The Property Brothers' Interior Design Tip Gives New Life To Outdated Brick

Some people might treasure exposed brick in their homes, but that doesn't mean it fits everyone's personal style. It might look great with industrial or mid-century modern aesthetics, but it can look too cosmopolitan when paired with warmer design trends, like farmhouse or traditional. It can also look heavy and cave-like in shadowier rooms, making it feel visually closed-off. If you have an exposed brick wall in your home and it's completely throwing off your aesthetic, then the Property Brothers have some sage advice for you. According to the HGTV stars, you should just paint over it.

"Paint lets you freshen up brick the easy and inexpensive way. Try white, off-white, or a pale gray, and your room will instantly look bigger and brighter," Drew Scott tells HGTV Magazine. It's a simple way to neutralize the red or brown undertones, and make it feel more in line with your personal style. However, this tip only pertains to interior walls. You may want to reconsider painting your home's exterior brick, because exterior walls need to breathe. If you paint them, moisture will become trapped and eventually crumble the brick. Instead, you want to use a breathable pigment like lime wash. But if you have a brick interior wall that's driving you nuts, here is what the Property Brothers say to do with it.

While Drew Scott is all for painting brick walls, Jonathan Scott thinks that's only helpful advice if you don't mind the texture of brick to begin with. The paint won't completely mask the building material from view; it will only change its color. This can be an issue if you want a sleeker, more understated design. "Painting brick can be a great option if you like a rustic style. But the paint isn't going to hide the brick, so if you don't like the way brick looks, it won't help," he told HGTV Magazine. The texture will still remain.

Instead, Jonathan recommends covering it completely. One option to do so is to hide it with tile. This is a great idea if it's located in the kitchen or a fireplace facade. And if you're worried about hiding an architectural feature for the sake of designing the space to fit your tastes better, Jonathan has some blunt advice. "Never keep a material you hate just because you think it has character," he stated. Instead, make your home a true reflection of your own design style and something you actually like. 

If you love Jonathan Scott's unapologetic stance on making your home truly yours, but still feel on the fence about destroying a home's character, then there is a workaround. You don't have to destroy the brick. Instead, put plaster on top of it, allowing the next homeowner to take it down and reveal what's behind the wall. This is an especially great idea for two scenarios. The first is if you're living in a historic home and you don't want to permanently destroy its features. The second is if you're planning to stay in a home for only a couple of years before moving. That way, you can leave the brick wall for the person who will move in next.

If you plan to go this route, there are some things you should know. The next person can simply chip off the plaster with an SDS drill. However, this is messy work. It will create a large amount of dust due to the crumbly nature of plaster, requiring them to wear a mask and eyewear. It may also take off some of the brick along with it, since the drill will chip into its face. Therefore, it's not a perfect preservation, but it will keep the wall largely intact.