Elegant Brick Interior Wall Decor Ideas You’ll Love

The simplest way to make a brick wall look good is to let it be the texture in the room and keep everything around it calmer: smooth surfaces, a few well-chosen pieces, and warm light that rakes across the bricks. Exposed, painted or faux, brick works with almost any style if you control three things: color, light and what you put in front of it.

If your brick feels dark, busy or a little dated, that's very common, and it's usually fixable without touching the wall itself.

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What looks good on an interior brick wall?

Brick already has a lot of pattern, so the best additions are simple and have some breathing room. Here are the ones I'd reach for first:

• Large artwork with a generous mat. Big pieces match the scale of the wall, while lots of small frames compete with the mortar lines.
• A smooth console, lacquered cabinet or plain wood sideboard. The contrast makes the brick look more textured.
• Floating shelves with a few objects, leaving brick visible between them.
• A mirror, which bounces light back into a surface that absorbs a lot of it.
• Plants, either a tall floor plant or a trailing one on a shelf.

Hanging heavy items on brick needs masonry anchors and a drill with the right bit. If you're unsure, ask a handyman before you start drilling into old mortar.

How to make a brick wall more attractive

Start with light

Brick is rough, and rough surfaces absorb light and throw soft shadows. Wall sconces or picture lights placed close to the wall graze the surface and show off the texture. Warm bulbs (around 2700-3000K) flatter red and orange tones, while cool bulbs can make brick look gray and flat.

Daylight matters too. South- and west-facing rooms warm the brick up, and north-facing rooms tend to cool it down, so you may want warmer textiles there.

Balance the weight

A full-height brick wall is visually heavy. Counter it with lighter walls on the other sides, a rug in a pale tone, or a mirror opposite. In a small room, keep furniture low and slim against the brick so the wall doesn't swallow the space.

Soften it with fabric

Brick is hard, and hard surfaces bounce sound. A plush rug, curtains and upholstered seating reduce echo and make the room feel cozier. If a dog or cat shares the sofa, pick washable covers and a tightly woven fabric, since loose weaves snag on claws.

Should you paint brick or leave it exposed?

Both are valid. Exposed brick brings warmth and history, and it suits rustic, industrial and traditional rooms. Painted brick is the quickest route to a modern look: soft white, warm greige or deep charcoal all keep the texture but remove the reddish tone and make the room brighter or moodier.

Painting is hard to undo, so I'd leave original, historic brick alone. If you do paint, use a breathable masonry paint and test a small patch first. Whitewash and limewash are lighter-touch options that let some of the brick show through.

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Modern brick wall design indoors

For a modern brick wall design indoors, keep the palette tight and the lines clean. Pair brick with matte black or brushed metal, flat-front cabinets and a limited number of accessories. Brick also works well as one feature wall, say behind a bed or a fireplace, with plaster or smooth paint on the rest of the room.

For a warmer, traditional feel, use medium-toned woods such as oak or walnut, brass hardware and linen or velvet. These tones sit comfortably next to terracotta and brown brick.

Interior brick wall covering: faux brick, tiles and wallpaper

No brick in your home? You have options. Thin brick veneer is cut from real brick and glued to the wall, so it looks authentic and takes up little depth. Brick-look tiles are easier to clean, which helps in kitchens. Brick wallpaper and peel-and-stick panels are the renter-friendly choice, though they rarely fool anyone up close.

Real brick in a bathroom or other damp area needs sealing and good ventilation. For wet-area details, ask a contractor.

If you want to see brick in specific rooms, have a look at brick wall ideas for living rooms and rustic brick kitchens.

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Exposed brick wall decorating ideas for different rooms

Living room

Use the brick as the anchor for the seating area. A sofa facing or parallel to it defines the conversation zone in an open plan, and a rug under the group keeps it from feeling like a corridor. Leave at least 30-36 inches for the main walkway.

Bedroom

Brick behind the headboard works as an accent wall. Cool or muted colors in the bedding make the brick feel calmer, and sconces on each side give you a reading light and a texture wash in one.

Kitchen and dining

Sealed brick behind a range or a dining banquette is practical as long as you can wipe it down. Wood shelves and simple ceramics keep it from looking heavy.

Partitions and alcoves

A half-height brick wall or a brick alcove adds interest without dominating the room, and it can separate an entry or desk area without closing it off. Related ideas are in this piece on accent walls.

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What about insulation and old brick?

Exposed brick is charming, but brick masonry doesn't insulate well. The National Laboratory of the Rockies has published a guideline on insulating the interior of existing brick walls with extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation board, with step-by-step design and installation procedures and the trade-offs. Insulating inside usually means covering the brick, so decide whether comfort or the exposed look matters more on that wall, and talk to a licensed professional before changing an exterior wall.

Brick style also follows architecture. The National Park Service notes that the Italianate style was most prevalent in America between the 1850s and the 1880s, so if your house is from that era, original brick is worth preserving.

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How to style brick so it lasts

Brick will outlast any trend, so put trends in things you can swap: pillows, lamps, art or one paint color nearby. As an architect, I recommend one or two trend-driven items against classic pieces, so the room doesn't date quickly. Test paint, whitewash and sealer on a small patch first, and look at it morning and evening before you commit.

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