Gorgeous Modern Brick Wall Design Living Room Decor That Feels Effortless

A brick wall already does most of the decorating for you. The trick is to give it a calm companion: soft textiles, one or two large pieces of art, warm light, and a color palette that borrows from the brick instead of fighting it.

Below you'll find what to hang, which colors work, how to light the wall, and what to do in a small room or with painted brick.

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What decor looks good on a brick wall?

Brick is busy. It has texture, pattern and color all at once, so the best decor is simple and either large or deliberately sparse. Think of the wall as the frame and your decor as one or two focal points.

• One oversized artwork, or a tight grid of matching frames, with even spacing between them.
• A large round mirror, which bounces light and gives the eye a smooth shape against all those rectangles.
• Floating wood shelves with a few objects, not a crowd of them.
• Tall plants or a floor lamp to add height without hanging anything.
• Neon or a simple metal sculpture if you want a modern contrast.

As an architect, I'd leave some bare brick between pieces. The wall is the feature, so decor that covers all of it defeats the purpose.

One practical note: drilling into brick needs a masonry bit and the right anchors. If the wall is old, crumbly or structural, ask a licensed contractor before you start. Leaning art on a shelf or a console avoids the problem entirely.

What color goes best with a brick wall?

Start with the brick itself. Warm red and terracotta brick sits happily with cream, oatmeal, taupe, deep green, and wood tones. Cooler gray or charcoal brick suits soft blue, white, and black metal.

Keep the palette small. Pick two or three colors for the sofa, rug and cushions, then repeat one of them in the art so the room reads as a set. A neutral sofa gives the eye a place to rest against the texture.

Light changes everything. A north-facing room gets cooler light, so warmer fabrics and lamps help. A south-facing room can handle deeper colors. Look at the wall in the morning and at night before you buy anything.

Red brick wall living room ideas

Red brick is the strongest personality in a room, so let it lead. Pair it with natural wood (oak, walnut or reclaimed), leather, linen and wool. Green plants look good against red because the two colors sit opposite each other.

Avoid adding many other warm reds and oranges in the same room. A cushion or two in a muted rust is plenty. Cooler accents such as slate blue or charcoal keep the space from feeling like one big brown-orange block.

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How to make a brick wall look pretty

Light it from the side

Brick shows its texture when light skims across it. Wall washers, a picture light, or a floor uplight placed close to the wall create soft shadows in the mortar lines. Use warm bulbs, around 2700-3000K, so the red stays warm and the room doesn't feel clinical.

Soften it with textiles

Rough surfaces look better next to soft ones. A chunky throw, a wool rug and linen curtains balance the hardness. This is the same principle as glossy versus matte: a hard, uneven surface needs something that absorbs sound and light beside it.

Clean and seal it

Unsealed brick sheds dust and can be hard to wipe. If you have a dog that rubs along the wall, a sealed finish is easier to keep tidy. Ask a mason or contractor which sealer suits your brick, especially for an older wall.

Should you paint or whitewash brick?

It depends on the room. Painted or whitewashed brick makes a small, dim living room brighter and feels more modern. Dark paint looks dramatic but needs good lighting, or the wall can feel heavy.

If you're unsure, limewash or a thin whitewash lets some of the brick show through and is more forgiving than solid paint. Use breathable masonry paint, because brick holds moisture, and keep in mind that paint on brick is hard to undo. Test a patch in an inconspicuous corner first.

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How to style a brick fireplace or mantel

A brick fireplace needs the same restraint. Try an odd number of objects of different heights on the mantel, such as one tall vase, a stack of books and a small bowl. Lean a large mirror or artwork behind them instead of hanging three small pieces.

Keep anything flammable and any candles well clear of an active firebox, and have a chimney inspected before you use a fireplace that's been idle.

Small living room with a brick wall

• Paint or whitewash the brick if the room gets little daylight.
• Choose sofas and chairs with visible legs so the floor continues underneath.
• Hang a mirror across from a window, not directly facing clutter.
• Stick to one large piece of art instead of many small ones.

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Layout: where to put the furniture

The brick wall works best behind your main seating or a media wall. A sofa parallel to the wall, with about 30-36 inches left free for walking if there's a path behind it, keeps things comfortable. In an open plan, a brick wall can mark the living zone, and a rug under the seating group does the rest of the defining.

For more texture pairings, see how a wood accent wall reads in a living room, or compare the look with shiplap. If you want a mix of old and new pieces, the eclectic living room ideas pair well with brick, and the same material works upstairs in a brick wall bedroom.

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Plants, metals and finishing touches

Plants soften the grid of brick. Mix a tall floor plant with a trailing one on a shelf, and check with your vet or the ASPCA's plant list before bringing anything home if you share the room with a dog or cat. Brushed brass and matte black both contrast nicely with brick, and ceramic vases and woven baskets add handmade warmth.

Frequently asked questions