Renovating
Adding Industrial Style to Your Home With Exposed Brick
If you’re not sure how to use bare bricks, here are some inspiring homes that nail industrial design
Plaster has its place, of course, but exposing a wall or two of brickwork can create a totally different feel in a room. Bare bricks add warmth, colour, texture and a fashionable industrial or rustic edge. In modern homes, they inject character, while in period properties, they nod to the home’s heritage.
Don’t want to expose genuine brickwork? Cheat by using super-slim brick slips, which are applied like tiles but look authentic. Or try trompe l’oeil brick wallpaper. If terracotta tones aren’t for you or your bricks aren’t up to scratch, paint them in a colour of your choice for a fresh alternative – white is hard to beat, but soft greys and even black can work well too. Check out these bare brick schemes, both real and imitation for inspiration.
Don’t want to expose genuine brickwork? Cheat by using super-slim brick slips, which are applied like tiles but look authentic. Or try trompe l’oeil brick wallpaper. If terracotta tones aren’t for you or your bricks aren’t up to scratch, paint them in a colour of your choice for a fresh alternative – white is hard to beat, but soft greys and even black can work well too. Check out these bare brick schemes, both real and imitation for inspiration.
Use as a backsplash
An exposed brickwork backsplash is a smart way to warm up an all-white kitchen, and adds instant rustic attitude. Once exposed, the brickwork will need to be carefully sealed for protection. This option also won’t be as easy to wipe down as a traditional tiled backsplash.
An exposed brickwork backsplash is a smart way to warm up an all-white kitchen, and adds instant rustic attitude. Once exposed, the brickwork will need to be carefully sealed for protection. This option also won’t be as easy to wipe down as a traditional tiled backsplash.
Embrace reclaimed chic
If your style is industrial and vintage, a wall of exposed bricks will add that longed-for warehouse vibe. This rough and ready wall goes a treat with the utilitarian metal chairs and pendant lights. Remember, however, that raw brickwork may be more draughty, especially if it’s an exterior wall.
Need more inspiration? Discover the beauty of exposed brickwork in this chic kitchen
If your style is industrial and vintage, a wall of exposed bricks will add that longed-for warehouse vibe. This rough and ready wall goes a treat with the utilitarian metal chairs and pendant lights. Remember, however, that raw brickwork may be more draughty, especially if it’s an exterior wall.
Need more inspiration? Discover the beauty of exposed brickwork in this chic kitchen
Expose a chimney breast
A bare brick chimney breast makes a lovely feature in a period home. It draws attention to the heritage of the property without overwhelming the room. It’s an ideal choice if you only want a flash of exposed brick.
A bare brick chimney breast makes a lovely feature in a period home. It draws attention to the heritage of the property without overwhelming the room. It’s an ideal choice if you only want a flash of exposed brick.
White it out
Not everyone loves brick’s orangey tones, so you might want to paint over it. Painted brickwork can look lovely: it shows off the character while disguising any ugly or battered specimens. Choose classic white for a simple, light look.
Not everyone loves brick’s orangey tones, so you might want to paint over it. Painted brickwork can look lovely: it shows off the character while disguising any ugly or battered specimens. Choose classic white for a simple, light look.
Join the dark side
If white is too dazzling for you, go dark. In this dining area, the black wall adds depth and a cosy feel. Painting bricks a darker hue also hides a multitude of sins if the brickwork is grimy or a patchwork of different shades.
If white is too dazzling for you, go dark. In this dining area, the black wall adds depth and a cosy feel. Painting bricks a darker hue also hides a multitude of sins if the brickwork is grimy or a patchwork of different shades.
Go bare in a bathroom
It’s tempting to revert to wall-to-wall tiles in a bathroom, but bare bricks can work anywhere if you put your mind to it. This strip of aged brickwork looks beautiful above the tongue-and-groove panelling and vintage-style freestanding tub.
It’s tempting to revert to wall-to-wall tiles in a bathroom, but bare bricks can work anywhere if you put your mind to it. This strip of aged brickwork looks beautiful above the tongue-and-groove panelling and vintage-style freestanding tub.
Give a loft extra style
Loft conversions can sometimes end up looking a bit ‘samey’. In this country home, the exposed stone teamed with the rafters turn this loft into a snug, rustic-style retreat.
Loft conversions can sometimes end up looking a bit ‘samey’. In this country home, the exposed stone teamed with the rafters turn this loft into a snug, rustic-style retreat.
Strip back at the stairs
Stairwells make a surprisingly good place for a brick feature wall, introducing a characterful period feel; a stylish hall and staircase can set the tone for the rest of your home. In this space, painting the wall white helps it to blend in with the rest of the hallway.
Stairwells make a surprisingly good place for a brick feature wall, introducing a characterful period feel; a stylish hall and staircase can set the tone for the rest of your home. In this space, painting the wall white helps it to blend in with the rest of the hallway.
Stay distressed
The look of shabby-chic peeling paintwork can be glorious, as seen in this stunning warehouse kitchen. Just make sure the effect is artlessly distressed or whitewashed, not run-down and dilapidated.
The look of shabby-chic peeling paintwork can be glorious, as seen in this stunning warehouse kitchen. Just make sure the effect is artlessly distressed or whitewashed, not run-down and dilapidated.
Light it up
If you’re baring all, show it off. These spotlights bring out the texture of the bricks, while the industrial furnishings and fittings – including old shop letters and factory chairs – match perfectly.
If you’re baring all, show it off. These spotlights bring out the texture of the bricks, while the industrial furnishings and fittings – including old shop letters and factory chairs – match perfectly.
Define an area
Use an expanse of exposed brick to help “zone up” an open-plan room. Without the brick feature wall, this contemporary open-plan space would look far more boxy and boring.
View more exposed brick homes
Use an expanse of exposed brick to help “zone up” an open-plan room. Without the brick feature wall, this contemporary open-plan space would look far more boxy and boring.
View more exposed brick homes
Pick a shade of grey
Grey is still proving popular in our homes – so why not use it on brickwork too? This super-tall chimney breast looks elegant, but the brick detail has way more impact than plain grey-painted plaster would have done.
Unsure about grey? See this stylish scheme of bare bricks and deep grey
Grey is still proving popular in our homes – so why not use it on brickwork too? This super-tall chimney breast looks elegant, but the brick detail has way more impact than plain grey-painted plaster would have done.
Unsure about grey? See this stylish scheme of bare bricks and deep grey
Try a combination
Mix raw brickwork with painted brick walls for the best of both worlds. Painting most of this room white – with a just a sliver of original brick red – enhances the available light and stops it feeling too clinical or coffee-shop-like.
TELL US
How have you used exposed bricks in your home? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
MORE
The real industrial style
Mix raw brickwork with painted brick walls for the best of both worlds. Painting most of this room white – with a just a sliver of original brick red – enhances the available light and stops it feeling too clinical or coffee-shop-like.
TELL US
How have you used exposed bricks in your home? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
MORE
The real industrial style
Sponsored
Before you tackle all your plaster with a chisel and hammer, check out the quality and colour of your bricks. Will they be too yellow, too orange or too red for you? Do you want to expose every wall, or just a couple of choice zones?
Before you go ahead, check with your local Building Regulations department that there are no restrictions to exposing your wall of choice. There may be insulation requirements to fulfil, especially where the wall is an external-facing one.