How to Choose the Right Brick Style for Your Home

Does the exterior of your home truly reflect the life inside? Many homeowners spend hours perfecting interiors, yet overlook the first impression: the brickwork. Bricks shape character, mood, and even perceived value, so selecting the right style is worth thoughtful consideration.

Understand Your Home’s Architectural Identity

Every house tells a story through its lines, proportions, and detailing. Matching the brick to those cues keeps the narrative coherent.

Read the Shape and Proportions

Georgian symmetry, Victorian ornamentation, or a crisp contemporary cube; each suggests a different texture and colour palette. Take a slow walk around the property, noting roof pitch, window style, and decorative elements. A period townhouse often suits a softer, handmade look, while a modern new-build may lean toward clean, smooth faces with minimal colour variation.

Consider Historical Context

Neighbouring buildings create an unspoken design language. Choosing bricks from Less 2 Build It that respect local heritage avoids jarring contrasts and can smooth planning approvals. Traditional red or buff tones may dominate older streets, whereas newer developments might favour monochrome cladding. Balance personal taste with the streetscape so the house feels anchored, not isolated.

Brick Types and Textures

The physical properties of a brick influence both appearance and performance. Clay composition, firing method, and surface treatment all affect colour depth, strength, and weathering.

• Handmade – Slightly irregular edges and a rich blend of hues give depth and charm, perfect for cottages or extensions that need to blend with older walls.
• Pressed – Dense, smooth, and uniform, offering crisp shadow lines suited to minimalist designs.
• Wire-cut – Grooved faces enhance mortar grip and create striking patterns under sidelight.
• Glazed – A vitreous coating produces vivid colour and a reflective sheen for dramatic focal points.
• Reclaimed – Salvaged bricks carry patina and imperfections, adding authenticity to restoration projects while reducing environmental impact.
• Perforated Modular – Lighter and larger, these speed up construction and lend a sleek rhythm to long elevations.

Select a style that harmonises with the house’s era and the surrounding landscape, and always check that durability ratings match local weather conditions.

Colour Palette and Mood

Paint colour psychology applies to bricks too. Hue, saturation, and variation determine whether a facade looks inviting, imposing, or comforting.

Earthy Reds and Oranges

Classic red clay feels familiar and warm. It pairs well with timber doors, white window frames, and mature planting. Subtle variations within each brick break up large surfaces, preventing a blocky appearance.

Buffs, Creams, and Greys

Lighter shades bounce sunlight, making smaller houses appear more spacious. They suit coastal climates with brighter skies and reduce heat absorption in warmer regions. Greys, ranging from dove to charcoal, lend modernity and combine beautifully with black metalwork.

Multi-Blend Compositions

Mixed packs containing complementary tones create a tapestry effect. Use them to soften sharp architectural lines or disguise extensions by weaving new brick into old.

Remember that mortar colour alters the overall feel. A light mortar accentuates joint geometry, while a tone matched to the brick merges units into a smooth plane.

Mortar and Joint Profiles

Builders often refer to brick as the star of the show, yet mortar forms around fifteen per cent of the visible surface area. Its shade and tooling can transform a wall.

• Flush – Mortar is level with brick faces, delivering a contemporary, monolithic effect.
• Recessed – Slightly set back joints cast linear shadows, highlighting horizontal runs and slimming tall facades.
• Struck – The top edge is sloped for water runoff, giving a neat, traditional aesthetic.
• Weathered – Angled finishing deflects rain and introduces subtle texture, ideal for exposed sites.
• Tuck-pointed – Fine contrasting lines sit within a wider joint, adding refined detail often seen on heritage terraces.
• Grapevine – A narrow groove is impressed into the joint for a handcrafted finish that complements soft-mould bricks.

Choosing a joint profile is as crucial as selecting brick tone, so review samples outdoors under changing light before committing.

Practical Checkpoints

Climate and Maintenance

Freeze-thaw cycles, driving rain, and salt-laden air each demand specific brick ratings for water absorption and strength. In colder areas, opt for low-porosity, high-compressive-strength units. Coastal homes benefit from salt-resistant bricks and breathable lime mortar that reduces efflorescence risk. Smooth, glazed finishes shed grime easily but can show chips; textured faces hide minor knocks yet may hold moss.

Sustainability and Supply

Local quarries reduce transport emissions and often offer colours that echo the native soil, helping the house sit naturally in its setting. Reclaimed bricks minimise resource use and instantly blend with aged structures. Check availability and lead times early, as specialty blends may require extended curing periods or custom orders.

Budget Planning

Costs vary not only between brick types but within palettes, depending on firing technique and finish. Handmade and glazed bricks command higher prices, while mass-produced wire-cut ranges remain affordable. Factor in labour: intricate bonds, such as herringbone panels, take longer to lay and increase overall spend.

Regulations and Surveys

Heritage zones, conservation areas, and listed buildings carry strict rules on material choice. Always consult local authority guidelines before ordering. A structural engineer can advise on wall thickness, insulation integration, and whether a cavity or solid wall best suits your extension or new build.

Bringing It All Together

Bricks rarely work alone. Roof tiles, guttering, and even front garden planting influence the perceived tone of a facade. Create a mood board with physical samples: brick slips, mortar swatches, and photographs of neighbouring houses. Place the board outside at different times of day, observing how morning and evening light alter colours. A brick that looks warm at noon might read distinctly cooler at dusk.

Balance contrast and cohesion. Pair pale, smooth bricks with dark window frames for a graphic look, or choose mid-tone bricks with slightly lighter mortar to echo traditional lime-washed cottages. Avoid combining highly textured bricks with busy stone cladding, as competing patterns can overwhelm the eye.

Your Home, Your Signature

Selecting the perfect brick style merges art and practicality. It honours local heritage, protects against weather, and amplifies architectural beauty. Take the time to explore samples, study your surroundings, and imagine how each choice will feel years from now when the mortar has settled and the garden has grown in.

The right decision today will let your home speak confidently for decades, greeting every visitor with a quiet statement of personality and permanence.