All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
If there were a home decor equivalent of, “Should I cut bangs?,” it might be, “Should I paint my red brick?” Fortunately, you can whitewash brick—a sort of middle ground, like going for wisps instead of a full fringe. Unlike coating your surface in white latex paint, whitewashing brick allows more of the masonry’s natural color and texture to shine through. The end result—whether you’re whitewashing an interior brick wall, an exterior brick wall, or a brick fireplace—is a charmingly weathered look that fits right in with the farmhouse aesthetic. In a living room, for example, a whitewashed wall can brighten the entire space. But, best of all, whitewashing brick is an easy DIY home improvement that can be completed in a matter of hours. Below, we spoke with paint experts to get all the ins and outs of the whitewashing technique.
Is whitewashing brick a good idea?
“Now more than ever, people are searching for easy solutions to update and elevate the look of existing fixtures in their homes,” says Jess Chewning, assistant product manager at Krylon, which offers a ready-to-use whitewash paint named for the farmhouse aesthetic it evokes. She describes the brand’s whitewash product as “a cost-effective solution that eliminates the need for remodeling or renovating a space, while still allowing homeowners to achieve a fresh and updated modern look.”
Erika Woelfel, vice president of color and creative services at Behr, agrees that the technique has a the power to transform a multitude of spaces. “Whitewashing can be a suitable choice for both interior and exterior brick surfaces, offering aesthetic appeal and, in the case of interior applications, breathability to help make a space look and feel more open,” she says. Woelfel notes, however, that it’s crucial to get familiar with the surface you’re looking to whitewash before diving into any whitewashing DIY projects. “The durability and maintenance considerations may vary, so it’s essential to assess the specific needs and conditions of the surface,” she says. Whitewashing might not be ideal for bricks with cracks or structural issues. Plus, older bricks may be harder to clean, which means they might not hold the whitewash as well as newer brick. It’s best to test the process on a small area of brick before investing into a full brick whitewashing project.
On the bright side, there’s a certain degree of customization involved with whitewashing, meaning you can adjust the process to get the look you love. Madison Geil of the paint brand Giani says the company’s Brick Transformations whitewash paint is “a stain that penetrates the surface of real brick, as opposed to a film-forming coating on the exterior. Our dilution system allows for various levels of coverage, which makes the product versatile for multiple looks as decided by the customer.” Because whitewashing involves using diluted paint, adjusting the ratio of water to paint can create a more, or less, opaque effect based on the DIYer’s taste.
What kind of paint do you use to whitewash brick?
You can create your own whitewash by diluting white latex paint with water. Or, for a lighter lift, you can go with a premixed option, such as the option from Krylon made for indoor use on brick, wood, concrete, and stone. Giani makes a whitewash paint formulated for brick (though it does involve some diluting) as well as a Whitewashed Kit that comes with all the supplies you’ll need for the project.
How long will whitewash brick last?
“As a penetrative stain, Brick Transformations is a quite permanent finish,” says Geil. “As with any coating, over a considerable period of time, the natural brick color may become more pronounced.” Woelfel adds that the durability of whitewashing on brick can depend on various factors, including the specific variety of brick and the preparation and application of the whitewash, as well as the surface’s exposure to weather conditions. “Periodic touch-ups or reapplications every few years may be needed to maintain the desired appearance,” Woelfel says.
How do you whitewash brick?
By using a thinned-out white paint and wiping excess paint away before it can fully soak into the brick’s porous surface, you’ll achieve a more transparent look than you would by simply painting brick. This way, you can still enjoy a touch of the material’s natural tone.
Below is an overview of the DIY project with step-by-step instructions:
Time to complete: Three to five hours
Skill level: Beginner
Estimated cost: $50 to $100
Your supplies may vary slightly, depending on whether or not you opt for a premixed whitewash. You may also need additional supplies if your brick requires extra cleaning care (see step 2). Here’s a good idea of what you’ll need to get the job done:
- Vacuum or broom
- Sandpaper
- Bucket
- Water
- Liquid dish soap
- Hard bristle brush
- Painter’s tape
- Protective tarp or drop cloth
- Whitewash paint
- Toothbrush
- Mixing container
- Stir stick
- Paint brush (Tip: Chewning at Krylon recommends a synthetic bristle brush or foam brush)
- Lint-free wiping rags (the bigger the area, the more rags you’ll need)
Before starting your makeover, be sure you have clean bricks. Use sandpaper to scrape away any loose rust and paint. Then, brush away debris and ash (especially if you’re whitewashing fireplace brick), or use a vacuum cleaner extension wand. Finally, mix warm water with dish soap in a bucket and use a scrub brush to clean the area. Let the brick dry.
Always start with the mildest method (dish soap), but if that doesn’t cut it, there are other ways to get your brick squeaky clean. No matter what technique you go with, be sure to wear gloves and goggles to protect yourself from any splashback. Also, use a spray bottle to wet your brick before adding cleaner. That will keep the cleaning solution from seeping into the brick, which is very porous, and discoloring it. After cleaning, rinse your brick with warm water.
Here are additional methods, listed in order of increasing strength:
Vinegar: Mix equal amounts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray your brick wall and let the solution sit for a few minutes before gently scrubbing the brick with a masonry sponge. Use a toothbrush to work the solution into grout. Next, mix baking soda with warm water and rinse your surface with this solution to neutralize the vinegar. Finish with a rinse of only warm water.
Foaming bathroom cleaner: First, test the cleaner on a small portion of brick to make sure it won’t cause damage. Wet the brick, then apply the cleaner. Let the cleaner sit for 10 minutes to penetrate the grime. Scrub brick with a bristle brush, and finally, rinse the surface with warm water.
Ammonia: Be sure your room is well ventilated. Mix four cups of water with one-half cup of ammonia and one-fourth cup of dish soap in either a spray bottle or bucket. Wet your brick surface, apply the ammonia solution, and scrub with a bristle brush. Finish with a warm water rinse.
Trisodium phosphate: This is the strongest method you should use on indoor brick (it can also be used on exterior brick). As with ammonia, make sure your workspace is well ventilated. It’s also a good idea to use a drop cloth to catch any stray drips. Mix one gallon of water with one-eighth cup of trisodium phosphate (TSP) in a bucket. Wet the brick and carefully apply the TSP solution, then scrub with a bristle brush. Finish by rinsing the brick with warm water.
Protect the areas that you won’t be whitewashing, such as surrounding walls, floors, or the mantel, if you’re working on a fireplace makeover. Spread your drop cloth below to protect your floors. It’s generally not recommended to whitewash bricks inside the fireplace.
The more water you add to white paint, the lighter your whitewash will appear. A one-to-one ratio of paint to water is a good place to start. For a more opaque look, try a two-to-one ratio of paint to water. The team at Giani notes that for proper mixing, add the paint to your container first, then pour in your water afterward. Stir until you have an even, soupy consistency.
Using your paint brush, apply your first coat of whitewash to a small area of only four to six bricks, so you can focus on getting the desired look before tackling more (this is your chance to adjust the dilution level in your whitewash). If you’re satisfied with your whitewashed look, you can tackle a few additional bricks, but you’ll be working in small sections throughout.
Grab a clean rag and wipe the area you just coated. The idea is to let some of the brick’s original color come through. “Allow product to penetrate no longer than three minutes,” advises Chewning, before you start wiping excess paint away. For best results, don’t wipe with a saturated rag—grab a new rag as needed. “To blend uneven color, rewet the surface with more product and lightly rub into the surface,” says Chewning.
Allow your first coat to dry for two hours. If you’re worried that you’ve gone too opaque right off the bat, know that more brick will show through as the whitewash settles. If, after two hours, you’d like even more coverage, you can then apply an additional coat and repeat the steps above.
According to the team at Giani, you can use a whitewashed fireplace two hours after application. But keep in mind that the full cure time is 14 days, so avoid scrubbing the surface during that time. From then on, only clean the brick with mild dish soap and water. Using abrasive cleaners will affect the durability of your whitewash.
