The accent in the form of a brick wall gives originality to interior design. This technique of allocating space has not lost its relevance for many years. Spectacular and expressive brickwork can become the highlight of the house, its hallmark. It finds application in a wide variety of interiors and is appropriate not only in hotels, restaurants, and offices but also in residential premises. A brick wall fills the rooms with a uniquely chic and elegance, and at the same time, does not require unique financial investments. Read more about the properties and use of brickwork later in this article.
Features of the Brick Wall Interior Design
The bold decorative element looks lively and modern despite its ancient origins. Sometimes the brick is exposed during repairs during the dismantling of the old finish – wallpaper or plaster. Do not rush to get rid of such “gifts” of fate. If a brick wall is played correctly, it will become a source of pride for the owners, arouse general interest and admiration. Sometimes, to restore the beauty of natural masonry, you have to tinker a lot. It is not so easy to clean the wall from pieces of plaster, dust, and dirt. In some cases, simple removal of residues is not enough, and the surface has to be refurbished.
When developing a project for a future design, it is necessary to take into account the following features of this type of finish:
- It can easily fit into almost any style – ethnic, classic, Provence, pop art, grunge, loft. In an eclectic design, it will also be quite appropriate.
- The shade of the accent part of the wall does not have to match the color of the base. It can be slightly lighter or darker than other surfaces.
- The material, coated with a special varnish, can add light to the room due to its good reflectivity.
- Actual brick can be successfully replaced with an imitation made from various materials.
- The striped wall will be an excellent background for decor – photographs, paintings.
- The most successful are alliances of light bricks and finishes with a red or peach tint. Coffee-colored elements are perfectly combined with gray and beige surfaces.
- Long-term service of a brick is impossible without treating its surface with antiseptic agents that protect against mold and mildew.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The primary function of brickwork in the interior is to draw attention to a specific area of the wall, to highlight it against the background of the rest of the decoration.
What is the advantage of this material over analogs? The pros of using bricks are:
- Affordability in terms of cost
- Environmental friendliness
- Naturalness
- High sound and heat insulation performance
- Moisture resistance
- Decorativeness
- Texture
- Originality
- Durability
- Easy installation is enough to have a minimum set of construction skills and the most straightforward tools.
- Functionality – in addition to the decorative function, it can serve for zoning or delimiting premises.
- Strength – hanging elements are reliably fixed on it – appliances, shelves, lamps, decor
- Self-sufficiency – additional coating processing is not required
- Excellent ability to mask existing base defects
Cons of Brick Wall:
- The need to organize high-quality lighting of untreated brick masonry. This disadvantage can be leveled by staining or using a white material.
- An overabundance of bricks in the interior creates the effect of a neglected and uncomfortable room that lacks home warmth.
- A textured surface covered with bumps and cracks is challenging to care for.
What Styles does it Suit?
The versatility of brick makes it the optimal finishing material for a wide variety of styles. It is used in interiors designed in the loft, Provence, Scandinavian, country, and many others to create a spectacular and contemporary finish.
Country Style Brick Wall Design
Natural materials prevail in this style, next to which the brick looks incredibly harmonious. Wooden beams, logs are ideally combined with bricks. The most natural design is typical for country estates, summer cottages. The simplicity and comfort of rooms with fireplaces and unassuming wooden furniture fully accept brickwork in the decoration. Such a design evokes associations with village life and relaxation in the bosom of nature.
Loft-Style Brick Wall Design
In living quarters organized in former factory and factory halls, there are no problems with free space. Such apartments always have large areas and high ceilings. These features open up the broadest scope for implementing design techniques that are unacceptable in small typical rooms. That is why overall ceiling beams, columns, brick, and concrete partitions are placed here. The loft is characterized by walls with fallen off plaster and exposed bricks, concrete, or not knowing the finish at all. When decorating accent masonry in this style, it is advisable not to paint or varnish the bricks, to leave them in their natural, natural form. The authenticity of the industrial design will only increase if potholes, cracks remain in the wall and the solution is carelessly smeared over the brick.
Scandinavian Style Brick Wall Design
Bricks are a frequent guest not only in the loft – they are a key accent in it and the Scandinavian style. White brick is an ideal textured material that allows you to subtly and neatly dilute the coldness of the smooth light walls of a snow-white interior. The porous texture creates a feeling of warmth and comfort. Such decorative masonry will not disturb the color scheme and will ideally fit into the decoration of the northern dwelling. But do not give up on red or dark counterparts. They are quite acceptable in a cold design, and the decor from them can look like a beautiful bright inlay on the snow-white wall decoration. Against the background of brick or its imitation, photographs and paintings contrasting with the base will look great, green plants in floor pots, wooden planks, beams, and panels, as well as TV and audio equipment.
Methods for Creating Brick Wall in the Interior
A brick wall can become an interior element since such a design fits well into almost all existing styles – from classic to minimalism. It all depends on the color and method of finishing the masonry. Whitewashed bricks are ideal for Provencal and Scandinavian homes. Gray and beige products will be a great addition to the design of urban kitchens. Brown and red are an integral part of the loft.
To create a wall with brickwork, both real brick and its imitation from various materials are suitable – wallpaper, PVC panels, ceramic and clinker tiles, and many others.
Natural Brick Wall Design
If there is an authentic brick partition in the interior, it can be interesting to beat it. It can be presented as a self-sufficient interior detail or as a basis for decorating and placing equipment. The design should be thought out, taking into account the characteristics of the room. For interiors in a loft or classic style, an unpainted natural surface is perfect. If you want to get a bright color accent, you can use acrylic varnish in the required shade. Special clinker oil will help to make the brick surface glossy and shiny.
Tiles Facing Brick Wall Design
Clinker tiles are designed to imitate brickwork. This material is easy to install since it is significantly thinner than real brick. The clinker adheres well to the glue and adheres well to the wall. Even a small partition can be finished with lightweight facing bricks, while only a main wall can withstand real brickwork. This is a great chance for those eager to add an element of industrial decoration to the interior and do not want to waste such a precious space.
Brick Wall Decorative Wallpaper
This is the most economical option of all possible substitutes for real brickwork. Textured non-woven wallpaper easily imitates real materials – brick, glass, wood, stone, and even textiles. If desired, such a finish can be easily repainted in a different color. This is a great choice for bold creative people who are not afraid of change and the consequences of their own choices. In this case, nothing will prevent you from changing the brown color of the brick wall to white, yellow, or coffee in a couple of hours and fitting it into the appropriate style.
Vinyl wallpaper also has its benefits. They are durable and wear-resistant, and easy to care for. With their help, it is easy to correct the imperfections of walls, ledges, and corners, to create a bright accent in the right place.
Interior Brick Wall Panels
You can use panels made of various materials – gypsum, fiberglass, hardboard, but the most common and popular are PVC and MDF products. There is a wide selection of panels on the market that imitate brickwork in various shades. These materials are easy to transport and install. They can be mounted even on an unprepared uneven base – the textured surface will hide all errors.
Soft or Flexible Brick Tiles
With the help of flexible tiles, flat surfaces are faced and complex-rounded or wavy surfaces. When decorating the corners, the tiles do not have to be cut, and they can be bent and glued to the adjacent wall. The material has an attractive appearance, good protective properties, high vapor permeability, impact resistance, resistance to weathering, ultraviolet rays, and microorganisms. It is suitable for cladding internal and external walls in apartments or private houses, suitable for decorating a living room, kitchen, corridor. A wide color palette in which flexible brick-like tiles are produced allows you to combine elements of different colors in one composition.
DIY Styrofoam Bricks
Various raw materials can be used for decorative facing bricks – gypsum blocks, wood, brick, or foam. The latter is the most popular and demanded of all analogs. With the help of this material, you can make any pattern, give the surface a very different texture. It easily imitates brickwork. Therefore it is widely used by designers to embody original ideas. Various techniques can be used to make foam bricks:
- Blocks are made from foam balls using special shapes.
- Individual bricks are cut from slabs of a certain thickness and processed to give their surface roughness and texture.
- Large sheets of polystyrene are attached to the wall, after which they form an imitation of brickwork on them.
Brick Wall Color Scheme
Classic brick has a reddish-brown tint. But you should not be limited only to this color when decorating premises. For each style, a different shade of brickwork is suitable. It is necessary to take into account the purpose of the room. If you wish, you can paint the bricks in the most unexpected color or paint an image on them using the graffiti technique.
The color of the accent wall can be completely different:
- White
- Brown
- Beige
- Gray
- Colorless
- Burgundy
- Dark blue
- Pink
It all depends on the general color scheme of the room and the wishes of the owner.
Brick Wall in the Interior of Different Rooms
Pay attention to the photos with examples of interiors. They prove that brickwork is a universal way of decorating space, absolutely appropriate in any room of a house or apartment.
In the Hallway or Corridor
Even the smallest corridor can showcase the owner’s tastes and interest guests from the doorway. A brick wall is ideal in this regard. In an alliance with large mirrors in metal frames, it will become an expressive and stylish accent in any hallway. The color of the brick should harmoniously fit into the chosen style and color palette.
In the Living Room
Such an element easily transforms an ordinary, unremarkable hall into an original author’s composition. Furniture and textiles need to be selected with an accent in mind. They should complement the standout composition and not argue with it. The color of the brick depends on the chosen style direction. A lined wall can be a scenic backdrop for family photographs, paintings, handicrafts, TV, fireplace. With its help, you can zone the space – allocate a site for organizing a recreation area, an office, or a cozy corner for reading. It will be pleasant to gather with friends in such a room and draw inspiration for creative experiments.
The ideal shades for decorating a brick wall in a living room are white, coffee, gray, but it all depends on the imagination and imagination of the interior creator.
Brick walls will perfectly fit into the interior of the living rooms of the attic floor, where gyms, billiard rooms, and a home theater are often located.
In the Kitchen
The kitchen is where we spend the most time communicating with our loved ones over breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I want this room to be cozy and comfortable. Brickwork is the perfect choice for decorating your kitchen. She has the ability to draw attention to the functionality of a given space and at the same time fill the room with comfort and warmth. It wasn’t easy to imagine a wall made of naturally aged brick at home not so long ago. Such a finish could only be seen in the brutal high-tech kitchens of expensive restaurants. Today, the presence of modern steel technology and glossy facades make such a design quite possible. Combinations of brick, black gloss, glass, and metal look incredibly expensive and fundamental.
It is not at all necessary to use brick in its original form. Moreover, such a solution is not suitable for every interior. It is better to leave it for a daring loft and extraordinary pop art. In some styles, imitation in the form of wallpaper or clinker tiles, made in light shades, is better. Neat white, beige, or gray bricks are an excellent choice for delicate Provence and minimalism.
The best colors for kitchen masonry are sand, gray, beige, red-brown, and coffee. Against the background of the accent area, various cute inscriptions, house plants, clocks, forged items, and kitchen decor made of natural wood will look great.
Decorating with new bricks is not the best solution for decorating a kitchen backsplash. It is very difficult to remove stains and dirt from it. They literally eat into the porous structure, and it is almost impossible to get rid of them. To not have any difficulties with cleaning, it is more advisable for an apron to choose a tile that imitates a real material or covers the brick with a special varnish. The smooth surface will not allow greasy stains and moisture to be absorbed. It will be easy to clean and does not require a quick replacement.
Another option for using this decorating technique is sloping, walls near the window, and corners. The main thing is not to overdo it and not to overload the space with brick inserts. One or two inclusions are quite enough.
In the Children’s Room
A children’s room is a room in which the whole life of a child passes. Here he plays, sleeps, does homework, music, painting, and sports. A brick wall can be very harmoniously fit into this small world. A corner decorated in this way will delight the little adventurer. A panel made of white or gray bricks in the shape of a fairytale castle with a fortress wall will undoubtedly delight the little princess.
The teen will also appreciate the studio or “attic” theme in their home. This wall will become a favorite decorative element in his room. Here, no one will bother him to express his own individuality and creativity. On a brick basis, the young genius will be able to place his drawings, crafts, draw a picture using the graffiti technique, hang photos of his favorite rock musicians, guitars, and even road signs. In teen rooms, brick walls are often painted dark or even black. Against such a background, bright elements look even more impressive.
In the Bathroom
In the bathroom, we retire to put ourselves to perform the necessary hygiene procedures. In addition, we need it for relaxation and relaxation. The choice of design for this space depends on the owner’s preferences, but an accent in the form of a white or beige brick wall will undoubtedly brighten any space. It will make it stylish, laconic, and at the same time, very modern. Brick goes well with white ceramics and brings a sense of warmth and comfort. Coffee or dark shades add a touch of brutality and eccentricity. The whiteness of the brick walls is perfectly set off by contrasting flooring or textiles.
In the Bedroom
A brick wall is a great way to add expressiveness to a bedroom, give it a touch of eccentricity and originality. Moreover, with the help of such a finish, you can favorably emphasize the dignity of expensive furniture, paintings decorated with frames with exquisite finishes.
Masonry can be used to decorate a wall with two large windows or an area behind the head of the bed. Light textiles look very harmonious against a brick background – it does not look darkened. You can organize the bedside space using photographs, posters, and paintings. In the loft, the surface can be left in its natural form, and in the Scandinavian style, it can be painted in white, light gray, and other delicate whitened shades.
In the Balcony
The design in the form of brickwork is ideal for a balcony or loggia. It is better to give preference to imitation brick so as not to reduce the already small space. For finishing, clinker tiles, flexible bricks, the same “hog” will be an excellent choice. It is not recommended to use foam trim in this room since it does not have sufficient strength and is unlikely to last long. Some types of finishing are more advisable to carry out on an insulated balcony, but a brick covering is quite appropriate in a cold and even open room. You can perform cladding around the entire perimeter of the loggia, including the side, or be limited to the building’s outer wall. Light shades will help to expand the room visually, make it airier, and dark ones will give brutality and solidity. Flower pots and wicker furniture will complement the composition.
Brick Wall Decoration and Lighting
A wall decorated with bricks can be an excellent backdrop for family photos, paintings, and technology. The decoration can be combined with other materials – natural stone, metal, plaster stucco. Such a neighborhood will only emphasize the sophistication of the design and add balance to the external appearance of the room. Lamps and decorative elements will make the interior surprisingly attractive and elegant.
The high-quality lighting of a brick wall will emphasize the nobility and expressiveness of its texture. If natural light is not enough, an artificial alternative can be used. High-quality directional lighting can be organized by fixing roof rails with swivel lamps on the ceiling. Spot devices and small spots can be built into the floor and ceiling along the decorative wall. A garland or LED strip is suitable for decoration, as well as pendant lamps hanging from the ceiling. Miniature double-sided spots mounted vertically on the wall will help you draw spectacular light patterns and highlight significant objects.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we note that such an element as a brick wall is absolutely not tied to any of the styles and can appear in any room.