Dare to bare – the joy of exposed brick

Whether you want to expose a chimney breast or you fancy stripping an entire wall back to it's natural state, exposing brick is not for the faint hearted. It's a messy, time-consuming job, especially if you are undertaking it yourself (here at Housetohome we speak from experience), but boy, it is worth it!

Once finished, exposed brick can give your home a relaxed, industrial feel that's bang on-trend and looks fantastic.

As a general rule, the older your house the more beautiful your bricks are likely to be. Certainly if your house is pre-1950s, you've probably got some beautiful bricks under all that plaster. So how can you create a truly stunning look with exposed brick? Whether it's rustic country-style of urban industrial, there are plenty of ways to work the trend in your own home...

1. Bare all in the bedroom

Exposed brick is not all about functional spaces and urban environments as this bedroom proves. Romantic or opulent furniture placed against an exposed brick wall can create a great contrast. Here a few throws and a wool rug warm up the space and give it a surprisingly cosy feel

2. Bathroom basics

Who says you can't do exposed brick in the bathroom. Choose the wall behind the bath for dramatic effect (this works particularly well if you have a freestanding bath). Make sure you keep the rest of the look simple.

3. Brick by brick in the kitchen

There are numerous benefits to having exposed brick in eh kitchen, not least the fact that you don't have the keep painting the walls (let's face it our walls take a bit of a hammering in the kitchen). If sealed properly exposed brick is easy to clean and won't show up stains, so is perfect as a substitute for tiles. Not only is it a practical option, but it also adds warmth to a space that can often feel quite sterile.

4. Brick-a-brac for your chimney

Exposing a chimney is a much easier option than removing plaster from an entire wall. This look works particularly well in a living room to create a feature wall around the fireplace. It also looks fantastic in the kitchen too...