How to Decorate Around Exposed Brick Walls

Define a style for the space. Brick is a versatile material that works in contemporary, traditional, rustic and many other styles. Keeping your look consistent makes the exposed brick look like a deliberate part of your design, rather than an unfinished eyesore.

Hang fabric drapes, use area rugs and incorporate other textiles into the room to soften the brick. Brick is warm but it is also hard and can be severe if not tempered by softer textures in the room. Try leather, linen, cotton and other natural fibers and materials.

Bring out the color of the brick by using orange and Earth tones in the rest of your decor, in addition to accents of blue. The matching colors tie the brick into the rest of the room while the complementary color -- blue -- intensifies and accentuates it. Add touches of white to the room to give everything some contrast. Stick to your basic color scheme with your furniture, rugs and curtains but add some variety with your art and accessories.

Paint or glaze the brick if the exposed wall just doesn't fit in. Use a paint brush to paint over the grout lines and a thick nap roller to cover the bricks. Prime it first for complete coverage. Just be sure you want to cover the natural brick -- paint is very difficult to strip from brick. Use white or light gray paint to brighten up a space, or try a bright color for an unexpected, whimsical room.