Not just for exterior and fireplaces anymore bricks can become part of your next project decorating with new designs, arrangements and color schemes that will make your space stunning.
You can include your interior brick in a stunning color scheme by following these easy tips. Although it is generally confined to the exterior and on inside fireplaces, brick is the choice of material for homes when you want fire resistance and low maintenance. Brick is most commonly fashioned into facing fireplace surrounds and lining fireboxes because of its ability to withstand flaming fire.
A fireplace surround may be a commanding structure or a few tasteful rows of bricks depending on the style of your home. Other than a fireplace, contemporary style house plans, adding rooms, converting a loft or remodeling may have you dealing with additional interior brick.
The color of brick and its decorating functionality with a color scheme depends largely on the color of the brick. The color designates whether it creates a rustically comfortable character or one that mopes darkly over your interior space.
The making of brick includes clay which will determine the color of the final product. Hues of colors ranging from yellows and buff to salmon pinks and dark brownish reds. The texture and color as also influenced by adding coatings such limestone or sand during firing.
First you will decide whether you want to depress or highlight the blending presence of brick into your decorating scheme. You must select your wall colors according to the hues of the bricks. Consider painting the brick if it is a color that leaves you feeling ill at ease.
The Colors of Brick
Search out the most dominant color of brick and then treat it as you would any paint, fabric or carpet color by using the color wheel as guidance for choosing harmonious color hues.
Pink brick such as salmons and light reds compliment creamy antique whites, cool greens and soft subtle yellows.
Buff and yellow brick attractively combine with neutrals such as warming browns and cooling grays. Earth tone brick blend in well with gray and subdued shades of color.
You will draw more attention to the brick when using greater contrast between the colors of your brick and the color of the closest walls. Interweave hints of the brick color in other areas of the room by using it in fabrics and other accessories to enhance your design scheme.
Select a neutral color of the same brick tone, rather than trying to counteract the dominating influence of dark brick by applying a lighter color to the adjoining walls, since it will actually contrast and emphasize the brick. You can create an area that is unified and harmonious while combining the brick into your room.
A space can feel oppressive when the walls are the darkest element in a room. You can prevent this by including a darker element.
Painting Your Brick
Consider painting brick if its natural color does not suit your style of decorating.
Paint it to match the room trim when you want to focus on the architectural magnitude of such a feature. If to much attention is drawn to the element by this application, paint the brick a shade of two lighter or darker than your walls and then paint the mantel to match the trim work.
Match the color of a brick fireplace to the woodwork of the room in order to emphasize its role as a natural focal point. On the other hand you can paint the brick to blend in with the walls while matching the mantel to the trim of a room.
Always consult with your local paint store for any particular application of paint to raw brick. A good quality exterior latex primer will adhere better to brick than interior primers. Or you can also use a primer-sealer stain killer.
You will not have to sand brick that is already painted by applying a de-glossing primer with a stain-blocking primer-sealer formulated for glossy surfaces.
Work the primer into all the cracks and crevices while using the primer. Then you can apply two coats of your favorite color in latex paint rather than alkyd or oil-base paint as they trap moisture and are not recommended for brick.
A semi-gloss or high gloss accentuates the texture of bricks and is easier to clean for these finish coats than will a flat finish.
