Brick Wall Bedroom Ideas: 9 Ways to Style Exposed Brick

If you have a brick wall in your bedroom, the simplest approach is to let it be the one loud thing in the room. Keep the other walls quiet, put the bed where the brick can frame it, and soften the hard surface with fabric, warm light and a few well-chosen pieces.

Below are the ideas I'd start with, from color choices to layout. They work for real brick and for faux versions alike.

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Use brick as a single accent wall

Brick has a lot of texture and a strong color, so one wall is usually enough. Four brick walls make a bedroom feel like a cellar, and they bounce sound around in a way that isn't relaxing at night.

Pick the wall you see first from the door, or the one behind the bed. Paint the others a soft, matte neutral so the brick has room to stand out. Matte paint absorbs light and keeps the surfaces calm, while the uneven face of the brick throws small shadows that give the wall depth.

Should you paint or whitewash the brick?

Exposed brick wall bedroom ideas often start with this question, and both answers are valid. Natural brick is warm and a little dark. A white brick wall bedroom feels brighter and more modern, which helps if the room gets little daylight.

• Whitewash or limewash lets some of the brick color and texture show through. It looks softer and more forgiving of uneven mortar.
• Solid paint gives a cleaner, flatter finish but hides the character you probably liked in the first place.

Painting is hard to reverse, so test a small hidden patch first. If the brick is historic or the wall is exterior-facing, I recommend asking a masonry specialist before sealing or painting, because some coatings trap moisture.

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What color goes best with a brick wall?

Brick is already a color, usually a red, orange or brown with gray in the mortar. Treat it as one of your palette colors, not a backdrop.

• Warm red brick pairs well with creamy white, warm greige, muted green and deep navy.
• Gray or charcoal brick suits crisp white, soft blue-gray and black accents.
• Painted white brick goes with nearly everything, so use it to try bolder bedding or art.

Check swatches in morning, afternoon and evening light. Warm bulbs push brick toward red and orange, and cool bulbs bring out the gray.

How to make a brick wall more attractive

Start with cleaning. Dust the surface with a soft brush or a vacuum brush attachment, and fix crumbling mortar before you decorate. Dusty, flaking brick looks tired no matter what you hang on it.

Then add contrast. Hang a large piece of art, a mirror or a pair of wall lights so the eye has somewhere to rest. Leave some bare brick around each piece instead of covering the wall evenly.

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Blend brick with wood, metal and fabric

Brick, wood and soft textiles give each other something to push against. A wood headboard or bedside table warms up the hardness, and linen or wool bedding takes the edge off. Rugs help too, since hard walls and floors make a bedroom echo.

For metal, choose one finish. Matte black reads modern, and brass or bronze reads warmer. If a dog or cat sleeps in the room, a washable rug and washable bedding will save you a lot of trouble.

Style brick with art, mirrors and lighting

Brick can't take nails the way drywall can, so plan before you drill. Masonry anchors work, or you can lean large frames on a shelf or dresser. A picture ledge keeps things flexible if you like to swap art.

For lighting, wall sconces or a small spotlight angled across the surface (called grazing) make the texture show. A mirror on the opposite wall bounces light back toward the brick.

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Where should the bed go?

Putting the headboard against the brick turns the wall into a backdrop, and it is the layout I'd choose in most rooms. Brick behind the bed is also away from where you walk, so you're less likely to scrape a shoulder on it.

If the brick is on the wall opposite the bed, it becomes the view when you wake up. That works well with a quiet headboard and simple bedding. Keep a main walkway of about 30-36 inches around the bed either way.

Faux brick wall ideas for renters

Brick-look panels, peel-and-stick wallpaper and thin brick veneer give you the look without the mess of real masonry. Peel-and-stick suits renters, though a flat print can look fake up close. Panels with real texture and varied color read better.

Check the seams on any faux brick product and style it the same way you would real brick: one wall, matte neighbors, warm light. For more on mixing materials, see these brick wall design ideas.

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Other styles that work with brick

Brick suits a relaxed, layered bohemian look with plants, woven pieces and mixed patterns. Keep the patterns to a couple of dominant ones so the room doesn't get busy. If you prefer something moodier, a dark palette is another option, and gothic bedroom ideas show how deep colors pair with texture. For a greener take, tropical bedroom ideas mix well with warm brick.

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