pull from the cool side of the spectrum to calm and balance the warm brick:

• Bright or creamy white: BM White Dove, SW Alabaster, BM Chantilly Lace - all work. Classic, clean, high contrast.
• Soft gray: A light to medium gray trim on red brick looks sophisticated. SW Repose Gray, BM Revere Pewter.
• Black: BM Onyx or SW Tricorn Black on trim and shutters against red brick is a strong, modern combination.

Avoid warm yellow-whites or beige trims - they can make red-orange brick look muddy.

For Tan and Buff Brick

Buff brick is more neutral and pairs with both warm and cool tones:

• Warm whites: BM White Dove or SW Alabaster - picks up the warmth of buff brick nicely
• Deep navy: BM Hale Navy shutters and trim against buff brick is a very current combination
• Sage or olive green: Earthy tone that complements the natural feeling of buff brick

Front Door Colors for Brick Homes

The front door is the highest-impact single paint decision on a brick home. Contrast works well here:

• Black or near-black - Works on almost every brick type. Strong, sophisticated, curb appeal champion.
• Deep navy blue (BM Hale Navy, SW Naval) - Beautiful against red and tan brick alike.
• Deep hunter green - Particularly beautiful on 19th-century homes; references the historic character.
• Dark red - Works only when brick is a different shade. A burgundy door (BM Salamander) on buff or brown brick can be striking.
• Bright white or off-white - Clean, classic, especially on colonial-style brick homes.

Shutter Colors for Brick Homes

Shutters frame the windows and reinforce the home's color story. General principles:

• Shutters should be darker than the brick or trim, not lighter
• Black, navy, forest green, or charcoal gray all work well
• Shutters and front door don't have to match, but they should be in the same color family
• Avoid shutters in the same color family as the brick (red shutters on red brick disappear)

If You're Painting the Brick

If you've decided to paint the brick (a significant and permanent decision), here's how to do it right:

1. Masonry primer first: Never paint bare brick with latex paint. Use a penetrating masonry primer that bonds to the mortar joints and brick face equally.
2. Breathable paint: Use a flat or low-sheen masonry paint (not a glossy latex) that allows moisture vapor to pass through. Trapping moisture in brick leads to spalling and structural damage over time.
3. Light to medium colors work better: Very dark colors absorb heat and can accelerate brick deterioration in the freeze-thaw cycles of PA winters.
4. White and light gray are the most popular choices for painted brick homes in the Lehigh Valley - they look clean, photograph well, and age gracefully.