Brick Wall Living Room Decor: Ideas, Colors and Styling

Brick already has texture, color and pattern, so the best decor for it is calm and a little sparse. Pair it with soft fabrics, wood, a few metal accents and warm light, and leave plenty of bare brick showing.

If you have a brick wall in your living room, you're in luck. It's a built-in focal point, and the ideas below work whether the brick is raw, sealed or painted.

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What decor looks good on a brick wall?

Brick is busy, so choose a few larger pieces instead of many small ones. A single big piece of art, a round mirror or a slim console with a lamp will read better than a crowded gallery wall.

• Large framed art with a wide mat, so the frame separates the picture from the mortar lines.
• A mirror, which bounces light across the rough surface and makes the room feel larger.
• Floating wood shelves with a few objects and plenty of gaps. Staggering them echoes the rhythm of the bricks.
• Woven baskets, ceramics and a plant or two for softness.

Hanging things on brick means drilling into masonry. Use masonry anchors and bits, and ask a pro if the wall is old or crumbly. Heavy mirrors deserve proper anchors, especially in a home with a dog that likes to brush past furniture.

What color goes best with a brick wall?

It depends on the brick. Red and orange-toned brick has a warm undertone, so it pairs well with cream, warm white, deep green, sage and muted gold. Gray brick is cooler and suits charcoal, soft blush, navy or a touch of teal.

Keep saturated colors for small accents. A strong color on a large surface competes with the texture of the brick, while muted shades let the wall be the star. For red brick wall living room ideas, I'd choose one calm neutral for the other walls and repeat a deep green or warm brown in the textiles.

Light changes everything here. A north-facing room tends to look cooler, so warmer paint and textiles help balance it. A sunny room can handle deeper tones.

Exposed brick wall living room ideas by room size

Small living rooms

Choose low-profile sofas and furniture with visible legs, which keep sightlines open to the wall. Wall-mounted shelves and a floating media console reduce clutter on the floor so the brick stays visible. Lighter, quiet colors on the opposite walls stop the room from feeling heavy.

Large or open-plan rooms

Use the brick as the backdrop for the main seating area, then define other zones with rugs and lamps. Keep about 30-36 inches clear for main walkways. A reading chair or console on a neighboring wall balances the visual weight of the brick.

How to make a brick wall look pretty

Start with the surface. Brush off loose dust, and consider sealing raw brick to reduce the dust it sheds. That matters if anyone in the house has allergies, and dog fur loves a dusty wall.

Then pick a finish:

• Leave it raw for the most texture and warmth.
• Limewash it to soften the color while keeping the texture.
• Paint it white or a dark shade for a cleaner, more modern look. Use a breathable masonry paint, and test a small patch first, since paint is hard to undo.

For historic masonry, check manufacturer guidance or a contractor before sealing or painting.

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Lighting that shows off the texture

Light skimming across brick from above or below makes the mortar joints cast small shadows, which is where the character comes from. Wall washers, uplights or adjustable sconces do this well. Warm bulbs, around 2700K to 3000K, keep it cozy.

Flat, direct light from the front makes brick look dull, so I recommend placing at least one light source close to the wall.

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Textures and materials that pair with brick

Brick is hard and rough, so balance it with soft things. Linen, boucle, wool and velvet all work, and a thick rug helps absorb sound, which hard walls tend to bounce around. Leather and walnut or oak add warmth.

Metals work best in small doses: brass lamp bases, black iron shelf brackets. A velvet sofa against raw brick is a classic contrast, and a sleek floor lamp next to it keeps things from getting too rustic.

If you have a dog, pick performance fabrics or washable covers for any sofa that sits against the wall, since rough brick and dirty paws are a bad mix.

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Rustic, modern or simple: choosing a style

For a rustic look, add reclaimed wood, woven textiles and iron details. For a modern look, go with clean-lined furniture, a neutral palette and black metal accents. For a simple look, use one sofa, one rug, one piece of art and nothing else.

Mixing styles works too. Sleek furniture against old brick is a pairing designers rely on, and it needs only a few wood and textile layers to feel unified. If your brick sits around a fireplace or an accent wall, these related guides may help: accent wall ideas and brick interior wall decor. For a similar material in another room, see rustic brick in the kitchen, and for a quieter palette try beige living room ideas.

A simple styling routine

1. Decide whether the brick stays raw, gets limewashed or is painted.
2. Place the sofa and rug first, then leave the wall mostly clear.
3. Add one large piece of art or a mirror, off-center from any shelves.
4. Add lighting that skims the wall.
5. Finish with textiles and a plant, then step back and remove one item.

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Frequently asked questions