Building with bricks? Here are 3 things to consider when designing your house façade

If you’re building with bricks, we have some great advice when it comes to designing a stunning house façade.

Engineered for rain, hail or shine, bricks are one of the most widely used building materials in residential buildings. Loved by both homeowners and home builders, bricks come in a comprehensive range of colours, shapes and styles, versatile for a wide variety of façade designs.

Proven to last a lifetime, bricks are suitable for chic, classic and contemporary styles. Made to withstand the harsh Australian climate, most brick products can last for countless years. Known for its high-performing durability, excellent quality and low maintenance features, bricks often retain its colour forever.

As a cost-effective solution that delivers on both functionality and form, bricks are a low maintenance choice when designing a home façade. Clay is a natural resource that has been used since the beginning of time, so it makes sense to build with a material that’s durable in all seasons.

In this blog, we’ve outlined a few areas of consideration when it comes to façade design and colour matching to help inspire you when building with bricks.

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1. Choose a colour scheme

Ask yourself, do you want colours that complement or contrast? Sometimes, you can achieve both. Using monochromatic tones such as grey, beige and brown can make a front door, garage door and window frame pop if it’s painted white.

Consider developing a colour palette of whites and charcoals, complemented by timber tone and stone finishes to form a high-contrast look. If you’re after a warmer subdued look, mix creams and browns to make up tones that are synonymous with earthly elements, such as clay and soil.

When adding statement colours such as greens, blues and reds, remember, less is more. Pops of colour are meant to add character and charm to the overall façade, not drown it out! You can perfectly balance reds and dark greys for a contemporary twist that’s bold but not overwhelming.

If you’re after a warmer subdued look, mix creams and browns to make up tones that are synonymous with earthly elements, such as clay and soil.

2. Select your texture

Gritty and rustic or glazed and glamourous? There’s a wide variety of textures to choose from when picking a brick style, from the classic Everyday Life lightly textured clay brick to the premium glossy Venetian Glass in bold and brazen hues. For an extra bit of glimmer and sparkle, utilise Metallix to get a satin metallic sheen that illuminates in the light.

If you’re designing a feature pillar or brick face, consider the Mineral Contours collection for a natural and tactile look. Minimalistic, sleek and modern, these bricks give a subtle matte finish similar to natural stone, making it perfect for feature walls and columns.

When it comes to deciding your feature materials, there’s plenty to choose from. From block to stone, timber, cladding, concrete and terracotta, the sky’s the limit.

It may be worth consulting with a professional to ensure all elements of your façade come together in a coherent way, so your brickwork complements the roof, gutters, frames, posts, doors and garage.

Special shapes and finishes can add accents of boldness to your house façade design

3. Experiment with different shapes

Try using bricks with a longer length and a thinner profile as a feature column or wall, such as the Panoramic 50 Collection. If you’re selecting one brick colour, you can mix it with other materials such as cladding or rendering for a layered look.

Alternatively, incorporate Nelisson bricks for a rustic texture, which blends various colours and finishes into every single brick that gives a striking effect when laid in combination.

Geo patterns (think squares, rectangles and triangles) in feature blocks add character and personality to the façade. With the variety of bricks to choose from, you can achieve a modern, rustic, classic or even retro aesthetic, depending on the face brickwork pattern.

La Paloma can offer vibrancy and contrast, with its bold geometric pattern suitable for any wall or façade. Developed in Spain and inspired by Picasso, La Paloma bricks are full of character steeped in rich artistic heritage.

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When designing your house façade that features brick, take into consideration the colour, texture and shape.

If you’re interested in learning more about incorporating bricks into your new home façade, watch this video by Brickworks Building Products.