What paint color for a living room with brick wall?

11 years ago

I'm a new homeowner and trying to figure out what to do with my living room. It's small (a Cape Cod style house) with a big picture window. We are getting a sofa and small recliner in a charcoal gray color (the recliner fabric will actually have some flecks of light gray and blue in it as well). My issue is how to complement the brick wall. I thought about white washing it but my fiance hates that idea, so I'm trying to come up with a way to use the brick as is (for now anyway). I want to get rid of the greige but I don't know what shades to look for. I always liked bolder wall colors and hate pastels but not sure if my likes will "go" with this brick wall, especially with some of the bricks painted white already.

*this is a pic from the listing, not our actual furniture

Featured Answer

Karen Bumgardner

11 years ago

I think a charcoal gray wall would look beautiful with this brick. The room is large enough to support a saturated color. If you did leave the furniture to the middle of the room and don't push it against the wall it will go nicely with that paint color. White floor-to-ceiling drapery and a colorful printed set of pillows with white backgrounds or white in them would give it some pop and make the fireplace stunning. White fireplace mantle and paint the brass doors black. You can get high heat black spray paint for barbecues and fireplaces at Home Depot and Lowe's.

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Comments (11)

azhomes
11 years ago
Mortar wash the brick and paint the brass with black metal paint
amarie978 thanked azhomes
Magda R
11 years ago
We just painted our brick wall white and it looks great! My other walls are BM Owl Grey and Harbor Grey...the white wall is a nice contrast.
amarie978 thanked Magda R
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LORDON Lane
11 years ago
Definitely paint the brick white. it'll b elegant n warm at the same time w ure grays
amarie978 thanked LORDON Lane
LORDON Lane
11 years ago
inspiration for behind the couch
amarie978 thanked LORDON Lane
jck910
11 years ago
Get a rug first. It is best to start with a rug even before furniture as you can then pull colors from it for the walls and furniture.
amarie978 thanked jck910
dbmalone
11 years ago
Agree with Karen, charcoal, and definitely a surround to add beauty and detail to the wall and fireplace. We painted our brass fireplace doors with the black grill spray, it's simple to apply and gives an fresh updated look.
amarie978 thanked dbmalone
amarie978
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you for all the suggestions! One question though - would charcoal gray walls work with charcoal gray furniture or wouldn't that just overdo it? remember, the furniture in the picture is not what we own, ours will be much darker.

I do like the idea of going with a rug first though. That will definitely help us pick other colors.
LORDON Lane
11 years ago
gray will b ure anchor then u accent w ure other color
acm
11 years ago
honestly, I think the current color (or a close match, maybe a little cooler to be better tonally for your couch) is great and I'd go with it. it's neutral, tames the brick, and will make a nice backdrop for your darker furniture. this would be a great time for an oriental rug with reddish tones, too, to ... make the brick look intentional. (terrible wording, can't think of another way.) but that depends a bit on your style. even if the rest is quite modern (a picture of your intended couch would help), the oriental could still be fab.

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Theresa Holt
11 years ago
I found some pretty cool brick clip hooks on Amazon.com so you can hang art work where ever you want on the brick wall without having to bang holes.