How do you paint a wall that looks like brick?

Painting a wall to look like brick can completely transform the look and feel of a room. With the right preparation and painting technique, you can create the illusion of exposed brick on any smooth wall surface. This faux brick paint technique allows you to get the rustic, vintage brick look without the hassle and expense of actual masonry work.

Supplies Needed

Painting faux brick requires just a few simple supplies:

• Primer – Latex wall primer
• Base paint color – One or two shades of brick or terracotta paint
• Accent paint color – A darker brown or gray for mortar lines
• Paint brushes – At least two bristle brushes in different sizes
• Paint roller and tray
• Painters tape
• Ruler or tape measure
• Pencil
• Sponge

Step 1: Prepare the Wall Surface

Proper prep work is crucial for getting clean looking faux brick lines. Start by cleaning the wall thoroughly and applying a coat of wall primer. Let the primer fully dry before painting on your base color. Priming ensures better paint adhesion and provides a fresh, blank surface to work on.

Step 2: Apply the Base Color

Use a paint roller to apply one or two coats of your base color. This should be in a shade of brick, terracotta or other natural clay color. Apply the paint in long, slightly overlapping columns from top to bottom. Let each coat fully dry before adding another. The base color creates the underlying brick tone and helps blend any imperfect lines later on.

Step 3: Map Out the Brick Pattern

Now it’s time to map out the pattern of your faux bricks. Start by measuring out consistent horizontal rows to follow across the wall. Use a pencil to mark very faint lines where the horizontal mortar lines will go. The vertical mortar lines can be more organic, no need to measure these out. Just sketch vertical lines spaced out every 5-8 inches across the wall.

Step back occasionally to make sure your lines look natural and varied. They shouldn’t be perfectly straight or evenly spaced. Use a ruler as needed to keep horizontal lines straight. The vertical lines can be hand drawn.

Step 4: Tape Off the Borders

Take painters tape and tape off top and bottom borders that will remain your base color. Only the central area of each wall will be painted to look like brick. Taping off the edges creates a more realistic look. Apply the tape in a straight, even line and press down firmly.

Step 5: Start Painting the Mortar Lines

Now for the fun part – start painting in the mortar lines between your sketched rows using your dark accent color. Load a small brush with paint and carefully trace along the inside edge of your horizontal lines first. Then fill in the vertical lines. Keep the lines fairly narrow, in an approximate 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch width.

Work methodically in small sections until brick outlines emerge row-by-row. Let the lines slightly waver and blend together at points. Try to vary the thickness and darkness of the lines just as real mortar would look. If any areas seem too uniform, you can dab them gently with a dry brush to soften the edges. The beauty of faux painting is that it doesn’t need to be perfect!

Step 6: Allow the Mortar Lines to Dry

Let your freshly painted mortar lines fully dry before moving to the next step. Drying time may range from 1-3 hours. It’s crucial the lines are dried before rubbing or sponging, as wet paint will smear and muddy the crisp look of your bricks.

Step 7: Rub and Distress the Brick

Once dry, take a clean rag or sponge and start rubbing/distressing the bricks. Apply light pressure in vertical motions to rough up and fade the base color bricks. Remove paint in areas to create an aged, worn look. Focus on the center of each brick rather than the edges.

Try using different dabbing and scrubbing motions for variety. You can also wrap a stiff bristle brush in the rag for more texture. Continue weathering the bricks until you’re happy with the vintage vibe.

Step 8: Accent with Dry Brushing

Use a dry bristle brush to add accent details like blobs, trails and dots. Dip just the tip of the brush in your accent paint color and lightly dab onto bricks in random areas. This adds another weathered dimension, similar to the natural mottling of clay and mortar.

Lightly drag or draw the dry brush in irregular directions to leave paint trails. Dab dots and specks of darker accent paint randomly around larger bricks. Work lightly and build up the detailing gradually for a natural look.

Step 9: Soften Color Transitions

Blend together any harsh color transitions using a clean, dry rag. Lightly buff the edges where bricks and mortar lines meet. You want a mottled, faded look, not harsh edges. Be careful not to smear the mortar lines too much though.

Also dab and blend together any spots where your dry brush accents are too thick. Soften them into the surrounding brick. The key is making the textured detailing look integrated and natural.

Step 10: Seal the Paint with Polyurethane

After all paint work is complete, apply 1-3 protective coats of water-based satin polyurethane. Use a brush or foam applicator to carefully cover the entire faux brick surface. Let each coat fully dry 2-3 hours before adding the next. The polyurethane sealant will protect your beautiful faux brick wall from accidental smudges and makes it washable.

Tips for Achieving a Realistic Faux Brick Look

• Use two alternating base colors for a more authentic look.
• Create irregular brick sizes and shapes for natural variation.
• Fade the mortar lines and distress bricks towards the edges/corners.
• Add extra mottling and detailing towards the top near the ceiling.
• Use a textured paint roller to create a subtle stucco-like surface.
• Paint grout lines in a lighter mortar shade first to define edges before going darker.
• Work in small sections for the best control over clean lines/details.
• Step back frequently to check everything is blending together naturally.

Faux Brick Paint Colors

Choosing the right paint colors is key for realistic faux brick. Here are some recommended color palettes:

Base Colors	Accent Mortar Color
Charcoal Brown, Burnt Umber	Lamp Black
Russet, Terra Cotta	Iron Ore
Sunbaked Clay, Adobe	Raw Umber
Cinnamon, Clay	Chocolate Brown

Aim for a subtle contrast between brick and mortar. Deep reds and browns work well as base colors. Dark gray, brown or black creates realistic shadows in mortar lines. Custom mix your own colors for an exact match to real brick shades.

Interior vs. Exterior Faux Brick

This faux brick technique works beautifully on interior walls and ceilings. For exterior surfaces, make sure to use specialized exterior masonry paints rated for outdoor use. You’ll also need to take additional steps to seal, prime and prepare exterior walls before painting faux brick designs.

Outdoor faux brick should be re-sealed annually to withstand weathering. Consider hiring a professional painter familiar with exterior faux finishes for longest lasting results.

Hiring a Pro for Faux Brick

While a DIY faux brick wall is definitely achievable, you can also hire a professional faux painter for expert results. Professional painters have the artistic eye, specialized tools and experience to pull off seamless faux finishes.

Pros can recreate ultra-realistic vintage, exposed and painted brick effects. They handle all the prep work, detail painting, finishing and re-sealing. This frees you up to focus on other aspects of your home renovation or decor project.

Conclusion

With the right materials and some practice, you can transform plain walls into stunning faux brick surfaces. Just take your time following the steps and work in small, careful sections for the most natural looking finish. Vary your brick sizes, colors and detailing for authenticity. Faux brick painting allows you to affordably add vintage character to any indoor or outdoor space.