If you’re not fortunate enough to have real exposed brick in your home, don’t despair! You can still get the look of exposed brick with the added benefit of being able to paint it any color you like! Here are five ways to get the look of exposed brick at home.
Exposed brick looks amazing!
Exposed brick can give any home an industrial chic look. But what if your home wasn’t built with brick? Here are five ways to get the look of exposed brick without actually using real brick.
- Paint the wall a dark color. Dark colors will recede and make it appear like there is more depth to the wall, so you’ll be able to see where one layer ends and another begins better than lighter colors would.
- Apply faux brick wallpaper on top of painted walls. Choose a pattern that mimics old, traditional bricks or find one that looks like corrugated metal panels or something else you’re interested in! The beauty of this technique is that it won’t permanently alter your walls but you’ll still have all the benefits of exposing brick – including its warmth and texture! You could also paint those same patterns onto your walls, which would save you time!
But exposed brick can be expensive
One way is to use brick veneer. Brick veneer is a thin layer of real or simulated brick that can be applied to walls. It’s much less expensive than actual bricks and can give your home the same look.
Another way to get the look of exposed brick is to use paint. There are special paints available that can give your walls the appearance of exposed brick.
If you’re handy with tools, you could also try creating a faux exposed brick wall yourself. You’ll need Masonite boards, plaster cloth, joint compound and paint in an earthy tone like brown or grey. To start off, put down a layer of joint compound on your board and then cut strips out of the Masonite board for the individual bricks. After laying down another layer of joint compound between each strip to seal it in place (and making sure there are no gaps), go over it with some plaster cloth which will create a textured effect when it dries. Add some final layers of drywall mud (a mixure of mortar) before painting over everything with either brown or grey paint depending on what color you want your bricks to end up being.
Here are three ways to get the look of exposed brick on a budget
- Hang brick-patterned wallpaper. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to get the look of exposed brick without any of the hassle.
- Use contact paper. If you want a more temporary solution, try using contact paper. You can find it in a variety of colors and it’s easy to apply and remove.
- Paint your own bricks. With a little bit of paint and some stencils, you can easily create the look of exposed brick on your own walls. First, mix up your desired color with the appropriate amount of water in a bucket. Next, grab some craft paint brushes and start painting! One helpful tip is to use stencils for straight lines or details. Finally, wait for the paint to dry before removing the stencils and enjoy your new faux brick wall!