As 2026 rolls in, you can expect to see a slow decline in sterile colors that have dominated brick for over a decade. Instead of homeowners painting their red brick to much more neutral grays and tans, there will be a soulful return to red-colored bricks.
Once seen as a relic of yesteryear, red brick is slowly making a comeback in custom home masonry and construction.
Many designers and homeowners are excited about more pops of color as the focal point.
Keep reading to learn more about the fading trend of neutral brick colors and how you can embrace the reemergence of red brick interiors and exteriors.
The “Anything But Red” Era of Brick
From 2010 until 2022, most homeowners witnessed the boom of “anything but red brick.” You could count on walking into a home and seeing brick painted in neutral colors, such as tan, gray, or white, instead of the traditional red brick.
During this time, the Modern Farmhouse and Millennial Gray movements drove the popularity of whitewashed brick. New builds and renovations were dominated by these neutral colors, reflecting a desire for clean, minimalist design. This blank canvas allowed for furniture and decor in the room to stand out.
Within the past four years, there has been a shift. The world of design started to see this long-lasting trend as “Gray Fatigue.” Suddenly, this minimalist approach to brick color in the home became labeled as sterile or soulless. Designers are now nostalgic for warm minimalism and want to revive natural colors in the design scheme.
Return of Red Brick
Since 2023, there has been a red brick renaissance. As biophilic design – a design that emphasizes natural elements, becomes more prevalent, designers are increasingly seeing whitewashed brick as a hospital aesthetic. They want a stronger connection between people’s home environments and nature to improve mental health and well-being.
Where to Style Your Red Brick
Are you considering ditching the sterile brick design and returning to much more natural red brick? A skilled brick mason can help restore your brick to its original color and form. A staple in the local Rochester Hills community, Primo Contracting has been helping residents and businesses bring brick back to life with its superior brick and pressure-washing services.
Here are some ways we can rejuvenate the bricks on your property and have them look new.
The Hearth Wall
If you’re tired of staring at the sterile fireplace in your space, Primo Contracting can create a custom fireplace or restore your red brick for a more wholesome aesthetic.
Behind Your Kitchen Stove
Another place that your brick could use some sprucing up is behind your kitchen stove. Our skilled experts can remove paint and grease from your kitchen backsplash brick, or simply improve the mortar between the bricks to prevent partial or full collapse.
Front Porch to the Foyer
Don’t allow your front porch to remain a crumbling eyesore. The experts at Primo Contracting can restore the curb appeal your home deserves by improving or repairing the brick porch.
With just a few enhancements, the cracked or missing mortar on your porch can be repaired, making it look like new. The improvements don’t stop there. If the foyer of your home features brickwork, our experts can make updates to ensure the brickwork remains beautiful for many years to come.
Accent Walls
Another area of improvement includes exposed brick accent walls. If you notice cracks, missing mortar, spalling, or other damage to your brick accent wall, or if you want to restore it to its original color, our skilled masons are ready to help.
Refresh Your Property with Expert Masonry Services
Whether you are ready to switch back to the warmth of red brick or simply want to refresh the brick on your property, we’re ready to provide the skills and quality you deserve. Call today to get an estimate on any of our top-rated masonry and construction services.