How to Paint a Simulated Brick Wall

Brick walls have a fun, old-world appeal that can add character to your home. As adding real brick may be prohibitively expensive, you can simulate the effect with paint. A fairly simple technique of creating faux brick is to use a rectangular sponge as a stamp, adding each brick individually. This will allow for slight variation in their color and placement, making the wall appear more realistic.

Tarp
Painters tape
Primer
Paint roller
Red, brown and cream latex paint
Small cups
Rectangular sponges
Rubber gloves
Scissors
Black paint
Small paint brush

Instructions

- 1
  Line the floor with a tarp to protect it, and cover any edges and surfaces that you do not want painted with painter's tape.
- 2
  Paint the wall with ivory or light tan primer using a paint roller. Let the primer dry for the time recommended on the can, then apply a second coat if needed.
- 3
  Combine red, brown and cream latex paint to create a brick color. Experiment with different mixtures in small cups, taking notes of the percentage of each color, until you find a few combinations that you like.
- 4
  Soak a rectangular sponge with hard edges in water, then wring out the excess.
- 5
  Put on a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands, then pour some of the brick paint onto a tray.
- 6
  Dip the sponge's flat edge in the brick paint mixture, then gently press it against the wall in a lower corner. It will leave a rectangle behind with a slightly irregular texture, just like a real brick.
- 7
  
  Use a staggered patern found in actual brickwork.
  
  Continue adding bricks with this technique, leaving 1/2-inch between them for the exposed primer to serve as mortar. Recoat the sponge as needed. Occasionally, use a slightly different paint mixture to give the illusion that the wall is made up of bricks from different batches.
- 8
  Cut additional sponges into smaller rectangles or squares with a pair of scissors if you run out of room at the ends of the wall, simulating partial bricks.
- 9
  Allow the finished brick paint to dry overnight.
- 10
  Mix a few drops of black paint into the original primer and paint a shadow beneath each brick onto the mortar with a small paint brush. If desired you can paint the shadow on the right or left side of each brick, but keep the side consistent on each brick. It should be to the opposite of any obvious light source.
- 11
  Remove the tarps and painters tape.

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