You saw it: the dreamy, Whitewashed Brick from Pinterest where soft white slips over brick like a spa-day glow.
You’ve clicked every promising link, dialed every number, and your reward? Nada. Here’s the secret no one mentions in the caption: you are not looking for a brick. You are looking for a finish. That “whitewashed brick” in the photo started life as a regular brick. Red, orange, tan, brown, somewhere in that family. After the bricks were installed and grouted, someone applied a thin whitewash on top. The effect you love is the result of that final step. That’s why you can’t find the exact thing in a box. It was created on the wall.
Here’s whitewashing in action: the left side shows the whitewash application in progress, while the right side reveals the brick’s original color underneath:
Don’t manufacturers sell whitewashed brick?
Yes, we do. We have more than a few models that come whitewashed from the factory. They are great if you want a jump start. But there’s a catch. If you install only pre-whitewashed bricks, your grout lines will look squeaky clean compared to the faces of the bricks. The Pinterest wall you love does not have crisp, new-car grout. It has a unified veil across both brick and grout.
So even with pre-whitewashed bricks, plan on a pass of whitewash over the whole wall after installation. That last step brings the faces and the joints into the same visual story.
Two common ways to whitewash
You can get there with either diluted paint or thinned mortar. Both are simple, and each gives a different vibe.
1) Paint whitewash
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Mix white paint with water until it flows like skim milk.
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Brush or rag it onto the brick and grout.
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Wipe back as needed to let more color show through.
Result: Smooth, even, modern. Think calm gallery wall that just happens to be brick.
2) Mortar wash (sometimes called German smear)
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Thin white mortar with water until it is spreadable, not gloopy.
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Smear it on, then use a damp sponge to soften, reveal, and texture.
Result: Patchy, layered, character for days. Perfect with rustic wood, aged metals, and a good cup of coffee you swear you’re not addicted to.
Which look matches your photo?
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If the wall looks soft and uniform, it is probably paint.
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If it has cloudy, high-low texture with some thicker spots around edges, it is probably mortar.
Zoom in on the grout. If the grout is faintly veiled in white too, you are on the right track. If the grout is crisp gray while the bricks are white, that is a staged sample, not the final pass you want.
How to get it right the first time
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Make a test board. A few spare bricks on a board. Grout them. Try your whitewash recipe there. It saves tears and group chats.
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Work in sections. Apply, step back, adjust. Your eyes are better than any measuring cup.
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Keep a bucket and sponge handy. Too heavy? Wipe back while it is still wet.
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Seal it if needed. In kitchens, entries, or anywhere that sees hands and splashes, a quality sealer helps the finish last.
What you will need
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Pre-whitewashed bricks if you want a head start, or standard bricks if you want full control
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White paint and water, or white mortar and water
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Brushes or rags for paint, trowel and sponge for mortar
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Buckets, drop cloths, and patience for the “one more wipe” phase
Quick FAQ
Can I skip washing the grout?
You can, but the magic comes from washing brick and grout as one surface.
Will this hide all the brick color?
Only if you let it. Both methods are adjustable. More water shows more brick. Less water shows less. You are the thermostat.
Is one method more durable?
Mortar has a slight edge for texture and scuff resistance. Paint is easier to tweak later. Pick your battles.
Bottom line: the look you want is a finish, not a SKU. Install the brick you love, then whitewash the entire surface to bring it to life. Do a small test, choose paint for smooth or mortar for rustic, and treat the grout like part of the family. That is how you get the wall from the photo, minus the mystery.
Special thanks to our customer, Greg Christian, who created this project and shared progress photos along the way.