I thought I’d share my absolute favorite exterior combination with you guys today which is red brick houses with black trim.
There’s something so special about red brick with black trim. It’s like this perfect mix of traditional charm with a modern edge. The red brick gives that warm, established feel while the black trim adds this gorgeous definition that makes the whole house pop.
What’s really cool is how this combo has been around forever but still feels fresh.
I helped a friend pick out black trim for her red brick colonial last spring, and it instantly took her house from looking a bit dated to totally current. Yet her neighbor’s similar brick house from the 1800s has the same colors and looks perfectly period-appropriate.
In this post, I’ll share my favorite 15 ideas to use this timeless combination, plus answer some common questions about trim colors for brick houses.
Let’s jump in!
What color trim goes best with red brick?
When friends ask me about the best trim color for their red brick house, I usually give them a few options to consider.
Black trim is definitely my favorite! It creates this amazing contrast against the warm tones of red brick. The black outlines windows, doors, and rooflines in a way that really defines the architecture of a home.
White trim is probably the most common choice, and it’s super classic. It brightens up red brick and gives a more traditional look. One client was torn between black and white, so we just decided to do black shutters with white window trim, and it still looked amazing!
Dark green is another gorgeous option that I suggested to a family member with a brick Tudor. It has this woodland vibe that works beautifully with landscaping.
Taupe or beige can blend more seamlessly with brick if you want a subtler look. My neighbor went this route and it created this soft, cohesive appearance.
Don’t forget that the brick tone matters too. Lighter salmon-colored brick might need a different trim color than darker red brick. I always suggest holding up paint samples against your specific brick before making a decision.
15 Ideas to Design Red Brick House with Black Trim: A timeless combination
The combination of red brick with black trim is a look of modern coming together with traditional. It gives a subtle appearance to everyone and creates a timeless statement.
Here are 15 ideas we can look through to get the perfect pairing and detailing that goes with every architectural style.
So, let’s go and get what you want as your dream home.
Traditional red brick house with black trim
This is the classic combination, a traditional brick home with black painted trim around the windows, doors, and roofline creates such a striking appearance.
I helped a client update her 1940s brick colonial with fresh black trim last summer. We painted all the white window frames, shutters, and the front door a rich, glossy black. The transformation was a classic. The brick suddenly looked richer and more vibrant against the crisp black outlines.
What makes this combo work so well is how the black trim highlights the architectural details. Her dentil molding along the roofline that nobody noticed before suddenly became this gorgeous feature that everyone looks at it.
Red brick exterior with black roof
If you’re planning for a refresh, pairing red brick with a black roof creates amazing cohesion. The dark roof visually anchors the home while complementing black trim elements.
My sister replaced her worn-out brown shingles with black ones last year, and it created a difference. The new black roof made her red brick look fresher and more intentional.
We added black trim around the windows and a black front door to tie it all together.
This is the part where the black roof makes the house look more grounded and substantial. It’s like the perfect frame for the beautiful brick below it.
Modern brick house with black trim
Red brick doesn’t have to feel traditional and by adding black trim to a more contemporary brick home creates this awesome modern-meets-traditional vibe.
I visited a newly built home that used this combination in such a smart way. They chose a smoother, more uniform brick and paired it with sleek black window frames, a minimalist black front door, and black metal railings.
It felt so current while still having that timeless brick quality we all love.
The clean lines of modern architecture look amazing when outlined in black against the textured backdrop of brick. It’s like the perfect marriage of warmth and edge.
Two-story red brick house with black shutters
Adding black shutters to a red brick house is probably the easiest way to incorporate this color combo. It works especially well on larger two-story homes where the shutters create rhythm across the facade.
A friend was hesitant about painting her shutters black because she thought it might look too traditional. We compromised with a simpler shutter style, and she absolutely loved the result. The black shutters gave her brick colonial this fresh, updated look without taking away its historic character.
What’s great about shutters is that they’re a smaller commitment if you’re nervous about going too dark. Plus, they’re easy to repaint if you change your mind later.
Red brick house with black trim and white windows
This three-color combination might be my absolute favorite. Using black for the main trim elements like the roofline, door, and shutters, but keeping windows white creates this perfect balance.
I suggested this approach to a client who couldn’t decide between all black or all white trim. The white windows brighten and lighten the house, while the black architectural details add definition and style. It’s seriously the best of both worlds.
The contrast with the red brick and black trim made everything attractive and specially not made the house look like the 1900s but made it modern plus traditional.
Pale red brick exterior with matte black garage door
If your home has a prominent garage, painting it matte black against pale red brick can be a focal point.
We did this at my cousin’s 1960s ranch house last fall. Her brick is that lighter, pinker shade that was popular back then. The new matte black garage door looks so modern and grounding against the lighter brick. We added a matching black front door and suddenly her dated ranch looked intentional and stylish.
The flat matte finish is key here because it has this velvety look that adds depth without being too shiny or attention-grabbing.
Wooden front door on red brick house
Natural wood and red brick are basically made for each other. Adding a wood door with black hardware and trim around it creates this gorgeous, welcoming entrance.
I stripped and refinished my own front door last summer after years of it being painted white. The warm wood tones look amazing against my brick, and I added black hardware and a thin black trim border around the doorway. It’s my favorite feature of the house now.
Guests always comment on how inviting it feels. There’s something about the combination of natural materials that just works perfectly together.
Black wall sconces with red brick exterior
Lighting plays a major role in the appearance of the house. Black exterior sconces pop beautifully against red brick and add function too.
When helping a friend update her brick bungalow, we replaced the old brass fixtures with modern black sconces on either side of the garage and front door. Such a small change made a huge impact! The black fixtures tied in with her new black shutters and created this cohesive look.
At night, the warm light from the sconces makes the brick glow so beautifully. It’s one of those details that elevates the whole look of a home.
Red brick house with black trim and shutters
Going all-in with black trim and shutters creates such a dramatic, put-together look that really showcases brick beautifully.
I helped an older couple update their traditional brick home that had mismatched trim colors from years of piecemeal updates. We painted all the trim, shutters, and the front door the same rich black. The transformation was incredible! Their house suddenly looked more expensive and intentional.
What I love about this approach is how it simplifies the visual elements and lets the beautiful texture of the brick really shine.
Black staircase with railings against red brick house
This combination creates such a strong architectural statement. Black metal stairs and railings look so crisp and defined against the textured backdrop of red brick.
A client wanted to replace her crumbling concrete front steps, and I suggested black metal ones instead. The new stairs with simple black railings completely transformed the entry. The contrast against her brick made the entrance feel more substantial and designed.
The benefit is that black metal is super durable and won’t show dirt like lighter materials might. It’s practical and pretty and my favorite combination too.
Red brick house with black gutters
Black gutters and downspouts against red brick creates clean lines that frame the house beautifully.
My brother replaced his white gutters with black ones last spring, and I was shocked when I looked at it because it made a big difference. The black gutters visually connected with his black roof and trim, created this cohesive frame around his brick. The white ones used to stand out in a distracting way, but the black ones almost disappear while adding definition.
Red brick house with white trim
I know we are talking about black trim, but I wanted to include this classic alternative too which is white trim against red brick because it creates this bright, traditional look.
My neighbor’s brick colonial has the prettiest white trim with black shutters and a black door. The combination is so timeless and fresh. The white trim brightens the whole house while the black accents add enough contrast to keep things interesting.
If you’re hesitant about going all-black with your trim, this mix of white trim with black accents is a perfect compromise that still incorporates the beauty of black details.
Grey stone exterior with red brick base
Mixing materials can create such a rich visual interest. Grey stone with a red brick base and black trim elements gives a house amazing dimension and character.
I consulted on a new build last year where we used this combination. The greystone upper portion with a red brick foundation and black windows created this gorgeous layered look. It felt both traditional and current at the same time.
What works so well about this mix is how the black trim unifies the different materials. It creates this cohesive frame that ties everything together beautifully.
Arched black trim windows on red brick house
There’s something so special about arched windows with black trim against red brick. The curves create this beautiful contrast against the brickwork.
A friend has the most gorgeous arched windows in her brick Tudor, and we recently painted the trim black. The transformation we got was amazing. The black outline makes the arches stand out much more dramatically.
This combination works in both traditional and more modern homes. The black trim highlights the unique window shape while the brick adds warmth and texture.
Red brick ranch house with black trim
Ranch homes build a different appearance with this color combination. The long, horizontal lines of a ranch style look so intentional when outlined in black against red brick.
I helped update a tired-looking 1970s brick ranch last summer. We painted all the trim black, added black shutters, and a bold black front door. It went from being the plain house on the block to the one everyone notices.
What’s great about this approach for ranch homes is how it highlights their mid-century charm while giving them a fresh, current feel. It’s like the perfect bridge to fill the gap between vintage and modern.
What colors go with a red brick house?
Apart from black trim, there are so many colors that work beautifully with red brick. When friends ask me for color advice for their brick homes, I usually suggest green in almost any shade works well with brick.
Dark forest green feels traditional, while brighter greens create a playful look. A client painted her front door emerald green against her brick house, and it looks absolutely stunning.
Navy blue is another favorite that I recommend. It has the same depth as black but with a bit more color.
Navy shutters against red brick create this classic, almost preppy look that never goes out of style.
Warm neutrals like tan, beige, and brown naturally complement the warm tones in brick. These create a more subtle, cohesive look if you don’t want high contrast.
For doors, bright colors can be so fun against brick. I painted a friend’s door bright yellow against her brick house with black trim, and it created this perfect cheerful focal point.
The undertones in your specific brick should guide your color choices. Orange-red brick works with different colors than purple-red brick.
Conclusion
Whether you go all-in with black trim, shutters, and doors, or black accents to your existing color scheme, the combination of red brick house with black trim has proven itself to be both classic and timeless at the same time.
After years of helping friends, family, and clients update their red brick homes, I’m still convinced that black trim creates the most striking, timeless look. There’s something so special about how the rich black outlines make the natural warmth and texture of brick truly shine.
What I love most about working with brick homes is how they tell a story through their materials. Adding the right trim color is like finding the perfect frame for a beautiful painting which completes the picture and makes everything look intentional.
I hope these 15 red brick house with black trim ideas have inspired you to look at your house with new hope. Sometimes the smallest changes, like painting shutters or updating light fixtures, can completely transform your home’s appearance.
