Staring at an endless wall of paint swatches can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to find the perfect match for something as permanent as brick. You know you want a change, but the fear of choosing the wrong color is real. A shade that looks great on a tiny chip can look completely different once it’s on your home. We want to take the stress out of the process. This guide simplifies the decision by focusing on proven combinations that work beautifully. We’ll explore the go-to shutter colors for a brown brick house, helping you move forward with confidence and get that polished look you’re after.
Key Takeaways
- Work with Your Brick's Undertones: Your brick isn't just brown—it has subtle undertones of red, gray, or yellow. Choosing a shutter color that complements these hidden hues is the key to creating a harmonious and polished exterior.
- Prioritize Contrast for Dimension: Avoid a flat, one-dimensional look by choosing a shutter color that is significantly lighter or darker than your brick. This makes your windows pop, frames your home's architecture, and adds crucial visual depth.
- Test Your Colors in Real Life: Paint colors change dramatically throughout the day. Always test your top choices on large sample boards and observe them in morning, noon, and evening light to ensure you love the color before you commit to the entire project.
What Are the Best Shutter Colors for a Brown Brick House?
Picking the right shutter color can completely transform the look of your brown brick home. It’s one of the easiest ways to refresh your exterior and make a statement without a full-scale renovation. The key is to find a color that complements the brick's natural tones instead of competing with them. From timeless classics to modern hues, the perfect shade will make your home’s best features shine. Here are five go-to shutter colors that work beautifully with brown brick.
Classic White for Timeless Contrast
You can never go wrong with classic white. White shutters create a crisp, clean contrast against the rich, earthy tones of brown brick, making your home feel instantly brighter and more inviting. This combination is timeless for a reason—it softens the brick's texture while highlighting your windows and architectural details. If your goal is a fresh, welcoming look that stands the test of time, white is a fantastic choice. It’s a simple update that delivers a major impact on your home's curb appeal.
Deep Navy for a Touch of Elegance
For a look that’s both classic and current, consider a deep navy. This sophisticated color adds a layer of elegance to brown brick, creating a rich and grounded feel. Navy works especially well with bricks that have cooler, grayish undertones, but it also provides a stunning contrast to warmer, reddish-browns. It’s less stark than black but still offers a beautiful depth that makes your home stand out. A deep navy shutter is a perfect way to add a touch of refined character to your home’s exterior.
Forest Green for an Earthy, Natural Look
If you want your home to feel connected to its surroundings, a forest or deep sage green is an excellent option. Earthy greens harmonize beautifully with the natural tones in brown brick, creating a cohesive and organic look. This color is particularly effective if your home is surrounded by trees and landscaping, as it ties the structure into the environment. It’s a calming and understated choice that feels both warm and sophisticated. A rich green can make your home feel like a peaceful retreat nestled in nature.
Charcoal Gray for Modern Sophistication
Charcoal gray offers a modern alternative to traditional black. It provides a strong, sophisticated contrast against brown brick without feeling too harsh. This moody hue is perfect for giving your home a contemporary edge while still feeling timeless and elegant. Charcoal works well with a wide range of brown brick tones, from light tan to deep chocolate. It’s a versatile color that can make your home look incredibly chic and polished. We love seeing how a fresh coat of paint can completely update a home's style.
Bold Black for a Dramatic Statement
For a truly classic and dramatic look, black shutters are a foolproof choice. The sharp contrast between bold black and warm brown brick creates a powerful statement that is both elegant and striking. Black shutters have a unique ability to frame your windows, making them appear larger and more defined. This high-contrast combination highlights your home’s architectural details and adds a sense of formal sophistication. It’s a confident choice that never goes out of style and gives your home an instant dose of polished charm.
How to Match Shutters to Your Brick’s Undertones
Choosing the right shutter color is less about the main color of your brick and more about its subtle undertones. Brown brick is rarely just brown; it’s a beautiful mosaic of different shades. Look closely, and you might see hints of red, orange, gray, or yellow. Identifying these undertones is the key to creating a harmonious and polished exterior color scheme. When you match your shutters to these secondary colors, you create a look that feels intentional and professionally designed. This simple step ensures your home’s features work together, enhancing its overall curb appeal and creating a look you’ll love for years to come.
Working with Red and Orange Tones
If your brown brick has warm, fiery undertones of red or orange, you have a great opportunity to create a rich, inviting look. To make these warm tones pop, consider shutters in a deep, dark brown. Colors like espresso or dark chocolate provide a strong, sophisticated contrast that makes the brick stand out beautifully. This creates a warm and welcoming feel that’s both classic and grounded. For a bolder choice, a deep forest green can also complement red-toned brick, pulling out earthy notes you might not have noticed before. The goal is to choose a color that anchors the warmth of the brick without competing with it.
Pairing Colors with Cool Gray Tones
Some brown brick has cooler undertones, with hints of gray, taupe, or even a touch of green. For this type of brick, you’ll want to lean into colors that complement its cool, earthy nature. Dark, earth-toned shutters can add a touch of elegance, especially if your brick has subtle undertones of forest green or chocolatey brown. A sophisticated charcoal gray or a deep navy blue are excellent choices. These colors create a modern, refined look that feels both timeless and fresh. They provide a subtle contrast that highlights the unique character of your brick without overwhelming it.
Complementing Warm Yellow Tones
Does your brown brick have sunny, warm undertones of yellow, tan, or beige? You can create a wonderfully cohesive and inviting look by choosing shutter colors from the same warm color family. A creamy off-white, a soft tan, or a warm beige can give your home a gentle, welcoming appearance. This approach creates a more monochromatic feel that is subtle and elegant. According to experts at Angi, using tan or beige on a brown brick house can create a cohesive and inviting look that feels both classic and put-together. This is a perfect palette for a home that feels warm and friendly.
Why You Should Check Your Brick in Different Light
Before you make a final decision, it’s essential to observe your brick at different times of the day. The color you see in the bright morning sun can look completely different in the soft light of the late afternoon. Spend a day or two noticing how the light changes the appearance of your brick’s undertones. This will give you the most accurate picture of your home’s true color palette. Taping paint swatches to your existing shutters can help you see how the colors interact throughout the day. This step ensures you’ll love your new shutter color in every light, a key part of any successful exterior painting project.
Can You Pair Brown Shutters with Brown Brick?
Pairing brown with brown might sound monotonous, but it can create a surprisingly sophisticated look. The trick isn't avoiding brown shutters on a brown brick house—it's choosing the right shade. A thoughtful monochromatic scheme highlights your home’s texture and architectural details in a way that feels timeless and intentional. Instead of looking flat, the right brown shutters can either blend harmoniously for a warm, cohesive look or create a rich contrast that adds depth. Here’s how different shades of brown can work with your brick.
Dark Browns for a Rich, Monochromatic Look
Opting for a deep, dark brown—think espresso or dark chocolate—is a fantastic way to create rich, elegant contrast. This approach adds depth, making your home look more substantial and grounded. The dark color draws the eye and beautifully frames your windows, highlighting the brick's texture without overwhelming it. This pairing feels classic and luxurious, giving your home a custom, high-end feel. It’s a bold choice that makes architectural features stand out. Our exterior painting team can help you find the perfect deep shade to achieve this sophisticated look.
Medium Browns for a Warm, Natural Feel
If you’re aiming for a warm and cohesive feel, a medium brown is an excellent choice. Shades like walnut or pecan blend beautifully with the earthy tones in brown brick, creating a harmonious and inviting facade. This combination is less about sharp contrast and more about a unified look that feels connected to its surroundings. It’s a great option for homes with lush landscaping, as the warm tones complement the garden's greenery. Choosing a medium brown gives your home a calm, elegant appearance. We often use similar tones in our wood staining services to enhance natural beauty.
Light Tans for Subtle, Gentle Contrast
For a softer touch with gentle contrast, consider light tan or beige shutters. These lighter shades brighten your home’s exterior without the starkness of pure white. A light tan offers a subtle pop against the deeper brown brick, creating a warm and airy feel that is incredibly inviting. This is a versatile option that works well with many architectural styles, from traditional to modern. It keeps the overall color palette warm while ensuring your shutters are clearly defined. This approach is key to creating a polished look for any residential painting project.
How to Test Shutter Colors Before You Commit
Picking a shutter color is a big decision, and you want to get it right the first time. The last thing you want is to invest in a full exterior paint job only to realize the color looks completely different than you imagined. Before you make a final choice, taking the time to test your top contenders is the best way to ensure you’ll love the results for years to come. Think of it as a dress rehearsal for your home’s new look. These simple steps will help you move forward with confidence.
Use Paint Samples the Right Way
Paint swatches are your best friend, but only if you use them correctly. A color can look one way under the fluorescent lights of a hardware store and completely different in the natural light against your brown brick. Instead of painting a small patch directly on your house, grab a few sample pots and paint a large piece of foam board for each color. This allows you to move the sample around, hold it right up to your brick and trim, and see how the color truly interacts with your home’s unique textures and tones without making a mess.
Test Colors Throughout the Day
Natural light is a game-changer for exterior paint colors. A color that looks perfect in the soft morning sun might feel too bright at noon or washed out in the evening shade. Once you have your sample boards painted, make a point to check on them at different times of the day. Prop them up against your house and observe them in the morning, afternoon, and just before sunset. This simple practice gives you a complete picture of how the color will behave, helping you make a much more informed decision and avoid any surprises.
Try Digital Visualization Tools
If you’re feeling a bit stuck or just want to see the bigger picture, digital tools can be a huge help. Many major paint brands offer online visualizers that let you upload a photo of your home and "try on" different shutter colors. While these tools aren't a perfect substitute for physical samples, they are fantastic for narrowing down your options. Seeing a digital mockup can help you rule out colors that definitely won’t work and get a better feel for different looks before you even buy a sample pot.
When to Call a Professional Color Consultant
Sometimes, you just need an expert eye. If you’ve tested samples and used visualizers but still feel uncertain, it might be time to call in a professional. A color consultant can provide expert advice tailored specifically to your home’s architecture, your brick’s undertones, and even your landscaping. They have a deep understanding of how color, light, and texture work together and can help you find that perfect shade that ties everything together beautifully. It’s a great way to get a personalized recommendation and feel completely confident in your final choice.
Beyond Shutters: Completing Your Home's Color Palette
Choosing the right shutter color is a fantastic start, but it’s just one part of creating a truly stunning exterior. To achieve that polished, cohesive look you’re after, you need to think about the entire color palette. Your front door, trim, and even your landscaping all play a crucial role in how your home is perceived from the street. When these elements work together in harmony, they create a look that feels intentional, welcoming, and complete.
Think of your home’s exterior as a complete composition. The brown brick is your canvas, the shutters are a key design element, and the trim and front door are the finishing touches that tie everything together. A well-chosen palette not only enhances your home’s architectural features but also reflects your personal style. Taking the time to consider these other areas ensures your shutter choice doesn’t just look good on its own—it contributes to a beautiful, unified aesthetic that you’ll love coming home to every day.
Choosing a Front Door Color
Your front door is the focal point of your home’s entrance, so its color makes a big impact. For a brown brick house, you have so many wonderful options. If your brick has light or medium brown tones, consider pairing it with a beautiful green. A soft, earthy sage with gray undertones can feel calming and sophisticated, while a deeper forest green adds a touch of classic elegance. Don’t be afraid to go bold, either. A rich navy blue or a warm, welcoming red can create a delightful pop of color that draws the eye and makes a statement. The key is to choose a front door color that complements both the brick and your new shutters.
Selecting Trim and Accent Colors
Trim is the unsung hero of your home’s exterior. It frames your windows and doors, defines the roofline, and adds crisp detail to the architecture. When picking colors, a good rule of thumb is to stick to a palette of two or three main colors. Your shutters and front door often serve as the primary accent colors. For the trim, many homeowners opt for a classic white or a soft cream to create a clean contrast against the brown brick. However, a darker trim in charcoal or even a deep brown can create a rich, sophisticated look. The goal is to have your trim and shutters work together to create a balanced and visually appealing frame for your home. Our residential painting services can help you find the perfect combination.
Pairing Colors with Your Landscaping
A truly thoughtful color palette extends beyond the walls of your house and into your yard. Take a moment to look at the natural colors surrounding your home. Do you have lush green trees, vibrant flower beds, or stone pathways? Your exterior paint colors should feel connected to this environment. For example, if your yard is filled with greenery, earthy shutter colors like olive green or warm beige will feel right at home. If you have a lot of colorful flowers, a more neutral palette for the house itself can allow your garden to take center stage. When your home’s colors harmonize with your landscaping, you create a seamless and inviting transition from nature to home.
Common Shutter Color Mistakes to Avoid
Choosing a new shutter color is one of the most exciting parts of an exterior paint project, but it’s easy to get tripped up by a few common mistakes. The right color can make your home look polished and inviting, while the wrong one can feel a little… off. To help you get it just right, let’s walk through some frequent missteps and how you can sidestep them for a look you’ll love for years.
Matching the Brick Too Closely
One of the most common mistakes is picking a shutter color that’s too similar to your brick. While it might seem like a safe choice, it can make your home’s exterior look flat and one-dimensional. Shutters are meant to add depth and frame your windows, but they can’t do their job if they simply blend into the background. You want them to stand out just enough to create definition. If you’re leaning toward brown shutters, for example, make sure the shade is significantly darker or lighter than your brick so they don’t just disappear. The goal is to create a subtle, sophisticated separation that highlights your home’s features.
Forgetting About Contrast
Contrast is what gives your home’s exterior its personality and visual punch. Without it, even the most beautiful architectural details can get lost. This doesn’t mean you have to choose a stark black or bright white, but you do need a clear difference between your brick and shutter colors. For instance, if your home has lighter, cream-colored bricks, a deep espresso or dark walnut shutter will create a beautiful, grounded look. This principle of creating a beautiful, natural contrast works across the color wheel, whether you’re pairing warm brick with a cool navy or earthy brick with a rich forest green.
Ignoring How Natural Light Changes Color
Have you ever painted a room only to find the color looks completely different than the swatch you picked at the store? The same thing happens outside, but on a much larger scale. The color you see on a tiny paint chip will be transformed by natural light. A color can look warm and soft in the morning sun, bright and washed out at noon, and cool and shadowy in the evening. That’s why you should always test paint colors on a small, inconspicuous section of a shutter first. Observe it throughout the day to get a true feel for how it will look before you commit to painting everything.
Overlooking Your Home's Architectural Style
Your shutters don’t exist in a vacuum. They’re part of a larger color story that includes your roof, trim, front door, and even your window frames. A color that looks great on its own might clash with your dark gray roof or cream-colored trim. Before you finalize your choice, step back and consider the entire picture. All of these elements need to work together to create a cohesive and intentional exterior color scheme. A bold, modern color might be perfect for a contemporary home, while a classic colonial may call for a more traditional, understated hue. Thinking about the whole palette ensures your new shutters feel like a perfect fit.
Inspiring Color Palettes for Brown Brick Homes
Choosing a shutter color is just one piece of the puzzle. To truly make your home’s exterior shine, think in terms of a complete color palette. The right combination of colors for your shutters, trim, and front door can work together to create a cohesive and stunning look that reflects your personal style. Whether you’re aiming for a classic, natural, or modern feel, a well-thought-out palette will highlight your home’s best features and give your brown brick a fresh new life. Let’s explore a few palettes that work beautifully with the warm, earthy tones of brown brick.
Warm and Welcoming: Cream & Beige
If you’re looking for a timeless and inviting look, you can’t go wrong with cream or beige. These soft, warm neutrals create a gentle contrast against brown brick, brightening the exterior without feeling too stark. A creamy off-white or a soft tan on the shutters can make your home feel instantly more welcoming and cheerful. This palette is incredibly versatile and complements a wide range of architectural styles, from traditional colonials to charming bungalows. It’s a classic for a reason—it provides a clean, elegant finish that enhances your home’s curb appeal and stands the test of time. Our residential painting services can help you find the perfect shade to create this warm and welcoming effect.
Earthy and Elegant: Sage & Olive Green
For a look that feels grounded and sophisticated, consider shades of green. Earthy tones like sage, olive, or even a muted forest green pair beautifully with the natural tones of brown brick. This palette connects your home to its surrounding landscape, creating a harmonious and organic feel. Green shutters add a touch of color that is both elegant and understated, giving your home a custom look without being overly bold. This is a fantastic choice if you want to lean into the natural beauty of your brick and create a serene, stylish exterior. You can see how different colors transform homes in our portfolio of completed projects.
Modern and Moody: Navy & Charcoal
To make a bold, contemporary statement, look to darker, cooler tones like navy blue or charcoal gray. These deep, moody colors create a striking contrast with warm brown brick, resulting in a look that is both dramatic and incredibly chic. A deep navy or a rich charcoal on your shutters can give your home a modern edge and a touch of sophistication. This high-contrast palette is perfect for highlighting architectural details and making your home stand out. When paired with a crisp white trim, these colors create a sharp, polished finish that feels fresh and current. Achieving a flawless finish with such deep colors requires skill, which is why our professional exterior painting team takes extra care with every coat.
How to Keep Your Shutters Looking Fresh
You’ve picked the perfect shutter color to complement your brown brick home, and the result is stunning. But how do you keep it that way? Exterior paint faces a daily battle with sun, rain, and dirt. A little proactive care will ensure your shutters continue to frame your home beautifully for years to come, protecting your investment and keeping that curb appeal at its peak.
Maintaining your shutters isn’t complicated, but it does require the right approach and materials from the start. From the quality of the paint to a simple cleaning schedule, these small steps make a huge difference in preventing fading, chipping, and peeling. Think of it as the finishing touch that preserves all the hard work you put into choosing the perfect color palette. Here’s how to keep your shutters looking as fresh as the day they were painted.
Why Paint Quality Matters
When it comes to exterior shutters, the quality of the paint is non-negotiable. Using a premium product isn't just about achieving a richer color; it's about durability. A high-quality, weather-resistant primer is your first line of defense, creating a seal that protects the shutter material from moisture damage. Following that with a top-tier outdoor paint ensures the color remains vibrant and resists the wear and tear of the elements. This is especially important for shutters on a brown brick house, where a crisp, well-maintained color provides striking contrast. Skimping on paint quality might save a little upfront, but it often leads to premature fading, chipping, and more frequent repainting down the road.
Choose Weather-Resistant Finishes
Living in Southern California means our homes get plenty of sunshine, which is why selecting a weather-resistant finish is so important. These specialized finishes are formulated to shield your shutters from the damaging effects of constant UV exposure, which can cause colors to fade and look dull over time. They also provide a crucial barrier against moisture, preventing issues like rot or warping. By opting for a finish designed to withstand the outdoors, you’re ensuring the beautiful color you chose—whether it’s a deep navy or a classic white—maintains its integrity and vibrancy season after season. It’s a simple choice that provides long-term protection and peace of mind.
Get Pro Tips for Maintenance and Touch-Ups
A little routine maintenance can dramatically extend the life of your shutter paint. You don’t need to spend hours on upkeep; consistency is what counts. For a professional finish that lasts, our exterior painting services always start with the best products, but here’s what you can do to keep things looking sharp:
- Rinse annually: Gently rinse your shutters with fresh water from a hose each year to wash away accumulated dust, pollen, and dirt.
- Clean gently: If you notice grime buildup, use a soft cloth or sponge with a mild, pH-neutral detergent. Avoid harsh chemicals that can strip the paint.
- Handle touch-ups carefully: For any minor nicks or scratches, use the exact same paint and finish. This ensures the repair blends seamlessly and doesn’t create a patchy look.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What if my brown brick has several different undertones? It's very common for brick to have a mix of undertones, like hints of both red and gray. In this case, you have more flexibility. The key is to pick one dominant undertone to work with. For example, if you want a modern look, you could choose a charcoal gray shutter to pull out the cooler tones. If you prefer a warmer, more traditional feel, a deep green would complement the reddish tones beautifully. You don't have to match every single color in the brick; just choose the one that helps you achieve the overall style you're going for.
Should my front door and shutters be the same color? They certainly can be, but they don't have to be. Using the same color for both creates a very cohesive and classic look. However, using a different color for your front door is a great way to make it a true focal point. A good approach is to choose a shutter color that complements the brick, and then select a front door color that coordinates with the shutters. For instance, navy shutters look fantastic with a welcoming red or even a bright yellow door.
Is black too harsh of a color for brown brick? Black can be a stunning and timeless choice, but its success depends on the overall style of your home. On a traditional or colonial-style house, black shutters create a classic, dramatic contrast that looks incredibly sharp and elegant. For a home with a softer, more rustic feel, a charcoal gray or a deep espresso brown might feel more harmonious and less severe. It really comes down to the architectural style and the statement you want to make.
What paint finish is best for shutters? For exterior shutters, a satin or semi-gloss finish is almost always the best choice. These finishes have a slight sheen that makes them much easier to clean than a flat or matte paint. They are also more durable and resistant to moisture and mildew, which is essential for any exterior surface. A satin finish offers a subtle, elegant luster, while a semi-gloss provides a bit more shine and an even tougher, more washable surface.
How often should I expect to repaint my shutters? The lifespan of your shutter paint depends heavily on the quality of the paint used and your local climate. When you use a high-quality, weather-resistant paint and primer, you can typically expect the finish to look great for about 5 to 10 years. Regular, gentle cleaning once a year can help extend that life by preventing dirt and grime from breaking down the paint. When you start to see signs of fading, chipping, or peeling, it's time to plan for a fresh coat.