A white-painted brick house can bring life to an area in a way that red bricks cannot. In this article, we'll look at various white brick house ideas that you can use to add some spice to your home.
Typically, white bricks aren't made of clay. This might be surprising considering that red bricks are made of clay. Instead, white bricks are specially made of cement, water, quartz sand, lime, calcined gypsum, and aluminum powder.
This mixture produces a very strong and durable white brick that will last for ages. If you live in an area prone to extreme weather conditions or wildfire, using these white bricks will serve you well.
On the other hand, if you don't necessarily want the benefits of using white bricks, you can opt for white-painted bricks. White-painted bricks also have a benefit. This is because the white paint provides extra protection and reinforcement by acting like a protective layer or sealant.
What Should You Know About White-Painted Brick Houses?
The most important thing to know about a white-painted brick house is that you just can't do it overnight and be done with it. It's a lifelong commitment. So in fact, if you don't have any experience painting, we recommend that you get an expert to do it.
However, learning about white-painted bricks would be a good idea because you can't go back. If you decide that you want to paint your red bricks white, know that you'll need to care for the paint and maintain it forever.
The good thing about white-painted brick houses is that they come in various forms. For example, you can use white paint with a soft-color undertone such as light green or light yellow.
You'll find that many white-painted brick houses are dainty white or have an ivory color with a yellow hue. You can choose the type of white paint you want based on your preferences.
Once you choose a white paint with the undertone you like, include a satin or eggshell finish. Let's now look at some ways to make your white brick house work great for you.
Examples of White Brick House Designs
1. Basic White
If you've been envious of how great white brick houses look like and have been wanting to convert your red brick house to a white one, you'll love the idea of painting your bricks white. You can have a white-painted brick exterior within no time once you choose the white paint you like.
Ensure that you get a professional to help with painting the white brick exterior if you don't have any experience painting.
Then, get ready to convert your house into a modern-looking home and be the envy of your neighbors. You can even choose to revamp your interior design as you work on the exterior.
Once you're done painting it and have done all you need to do, you can sit back and enjoy your new home.
2. Black and White Design
There's something elegant about combining white with black. A white brick house with black trims and accents exudes a lot of personality. Therefore, consider going white and black if you are not a fan of the white and gray exterior but want to spice things up.
Another great thing about this white brick house idea is that it adds a modern and fresh touch to your design. You won't have to make large renovation purchases to make your home feel different.
3. Patchy White Effect
Another way you can get creative with your white brick house is to create a patchy white effect. This is opposed to the usual solid white paint design that we've covered here when talking about white brick walls.
So, when is this type of design a great idea? The patchy white effect is a great idea when you are surrounded by older homes or want to create that cozy cottage-y feel.
This will allow you to continue blending in with the old homes in your area while still updating your home.
4. Whitewash Technique
Consider a whitewash effect if you don't want to completely cover your red bricks with white paint. This is where you use a thin coat of white paint on your bricks without totally covering them.
Doing this to your white brick wall will also prevent you from losing that amazing brick texture. Therefore, as opposed to when you use several layers of white paint that totally cover your bricks, you can use one thin layer to create this amazing whitewash effect.
Advantages of Having A White-Painted Brick House
1. Colorful Shutters
This is another great idea when it comes to enhancing the aesthetics of your brick house. If you're done painting your brick house but still feel like something is unfinished, it's time to add some shutters.
The advantage of having a white-painted brick house is that it acts as a slate. Whatever else you choose to add on top will be properly showcased. In this case, you can choose to have blue, green, or even pink shutters for a nice appeal.
Alternatively, painting your bricks white will be great if you have the colorful shatters but don't feel like they are being properly showcased.
2. Beautifully Colored Trims
White brick walls will bring out the colored trims around your doors and windows. Therefore, if you love your colored trims but don't feel like they get enough attention, it's time to move to that white-painted brick.
The truth is that everything pops against a white brick. Therefore, you won't have to add any colors to your trims or do anything else once you painted your bricks white.
Let's look at some great color options for your trims.
a) White
If you want a clean and airy look, consider having white trims. Although it may feel like there'll be too much white on your external walls, you'll be surprised that your home looks so good.
Another reason white is a great idea is that this bright neutral hue is stylish and elegant. You can use it for your front door trim and your shutters.
Get ready to convert your traditional brick home into a modern home with a paintbrush and some high-quality paint.
b) Blue
Blue is a brighter color compared to white, but it will make your trims stand out. Blue is also a cool color and makes for a great contemporary option. The contrast created by the brick white and the blue trims will make heads turn.
If you love cottages and want something that resembles that, this color is a great option. You can also use blue for your window frames and shutters.
c) Gray
Gray is closer to white than it is to blue and gives you another light, neutral color when you don't want to use white. The perfect thing about this color is that it will help bring out the architectural details of your home.
d). Red
Finally, we finish with a bright color that will make your house pop. This bold and vibrant color will look great once your bricks are painted white.
If you already have shutters and trims that are red in color and you want to make them pop, paint your house white.
You can also use dark red trims on your front door to improve the whole setup.
3. Enhanced Windows
Another great thing about having a white-painted brick house is that it makes your windows look bigger. The truth is that several red brick houses that were built in the 70s came with small windows.
This makes the exterior design of the house seem disproportional. Therefore, if this has been worrying you and you don't want to replace your windows, consider a white brick exterior instead.
4. Accentuated Details
The problem with red bricks is that they take over the whole space. So even if you have some beautiful patterns on your window or details on your door, it's easy for them to get lost.
Therefore, you can paint your brick house white to bring out the details you want to showcase.
5. Boosted Landscape
If you want your landscape to pop, consider painting your brick wall white. The white brick background makes your landscape even more beautiful than it's ever been.
This is especially amazing if you really love gardening and are passionate about your landscaping.
6. Enhanced Exterior Fireplace
If you have an exterior fireplace and want to change things up a bit, consider changing the color of your exterior fireplace.
A high-quality coat of white paint can revamp your external fireplace and make it livelier. Of course, you can also do this with an internal fireplace if you have one.
Tips On Painting Your White Brick Wall Effectively
a) Prep the Area
The best way to truly succeed at anything is to prepare efficiently. But, of course, this goes for painting a white brick wall too. So, how do you prepare?
The first step is to ensure that you properly clean the bricks' surfaces with a washing mixture. You don't want your new paint sitting on a dirty or dusty surface.
Once it's dry and you're satisfied, the next step is to fill in any splits using acrylic caulk. Again, it's important that you let this completely dry before you start applying the paint.
b) Consider the Weather Conditions
Before you start painting, ensure that the weather won't stand in your way. Rain and strong wind is not the best weather. However, you can check the weather forecast for a few days to ensure that you won't be caught off guard.
Good weather won't just motivate the painter to do a good job, but it will also ensure that the paint goes on to the brick better.
c) Use the Right Tools and Materials
You want your white brick house to look fantastic after you are done. This means using high-quality paint and the right materials. For example, consider using a roller or sprayer to save on time and energy.
Using the right tools also ensures that you have a comfortable experience and do a great job remodeling your home. For example, the advantage of using a sprayer is that you end up covering all the areas without any uneven patches.
Another tool to have handy is a brush that you can use to reach corners and other hard-to-reach areas. You can use the brush where the sprayer falls short.
Frequently Asked Questions About White Brick Houses
1. What color shutters are best for white brick houses?
Depending on your preferences, you can put any color you want on your shutters. You can try soft colors such as gray, blue, or even pink. However, if you don't want bright colors, you can always go for black.
2. What’s the main variance between limewash and white-painted brick?
Knowing the difference between limewash and white-painted brick is important because it will allow you to choose the right paint for you. This is because these two brick paints give you different effects.
For example, the limewash paint soaks into your bricks and doesn't require constant maintenance, unlike white paint. Limewash also washes off and leaves behind a more natural look.
On the other hand, white paint requires regular upkeep and comes with more color options to choose from. Therefore, you need to carefully decide what you want.
If you want more color options and don't mind the maintenance, the white brick paint is good for you. Also, if you live in a place that receives lots of sunlight, you also need to consider that the paint may fade quicker over time.
3. Do white brick houses have a higher resale value?
Yes. However, this may also depend on the location of your home and its condition. Therefore, if you want to increase the resale value of your home by painting it white, ensure that the home is in tip-top condition.
The reason brick homes have great resale value is that the material is durable, and the home doesn't require a lot of maintenance. Therefore, even the new owner won't have to spend so much on maintenance.
4. Can you hang lanterns on white brick homes?
Yes. A great way to make your white-painted brick walls stand out even more is to hang lanterns. Not only will it make your compound brighter, but it will also make your white brick walls stand out.
