Brick Red paint colors
Top picks for brick red
4 best matchesThe truest brick red matches across every US brand. Each card links to a single-color reference or full brand guide.
More brick red shades
9 variantsDrill into shade variants — modifier-specific bands (light, deep, muted) and named in-between shades each link to their own hub with cross-brand matches.
Brick Red at every US brand
19 brands · up to 10 picks eachThe closest brick red matches at each brand, truest first, drawn from its full lineup. Tap any swatch for its single-color spec; tap the brand title for the brand's complete deck.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Clare
Annie Sloan
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
About brick red
Brick red is a deep, earthy red with a clear orange lean, named for the look of old fired-clay brick. It is warm and grounded rather than bright or candy-like, which is what separates a good brick red from a plain fire-engine red. Think of weathered chimney brick, terra-cotta pots, and worn barn wood, and you are in the right family.
On screen it shows up around hex #B22222, but that number is only a digital starting point. Real paint never comes from a screen value. You take that reference, match it across the paint brands you can actually buy, and have a store mix it to order.
With a light reflectance value (LRV) of about 11, brick red sits firmly on the dark end of the scale. It soaks up light instead of bouncing it back, so it reads rich and saturated in person. That depth is the whole appeal, but it also means you need to think carefully about which wall, which room, and which light you put it on.
What Makes a Good Brick Red
The defining trait of brick red is its red-orange base. A true brick red leans warm and slightly toward terra-cotta, never cool or pink. If a swatch drifts toward blue-red it starts looking like wine or cranberry, and if it goes too orange it turns into rust or clay.
The best versions also carry a touch of brown or muted earth in them. That little bit of grayed-down warmth is what makes the color feel like real aged brick instead of a flat, plastic red. When you compare options, hold them against an actual brick or terra-cotta pot and trust the one that looks lived-in rather than loud.
How Brick Red Reads on a Wall
With an LRV near 11, brick red is a deep color that keeps very little light in the room. Expect it to feel enveloping and cozy, and expect a painted wall to look noticeably darker and moodier than the small swatch did. Dark, warm colors almost always read stronger at full scale.
In bright, sun-filled rooms the orange warmth comes alive and the red feels vivid. In low or north-facing light the same color goes quieter and more brooding, closer to a brown-red. Neither is wrong, but you should pick the room knowing which mood you will actually get.
Where Brick Red Works Best
Brick red shines in rooms where you want warmth and drama: dining rooms, libraries, studies, powder rooms, and cozy dens. It is a classic front-door and shutter color, and it works beautifully as an accent wall behind a bed or fireplace. South- and west-facing rooms with good daylight let its orange undertone glow.
It struggles in small, dim spaces with little natural light, where it can feel heavy and closed-in. It is also a lot to commit to across all four walls of a main living area. If you love it but feel unsure, use it on one wall, a built-in, or cabinetry first.
Pairing Trim, Ceilings, and Coordinating Colors
Because brick red is dark and warm, it wants contrast around it. Creamy off-whites and warm whites on trim and ceilings keep the room feeling crisp without going cold, while a stark blue-white can fight the red's warmth. A warm white ceiling is the safest default.
For coordinating colors, lean into the earthy story: soft tans, warm grays, sage and olive greens, navy, and natural wood all sit comfortably with brick red. Greens are an especially reliable partner because they sit opposite red and calm it down. Black hardware and dark metals give it a grounded, traditional edge.
How to Actually Get Brick Red in Paint
Brick red is a shade, not a single product. To get it on your wall, you match the reference color across the brands you can buy and have it mixed to order on a tinting machine. Almost any paint store can mix a brick red in the sheen and paint line you want.
The digital hex is only a benchmark, so always confirm with a physical sample before committing. Buy a sample pot, paint a large swatch or a poster board, and look at it in the actual room across morning, afternoon, and evening light. Two brands matched to the same target can still differ slightly, so let the real sample, not the screen, make the final call.
Brick Red paint — frequently asked questions
Is brick red a warm or cool color?+
Brick red is firmly warm. It has a red-orange base with a hint of earthy brown, which is what gives it that aged, fired-clay look. If a swatch leans cool or pinkish, it is drifting toward wine or cranberry rather than true brick red.
Will brick red make my room look dark?+
Yes, somewhat. With an LRV around 11 it absorbs most of the light that hits it, so the room will feel cozier and deeper than the swatch suggests. That depth is the appeal, but in a small or dim space it can feel heavy, so it does best where there is decent natural light.
What trim and ceiling colors go with brick red?+
Warm and creamy whites are the safest choice for both trim and ceiling. They give crisp contrast without clashing with the red's warmth, while a very stark blue-white can look cold against it. A warm white ceiling keeps the whole room feeling balanced.
What colors coordinate well with brick red?+
Earthy, natural tones work best: soft tans, warm grays, sage or olive green, navy, and raw wood. Greens are an especially good match because they sit opposite red and calm it down. Black or dark metal hardware adds a grounded, traditional touch.
How do I get brick red if it is not a single paint product?+
Brick red is a color reference, so you have it matched across paint brands and mixed to order on a store's tinting machine. Pick the brand and paint line you want, and the store can tint it to the brick red target. Always check a physical sample in your own room before buying gallons, since the digital color is only a starting point.
What is the most common mistake people make with brick red?+
Judging it from a screen or a tiny chip and skipping a real sample. Brick red shifts a lot between bright and dim light, and it always reads darker at full wall scale. Paint a large sample, view it across the day, and you will avoid the surprise of a color that looks heavier or more orange than you expected.