Tan brick houses offer a warm and natural look that can be enhanced with the right color choices.
Selecting the best exterior colors can improve a home’s curb appeal and create a cohesive, attractive design.
This article highlights 10 exterior color schemes that work well with tan brick, helping homeowners find options that complement the brick’s tones. These ideas provide a starting point for anyone looking to refresh their home’s appearance without clashing with the existing brick color.
1) Gray Beige Roof with Buff Trim
A gray beige roof works well with a tan brick house. It offers a neutral tone that does not overpower the natural color of the bricks. This combination creates a balanced and calm look.
Buff trim adds a warm touch to the exterior. It complements the beige tones while adding slight contrast. The buff color often has soft yellow or brown undertones that brighten the overall appearance.
Together, the gray beige roof and buff trim highlight the tan brick without clashing. This pairing suits both modern and traditional home styles. It also blends well with natural surroundings and landscaping.
Choosing light neutrals for the roof and trim enhances the tan bricks’ natural beauty. It keeps the exterior quiet and classic while still giving enough variation to avoid monotony. This scheme works best when the colors are carefully matched to avoid too much gray or yellow.
2) Cream Trim with Taupe Porch Floor
This color scheme pairs soft cream trim with a taupe porch floor. The cream trim brightens the edges of the house and highlights architectural details. It creates a clean and fresh look against the tan brick walls.
The taupe porch floor adds warmth and a subtle contrast. Taupe is a neutral color that blends well with the natural tones of the brick. It also helps to ground the porch area without drawing too much attention.
Together, cream and taupe offer a balanced and inviting appearance. This combination suits traditional and modern homes alike. It supports a calm style while enhancing curb appeal.
Choosing cream with slight yellow or brown undertones avoids clashing with the tan brick. The taupe floor should lean toward gray or brown tones to maintain harmony. This makes the exterior look cohesive and well thought out.
3) Neutral Stone with Light Brown Accents
Using neutral stone alongside tan brick creates a calm and balanced look. The soft tones of stone complement the warm color of the tan brick. This combination gives the house a natural, grounded feel.
Light brown accents can be added through shutters, doors, or trim. These accents tie the stone and brick together without overpowering the design. They also add subtle warmth and depth.
This color scheme works well with simple landscaping. Green plants and shrubs enhance the earthy tones. It is a versatile choice that fits many home styles, from traditional to modern.
4) Warm Beige Walls with Dark Brown Doors
This color scheme pairs warm beige walls with dark brown doors, creating a classic and inviting look. The beige tone adds softness and warmth to the exterior while the dark brown doors provide a strong, contrasting focal point.
The contrast helps define architectural details without overwhelming the overall appearance. Beige is a versatile color that works well with tan brick, blending naturally with its earthy tones.
Dark brown doors add depth and richness to the design. They also hide dirt and wear better than lighter colors, making them practical for entrance doors.
White or cream trim can be added to brighten the edges and give a clean, polished finish. This combination suits traditional and modern homes by balancing warm and dark tones effectively.
5) Soft Yellow Undertones with Olive Green Shutters
Soft yellow undertones on a tan brick house add a gentle warmth that brightens the exterior without being too bold. This subtle yellow works well as a neutral base that complements the natural tones of the brick.
Pairing soft yellow walls with olive green shutters creates a balanced contrast. The olive green adds depth and a touch of nature-inspired color, making the home look grounded and inviting.
This combination suits homes surrounded by greenery or in rural settings. The colors feel calm and blend well with outdoor plants and trees.
Using olive green for shutters or trim draws attention to architectural details without overpowering the soft yellow and tan brick. It highlights windows and doors effectively.
Together, soft yellow undertones and olive green shutters create a classic, timeless look. The colors are easy to coordinate with other exterior features like doors and landscaping.
6) Grayed Beige Main Color with Tan Brick
Grayed beige is a soft, neutral choice to pair with tan brick. It adds a calm, modern feel without clashing with the warm tones of the brick.
This color works well for siding or trim. It allows the brick to stand out while giving the home a fresh, updated look.
Using grayed beige also helps balance the earthy color of the tan brick. It avoids the pink or red undertones that can feel too strong near tan bricks.
It complements roofs with brown or gray tones nicely. This scheme creates a cohesive, natural look for the entire exterior.
Overall, grayed beige is a versatile option that works in many climates and styles. It keeps the exterior color palette simple and elegant.
7) Light Taupe Siding with White Trim
Light taupe siding works well with tan brick by adding a soft, natural look to the exterior. This color pairs nicely with white trim, which creates clean lines and a fresh contrast.
The white trim highlights windows, doors, and roof edges, making these features stand out without being too bold. It keeps the overall look simple and balanced.
This color scheme fits many styles, from traditional to modern homes. It blends well with natural surroundings and does not clash with the tones in tan brick.
Using light taupe siding also allows for flexibility with other accent colors, such as soft greens or muted blues. The white trim makes these accents pop without overwhelming the main colors.
This combination is popular because it is timeless and easy to maintain. It offers a neutral base that ages well and looks inviting in all seasons.
8) Buff Brick paired with Sandstone Trim
Buff brick offers a soft, warm look that is both inviting and timeless. When paired with sandstone trim, the exterior gains a natural, earthy feel. The light tan and beige tones of sandstone trim complement the subtle yellowish hues found in buff brick.
This combination works well for homes aiming for a calm and cohesive appearance. Sandstone trim highlights architectural details like window frames and eaves, adding subtle contrast without overpowering the brick. The tones stay close, creating a smooth transition between elements.
Choosing neutral-colored doors and shutters can enhance this scheme. Whites, creams, or light browns work best to maintain the natural palette. The overall effect is elegant and understated, suitable for many architectural styles.
9) Earthy Brown Roof and Soft Cream Walls
This color scheme pairs a rich, earthy brown roof with soft cream walls. The brown roof adds warmth and blends well with natural surroundings. It creates a strong, grounded look that suits many styles.
Soft cream walls brighten the tan brick and keep the overall look light. This contrast highlights architectural details without overpowering the home’s natural tones. The cream also complements the warm hues of the brick.
Together, these colors create a balanced and inviting appearance. The earthy roof adds depth, while the cream keeps the palette gentle and clean. This combination works well for homeowners who want a subtle yet polished exterior look.
10) Muted Peach Highlights with Tan Brick
Muted peach adds a soft and warm touch to a tan brick exterior. It works well as an accent color on trim, shutters, or front doors. This color choice keeps the look subtle while adding gentle contrast.
The peach tone should be calm and not too bright. This helps it blend smoothly with the natural earthiness of tan brick. It balances warmth without overpowering the main color.
Using muted peach highlights can brighten the overall appearance without feeling too bold. It pairs nicely with neutral tones like cream or light beige on other parts of the house. These combinations create an inviting and cozy look.
Designers often recommend keeping peach accents limited to about 10% of the exterior surface. This follows the 60/30/10 color rule to maintain harmony. When done carefully, muted peach highlights offer a fresh, natural update to a traditional tan brick home.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Brick House Exterior Colors
Choosing the right colors for a tan brick house involves looking closely at the brick’s undertones, the surrounding environment, and the home’s architecture. Each of these elements affects how well paint colors will work with the brick.
Understanding Color Undertones in Tan Brick
Tan bricks often have subtle undertones that affect which colors look best. These undertones can be yellow, brown, gray, or even slight red. Picking paint colors that match or complement these undertones creates a cohesive look.
For example, if the brick has yellow or cream undertones, warm colors like soft whites, light browns, or muted golds work well. Avoid pink or red hues, as they can clash with yellowish bricks. Gray undertones pair better with cool colors like slate blue or charcoal.
It’s important to test paint samples on the brick in natural light. The same color can appear different at morning, noon, and dusk. Matching undertones helps prevent color conflicts that make a house look off-balance.
Landscape and Surroundings
The colors around the house should influence paint choices. Trees, grass, and hardscape elements like driveways or stone walls all affect the overall look.
If the yard has a lot of green or colorful plants, neutral or earthy paint colors harmonize best. In dry areas with fewer plants, richer tones like deep browns or olive greens add depth.
Consider nearby homes as well. Using colors that fit the neighborhood style keeps the house from standing out awkwardly. The combination of brick and paint should feel natural with the landscape, not forced.
Architectural Style Impacts
Different home designs suit different color schemes. For example, traditional homes often pair well with classic neutral tones, while modern styles may allow for bolder contrasts.
Colonial-style houses benefit from simple palettes like cream with dark trim. Craftsman homes look good with earth tones such as sage or rust to highlight wood features.
Sheer paint colors should enhance, not hide, brick textures and details. The style guides which colors will make a house look balanced and intentional, rather than mismatched or busy.
Tips for Coordinating Trim, Shutters, and Doors
Choosing the right colors for trim, shutters, and doors can enhance the look of a tan brick house. It is important to find accents that fit with the brick while creating a balanced appearance. Both traditional and modern styles can work well with careful color choices.
Harmonizing Accent Colors
When selecting accent colors for trim, shutters, and doors, contrast and complement matter. For tan brick, whites, creams, or soft grays often work well for trim because they highlight the brick without overwhelming it.
Shutters can be darker shades like deep brown, charcoal, or black. These colors bring out the warmth of the brick and add definition around windows. For doors, brighter or richer tones such as navy blue, forest green, or classic red offer a pop of color that draws attention.
A simple table of recommended color combos might look like this:
| Element | Suggested Colors |
|---|---|
| Trim | White, Cream, Light Gray |
| Shutters | Dark Brown, Charcoal, Black |
| Door | Navy Blue, Forest Green, Red |
Sticking to 2-3 colors prevents the exterior from looking busy and keeps the focus on the tan brick’s natural appeal.
Balancing Modern and Classic Looks
To create a classic look, choose traditional trim colors like off-white combined with black or deep brown shutters. Adding a bold front door color can add personality while keeping the design timeless.
For a modern aesthetic, use cooler tones like dark gray or charcoal for the trim and shutters. Match the door with a saturated shade such as teal or black for a sleek feel. Minimal contrast between trim and shutters can provide a streamlined appearance.
Neutral tones with subtle variation work best for both styles. The key is consistent use of accent colors to avoid clashing. Keeping the number of colors limited also helps maintain a clean look regardless of style choice.
