Exposed interior brick walls are a design element that can be put to good use in a basement family room, playroom, den or home theater. Depending on the other accessories and colors chosen, brick walls can reflect warmth, down-home comfort, urban chic or rustic appeal. Today's interior brick veneers, also known as "thin brick," make it easier than ever to use the appeal of real brick in a basement remodeling project.
Exposed interior brick walls are a design element that can be put to good use in a basement family room, playroom, den or home theater. Depending on the other accessories and colors chosen, brick walls can reflect warmth, down-home comfort, urban chic or rustic appeal. Today's interior brick veneers, also known as "thin brick," make it easier than ever to use the appeal of real brick in a basement remodeling project.
Use Interior Brick as an Accent Wall
Covering all four walls in brick can be a bit overwhelming, making the room feel 'heavy.' Instead, use interior brick veneer to face an accent wall, and use that wall to display artwork, sculpture or lighting fixtures. Modular thin brick veneer panels make the job especially easy, even for a relatively inexperienced home handyman.
Enclose Support Columns in Brick
Exposed support columns are often a challenging design problem when remodeling an open basement. Since the columns are a support for the floors above, they can't be moved, but leaving them as is can be downright ugly. One solution? Enclose the columns in brick facing chosen to match an accent wall or the floor. The brick columns can become attractive focal points for the design by adding lighting fixtures or other decoration.
Lay a Brick Floor
Many manufacturers offer modular systems for installing brick pavers or thin brick flooring. A basement floor can go from humdrum concrete or dirt to a work of art by creating a brick mosaic. There are dozens of books with patterns for brick patio floors that can easily be adapted and used with thin brick in a basement.
Brick Wainscoting
Wainscoting is a traditional way to divide a wall and bring in some architectural interest. Combine the look of wainscoting with the warmth of brick for a completely different design aesthetic. Panel the bottom half of the basement walls with brick veneer panels. Stucco the top half of the walls, and add a rustic touch with faux exposed beams. Finish the look with a wooden chair rail to create a border between the two halves of the wall.
Build a Brick Fireplace Enclosure
Electric fireplaces and stoves make it easy to install a fireplace heater wherever you want one. Invoke the down-home rustic charm of a country lodge by building a brick wall and fireplace box to hold an electric fire. If you want the real thing, consider a brick wall and platform as a background for a wood-burning stove to keep the basement warm and cozy on winter nights.
