Interior Brick Wall Design: Ideas, Finishes and Styling

The simplest interior brick wall design is also the best one: treat the brick as the textured backdrop and keep everything in front of it smooth, soft and uncluttered. Decide on a finish (raw, whitewashed, painted or faux), light it from the side, and put your main seating or bed against it.

If you have a brick wall and aren't sure what to do with it, that's very common. The ideas below cover finishes, furniture, lighting and a few practical cautions.

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Which brick finish suits your room?

Color changes mood quickly. Red brick reads warm and earthy. White-painted brick feels airy. Charcoal or smoked brick is moodier and more intimate. Pick the one that matches the light you have, not just the look you saw online.

• Raw brick keeps the most character. Dust and grit can shed from old, soft brick, so ask a mason whether it needs sealing.
• Whitewash or limewash softens the color but leaves the texture visible. It suits small or dim rooms.
• Painted brick gives a clean, modern backdrop. Use a breathable masonry paint, since a coating that traps moisture can cause problems on an exterior-facing wall.
• Stain or smoke finishes add depth without hiding the brick pattern.

Test any finish on a small patch and look at it in the morning and at night. North-facing rooms tend to flatten warm tones, and a warm bulb (around 2700-3000K) helps bring them back.

What looks good on an interior brick wall?

Anything smooth, soft or metallic looks good against brick, because the contrast is what makes the wall read as a feature. A glossy surface bounces light and a rough one absorbs it, so pairing the two gives the room depth.

• Wood shelves or a reclaimed-wood console echo the warmth of red brick.
• Brushed brass or matte black hardware adds a clean edge.
• Large framed art with generous space around it lets the texture show through.
• A mirror on the opposite wall reflects light back across the brick.
• Trailing or tall plants soften the vertical lines. If you have a dog or cat, check any plant against the ASPCA's toxic plant list or ask your vet.

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Exposed brick wall living room ideas

In a living room, anchor the sofa or a media console on the brick wall so it becomes the focal point. As an architect, I'd center the main seating group on the brick, then use a rug to tie the zone together and soften echo from the hard surface.

Balance matters. A dark, heavy brick wall wants lighter furniture opposite it. A whitewashed wall can handle bigger, darker pieces. In an open plan, a partial brick wall or a brick fireplace can mark off the sitting area without adding a door.

Washable throws and a tightly woven rug are practical choices if a dog uses the sofa; loose weaves snag claws.

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How to make a brick wall more attractive

Start with light. Wall washers, picture lights or sconces placed to the side graze the surface and make every brick cast a small shadow. Straight-on light flattens it.

Then edit. A brick wall already has a lot of pattern, so a gallery wall with a consistent frame color and a few large pieces works better than many small ones. Seasonal pillows and throws can change the mood without touching the wall.

If the color feels dated, whitewash or limewash is easier to live with than solid paint, and it keeps the texture.

Simple interior brick wall design for small rooms

In a compact room, a lighter finish keeps the wall from closing in. Use narrow floating shelves for storage, keep furniture low, and leave a clear path along the wall. A single brick wall in a small room is usually enough; brick on all four sides gets heavy fast.

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Interior brick wall covering: faux brick, tiles and wallpaper

If your house has no brick, or the wall can't be exposed, brick slips (thin brick cut from real clay), brick-look tiles or wallpaper give the look with less weight and work. Slips are real brick and feel convincing up close. Wallpaper is the cheapest and easiest to remove, which suits renters.

If you're also thinking about brick elsewhere, see brick in the bathroom, where moisture changes the finish choices.

Insulation and heavy loads: check before you commit

Exposed brick looks warm but doesn't insulate well. If you're uncovering an exterior wall, the National Laboratory of the Rockies has a measure guideline on insulating the interior of existing brick walls with rigid foam, which explains the steps and the tradeoffs. Insulating means covering the brick, so you'd choose between the look and the performance on that wall.

For shelves or a TV, use masonry anchors rated for the load, and call a licensed professional for anything heavy. Old mortar can crumble, so drill into the brick, not the joint, where you can.

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Brick also suits period homes. If you're matching an older style, the Park Service's notes on Italianate architecture and our guide to Victorian rooms are useful starting points. For a layered look on other walls, try wall moulding to contrast with the brick.

Frequently asked questions