Choosing Exterior Paint Colors for Michigan Brick Homes
📝 By NEXT Exteriors📅 February 19, 2026⏱ 12 min read
If you own a brick home in Southeast Michigan, you know the struggle: you want to refresh the exterior with new paint, but how do you choose colors that complement the brick instead of clashing with it? We've been helping homeowners in Macomb County, Oakland County, and St. Clair County solve this exact problem for over 35 years.
Brick is permanent. It's not going anywhere. That means every other color decision — trim, shutters, gutters, doors — needs to work with what's already there. Get it right, and your home looks cohesive and intentional. Get it wrong, and even a fresh coat of paint can make the house feel off.
Here's what we've learned from hundreds of exterior painting projects in Southeast Michigan: choosing paint colors for brick homes isn't about trends or personal favorites. It's about understanding your brick's undertones, respecting your home's architectural style, and selecting products that can handle Michigan's freeze-thaw cycles and UV exposure.
This guide walks you through the process we use on every project — from identifying your brick's true color to coordinating trim, shutters, and accents. Whether you're in Rochester Hills working with traditional red brick or in Grosse Pointe Farms dealing with painted white brick, you'll know exactly how to make decisions that increase curb appeal and hold up over time.
Understanding Your Brick's Undertones
The first mistake homeowners make is describing their brick as simply "red" or "brown." Brick is never one color. Even on a single home, you'll see variation — different shades, flecks of other colors, weathering patterns. The key to choosing paint colors that work is identifying the dominant undertone.
Stand outside your home in natural daylight — not early morning or late afternoon when the light is too warm. Look at the brick closely. Is the overall tone warm (orange, rust, terra cotta) or cool (gray, taupe, purple-ish)? Are there hints of pink? Yellow? Does the mortar lean white, cream, or gray?
Here's what we see most often in Southeast Michigan:
Traditional red brick: Warm undertones with orange or rust. Common on 1960s-1980s ranch homes and Colonials throughout Sterling Heights and Warren.
Orange-toned brick: Bright, warm, almost terra cotta. Shows up on mid-century homes and some newer construction in Troy and Bloomfield Hills.
Brown brick: Earth tones ranging from chocolate to tan. Cooler than red brick, often with gray or taupe undertones. Popular in 1990s-2000s builds.
Gray brick: Cool-toned, modern. Increasingly common on newer homes and renovations in Royal Oak and Lake Orion.
Whitewashed or painted brick: Originally red or brown brick that's been painted or limewashed. Creates a clean slate but still shows texture.
The mortar matters too. White or cream mortar creates high contrast and makes the brick pattern more prominent. Gray mortar blends in and softens the overall look. Your paint colors need to account for both the brick and the mortar — they're a package deal.
Pro Tip: Take photos of your brick in different lighting conditions and bring them with you when selecting paint samples. What looks right at 10 a.m. might look completely different at 4 p.m. when the sun hits the west side of your house.
Best Paint Colors for Red Brick Homes
Red brick is the most common brick color in Michigan, especially on homes built between 1950 and 1990. It's warm, traditional, and pairs well with a surprising range of paint colors — as long as you respect the undertones.
Classic White and Cream
White trim is the default choice for red brick, and for good reason: it creates clean contrast without competing. But "white" covers a huge spectrum. Pure white (like Sherwin-Williams Pure White or Extra White) can look stark and cold against warm brick. Instead, look for whites with a slight warm undertone:
Sherwin-Williams Alabaster: Soft white with a hint of warmth. Works beautifully on traditional Colonials in Clinton Township and Shelby Township.
Sherwin-Williams Dover White: Creamy, not stark. Complements orange-red brick without looking dingy.
Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa: Warm off-white that feels intentional, not builder-grade.
Avoid cool whites or whites with blue or gray undertones — they'll clash with the warmth of the brick and make the whole house feel disjointed.
Warm Neutrals
If you want something other than white, warm neutrals are your safest bet. These colors echo the brick's warmth without matching it too closely:
Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige: Greige with warm undertones. Subtle, sophisticated, works on ranch homes and two-stories alike.
Sherwin-Williams Balanced Beige: Slightly warmer than Accessible Beige. Great for homes with a lot of brick coverage.
Sherwin-Williams Nomadic Desert: Soft tan that complements red brick without fading into it.
These colors work especially well when you want the brick to remain the focal point but need the trim and soffits to add warmth rather than stark contrast.
Bold Contrasts
Want to make a statement? Dark colors can create dramatic contrast with red brick — but they require confidence. We've done several projects in Grosse Pointe Farms and Birmingham where homeowners went bold, and the results were stunning:
Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black: True black trim against red brick is classic and timeless. Best on homes with strong architectural lines and good proportions.
Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore: Charcoal gray with warm undertones. Less severe than black but equally striking.
Sherwin-Williams Naval: Deep navy blue. Works surprisingly well with red brick, especially when paired with white accents.
Dark colors absorb heat and show dirt more readily, so factor in maintenance. In Michigan, road salt spray and winter grime are real considerations. We typically recommend these colors for front-facing trim and shutters, not full-house applications.
Paint Colors for Brown and Tan Brick
Brown and tan brick leans cooler than red brick, often with gray or taupe undertones. It's common on homes built in the 1990s and 2000s, and it's having a moment again on new construction. The challenge with brown brick is avoiding a muddy, monochromatic look where everything blends together.
Creating Contrast
Brown brick needs contrast to avoid looking flat. White and cream are still strong choices, but you can also go darker:
Sherwin-Williams Pure White: Crisp, clean, creates sharp contrast. Works on contemporary homes in Royal Oak and Lake Orion.
Sherwin-Williams Urbane Bronze: Deep brown with gray undertones. Surprisingly effective when used on shutters and trim against lighter tan brick.
Sherwin-Williams Cityscape: Warm gray that complements brown brick without competing.
The goal is to create visual separation. If your brick is medium brown, don't choose a paint color that's also medium brown. Go lighter or darker — never the same value.
Warm Grays and Greiges
Gray and greige (gray-beige) colors work beautifully with brown brick because they share cool undertones:
Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray: True gray with a hint of warmth. Pairs well with tan brick on modern farmhouse styles.
Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray: Greige that leans slightly warm. Versatile and forgiving.
Sherwin-Williams Mindful Gray: Cooler gray that works with brown brick that has taupe undertones.
These colors are especially popular in newer subdivisions in Macomb and Chesterfield, where brown brick is standard on builder homes.
Avoiding Muddy Combinations
The biggest mistake with brown brick is choosing a trim color that's too similar in tone. Even if the hue is different, if the value (lightness/darkness) is the same, the house will look muddy and undefined. Always test samples on the actual house — what looks good on a paint chip can disappear against the brick.
Paint Colors for Gray and White Brick
Gray brick and painted white brick are the most flexible when it comes to color coordination. Gray brick is cool-toned and modern, while white brick creates a neutral backdrop that works with almost anything.
Gray Brick
Gray brick pairs beautifully with both warm and cool colors, depending on the look you want:
Cool palette: Sherwin-Williams Pure White, Snowbound, or Extra White for trim. Adds crispness and keeps the modern feel.
Warm palette: Sherwin-Williams Alabaster, Dover White, or Shoji White. Softens the coolness of the gray brick.
Bold accents: Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black, Iron Ore, or Naval for shutters and doors. Creates high contrast and drama.
Gray brick is increasingly common on new builds and whole-home renovations in Troy and Rochester Hills. It's contemporary without being trendy, and it ages well.
Painted or Whitewashed Brick
If your brick has been painted white or limewashed, you have more freedom with trim colors because the brick itself is now neutral. Popular combinations we've done include:
White brick + black trim: Classic, high-contrast, works on any architectural style.
White brick + warm gray trim: Softer, more transitional. Popular in Bloomfield Hills.
White brick + navy or forest green shutters: Adds personality without overwhelming the clean backdrop.
One caution: painted brick requires ongoing maintenance. Paint on brick doesn't last as long as paint on wood or fiber cement because brick is porous and subject to moisture movement. Expect to repaint every 5-7 years in Michigan's climate, especially on south and west-facing walls that take the most UV exposure.
Trim, Shutters, and Accent Colors
Once you've chosen your primary trim color, you need to coordinate gutters, shutters, doors, and other accents. This is where the 60-30-10 rule comes in: 60% brick (your dominant color), 30% trim (your secondary color), and 10% accents (shutters, door, etc.).
Gutter and Downspout Colors
Gutters should either match your trim or blend with the brick. Most homeowners default to white gutters, which works fine if your trim is white. But if you have darker trim or want a more cohesive look, consider:
Matching the brick color: Custom-colored seamless gutters in Detroit, MI can be painted to blend with the brick, making them visually disappear.
Matching the trim color: Creates a unified look, especially effective with darker trim colors.
Bronze or copper-tone: Works beautifully with brown and red brick. Adds warmth and a slightly upscale feel.
We install seamless gutters on most of our exterior services in Detroit projects, and color coordination is always part of the conversation. Gutters are functional, but they're also visible — they should enhance the overall color scheme, not detract from it.
Shutter Colors
Shutters are your opportunity to add personality. Traditional choices include:
Black: Classic, works with any brick color. Never goes out of style.
Navy blue: Adds color without being loud. Complements red and brown brick.
Forest green: Traditional on Colonial and Cape Cod homes. Pairs well with red brick and cream trim.
Charcoal gray: Modern alternative to black. Softer but still provides contrast.
Avoid matching shutters to the brick color — they'll disappear. Shutters should frame the windows and create visual interest.
Front Door Color
Your front door is the smallest color area but often the most impactful. Popular choices in Southeast Michigan include:
Red: Bold, welcoming, classic on brick homes.
Navy or cobalt blue: Sophisticated, works with almost any brick color.
Black: Timeless, elegant, pairs with white or light trim.
Deep green or teal: Adds personality without being overly trendy.
The door color should coordinate with the shutters but doesn't have to match. Think of it as an accent that ties the whole palette together.
Michigan Climate Considerations
Choosing the right colors is only half the equation. In Michigan, you also need to choose the right products. Our climate is brutal on exterior paint — freeze-thaw cycles, UV exposure, humidity swings, road salt spray, and ice dams all take their toll.
UV Resistance and Color Fade
Dark colors absorb more UV radiation and fade faster than light colors. If you're choosing a deep navy, charcoal, or black for shutters or trim, expect some fading over time — especially on south and west-facing exposures.
We exclusively use Sherwin-Williams products for exterior painting in Southeast Michigan because their Duration and Emerald lines include advanced UV inhibitors. These products hold color better than cheaper alternatives, which matters when you're looking at 7-10 years between repaints.
Freeze-Thaw Durability
Michigan winters are hard on paint. Water gets into micro-cracks, freezes, expands, and causes the paint to peel or blister. This is especially problematic on brick homes because brick is porous — moisture moves through it constantly.
High-quality acrylic latex paints are more flexible than oil-based paints, which means they expand and contract with temperature changes without cracking. Sherwin-Williams Duration and Emerald both use advanced acrylic resins designed for exactly this kind of climate stress.
Best Application Seasons
We paint exteriors in Michigan from late April through October. Ideal conditions are 50-85°F with low humidity and no rain in the forecast for at least 24 hours. Painting too early in spring or too late in fall risks poor adhesion and slow curing, which leads to premature failure.
If you're planning an exterior paint project, book it in late spring or early fall when temperatures are stable and crews aren't slammed with emergency Detroit roofing services after storm damage.
Proper Surface Prep
Paint is only as good as the surface underneath. On brick homes, that means:
Pressure washing to remove dirt, mold, and chalking
Scraping and sanding any existing painted surfaces (trim, soffits, fascia)
Priming bare wood and previously painted surfaces with a high-quality primer
Caulking gaps around windows, doors, and trim to prevent water infiltration
We see too many homeowners — and frankly, too many contractors — skip these steps to save time or money. It's a false economy. Paint applied over dirty or poorly prepped surfaces will fail within 2-3 years, and you'll be repainting sooner than you should.
Michigan Reality Check: If a contractor quotes you an exterior paint job without mentioning surface prep, walk away. Proper prep accounts for 50-60% of the labor on a quality paint job. It's not optional.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
After 35+ years and hundreds of exterior paint projects in Southeast Michigan, we've seen the same mistakes over and over. Here's what to avoid:
Matching the Brick Too Closely
The goal is coordination, not camouflage. If your trim color is too close to your brick color — even if they're technically different hues — the house will look flat and undefined. Always create contrast, either through value (lightness/darkness) or temperature (warm vs. cool).
Ignoring Architectural Style
A 1960s ranch in Sterling Heights and a Tudor Revival in Grosse Pointe Farms should not have the same color scheme, even if they both have red brick. Respect the architectural style of your home. Traditional styles call for classic color combinations. Modern styles can handle bolder, more unexpected palettes.
Choosing Trendy Colors
Exterior paint should last 7-10 years. That trendy color you saw on Pinterest might look dated in three years. Stick with classic, timeless combinations unless you're willing to repaint more frequently. Navy, black, white, cream, and gray never go out of style.
Skipping the Sample Stage
Never choose paint colors based solely on a 2x2-inch paint chip. Buy sample quarts and paint large poster boards (at least 2x2 feet). Tape them to different sides of your house and observe them in morning, midday, and late afternoon light. Colors look completely different depending on the angle of the sun and surrounding landscape.
Using Cheap Paint
Budget paint from big-box stores might save you $20 per gallon, but it'll cost you in the long run. Cheap paint fades faster, chalks more readily, and requires more frequent repainting. We use Sherwin-Williams exclusively because the performance difference is measurable — and because we stand behind our work with real warranties.
DIY Without the Right Equipment
Painting trim and shutters is one thing. Painting soffits, fascia, and second-story gable ends is another. If you don't have proper scaffolding, sprayers, and safety equipment, hire a professional. We've repaired too many DIY disasters where homeowners fell off ladders or created uneven coverage because they couldn't reach properly.
If you're also considering other exterior upgrades — like new energy-efficient windows in Detroit or updated house siding in Detroit — coordinate the colors across all elements before you start any single project. We've helped dozens of homeowners plan phased exterior renovations where the color palette evolves logically from one project to the next.
Ready to Refresh Your Brick Home's Exterior?
NEXT Exteriors has been helping Michigan homeowners choose the right colors and apply them correctly since 1988. We'll walk you through the entire process — from color consultation to final coat — with no pressure and no gimmicks. Just honest work and results that last.
Get Your Free Color Consultation
Or call us: (844) 770-6398
Frequently Asked Questions
What paint colors go best with red brick? +
White and cream are classic choices that create clean contrast. Sherwin-Williams Alabaster, Dover White, and Greek Villa all work beautifully. For something bolder, try Tricorn Black or Iron Ore for trim and shutters. Avoid cool whites or colors with blue undertones — they'll clash with the warmth of red brick.
Should I paint my brick house? +
Painting brick is a permanent decision — once painted, it's nearly impossible to return to natural brick. Paint can refresh a tired-looking facade and allow for color customization, but it also requires ongoing maintenance (repainting every 5-7 years in Michigan). If your brick is in good condition and you like the color, we generally recommend leaving it unpainted and focusing on trim, shutters, and accents instead.
How long does exterior paint last in Michigan? +
High-quality paint (like Sherwin-Williams Duration or Emerald) applied correctly should last 7-10 years on trim and siding in Michigan's climate. Cheaper paint or poor surface prep can cut that lifespan in half. South and west-facing exposures fade faster due to UV exposure. Properly maintained gutters and good attic ventilation (which prevents ice dams and moisture issues) also extend paint life significantly.
What's the best time of year to paint exteriors in Michigan? +
Late April through October, with ideal conditions in late spring (May-June) and early fall (September-October). You need temperatures between 50-85°F, low humidity, and no rain for at least 24 hours after application. Avoid painting in direct summer sun when surface temperatures exceed 90°F — the paint dries too fast and doesn't adhere properly.
Do I need special paint for brick homes? +
If you're painting the brick itself, yes — use a breathable masonry paint that allows moisture vapor to escape. For trim, soffits, and shutters on a brick home, use high-quality acrylic latex paint designed for exterior use. We use Sherwin-Williams products exclusively because they're formulated for durability in climates like Michigan's, with advanced UV resistance and flexibility to handle freeze-thaw cycles.
How do I choose between warm and cool paint colors? +
Match the temperature of your brick. Red and orange brick have warm undertones, so choose warm whites (Alabaster, Dover White) and warm neutrals (Accessible Beige, Balanced Beige). Brown brick with gray undertones and gray brick are cooler, so you can use true whites (Pure White, Extra White) and cool grays (Repose Gray, Mindful Gray). When in doubt, test samples on your actual house in different lighting conditions.
Should gutters match trim or brick? +
Either works, depending on the look you want. Matching gutters to trim (usually white) is traditional and creates a unified appearance. Matching gutters to brick makes them visually recede and puts more emphasis on the architecture. On homes with darker trim, matching the gutters to the trim color creates a cohesive, intentional look. We install custom-colored seamless gutters that can be painted to match either element.