What Color Goes With Orange Brick House
Take a moment to envision your dream home. Are you imagining charming wood accents? A sprawling front porch? Or maybe your mind goes straight to the exterior walls built from warm, earthy orange bricks.
Orange brick houses offer undeniable curb appeal and a uniquely vibrant look. When designed well, they can be the stunning showstopper home you’ve always wanted.
However, complementing the bold orange bricks with the right color scheme can be challenging. It’s all too easy to choose clashing shades that don’t align with color theory basics. With a few simple guidelines though, you can pick the perfect complementary colors to let your orange brick house’s personality shine.
Understanding Color Theory for Home Design
Before picking any colors for an orange brick house, it helps to brush up on color theory. These basic principles explain how colors interact with and influence each other.
The basics of color theory center around the color wheel. The color wheel displays groupings of primary, secondary, and tertiary colors about each other. Looking at the color wheel makes it easier to identify complementary color combinations.
Complementary colors refer to any two colors directly opposite each other on the color wheel. They create high contrast and vibrant looks when combined.
Some examples of complementary color pairs:
- Orange & Blue
- Red & Green
- Yellow & Purple
Analogous colors fall right next to each other on the color wheel. They are similar in hue, allowing you to achieve a monochromatic or subtle look by using shades of analogous colors together.
Applying these basic concepts allows you to handpick colors with the intention of your orange brick house’s design. The goal is to choose shades that complement the orange walls rather than fight against them.
Complementary Color Schemes for Orange Brick Houses
Out of all the options, green makes for the best complementary color for orange brick houses. The balance created by lush green hues against orange bricks never fails to impress.
Here are the top green shades to consider using in your exterior or interior design alongside orange bricks:
Vibrant Lime Green
For those desiring an energizing, tropical vibe, vibrant lime green is a perfect pairing with orange brick. The high contrast catches the eye and sets off the orange walls.
Try pairing vibrant lime green with orange brick in these areas:
- Front door
- Window shutters
- Porch ceilings
- Outdoor furniture
Rich Avocado Green
Deeper avocado green has the same complementary effects as lime green but with a more luxurious, nature-inspired look. Think sprawling weeping willows and tropical plants.
Ideal uses for rich avocado green:
- Accent walls in bedrooms or kitchens
- Garage and shed doors
- Lampshades and rugs
- Flower pots and garden ornaments
Warm Olive Green
For a cozy, earthy ambiance, warmer olive green beautifully complements orange brick walls both inside and out. The red undertones connect with the orange bricks effortlessly.
Try these olive green shades with orange bricks:
- Dark olive green garage doors
- Seaweed green patio furniture
- Rich olive green kitchen backsplashes
- Dark green curtains or table linens
Sunny Yellow
While green makes the best complementary pairing, yellow can also accent orange brick wonderfully. The two secondary colors showcase the vibrant warmth of the orange walls.
Creative ways to incorporate energetic yellow:
- Front door and exterior window trims
- Flower boxes overflowing with yellow blooms
- Yellow outdoor patio string lights
- Vintage yellow kitchen appliances
Creamy Off-Whites
Sometimes a neutral, calm accent shade is the perfect way to balance out bold orange brick walls. Cream, light gray, and clean white work excellently.
Try these soothing off-white shades:
- Cream exterior window trim
- White porch railings and front door
- Light gray roofing
- Natural stone elements
Choosing the Right Green and Yellow Shades
Picking the perfect shade of green or yellow for an orange brick house comes down to personal style preferences and the home’s architectural details.
As you’re selecting colors, keep these tips in mind:
Consider the look you want to achieve. Do you prefer monochromatic, harmonious styles or bold, contrasting ones? Your overall vision can guide shade choices.
Observe how sunlight hits the orange brick walls day to day. Cool, low sunlight can dampen orange walls, while direct light intensifies them. Pick shades to balance and enhance the bricks.
Collect physical paint color swatches. Computer renderings never substitute for seeing colors in person on a building. Paint large swatches directly on your walls using multiple shades. Evaluate them throughout daylight hours before choosing.
Finalize shades by painting test spaces. Paint your chosen colors on small, removable spaces like shutters or garage doors before fully repainting. Observe them over time before applying the shade home-wide.
Creating a Cohesive Color Scheme
Deciding on your orange brick house’s complementary colors is only the first step. You also must thoroughly incorporate them to create a showstopping, cohesive look.
Follow this simple process:
1. Determine your main complementary color(s)
Evaluate swatches and the previous test used to pick 1-2 signature colors like olive green or yellow. They should align with the desired aesthetic and make the orange bricks radiate.
2. Select accent colors to tie in details
Choose lighter tints and darker tones of your main shades for trim, porch ceilings, lamp posts, etc. Consistently using the colors builds cohesion.
3. Repeat color pairings intentionally
Echo the color pairings you’re using inside the house on the exterior spaces as well. Having strategically placed olive green and orange brick pairings is key for consistency.
4. Use natural and neutral tones to blend
Accent creamy off-white and earthy browns also strengthen a color scheme. Brick patios, stone fireplaces, and cream-colored accents bridge the divide between louder colors.
Following these guidelines lets you showcase orange bricks properly while avoiding mismatching, out-of-sync elements.
Incorporating Orange Brick Details
Most orange brick houses limit the bricks to exterior walls. But bringing matching orange brick details inside your home expands the color scheme cohesively.
Eye-catching ways to include orange brick accents:
- Install a brick backsplash in kitchens using the orange wall bricks
- Border bathrooms and fireplaces with matching brick designs
- Frame doorways and archways with custom-cut bricks from walls
- Craft an orange brick accent wall with a unique herringbone pattern
Outside, try adding:
- An outdoor exposed brick oven for patio pizza nights
- Brick columns, planter boxes, pathways, or benches
- Faux structural beams with orange brick veneers
Skillfully integrating real orange brick details inside and out helps justify bolder color choices that complement them. The result is a distinctly showstopping orange brick house.
Key Takeaways
While choosing paint colors for an orange brick house may seem complex, a few simple guidelines make the process smooth:
- Stick to earthy green hues like lime, olive, and avocado green that offer harmonious balance. Energetic yellows also pair well.
- Observe bricks in all lighting and paint swatches before deciding on specific shades. The color intensity changes drastically.
- Echo complementary colors inside and out for a cohesive look. Smartly incorporate real orange brick accents into the interior when possible.
With the right colors chosen, your orange brick house will have unbeatable curb appeal and stand out for all the right reasons. Don’t be afraid to get creative with bold shades that show off the vibrant brickwork. The result will have you loving your orange brick home more than ever before.