The color of your shutters might seem like a small detail, but when paired with a red brick exterior, they can dramatically transform your home’s appearance and curb appeal. Red brick offers a timeless, classic appeal with its warm, rustic tones, but selecting complementary shutters can be surprisingly challenging. Whether you’re renovating an older home or building from scratch, the right shutter color can enhance architectural features, express your personal style, and even increase your property’s value. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best color shutters for red brick houses, considering various brick shades, architectural styles, and design principles to help you make the perfect choice for your home.
Understanding Your Red Brick’s Undertones
Before selecting shutter colors, it’s essential to understand the specific undertones of your red brick. Not all red brick is created equal, and identifying these subtle color variations is crucial for making harmonious design choices.
Common Red Brick Variations
- Traditional Red Brick: Classic red with orange-brown undertones
- Burgundy Brick: Deeper red with purple undertones
- Terra Cotta Brick: Orange-red with earthy warmth
- Rustic Red Brick: Varied red tones with brown or tan flecks
- Cherry Red Brick: Brighter red with minimal brown undertones
Take time to observe your brick at different times of day, as natural lighting can significantly affect how the color appears. The undertones in your brick will help guide your shutter color selection, ensuring a cohesive look that enhances rather than clashes with your home’s exterior.
Classic Shutter Colors for Red Brick Houses
Some shutter colors have stood the test of time when paired with red brick exteriors. These classic options offer reliable elegance that works across various architectural styles.
White Shutters
White shutters create a timeless, crisp contrast against red brick that instantly brightens your home’s exterior. This classic pairing works particularly well with traditional colonial and Federal-style homes.
Best for: Traditional homes where you want a clean, formal appearance Paint suggestions: Benjamin Moore’s “White Dove” or Sherwin Williams’ “Pure White”
White shutters require more frequent cleaning to maintain their pristine appearance but provide maximum contrast that highlights architectural details and window shapes.
Black Shutters
Black shutters with red brick create a sophisticated, elegant contrast that works with virtually any brick undertone. This pairing adds definition and creates a stately appearance that’s particularly striking on Georgian or Tudor-style homes.
Best for: Creating a formal, distinguished look with high contrast Paint suggestions: Benjamin Moore’s “Black” or Sherwin Williams’ “Tricorn Black”
The dramatic contrast between black shutters and red brick creates a visual anchor that draws attention to your windows and adds architectural interest to your home’s façade.
Dark Green Shutters
Dark green shutters offer a natural complement to red brick, creating a traditional look that references historical color schemes. The red-green contrast is visually appealing while maintaining a connection to nature.
Best for: Colonial, craftsman, or rural homes seeking traditional charm Paint suggestions: Benjamin Moore’s “Hunter Green” or Sherwin Williams’ “Forest Green”
The complementary relationship between red and green makes this pairing particularly harmonious, creating a balanced look that’s both distinctive and classic.
Contemporary Color Options for Modern Appeal
For homeowners seeking a more updated look, several contemporary shutter colors pair beautifully with red brick while offering a fresh, modern aesthetic.
Navy Blue Shutters
Navy blue creates a sophisticated, slightly less traditional alternative to black shutters. This deep, rich color complements red brick beautifully while adding a touch of nautical or coastal influence.
Best for: Transitional homes seeking a fresh take on classic style Paint suggestions: Benjamin Moore’s “Hale Navy” or Sherwin Williams’ “Naval”
Navy shutters maintain the elegance of darker shutters while softening the contrast slightly compared to black, creating a refined yet approachable appearance.
Charcoal Gray Shutters
Charcoal gray shutters offer a modern neutral that’s slightly softer than black but still provides substantial contrast with red brick. This versatile color works well with both traditional and contemporary home styles.
Best for: Bridging traditional architecture with modern color sensibilities Paint suggestions: Benjamin Moore’s “Kendall Charcoal” or Sherwin Williams’ “Peppercorn”
Gray shutters complement the natural variations in red brick while providing a sophisticated neutral backdrop that allows other design elements to shine.
Deep Burgundy Shutters
For a subtle, tone-on-tone approach, deep burgundy shutters create an elegant monochromatic look with red brick. This sophisticated pairing works particularly well with brick that has purple or wine undertones.
Best for: Creating a cohesive, harmonious look with minimal contrast Paint suggestions: Benjamin Moore’s “Caponata” or Sherwin Williams’ “Burgundy”
This color scheme creates a unified appearance that highlights architectural details through subtle variation rather than stark contrast.
Bold and Unexpected Color Choices
For homeowners wanting to make a statement, several bold shutter colors can create striking combinations with red brick that reflect personal style and contemporary design trends.
Teal or Turquoise
Teal shutters create a vibrant, unexpected contrast with red brick that’s both energetic and sophisticated. This pairing works especially well in neighborhoods where you want your home to stand out.
Best for: Making a bold statement with a contemporary edge Paint suggestions: Benjamin Moore’s “Teal Ocean” or Sherwin Williams’ “Cruising”
The complementary relationship between red and blue-green tones creates a vibrant, eye-catching combination that adds personality and charm to your home’s exterior.
Sunny Yellow
Yellow shutters create a cheerful, welcoming contrast with red brick that adds warmth and energy to your home’s exterior. This unexpected pairing works particularly well for cottage-style or farmhouse designs.
Best for: Creating a friendly, inviting appearance with distinctive character Paint suggestions: Benjamin Moore’s “Yellow Hibiscus” or Sherwin Williams’ “Decisive Yellow”
This combination creates a warm, welcoming appearance that’s particularly effective for homes in cooler climates or shaded locations where additional visual warmth is desirable.
Olive Green
Olive green shutters offer a more subdued alternative to traditional dark green while maintaining natural harmony with red brick. This earthy tone creates a sophisticated, organic look that’s particularly effective with rustic brick variations.
Best for: Creating an understated, natural aesthetic with contemporary appeal Paint suggestions: Benjamin Moore’s “Oak Moss” or Sherwin Williams’ “Retreat”
Olive green provides enough contrast to define windows and architectural features while maintaining a cohesive connection to the natural world that complements the earthy qualities of brick.
Considerations for Choosing Shutter Colors
Beyond aesthetics, several practical considerations should influence your shutter color selection.
Architectural Style
Your home’s architectural style offers important guidance for appropriate shutter colors:
- Colonial/Federal: Traditional black, white, or dark green
- Tudor: Dark brown, black, or deep green
- Craftsman: Earth tones like olive green, brown, or burgundy
- Modern: Charcoal, navy, or unexpected bold colors
- Farmhouse: White, black, or pastoral greens and blues
Respecting your home’s architectural heritage often results in the most harmonious design outcomes, though thoughtful deviations can create distinctive character.
Climate Considerations
Your local climate affects both the performance and appearance of exterior paint:
- Hot, sunny climates: Darker colors absorb more heat and may fade faster
- Rainy regions: Mildew-resistant paint formulations are essential
- High-humidity areas: Choose paints specifically designed for moisture resistance
- Extreme temperature fluctuations: Select high-quality paints with flexibility to prevent cracking
Quality exterior paint designed for your specific climate conditions will ensure longer-lasting beauty and performance.
Neighborhood Context
While personal preference is important, considering your neighborhood context helps create a cohesive street appearance:
- Consider the color schemes of neighboring homes
- Check for HOA restrictions on exterior colors
- Aim for distinction without dramatic deviation from the neighborhood palette
- Consider how your color choices affect your home’s resale value
Finding the balance between personal expression and neighborhood harmony creates curb appeal that’s both distinctive and appropriate.
Expert Tips for Testing Shutter Colors
Before committing to a shutter color, follow these professional testing methods:
- Paint large sample boards (at least 2′ x 2′) with potential colors
- View samples at different times of day to see how lighting affects appearance
- Place samples against different areas of your brick to account for variations
- Take photos of the samples against your house for objective review
- Observe samples from the street to understand the overall impact on curb appeal
This methodical approach prevents costly mistakes and ensures satisfaction with your final choice.
Should Shutters Be Darker or Lighter Than the House?
One of the most common questions homeowners ask is whether shutters should be darker or lighter than their brick exterior. The answer depends on your design goals:
Darker shutters create a traditional, grounded appearance that adds weight and substance to windows. They tend to recede visually, making windows appear smaller and more defined. This approach works well with most red brick homes and creates a classic, sophisticated aesthetic.
Lighter shutters make a more dramatic statement against red brick, creating maximum contrast that draws attention to windows and can make a home appear larger and more open. White or light-colored shutters brighten a red brick exterior and create a more casual, airy appearance.
The same tone (using burgundy shutters with red brick, for example) creates a sophisticated, monochromatic look that relies on subtle contrast in tone rather than dramatic color differences.
Most design professionals recommend choosing shutters that are either significantly darker or lighter than your brick—rather than slightly different—to ensure sufficient contrast for visual interest.
Coordinating Shutters with Other Exterior Elements
For a cohesive exterior design, coordinate your shutter color with:
Front Door
Your front door can either match your shutters for a unified look or create a complementary accent. For red brick homes, consider:
- Matching door and shutters: Creates a coordinated, traditional appearance
- Complementary door color: Adds an additional layer of interest and personality
- Door as the statement piece: Choose a bolder color for the door while keeping shutters more neutral
Trim and Fascia
Window trim, fascia, soffits, and other painted elements should coordinate harmoniously with your shutter selection:
- White trim creates a clean frame for colored shutters
- Matching trim and shutters creates a unified, cohesive appearance
- Consider a three-color palette (brick, shutters, trim) for balanced visual interest
Roof Color
Your roof color significantly impacts overall exterior harmony:
- Black/charcoal roof: Works well with any shutter color
- Brown roof: Pairs beautifully with green, black, or brown shutters
- Gray roof: Complements blue, gray, or black shutters
The relationship between these elements creates the overall impression of your home’s exterior, so consider them as an integrated design system rather than isolated choices.
Paint Selection and Maintenance Tips
Choosing quality paint and proper maintenance ensures your shutters remain beautiful for years:
Paint Selection
- Choose exterior paint specifically formulated for your climate and shutter material
- Select paints with UV protection to prevent fading
- Consider semi-gloss or satin finishes for easier cleaning and moisture resistance
- Look for products offering mildew and mold resistance
- Invest in high-quality paint for longer-lasting color and durability
Maintenance Recommendations
- Clean shutters regularly with appropriate cleaners for your paint type
- Touch up chips or damage promptly to prevent moisture penetration
- Repaint shutters every 5-7 years, or as needed based on exposure
- Inspect annually for damage or wear, especially after severe weather
- Consider removable shutters for easier maintenance and repainting
Proper paint selection and regular maintenance extend the life of your shutters and preserve your home’s curb appeal.
Conclusion: Finding Your Perfect Match
Choosing the perfect color shutters for your red brick house involves understanding your brick’s unique characteristics, considering your home’s architectural style, and expressing your personal aesthetic preferences. Whether you opt for the timeless elegance of black shutters, the crisp contrast of white, or a bold statement with an unexpected color choice, quality materials and proper installation ensure your selection enhances your home’s beauty for years to come.
Remember that while design principles offer valuable guidance, your home should ultimately reflect your personal style and preferences. By balancing classic design principles with your individual taste, you’ll create a harmonious exterior that welcomes you home every day while enhancing your property’s curb appeal and value.
