How to play up a brick wall in a kitchen interior: 15 examples of successful combinations

If you think that brick can only be used for exterior decoration, you are mistaken. Designers often use this material when decorating various types of premises. However, most often brick walls are decorated in the kitchen - a reliable, durable and beautiful material has excellent performance properties and adds coziness to the room.

The use of brick makes any kitchen original and cozy

Read our article about how to properly decorate a kitchen using brick, what its features are and how best to use brick elements in the interior.

Red and white brick in the kitchen

A red brick wall is considered the most popular solution for finishing kitchen spaces. The red color and its shade palettes look great against the backdrop of various interiors.

Often, brick design is used to decorate the apron area in the kitchen, or in the free area between the sink and the upper storage shelves. Do not forget that the material needs care, which consists of protection and impregnation.

A unique idea that adds elements of modern style to the interior is to create a white brick kitchen. This solution is more relevant to the Scandinavian style, where the main colors are white or gray. Light or red bricks can be purchased at any building supply store.

Types of bricks

In addition to natural, there are other types of materials that are successfully used for interior decoration. The kitchen is often decorated with decorative bricks, thanks to which the interior acquires individuality. A huge selection of building materials allows you to purchase the artificial brick that will best meet your requirements and look as good as the real thing.

Decorative bricks for the kitchen come in several types:

• clinker (or ceramic). Excellent resistance to humidity and temperature changes. Can be used for finishing unheated rooms. Due to its strength and durability, it is an excellent option for decorating the floor. It is recommended to make an apron in the kitchen or walls in the hallway from this material, as all dirt can be easily and quickly removed from it;
• plaster. Unlike the previous material, this one has a low cost and a simple production system. But gypsum is fragile, so they should be used to finish areas where there is no shock load. This is the main disadvantage of the material.

With the right approach, decorative gypsum bricks can last a long time. In addition to the types listed above, there are materials that can create an imitation of brick finishing:

• PFC panels;
• wallpaper;
• brick-like tiles for the kitchen.

Thanks to their use, an imitation of a brick wall in the kitchen can be created.

Natural brick

The walls of old houses are made of this material. Owners simply remove wallpaper, plaster and apply decoration to the walls in the form of varnish or paint. The result is an original wall made of natural brick.

Using your imagination, you can make a bold design choice: create an imitation of old, cracked brick with an uneven edge, which is now considered fashionable. In addition, a layer of varnish or paint will protect the material from damage. Remember that every brick needs to be processed.

Facing brick

This design is purely decorative; it looks like a mosaic. The size and shape of the material make it possible to use it for tiling small kitchens. You can decorate even a small room in a Khrushchev-era building. There are a lot of different colors and textures - this is its undoubted advantage. Kitchen design with decorative brick, a photo of which can be seen below, is very popular. You can make a wall panel or an apron for the kitchen, in the place where the sink and stove are located.

Advantages of brick and masonry

The main advantages of finishing a wall with brick are as follows:

• attractive appearance;
• effective combination with light, brown, beige and other neutral shades;
• the possibility of combining brick with any finishing materials - wood, glass, metal and so on;
• use as a separate decorative solution in various stylistic directions;
• strength and reliability of the material;
• resistance to damage, loss of initial color and moisture.

While pointing out the advantages, it is also worth highlighting the muffling properties of the material. If you make a brick wall out of it, there is a high probability that the sounds present in the room will be quiet.

Types of material

Brick is not only a dark red or white color and a rough surface. Different materials allow you to choose the desired shades and texture, even gloss or mirror shine.

Crushed brick - a fashionable solution for interiors in industrial or rustic styles

Natural brick

If the owners of the apartment are lucky and it is located in an old house, natural brick is the simplest finishing option for the kitchen. It is enough to remove the old coating to get to the brick. To give the surface a presentable appearance, it is coated with varnish or paint. An additional layer will protect the brick from dirt and dust; this finish is easier to care for in the kitchen.

If you live in a house with brick walls, just remove the plaster to get a beautiful finish

A brick wall can be artificially aged using craquelure, or covered with plaster, preserving the texture of the masonry. Another decor option is a transparent glass panel. It will protect the brick from any impact and at the same time visually expand the space, adding more light.

Facing

Due to its small size and thickness, such bricks can be used even in a very small kitchen. Small masonry will not make the space narrower or smaller, and due to its size it is convenient to use on any surface. Facing brick is well suited for window and door openings or kitchen aprons.

The facing brick itself has a fairly smooth surface

Ceramics

Ceramic tiles with a brickwork effect will suit any interior style. The variety of textures, colors and sizes allows you to use this material in a variety of combinations. A design inspired by natural stone is suitable for Provence, country or Scandinavian style, and glossy surfaces are a godsend for minimalism or hi-tech.

Ceramic tiles imitating brick or stone are one of the most popular finishing options.

Tiles with a glossy surface will be easier to clean

Other materials

Real brick is heavy and bulky, making it an unsuitable cladding option for thin walls. Glass panels with a brick pattern or thick vinyl wallpaper with a suitable texture will be a good replacement.

The fastest way to decorate the interior is to finish it with “brick” panels, which are of quite high quality and practically do not differ from natural material.

Disadvantages of Brick Wall Design

A brick-style kitchen, despite its positive characteristics, has some disadvantages, namely:

• heavy weight of material;
• massive appearance, visually reducing free space;
• feasibility of use in large kitchens;
• presence of significant fat absorption properties;
• the need for systematic cleaning.

If the kitchen has a small area, designers recommend using a different design option, or choosing imitation brick. When decorating a wall with brickwork, it is advisable to place the material behind glass to prevent greasy drops and water from getting on it.

Features of decorative brick finishing

When choosing a finish, you need to pay attention to the following nuances:

• Brick is a porous material, and therefore needs to be treated with water-repellent impregnations so that the masonry does not lose its attractiveness.
• The cladding, even with the thinnest brick, will hide useful centimeters. If the kitchen is small, it is better to lay out the dining or work area with bricks, and make all other surfaces plain. An excellent solution would be white masonry.
• Since this finish does not have very good reflective properties, it is advisable to decorate the wall located opposite the window with brick. Thus, natural light will smooth out such a disadvantage.
• In addition, the accent wall in the kitchen should be properly lit. In order to emphasize the beauty of the finish, several lamps are installed.
• Any brick finish will fit into the interior of a spacious kitchen space. Gray, black or dark red masonry will not affect the volume of a large room.
• For a kitchen in an apartment located in an old house, the simplest finishing option would be a natural brick wall. To give the surface a presentable appearance and protect it from dust and dirt, it should be coated with paint or varnish.

Brick finish on the entire wall

The kitchen design, made by finishing one or more walls with brickwork, will look original due to the correctly selected household equipment.

A brick wall can be the basis for subsequent decoration of the kitchen space. The surface, made of old-style red brick, always looks elegant and is suitable for creating a modern style.

What can be done in the kitchen?

Examples of using brickwork in kitchen design.

Brick accent wall in the kitchen

Creating one accent wall plane is a well-known design technique that fills the interior with colors and makes it not boring.

Evenly laid brick will give the design a harmonious completeness. An imitation of a bare brick wall from floor to ceiling will become a real decorative composition.

For an industrial or classic kitchen interior, the design can be rough and unpainted masonry.

The photo shows an accent wall with brick painted red in the kitchen interior.

If you want to create a richer and more colorful accent, the brick trim can be painted or coated with acrylic varnish.

Brick apron finishing

An equally important interior detail of the kitchen is the apron. The appearance of the entire room depends on the design of this area. An apron area lined with bricks will add loft aesthetics to the decor.

The ideal solution would be ceramics or boar tiles that follow the contours of the brick. The finish may have a smooth, rough surface or be coated with a special glaze.

A very fashionable design move is a brick splashback finished with unglazed Tuscan tiles. This cladding is expensive, but in appearance it is as close as possible to natural masonry.

The photo shows a kitchen interior with an apron area finished with glossy brick-like ceramic tiles.

Finishing door or window openings

Decorative flexible clinker is a good option for finishing the area around doors or windows. Openings designed in this way visually look more attractive.

You can also highlight window or door openings against the background of the overall kitchen interior by using brick-like plaster. In addition to decoration, this cladding will act as protection of the surface from mechanical influences.

The photo shows white brick in the design of a balcony opening in a kitchen design.

Brick panel

It will help to focus attention on the wall and achieve an unusual, stylish design. Thanks to the bricks, it is possible to play up the space in an original way and make it spectacular.

Brick over kitchen countertop

The area above the countertop requires special finishing due to its sensitivity. If you have chosen a regular red brick to decorate a brick apron in your kitchen, you must be prepared to constantly care for its surface. In addition to daily care, the material requires periodic impregnation.

For those who like to experiment, decorating an apron with black brick is suitable. His chic appearance is fraught with a certain mystery. A black apron in the kitchen goes well with wooden accessories and gray furniture. A combination of black and white tones will also be an obvious design option.

Brick look tiles

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In modern interiors, people often abandon natural materials in favor of artificial ones due to their low cost. Brick was no exception either. There are many options for decorative tiles made to look like brick; they are easier to install and maintain. A similar solution is often used to decorate a kitchen apron.

Photo: swavla.com

General design rules

Before you start designing a brick kitchen with your own hands, it is important to know the main points on which many important factors depend. So, the following list of points plays an important role in finishing.

Choosing the right brick color. In a small kitchen, it is recommended to choose light-colored material. It is advisable to use dark brick to decorate a kitchen with a sufficient level of lighting.

The choice of color should depend on the design direction. Thus, in a Scandinavian-style kitchen it is advisable to use white and gray tones of material.

Selecting a wall. It is necessary to lay bricks or paste wallpaper with such a pattern on the wall that is most illuminated by light.

Since the highlighted area will be the focal point of the entire design, you need to carefully work on its appearance. In the shade, the brick finish of the kitchen looks gloomy and inconspicuous.

Decorating one of the walls. It is not recommended to finish using a brick pattern on several walls at once. In spacious kitchens with good lighting, the option of repeating the design of two walls in some cases looks good.

However, in many apartments the area is not large enough to allow this design option. But it is permissible to highlight a separate accent on one of the walls in a small kitchen.

In what design styles is a brick wall suitable for the kitchen?

The popular finishing material has a recognizable rough surface and unusual appearance. Brick in the interior of the room harmoniously combines with different styles. The raw material is not universal, so it is not suitable for all design areas.

Gypsum imitation of a brick wall Source kuhnier.ru Stone wall Source design-homes.ru

Loft

With the help of a brick wall in the kitchen, designers visually expand the space.

Brick wall Source architecturein.com.

The cladding combined with the bar counter looks original. Untreated red-brown brick harmoniously combines with the wood of the countertop and metal parts (lamps, dishes). Living vegetation, paintings (photos) and light wallpaper will help to revive and soften the brutal design of the room.

Brickwork and wood Source yandex.ua Brick walls in the kitchen Source i.pinimg.com

In the large kitchen, the work area has a luxurious look with rough cladding on the entire wall and copper pipes. In a compact room, it is better to paint the brick in a neutral shade. Whitewashing does not eat up useful squares; due to its texture, it visually increases the space. The beauty of the material will be emphasized by good artificial lighting.

Loft style with cladding Source yandex.kz

The contrasting masonry near the hob becomes a bright detail of the interior. Rough cladding in combination with dishes and laconic monochromatic furniture will create a lively, cozy atmosphere in the room.

Design of the work area Source yandex.ua

Loft with combined masonry Source pinterest.com

Brick is often used to zone the dining area. The kitchen is decorated in a neutral shade (white, beige, gray), and the dining area is highlighted with red-brown masonry. A light-colored floor covering or carpet will help to visually soften the roughness of the loft element.

Zoning with stone Source dizainexpert.ru

Lined wall in the dining area Source lative-oboi.ru

Dining room with brick trim Source e-interjeras.lt

Scandinavian

White brick looks harmonious in a laconic design direction. To ensure that the finishing does not deviate from Scandinavian minimalism, the walls are whitewashed. The result is a huge, bright kitchen, complemented by a voluminous masonry pattern. The element can be placed in the window area or to decorate the irregular shape of the attic space.

Accent detail in the interior Source domsmam.com Light brick walls Source etokirpichi.ru

A bright detail will be an accent red-brown wall. A design element will visually separate the dining area from the rest of the space. The deliberate roughness of the cladding is combined with the laconic design of the room.

Kitchen wall decoration Source pinterest.ru Decorative masonry Source images.homify.com

Decoration next to the window Source uutvdome.ru

Scandinavian kitchen with masonry Source pinterest.com

Country

It is difficult to imagine a rustic interior without decorative masonry. Brick in combination with ceiling beams brings a touch of homeliness and warmth to the room. To prevent the kitchen from looking gloomy, cladding is used for accents. The decoration is appropriate in a working or dining area, in the design of a stove or arch.

Rustic style in the kitchen with cladding Source vash-vybor.info Luxurious kitchen with decorative masonry Source idea.build2last.ru

In the country style, not only the usual red-brown brick looks beautiful, but also the raw stone material. A single rough surface on the walls is combined with furniture made from untreated wood. In small rooms, ceiling beams are abandoned, and the cladding is covered with light paint.

Brick fireplace Source kitchensinteriors.ru

Rough masonry in a rustic direction Source img.benimmulku.com

Country style room with brick Source domohozajki.ru

Provence

The brick wall in the kitchen should be aged. The effect of a dilapidated surface is created by artificial chips, fallen elements and peeling whitewash. The following cladding colors are welcome in the interior:

• white (milky);
• light olive;
• pastel lavender.

Brick wall in French rustic style Source designadvice.ru
Masonry looks beautiful when zoning space. A design element on the wall will visually separate the dining room from the rest of the room. The design of the apron in the work area echoes the cladding around windows, doors and arches. Brick complements the design, but does not dominate it.

Zoning with brick Source provancestyle.ru French kitchen with a brick wall Source infenshui.ru

Covering the apron Source yandex.kz French comfort with brick decor Source merx.ua

Brick decoration of walls and windows Source designingidea.com Zoning in a medieval style Source yandex.ua Medieval element in the kitchen Source archidea.com.ua

Pop Art

Creative, memorable design combines elements from different styles. The masonry on the walls is harmoniously combined with posters and bright accessories. The brick up to the ceiling in the work area abruptly turns into skins in the form of graffiti on the apron. The partitions between the functional parts, lined with stone, look luxurious.

Bright kitchen with decorative masonry Source vatikam.s3.amazonaws.com

Dark colors

Brickwork can be done using several approaches, namely:

• cover the wall with colorless matte or glossy varnish;
• paint in the desired color.

Today it is important to paint a brick wall in a tone similar to the others.

The classic option is a dark brown design. In large kitchens it looks extraordinary and chic.

Brick in the kitchen interior: 30 real photo examples

To clearly show how advantageous a material brick can be, we have compiled a selection of photographs. Brickwork in kitchens in various styles - we are sure you will like it!

Loft

To carry out a design in a similar direction, it is impossible to imagine a material of a different type. Rough design in combination with decor creates a “natural” atmosphere.

Disadvantages of this design

This design has a number of disadvantages. These include:

• brick has a heterogeneous structure;
• a brick apron in the kitchen will collect a lot of dust and grease;
• such material requires careful care using special products.

It requires strict dosage and appropriate lighting.

Scandinavian

This style often uses white and gray tones, or combinations thereof.

Compared to the loft style, here the brick looks more natural. At the same time, the design looks simple and tasteful. A wall in this design will be highlighted and bright.

Decor with a brick wall

Accessories are selected depending on the style.

For example, in romantic Provence, vintage items, forged flower stands, clay pots, and aged wood go well with brick.

The pop art interior will be complemented by bright posters, paintings and textiles in rich colors.

In the loft style, in combination with such a finish, candlesticks, interesting lamps, wooden photo frames, forged figurines, and rough wooden shelves will look great.

Antique clocks, mirrors, artwork and posters also work well with brick finishes.

Provence or country

Brick is often used to create a romantic Provence or country style. Moreover, it is important to observe an important condition - the finished design should look natural or be artificially aged.

It is advisable to use light shades, such as white, milky, light olive and others. One has only to look at the photo of a brick kitchen, how such a range emphasizes a unique feature - the bright illumination of the room with light.

Country style

Quite often you can see brick kitchens in an apartment, made in a rustic style. They go well with natural materials, rural interiors, and folk art details.

The presence of textiles and handmade elements symbolizing the life of artisans is considered a clear sign of such design.

There are several options here:

• dividing the wall into two halves, where brickwork is placed below, and the upper part is covered with wallpaper;
• brick inserts made of natural material or decorative design look great;
• old brickwork painted in pastel colors complements the interior of the room well.

A variety of combinations can be used, from warm tones to a decidedly evocative red.

Pop Art

A brick-colored kitchen design created in this style looks creative and original. The interior of a room may contain several shades at once.

The presence of brightly colored accessories in the room against a brick background looks bright and catchy.

Decorative wall

If you have a place in the kitchen where various decorative items are collected, decorate it with brick. This solution looks good in country style. Everything looks appropriate and harmonious. Make the tabletop in this place from wood so that natural materials are nearby.

Photo: estabul.com

Mediterranean

The design style conveys the atmosphere of a resort town. Being in such a kitchen, one can assume that there is a sea outside the window. The created style includes a combination of white and blue shades. In this case, the brick wall can be painted sea green or sandy.

Currently, designers often use brick wall finishing options. Over time, interest in this option does not disappear. Many people like to use finishing materials that imitate a brick pattern. And for good reason, because it looks stylish and beautiful.

Finishing touches – interior arrangement

Photo: open extension as a kitchen

It is better to place only the necessary kitchen utensils for cooking, furniture and a sink inside the room. Other decorative details should not clutter up the space, and the distance from the stove to other furniture should be at least 1.5 m.

There is no need to hide ceiling beams. They can be highlighted by painting them in a bright color or simply varnishing them. An interesting lamp in the center made of natural materials will complement the picture. A closed kitchen must be equipped with a hood.

For furniture, you should choose a practical wooden table with chairs, benches, and wicker chairs. Windows are usually decorated with transparent tulle or not covered at all. You can hang small decorative lanterns along the façade of the building.

Photo of a brick kitchen

Style directions

Unplastered partitions can look different, play different roles in the design of a living space, differing in stylistic direction.

Loft

The industrial loft style, created on the basis of the roughness of warehouse and factory premises, can be emphasized in the best possible way by rough brick laying. After all, the main features of this direction are untreated surfaces, uncovered beams and utilities, furniture similar to production, and a specific color scheme. But at the same time, the latest generation of household appliances and modern finishing materials may be appropriate here.

The uniqueness of brick cladding is that it goes well with any texture and various surfaces, both matte and glossy. The following photos of loft style kitchen design show the raw wall surface and elegant kitchen equipment.

Country

The rural design movement is intended to embody simplicity, serenity and set the mood for relaxation. The colors used to design a kitchen in this style are delicate natural colors with the addition of bright decorative items. Among them may be a colorful knitted carpet on the floor, bright printed textiles on the windows.

Therefore, the brick partition here can be either painted white or untreated, artificially aged. This choice largely depends on the shade of the kitchen set, for example, rich blue color goes well with white or milky, and natural wood tones go well with red-brown and yellow.

Provence

This movement is imbued with the spirit of the French province. Kitchen design in Provence style is impossible without the use of natural furniture and finishing materials. Brickwork goes well with wood, the following photos convince us that its use in this rural interior is justified.

This style is designed exclusively in natural colors. Therefore, a good solution is to paint brick walls in various pastel colors: blue, pink, pistachio, and white.

Original, elegant forged decorative elements easily combine with the roughness of untreated brick, giving the kitchen sophistication.

Minimalism

Minimalism calls for the rejection of everything unnecessary in the interior. Its main task is to create an environment that does not evoke emotions and does not interfere with the smooth flow of thoughts of the inhabitants of the house.

Color combinations contain no more than one or two shades and one dominant, bright one. For this reason, the brickwork plays the role of an accent, or turns into an unattractive partition painted in neutral tones.

The texture of the wall is an excellent decorative element for the minimalist trend and does not require additional decorations - the following photos convince.

Transition to industrial style

We mentioned that a brick wall is always relevant and fashionable. This seems a strange statement, since everything timeless with the change of eras often falls off the list of popular ones. But the brick wall currently falls into both categories as it brings timeless charm while topping the list of design trends! Part of the appeal of brick walls is due to the new wave of popularity of industrial and loft-style kitchens. Homeowners took note of the practicality and rugged aesthetics of brick walls and fell in love with them all over again.

Lovely blue cabinets and a bold black refrigerator bring this industrial style kitchen to life.

Contemporary kitchen in London with exposed brick walls and timber cabinetry (by MDSX Contractors).

A drop ceiling with a light above it gives the appearance of a skylight in this industrial kitchen (by Jane Kim Design).

Stunning pendant lights and exposed brick walls create a great mix of modern and industrial (from The Last Inch).

Well-designed lighting steals the show in this Seattle kitchen (from Crescent Builds).