The secret to finding the perfect shutter color for your home isn’t on a paint chip—it’s in the brick itself. Brown brick is rarely just one solid color; it’s a beautiful mosaic of subtle undertones, with hints of red, gray, or orange hiding in plain sight. Learning to spot these underlying hues is the key to choosing a color that looks harmonious and intentional, not random. This guide will teach you how to read your brick like a pro, so you can confidently select from the best shutter colors for a brown brick house and create a cohesive, polished look.
Key Takeaways
- Look to Your Brick for Clues: The secret to a perfect shutter color is hidden in your brick. Identify its subtle undertones—whether warm reds and oranges or cool grays—and choose a shutter color that complements them for a polished, designer-level look.
- Think Beyond the Shutters: A great shutter color works in harmony with your trim and front door. Plan these three elements together to create a cohesive color palette that frames your home and gives it a complete, intentional curb appeal.
- Sample Your Colors the Right Way: Never trust a paint chip. To see how a color will truly look, paint a large sample board and watch how it changes in the morning sun, afternoon shade, and on cloudy days before making your final choice.
First, Find Your Brick's Undertones
Before you even think about picking up a paint swatch, the first step is to get to know your brick. It might sound simple, but brown brick is rarely just one solid color. Up close, you’ll notice a complex blend of shades and subtle hues hiding just beneath the surface. These are its undertones, and they are the secret to choosing a shutter color that looks intentional and harmonious rather than accidental.
Identifying these undertones—whether they lean warm with hints of red and orange, or cool with flecks of gray—is the foundation of a successful color scheme. Pairing your shutters with these underlying colors will create a cohesive and polished look for your home's exterior. Ignoring them can result in a color combination that just feels slightly "off," even if you can't put your finger on why. So, let’s take a closer look at what your brick is telling you.
Spotting Red Undertones
Many classic brown bricks have distinct red undertones, giving them a warm, earthy, and timeless quality. If you look closely and see hints of terracotta, burgundy, or classic crimson woven into the brown, you’re working with red undertones. To complement this warmth, think rich and deep. Shutter colors like a dark walnut, mahogany, or even a deep chocolate brown will pull out the richness of the red without competing with it. This creates a sophisticated, monochromatic look that feels both grounded and elegant.
Identifying Orange Undertones
Similar to red, orange undertones bring a lot of warmth and vibrancy to brown brick. These bricks might have flecks of burnt orange, rust, or even a subtle peach hue. The goal here is to enhance that inviting warmth. Leaning into rich, warm brown shutters is a fantastic choice. A deep, warm brown will make the orange tones in the brick feel more purposeful and vibrant. This pairing is perfect for creating a welcoming and cozy curb appeal that feels sunny and bright, even on a cloudy day.
Recognizing Gray Undertones
Not all brown brick is warm. Some varieties have cool, subtle gray or taupe undertones mixed in. You might see specks of slate, stone, or even a soft, dusty greige within the brick's texture. For these homes, choosing a cooler brown for the shutters creates a beautiful sense of balance. A shutter in a taupe, greige, or a muted, earthy brown will harmonize with the gray flecks, resulting in a modern and serene exterior. This approach prevents the shutters from feeling too warm or jarring against the cooler brick.
How to Test Undertones in Different Light
Once you think you’ve identified your brick’s undertones, it’s time to test your theory. The way a color looks on a tiny paint chip in a store is completely different from how it will look on your home. Grab a few sample pots of your top shutter color contenders and paint a large swatch on a piece of cardboard or poster board. Place it next to your brick and observe it throughout the day—in the bright morning sun, the soft afternoon light, and the evening shade. This simple step is the best way to see how the colors truly interact with your brick and can save you from a costly color mistake.
The Best Shutter Colors for Brown Brick Homes
Choosing the right shutter color is one of the best ways to enhance your brown brick home’s curb appeal. Brown brick is incredibly versatile, offering a warm and earthy canvas to work with. The perfect shutter color can either create a striking, high-contrast statement or a subtle, harmonious look that feels cohesive and welcoming. Think of your shutters as the finishing touch that ties your home’s entire exterior together. Below are five classic and beautiful color options that pair wonderfully with brown brick, each creating a distinct personality for your home.
Classic Black for a Bold Contrast
You can never go wrong with a classic. Black shutters offer a timeless, elegant contrast against the warmth of brown brick, creating a crisp and sophisticated look. This high-contrast pairing makes your windows pop and sharply defines your home’s architectural details. It’s a versatile choice that works beautifully on everything from traditional colonial homes to more modern designs. If you want to add a touch of formality and undeniable curb appeal, black is a foolproof option. A professional exterior painting service can ensure the lines are clean and the finish is flawless, giving you that sharp, polished look.
Dark Brown for Subtle Elegance
For a more understated and monochromatic look, consider pairing your brown brick with dark brown shutters. The key to getting this right is choosing a shade of brown that is two or three shades darker than your brick. This creates just enough contrast to add dimension without looking flat. This combination results in a warm, rich, and cohesive exterior that feels grounded and elegant. It’s an excellent choice if you prefer a more natural, earthy aesthetic over a bold statement. This approach highlights the beautiful, varied tones within the brick itself, creating a seamless and sophisticated appearance.
Forest Green for Natural Appeal
Connecting your home to its natural surroundings is always a beautiful choice. Deep, earthy greens like forest, hunter, or even a dark olive green look stunning against brown brick. This color combination feels organic and welcoming, especially if your home is surrounded by lush landscaping, trees, or a garden. The cool, natural tones of the green provide a lovely balance to the warm, reddish-brown hues in the brick. You can see how beautifully different colors complement a home’s exterior in our portfolio. A deep green is perfect for creating a serene, inviting look that feels both classic and fresh.
Navy Blue for a Sophisticated Look
If you’re looking for a color that feels both classic and modern, navy blue is a fantastic option. Navy shutters provide a cool, sophisticated contrast to the warmth of brown brick, creating a balanced and visually interesting exterior. This pairing is a bit more unexpected than black but delivers the same level of elegance and style. A deep, rich navy can make your home feel stately and polished, adding a touch of color without being overwhelming. It’s a popular choice for homeowners who want to stand out in a subtle, refined way, giving their home a timeless yet contemporary feel.
Beige and Cream for a Softer Contrast
To create a light, airy, and inviting look, consider soft neutrals like beige, cream, or taupe for your shutters. Unlike the bold statement of black or navy, these lighter colors offer a gentle contrast that brightens your home’s exterior. This pairing is perfect for highlighting the texture of the brick in a subtle, elegant way. A creamy off-white or a warm beige can make your home feel larger and more welcoming. This color scheme is particularly well-suited for ranch, cottage, or Mediterranean-style homes, creating a relaxed and charming vibe. Explore our residential painting services to see how we can bring this soft, elegant look to your home.
Match Shutters to Your Brick's Undertones
The secret to a perfectly coordinated home exterior lies in the undertones of your brick. Brown brick is rarely just brown; it’s a complex blend of colors. Look closely, and you might see hints of red, orange, or even gray. Identifying this underlying color is the first step to choosing a shutter color that complements your home instead of clashing with it. Getting this right is what creates that polished, cohesive look that makes a house feel like a home.
Pairing Warm Undertones with Complementary Colors
If your brown brick has noticeable red, orange, or yellowish tints, it has warm undertones. The best way to flatter these bricks is to lean into that warmth. Think of rich, earthy colors that feel cozy and inviting. For brick with strong red tones, a deep forest green or a dark chocolate brown shutter creates a classic, grounded look. If your brick leans more orange, a sophisticated navy blue can provide a stunning complementary contrast. These warm shutter colors work with your brick, not against it, creating a harmonious and intentional exterior color scheme.
Balancing Cool Undertones for a Cohesive Look
On the other hand, some brown brick has cool undertones, with hints of gray, taupe, or even a subtle purple. These bricks have a more modern and muted feel, and your shutter colors should reflect that. To create a chic and balanced look, stick with cool-toned shutter colors. A deep charcoal gray or a slate blue can look incredibly sharp against gray-brown brick. For a softer touch, a cooler brown like taupe or a crisp greige works beautifully. Pairing cool tones together results in a sophisticated palette that feels clean and contemporary. You can see examples of this in our residential painting portfolio.
Using the Color Wheel for a Perfect Match
If you want to understand the "why" behind these pairings, a quick look at a color wheel can help. For a bold, eye-catching look, choose a complementary color—the one directly opposite your brick’s undertone on the wheel. For example, a blue-green shutter is a beautiful complement to red-orange brick. For a more subtle and unified appearance, choose an analogous color, which sits next to your brick’s undertone. The most important step is to test your choices. Always get paint swatches and look at them against your brick at different times of day, as the light can dramatically change how a color appears.
Choose a Shutter Style That Fits Your Home
Before you land on the perfect color, it’s important to consider the style of your shutters. The right design will complement your home’s architecture and enhance its overall character, while the wrong one can feel out of place. Think of shutter style as the foundation of your home's curb appeal—it sets the tone for the color you'll eventually choose. From rustic to formal, each style brings a unique personality that can either harmonize with or beautifully contrast your brown brick exterior.
The goal is to select a shutter that feels like a natural extension of your home's design. A modern home might look mismatched with overly ornate shutters, just as a historic colonial could lose its charm with something too sleek. Taking the time to match the shutter style to your home's architectural bones is a crucial step in creating a cohesive and polished look. Once you've picked the right style, choosing a color becomes much easier. You can see examples of how different styles work on various homes in our portfolio.
Board and Batten for a Farmhouse Feel
If you’re aiming for a cozy, rustic vibe, Board and Batten shutters are a fantastic choice. Made from vertical boards held together by horizontal battens, this style has a simple, handcrafted look. As one design expert notes, "Board and Batten shutters are a specific style that can beautifully complement the rustic charm of a farmhouse aesthetic, making them an excellent choice for brown brick houses." Their sturdy, straightforward design pairs wonderfully with the earthy texture of brick, creating a warm and inviting feel that’s perfect for ranch, cottage, or modern farmhouse-style homes.
Louvered Shutters for a Classic Look
Louvered shutters are the quintessential classic. Featuring angled slats, they offer a timeless look that suits a wide range of architectural styles, from Colonial to Cape Cod. This traditional choice is popular for a reason—it adds depth and texture without overwhelming the brick. "Louvered shutters are a traditional choice that enhances the classic appeal of a brown brick home, providing both functionality and style." Their slatted design was originally intended for ventilation, and today it adds a layer of visual interest that feels both elegant and approachable, making it a can't-go-wrong option for many homeowners.
Raised Panel for Formal Architecture
For homes with a more formal or traditional design, raised panel shutters add a touch of refined elegance. Unlike louvered or board and batten styles, these shutters are solid with decorative raised panels, creating a sophisticated, dimensional look. This style is particularly well-suited for Georgian or Federal-style homes, where structure and symmetry are key. "Raised panel shutters add a touch of elegance and sophistication, making them suitable for formal architectural styles that can beautifully contrast with the texture of brown brick." Their clean, solid surface provides a smooth counterpoint to the ruggedness of brick, resulting in a polished and stately appearance.
Plantation Shutters for Modern Designs
While often seen indoors, exterior plantation shutters offer a clean, modern aesthetic that can instantly update a brown brick home. Characterized by wide louvers, they provide a bold, streamlined look that works well with contemporary and transitional architecture. Their simple lines and substantial feel create a pleasing contrast with traditional brickwork. "Plantation shutters offer a modern aesthetic and can be customized to fit various window sizes, making them a versatile option for contemporary brown brick homes." If you want to give your home a fresh, updated feel without sacrificing classic materials, this style is an excellent choice.
Use Contrast to Make Your Shutters Pop
When you’re working with a textured surface like brick, contrast is your best friend. The goal is to choose a shutter color that stands out just enough to add dimension and character to your home’s exterior. Without enough contrast, your shutters can get lost against the busy pattern of the brick, making them look flat or unintentional. Think of your shutters as the finishing touch that frames your windows and completes your home’s overall look.
The right amount of contrast will make your home feel polished and thoughtfully designed. It’s not about picking the loudest color, but rather the one that creates a pleasing visual separation between the shutters and the brick. This simple principle is one of the most effective ways to enhance your home’s curb appeal. A professional exterior painting project hinges on these details, ensuring every element works together to create a beautiful, cohesive facade.
Create Visual Interest with Light and Dark Tones
To make sure your shutters are a feature, not an afterthought, select a color that is either noticeably lighter or darker than your brick. As a rule of thumb, don't pick a brown that's too similar to your brick, or the shutters will disappear. For a home with medium-brown brick, a deep espresso or a soft cream shutter color will create a beautiful distinction that draws the eye. This play between light and dark tones is what gives your home’s exterior a dynamic and layered look, preventing it from appearing one-dimensional.
Define Your Home's Architectural Features
Shutters do more than just decorate your windows—they serve as "architectural anchors" that help define your home’s structure. They frame the windows and break up large, solid walls of brick, adding balance to the overall design. By choosing a contrasting color, you highlight these important features and give your home a more grounded, intentional appearance. This is especially important for traditional or historic homes where shutters are a key part of the architectural style. You can see great examples of this in our portfolio.
Find the Right Balance Without Overwhelming the Brick
While contrast is key, the ultimate goal is to create a harmonious and inviting look. Choosing the right mix of brick and paint colors is what makes a house feel like a home. You want your shutters to complement the brick, not compete with it. If your bricks are dark, consider using lighter colors like beige or a warm gray for the trim. A stark, plain white can sometimes look dated against rich brick tones. The idea is to find a perfect balance where the shutters enhance the brick’s natural beauty without stealing the show.
Coordinate Your Shutters, Door, and Trim
Choosing the right shutter color is a great start, but the real magic happens when you coordinate it with your front door and trim. These three elements work together to frame your home, define its character, and create a polished, intentional look. Think of it like putting together the perfect outfit—each piece should complement the others. When your shutters, door, and trim are in harmony, they highlight your home's best features and create a welcoming first impression that feels complete. This is your chance to tie the entire exterior together into one beautiful, cohesive design.
How to Choose a Front Door Color
Your front door is the focal point of your home’s exterior, so it’s the perfect place to make a statement. When picking a color, consider your home's overall color scheme. For a house with light or medium brown brick, a beautiful green can be a fantastic choice. You could go bold with a vibrant, electric green or choose a more muted sage with gray undertones for a subtle, sophisticated look. The key is to select a color that not only works with your new shutters but also stands out just enough to draw the eye and welcome guests inside.
Why White and Light Gray Trim Works
Crisp, clean trim is one of the most effective ways to make your home’s features stand out against brown brick. Using white trim around your windows and doors creates a sharp, classic contrast that brightens the entire exterior. This approach is timeless and works especially well if you have a gray roof, tying the whole look together. If pure white feels too stark, a soft light gray is a wonderful alternative. It provides a similar brightening effect but with a slightly more modern and gentle feel, giving your home a clean, well-defined frame without overwhelming the warmth of the brick.
When to Use Charcoal and Dark Accents
While light trim is a classic choice, dark accents can deliver a dose of modern drama. If your brown bricks are on the lighter or medium side, incorporating darker colors like charcoal, gray, or even black for your trim can create a stunning contrast. This bold choice adds depth and definition, giving your home a sophisticated and contemporary edge. However, if your brick is already quite dark, it’s best to stick with lighter trim colors like beige or a soft gray. Using dark trim on dark brick can make the house feel heavy and dated.
Create a Cohesive Exterior Color Palette
Before you head to the paint store, take a moment to think about the big picture. The first step is to understand the primary color of your brick and its unique undertones. This knowledge is your guide to choosing paint colors that will harmonize beautifully with your home’s exterior. Your goal is to build a palette where the brick, shutters, door, and trim all feel like they belong together. A simple approach is to think of the brick as your main color, the shutters as your secondary color, and the front door as your accent. The trim can then be a neutral that ties everything together seamlessly.
How to Test Shutter Colors Before You Commit
You’ve narrowed down your choices, but picking the final shutter color can feel like a huge commitment. The good news is you don’t have to guess. Taking the time to test your top contenders is the single best way to ensure you’ll love the result for years to come. It’s a simple step that prevents that sinking feeling of realizing the color you picked on a tiny paint chip looks completely different on your home. Before you make a final decision, use these tried-and-true methods to see how your favorite colors will actually look in person.
The Right Way to Use Paint Samples
Paint samples are your best friend in this process, but there’s a right way to use them. Instead of painting a small swatch directly onto your existing shutters, grab a few large poster boards or pieces of foam core. Paint each board with a different color, applying at least two coats to get the true shade. This method lets you move the samples around without marking up your house. You can hold them directly against your brown brick, next to your trim, and near your front door to see how the color interacts with all the different elements of your home’s exterior. This is the perfect time to evaluate your home’s architectural style and existing undertones to find a truly complementary color.
Try Online Visualization Tools
Before you even buy a sample pot, you can take your top color choices for a digital test drive. Many major paint brands offer online visualization tools that let you upload a photo of your home and digitally “paint” the shutters. This is a fantastic, no-risk way to experiment with different color options, especially if you’re considering a bold choice like a deep navy or forest green. While it’s not a perfect substitute for seeing the color in real life, a visualizer can help you quickly rule out colors that don’t work and build confidence in the ones that do. It’s a great first step to narrow your focus before moving on to physical paint samples.
Check Your Colors Throughout the Day
Sunlight can dramatically change how a color appears. A warm beige that looks perfect in the soft morning light might appear washed out in the harsh midday sun, while a dark gray could look almost black in the evening shade. Once you have your painted sample boards, place them against your house and make a point to look at them at different times of day. Check on them in the morning, at noon, and in the late afternoon. It’s also smart to see how they look on a bright, sunny day versus a cloudy one. This simple habit ensures you’re choosing a color that you’ll love in any light, which is key to a beautiful exterior painting project.
When to Call for a Professional Color Consultation
Feeling stuck? Sometimes, even with samples and tools, making that final call is tough. If you’re struggling to see the undertones in your brick or can’t decide between two similar shades, a professional color consultation can provide much-needed clarity. A color expert has a trained eye for how colors interact with light, landscaping, and architectural features. They can help you see things you might have missed and guide you toward a cohesive palette that ties your shutters, trim, and front door together perfectly. Getting an expert opinion is a great way to ensure your investment results in a look you’ll be proud of, giving you complete peace of mind.
Common Shutter Color Mistakes to Avoid
Choosing a shutter color feels like a big commitment, but you can feel confident in your decision by learning from a few common missteps. When you know what to watch out for, it’s much easier to land on a color combination you’ll love for years. Thinking through these points ahead of time will help you avoid that sinking feeling of a color choice that just doesn’t feel right.
Choosing a Color in Isolation
One of the easiest mistakes to make is falling in love with a paint swatch at the store and forgetting to consider your home’s other features. A shutter color should never be chosen in a vacuum. It needs to work with your roof color, trim, front door, and even the mortar between your bricks. Think of your home’s exterior as a complete picture. The goal is to create a cohesive look where every element complements the others, which you can see in our online portfolio of completed projects.
Picking the Wrong Level of Contrast
Contrast is what makes your shutters stand out, but finding the right amount is key. A color that’s too close to your brick tone will make your shutters fade into the background, while a color that’s too jarring can create a distracting, chaotic look. For example, a bright, saturated color might compete with the natural texture of your brown brick. The sweet spot is a color that provides enough definition to highlight your windows without overwhelming the entire facade. A good design guide can offer visual examples of balanced contrast.
Ignoring Your Home's Architectural Style
Your home’s architecture has its own personality, and your shutter color should align with it. A sleek, modern home might handle a bold, unexpected color, while a historic Colonial or charming Cape Cod often looks best with classic, timeless hues. Before settling on a color, take a moment to identify your home’s architectural style. Choosing a color that honors the original design intent ensures the shutters feel like an authentic part of your home’s character rather than a trendy afterthought.
Forgetting About Light and Landscaping
The perfect color on a paint chip can look completely different once it’s on your house. Natural light changes throughout the day, shifting from the cool, blue tones of morning to the warm, golden light of late afternoon. This can dramatically alter how a color appears. Similarly, your landscaping plays a role—lush green trees and shrubs can cast a subtle green tint onto your home. That’s why it’s so important to test paint samples on your home’s exterior and observe them at different times of day before making a final decision for your residential painting project.
Get a Professional Finish That Lasts
Choosing the perfect shutter color is an exciting step, but it’s only part of the equation. To ensure your beautiful new color looks fantastic for years to come, the quality of the paint job is everything. A professional finish isn't just about how the color looks the day it's applied; it's about durability, longevity, and protecting your home's exterior. The right preparation, paint, and technique will keep your shutters from chipping, fading, or peeling, saving you from the headache of a repaint just a few seasons down the line.
This is where the difference between a quick DIY and a professional project really shows. A team of experts understands that the Southern California sun can be harsh on exterior surfaces. They know which products can withstand the elements and how to apply them for maximum durability. Investing in a quality residential painting service means you’re not just paying for a color change—you’re investing in a long-lasting, protective coating that enhances your home’s curb appeal and value. From meticulous prep work to the final, flawless coat, every step is handled with care to deliver a result you’ll be proud of.
Why Surface Prep is Key
You can’t get a beautiful finish without a perfect canvas. Before a single drop of new paint is applied, your shutters need to be properly prepared. This is the most critical step for ensuring the paint adheres correctly and lasts as long as possible. Surface prep involves thoroughly cleaning the shutters to remove any dirt, grime, or mildew that has built up over time. Next, any old, flaking paint is scraped and sanded away to create a smooth, even surface. For wood shutters, this might also involve filling in any cracks or imperfections. This meticulous work ensures the primer and paint go on smoothly and form a strong, lasting bond with the shutter.
Select the Right Weather-Resistant Paint
Your shutters are constantly exposed to the elements, so the type of paint you choose matters immensely. For a home in the Los Angeles area, you need a high-quality exterior paint specifically formulated to resist UV fading, moisture, and temperature fluctuations. A premium, weather-resistant paint will keep your chosen color vibrant and prevent the finish from becoming chalky or brittle over time. We typically recommend a satin or semi-gloss finish for shutters, as these sheens offer excellent durability and are much easier to clean than a flat finish. The right paint not only looks better but also provides a crucial layer of protection for the shutter material itself, whether it’s wood, vinyl, or composite.
Plan for Long-Term Maintenance
A professional paint job is an investment in your home’s future. When your shutters are prepped and painted correctly with high-quality materials, long-term maintenance becomes much simpler. Instead of facing a full-blown peeling disaster in a few years, you’ll likely only need to perform light cleaning to keep them looking fresh. We recommend inspecting your shutters once a year, perhaps during spring cleaning, to check for any minor chips or cracks. Addressing these small issues early can prevent moisture from getting underneath the paint and causing more significant damage. A quality paint job gives you peace of mind and a beautiful exterior that truly endures.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What if my brown brick seems to have a mix of different undertones? It's very common for brick to have a blend of colors, like hints of both red and gray. In this case, you have a couple of great options. You can either choose the most dominant undertone you see and select a color that complements it, or you can opt for a timeless neutral. Colors like classic black, a deep charcoal gray, or a soft cream are beautiful and safe choices that work with complex brick colors without clashing.
Do my shutters and front door have to be the same color? Not at all! In fact, it often creates a more interesting and welcoming look when they are different but complementary colors. Think of your front door as the main focal point—it’s the perfect place for a pop of color that expresses your personality. Your shutters can then be a more subtle, supporting color that ties into the brick and trim, creating a balanced and cohesive look for your entire home.
How much should I consider my roof color when picking a shutter color? Your roof color is a very important piece of the puzzle because it’s one of the largest surfaces on your home. Your shutter color should feel harmonious with both your brick and your roof. For instance, if you have a gray or black roof, cooler shutter tones like navy blue or forest green tend to look fantastic. If your roof is brown or has reddish tones, leaning into warmer shutter colors like a deep brown or a warm beige will create a more unified appearance.
Are there any shutter colors I should definitely avoid with brown brick? While personal taste is always key, some colors are harder to pull off. It’s generally best to avoid bright, primary colors, as they can look too jarring against the natural, earthy texture of the brick. You should also steer clear of choosing a brown shutter that is too similar in tone to your brick. This can make your shutters blend in completely, causing your home’s exterior to look flat and one-dimensional.
If I get my shutters professionally painted, how long can I expect the new paint to last? When done correctly, a professional paint job is an investment that pays off in longevity. With thorough surface preparation and the use of high-quality, weather-resistant paint, you can expect your shutter finish to last for many years. Depending on factors like how much direct sun they get, a quality paint job can often look great for 7 to 10 years before needing a refresh.