If there were a home decor equivalent of, “Should I cut bangs?,” it might be, “Should I paint my red brick?” Fortunately, you can whitewash brick—a sort of middle ground, like going for wisps instead of a full fringe. Unlike coating your surface in white latex paint, whitewashing brick allows more of the masonry’s natural color and texture to shine through. The end result—whether you’re whitewashing an interior brick wall, an exterior brick wall, or a brick fireplace—is a charmingly weathered look that fits right in with the farmhouse aesthetic. In a living room, for example, a whitewashed wall can brighten the entire space. But, best of all, whitewashing brick is an easy DIY home improvement that can be completed in a matter of hours. Below, we spoke with paint experts to get all the ins and outs of the whitewashing technique.
Is whitewashing brick a good idea?
“Now more than ever, people are searching for easy solutions to update and elevate the look of existing fixtures in their homes,” says Jess Chewning, assistant product manager at Krylon, which offers a ready-to-use whitewash paint named for the farmhouse aesthetic it evokes. She describes the brand’s whitewash product as “a cost-effective solution that eliminates the need for remodeling or renovating a space, while still allowing homeowners to achieve a fresh and updated modern look.”
Erika Woelfel, vice president of color and creative services at Behr, agrees that the technique has a the power to transform a multitude of spaces. “Whitewashing can be a suitable choice for both interior and exterior brick surfaces, offering aesthetic appeal and, in the case of interior applications, breathability to help make a space look and feel more open,” she says. Woelfel notes, however, that it’s crucial to get familiar with the surface you’re looking to whitewash before diving into any whitewashing DIY projects. “The durability and maintenance considerations may vary, so it’s essential to assess the specific needs and conditions of the surface,” she says. Whitewashing might not be ideal for bricks with cracks or structural issues. Plus, older bricks may be harder to clean, which means they might not hold the whitewash as well as newer brick. It’s best to test the process on a small area of brick before investing into a full brick whitewashing project.
On the bright side, there’s a certain degree of customization involved with whitewashing, meaning you can adjust the process to get the look you love. Madison Geil of the paint brand Giani says the company’s Brick Transformations whitewash paint is “a stain that penetrates the surface of real brick, as opposed to a film-forming coating on the exterior. Our dilution system allows for various levels of coverage, which makes the product versatile for multiple looks as decided by the customer.” Because whitewashing involves using diluted paint, adjusting the ratio of water to paint can create a more, or less, opaque effect based on the DIYer’s taste.
What kind of paint do you use to whitewash brick?
You can create your own whitewash by diluting white latex paint with water. Or, for a lighter lift, you can go with a premixed option, such as the option from Krylon made for indoor use on brick, wood, concrete, and stone. Giani makes a whitewash paint formulated for brick (though it does involve some diluting) as well as a Whitewashed Kit that comes with all the supplies you’ll need for the project.
How long will whitewash brick last?
“As a penetrative stain, Brick Transformations is a quite permanent finish,” says Geil. “As with any coating, over a considerable period of time, the natural brick color may become more pronounced.” Woelfel adds that the durability of whitewashing on brick can depend on various factors, including the specific variety of brick and the preparation and application of the whitewash, as well as the surface’s exposure to weather conditions. “Periodic touch-ups or reapplications every few years may be needed to maintain the desired appearance,” Woelfel says.
How do you whitewash brick?
By using a thinned-out white paint and wiping excess paint away before it can fully soak into the brick’s porous surface, you’ll achieve a more transparent look than you would by simply painting brick. This way, you can still enjoy a touch of the material’s natural tone.