How do I pick exterior paint colours that complement a red brick Ottawa home?

Choosing exterior paint colours for red brick homes requires understanding the undertones in your specific brick and working with Ottawa's natural lighting conditions. Red brick varies significantly — from warm orange-red to deep burgundy to brownish-red — and each undertone suggests different complementary colour families.

Start by identifying your brick's undertones by examining it in different lighting throughout the day. Ottawa's northern latitude creates cooler, bluer natural light compared to southern regions, which can make warm brick colours appear more muted. If your brick has orange undertones, consider warm neutrals like cream, soft yellow, or warm white. For brick with purple or burgundy undertones, cooler greys, sage greens, or classic white work beautifully. Brown-toned brick pairs well with earthy colours like taupe, mushroom grey, or warm beige.

The most successful approach is to pull accent colours from the brick itself. Look closely at individual bricks — you'll often find flecks of cream, grey, or brown that can guide your paint selection. Classic combinations that work consistently in Ottawa include red brick with crisp white trim (Benjamin Moore Cloud White or Sherwin-Williams Pure White), red brick with charcoal grey (Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron), or red brick with sage green (Benjamin Moore October Mist).

Avoid colours that compete with the brick rather than complement it — bright blues, yellows, or greens can clash, while colours too similar to the brick (like terracotta or rust) create a muddy, monotone appearance. Test your chosen colours with large sample patches painted directly on your home's trim, viewing them at different times of day and in various weather conditions. Ottawa's seasonal light changes dramatically, so colours that look perfect in bright summer sun might appear washed out during our long, grey winter months.

When you're ready to move forward with exterior painting, you can browse experienced painting contractors familiar with Ottawa's brick homes through the Ottawa Construction Network directory to ensure proper surface preparation and professional colour application.