Decorating With Faux Bricks

Update Your Fireplace

• To give your modern or contemporary fireplace a cozier look, redo the surround in brick. Fireplace-resurfacing kits are available at home-improvement, hardware and fireplace-accessory stores. They contain faux-brick panels that go over fireplace surrounds. The panels are easy to install, because you simply glue them to the existing surface with the adhesive that is provided. A faux-brick resurfacing kit can also be an effective way to return a painted brick surround to a more natural look. Installing the panels is easier than removing the paint.

Create an Accent Wall

• Creating an accent wall is an ideal way to call attention to a specific area or feature in a room. Adding a faux-brick finish to a wall can give a living room, dining room or family room a relaxed, natural touch. Faux-brick panels are easy to install and look like the real thing. But if you're on an especially tight budget, brick wallpaper is easy to install, as well, and is available in a number of patterns and colors. If you're a skilled do-it-yourselfer, you can even use paint to create a faux-brick finish for your accent wall. This is a labor-intensive project, but it allows you to customize your look. For example, you can give a kitchen or dining room an old-world Mediterranean warmth by painting a wall to look like it's part brick and part stucco.

Spruce Up a Basement Floor

• If your basement has a drab concrete floor that has seen better days, spruce it up with faux-brick vinyl tile. Peel-and-stick faux-brick tile is extremely easy to install, because you simply remove the backing to expose the adhesive and set it in place. The tile is available in a range of natural brick colors, including brown, red and pink, so you can get exactly the look you want. You can use faux brick vinyl flooring in other rooms, as well – it’s an ideal option for a worn kitchen floor or a hallway that needs more character.

Dress Walk Your Walkway

• Faux brick isn’t only for decorating your home’s interior – it can give your exterior a warm, inviting look. Instead of a plain concrete walkway at the front of your home, use faux brick. Use brick-red concrete paint and a small roller to create a brick pattern on the walkway. If you don't trust your freehand style, use painter's type to create a brick-like grid. Paint the open spaces your brick color. The lines created by the painter's tape serve as your faux-grout lines.