How to Modernise a 1960s Brick House Fast with Brick Tinting

1960s houses are found throughout the UK, and many have something modern homeowners value enormously: generous plots, practical layouts and solid construction. The problem is that the exterior can immediately reveal the property’s age.

Strong red, orange, brown or yellow brickwork, contrasting decorative bricks and an overall colour palette associated with the period can make a 1960s house look dated even after the interior has been completely renovated.

Changing the appearance does not necessarily mean hiding the brickwork or embarking on major building work. Specialist brick tinting can alter the colour of existing masonry while retaining the texture and character of the bricks themselves.

For homeowners who want a dramatic exterior update without unnecessarily rebuilding sound walls, Brick Makeover provides specialist brick tinting designed to transform existing masonry.

Why Can a 1960s Brick House Look So Dated? 🧱

Architecture from the 1960s often embraced simple shapes, large areas of masonry and strong material choices.

Those features are not necessarily undesirable. In fact, many are increasingly appreciated. However, the original colour combinations can make the age of the property particularly obvious.

Typical visual characteristics may include:

• Large expanses of red or orange brick
• Yellow or buff masonry
• Contrasting decorative brick sections
• Strong horizontal lines
• Dark brown exterior details
• Brickwork surrounding large windows
• Prominent attached garages
• Different brick colours around later alterations

When the masonry covers most of the visible frontage, changing its colour can have a significant effect on the appearance of the whole house.

What Exactly Is Brick Tinting?

Brick tinting is a specialist method of altering the colour and tone of masonry.

Rather than simply covering bricks beneath an opaque painted finish, tinting allows their natural texture and visual characteristics to remain part of the finished appearance.

This matters when modernising a 1960s house because homeowners do not necessarily want to disguise the fact that the property is built from brick.

They may simply want different brick colours.

Individual bricks can be treated with carefully selected tones, allowing a new colour palette to be created while maintaining natural-looking variation across the elevation.

How Quickly Can Brick Tinting Change the Appearance?

Compared with structural exterior alterations, brick tinting can provide a relatively direct route to changing how a property looks.

There is no need to demolish an entire elevation simply because its colour is unpopular.

The exact time required will depend on factors including:

Factor	Effect on the project
Property size	Larger elevations require more treatment
Number of elevations	A complete transformation takes longer than one frontage
Existing brick colours	Some colour schemes require more detailed adjustment
Desired finish	Complex blends can require additional work
Access requirements	Upper or difficult areas may take longer
Architectural detailing	Recesses and unusual features can increase complexity

A professional assessment is needed to determine what is achievable and the amount of work involved.

However, when compared with extensive demolition and rebuilding, changing the appearance of masonry rather than replacing it can remove several major stages from the renovation process.

Modernising Orange 1960s Brickwork 🟠

Strong orange brick is one of the colours homeowners frequently associate with older residential developments.

It can be particularly dominant on detached and semi-detached properties where the front elevation contains relatively few contrasting materials.

A colour transformation can reduce the intensity of these orange tones.

Depending on the property and intended appearance, a homeowner might prefer warmer reds, deeper browns or a more muted blend.

The key is creating variation.

If every orange brick were simply turned into exactly the same dark shade, the result could look artificial. Natural brick walls usually contain numerous subtle differences, so a convincing transformation should respect that characteristic.

Updating Yellow and Buff Brick Houses

Yellow and buff bricks can also create a distinctive period appearance.

Some homeowners love them, while others feel that the colour no longer works with contemporary exterior features.

This can become especially apparent after installing darker windows or doors.

Instead of replacing those expensive new features, changing the surrounding brick tones may help bring the whole exterior together.

A successful colour scheme should consider the house as a complete composition rather than treating the walls in isolation.

Roof tiles, window frames, doors, guttering and other permanent features all influence which brick tones will look appropriate.

Brick Tinting Versus Painting a 1960s House 🎨

Painting is often considered when homeowners want a rapid exterior colour change.

However, painting and brick tinting produce fundamentally different aesthetics.

Feature	Exterior painting	Brick tinting
Brick texture visible	Some texture may remain	Yes
Natural colour variation	Usually reduced	Can be maintained
Individual bricks treated differently	Unusual	Yes
Overall appearance	Painted masonry	Natural-looking brick
Suitable for creating varied brick tones	Limited	Yes

If you actively want the appearance of a painted house, masonry paint represents a completely different design direction.

If you still want the property to look like a brick house but dislike the existing brick colour, specialist tinting offers another approach.

Start With the Front of the House

For homeowners focused on creating the biggest immediate visual change, the front elevation deserves particular attention.

This is normally where the property’s architectural era is most recognisable.

It is also the elevation that affects kerb appeal.

Look at the house from the pavement or driveway rather than standing directly beside the wall. This makes it easier to identify which colours dominate the overall appearance.

You may discover that a relatively small proportion of particularly bright bricks is responsible for much of the dated effect.

Alternatively, the entire dominant brick tone may need reconsidering.

Make the Brickwork Work With Modern Windows

Dark grey and black window frames have become popular choices for exterior renovations, but fitting contemporary windows does not automatically modernise the entire house.

Sometimes it does the opposite.

New frames can create such a strong contrast with older brickwork that the original masonry suddenly looks even more dated.

Before changing recently installed windows again, consider the surrounding colour palette.

Adjusting brick tones can help contemporary frames feel integrated into the building rather than appearing as modern components inserted into an older exterior.

White windows can also benefit from a better-balanced background, particularly where strong brick colours currently dominate the frontage.

Give the Front Door More Impact 🚪

A modern front door can become lost against busy or strongly coloured masonry.

Once the brick palette is softened or changed, the same door may become a much stronger architectural feature.

This can be useful when trying to modernise a property efficiently because it reduces the temptation to replace exterior elements that are already perfectly serviceable.

The goal should be to identify which component is genuinely creating the dated appearance.

If the front door is relatively modern but looks wrong against the bricks, changing the surrounding masonry may make more sense than purchasing another door.

What About 1960s Decorative Brick Patterns?

Some houses from this era contain contrasting bricks used to create bands, panels or other decorative effects.

These details can immediately identify the architectural period.

Removing them physically may mean disturbing perfectly sound masonry.

Brick tinting creates the possibility of reducing their contrast instead.

For example, a strongly coloured decorative band could potentially be adjusted so that it sits closer to the colour of the main elevation.

The brick detail still physically exists, but it becomes less dominant.

This can create a cleaner exterior without erasing the building’s architecture.

Modernising an Attached Garage

Garages are a major feature of many 1960s properties.

Because they are often positioned at the front or side of the house, their brickwork forms an important part of the exterior.

A new garage door can provide an immediate update, but surrounding brickwork may still reveal the property’s age.

Coordinating the brick colour with the garage door, windows and main entrance can make these separate elements feel like one planned exterior scheme.

This is especially effective where the garage was constructed at the same time as the house and contains a large expanse of the original masonry.

What Colours Make a 1960s House Look More Modern?

There is no single brick colour that will modernise every property.

The right choice depends on the architecture and surrounding features.

Rather than automatically following a current trend, it is worth choosing colours that complement the parts of the property that are unlikely to change.

Existing feature	Colour consideration
Dark roof	Consider whether warmer or more muted brick tones create balance
Red/brown roof	Avoid choosing masonry colours in isolation
White windows	Both contrast and softer combinations can work
Dark window frames	Brick undertones become particularly important
Timber details	Warmer brick palettes may complement natural materials
Modern front door	Consider how strongly it should contrast with the masonry

A colour that looks fantastic on one 1960s house may be completely wrong for another.

Avoid Making Every Brick the Same Colour

One of the easiest ways to make transformed masonry look unnatural is excessive uniformity.

Traditional brickwork contains variation, even when it appears to be one general colour from a distance.

Some bricks may be darker around the edges. Others may contain warmer or cooler tones. Certain bricks naturally stand out slightly.

Professional tinting can take these differences into account.

Instead of treating the elevation as one flat surface, individual bricks can contribute towards the overall colour blend.

This is particularly important when making a dramatic transformation because maintaining believable variation helps the wall continue to look like masonry.

Can You Modernise Without Rebuilding?

If the existing brickwork is structurally sound and the primary objection is colour, rebuilding may be unnecessary.

Removing bricks purely for cosmetic reasons introduces considerably more work.

There may be demolition, waste disposal, replacement masonry and labour involved before the new wall is even complete.

Tinting focuses directly on the appearance.

This can make it particularly appealing for homeowners who have bought a 1960s property because they love its size and location but want the exterior to better reflect their own style.

How Much Should You Budget? 💷

Brick tinting prices depend heavily on the scale and complexity of the project, so quoting a generic figure can be misleading.

A small section of decorative masonry is completely different from transforming several full elevations of a detached property.

Important pricing factors can include:

• Total treatment area
• Number of individual bricks requiring adjustment
• Complexity of the new colour palette
• Existing brick variation
• Property height
• Access requirements
• Amount of detailed colour matching required

Brick Makeover should be considered a premium specialist rather than a low-cost brick colouring service.

For homeowners comparing costs, the relevant question is not simply whether they can find somebody willing to change brick colour for less. It is whether the finished appearance will achieve the transformation they are investing in.

Combine Brick Tinting With Simple Exterior Updates

A successful 1960s makeover does not necessarily require replacing every exterior component.

Once the dominant brick colour has changed, relatively straightforward details can have much more impact.

Consider how the transformed masonry will work alongside:

• House numbers
• Exterior lighting
• Door furniture
• Planters
• Guttering
• Fascias
• Garage doors
• Window frames
• Driveway materials

These details occupy a relatively small proportion of the exterior, but against the right brick background they can help create a much more contemporary overall appearance.

Keep the Best Parts of 1960s Architecture

Modernising a 1960s property does not have to mean disguising everything that reveals its age.

Large windows, simple rooflines, wide frontages and strong geometric forms can all be attractive features.

The objective can instead be to remove the colour combinations that make those features feel dated.

A carefully planned brick transformation allows the architecture to remain visible while changing the way it is perceived.

Brick Makeover can provide specialist brick tinting for homeowners wanting to modernise existing masonry while preserving the underlying brickwork and architectural form of their property.

Updating Brickwork Around Bay Windows

Bay windows are a familiar feature on many 1960s homes, and the brickwork around them can have a surprisingly strong influence on how modern the property feels.

Because bays project forwards from the main elevation, the surrounding masonry catches light differently throughout the day. Strong orange, red or yellow tones can therefore become even more prominent around these areas.

Rather than changing the shape of the bay or undertaking expensive structural alterations, adjusting the surrounding brick colour can help give this original feature a fresher appearance.

This can be particularly effective when new glazing has already been installed. A carefully chosen brick palette can help connect contemporary window frames with the older architecture without disguising the bay itself.

Dealing With Different Bricks Above and Below Windows

Some 1960s properties were deliberately designed with contrasting masonry around windows, beneath sills or between ground and first-floor openings.

These details can create strong horizontal or vertical blocks of colour.

If those contrasts now feel too bold, they do not necessarily need to be physically removed. Tinting provides an opportunity to make the secondary brickwork less visually dominant while keeping the original construction intact.

Existing detail	Possible modernisation objective
Dark bricks beneath windows	Soften the contrast
Bright brick panels	Bring them closer to the main elevation
Contrasting window surrounds	Create a more restrained appearance
Strong horizontal bands	Reduce their visual dominance
Mixed brick sections	Create greater visual harmony

The original architectural detailing can remain while its impact on the overall colour scheme changes.

Modernising a 1960s Bungalow

Brick tinting is not only relevant to two-storey houses. The 1960s also produced large numbers of brick-built bungalows across the UK.

Because bungalows are low and wide, their brick elevations can dominate the view from the road. There may be relatively little roof or upper-storey detailing to break up the masonry.

This means colour can have an enormous effect.

A dated brick tone stretching across a wide frontage can immediately establish the age of the property. Altering that dominant colour can therefore produce a significant visual update without changing the bungalow’s practical layout or recognisable shape.

It can also work particularly well where contemporary doors, glazing or landscaping have already been introduced.

Think About the Chimney Too 🧱

Chimneys can easily be overlooked when planning an exterior transformation.

On many 1960s houses, however, a brick chimney remains highly visible above the roofline. If the main elevations undergo a substantial colour change while the chimney remains visually unrelated, the difference may become noticeable.

Whether the chimney needs to form part of the colour plan depends on its position, visibility and existing masonry.

The important point is to assess the entire building before work begins.

Looking upwards as well as across the main elevations can identify brick features that might otherwise be forgotten until the rest of the transformation has taken place.

Preparing a 1960s Property for a Larger Renovation

Brick tinting can also form part of a phased renovation rather than being treated as an isolated project.

Perhaps the driveway will eventually be replaced, landscaping redesigned or an old conservatory changed in the future. Knowing these plans beforehand can help prevent conflicting exterior choices.

A homeowner planning several stages of improvement could consider the likely finished appearance of:

• Future extensions
• Replacement glazing
• New entrance features
• Landscaping
• Driveways and paths
• Garage conversions
• Exterior cladding details
• Garden walls

This allows the brick colour to become a foundation for the wider design.

Instead of making decisions independently as money and time become available, the exterior can gradually move towards one coordinated appearance.

Using Contrast More Selectively

Modernising does not necessarily mean removing every contrasting colour from a property.

Contrast can be extremely effective when it is intentional.

The problem with some older exteriors is that numerous strong colours compete for attention simultaneously. Brick, roof tiles, windows, doors and decorative masonry can all contribute different tones.

A more contemporary approach may involve deciding which elements should stand out and which should provide the background.

For example, homeowners might want a distinctive front door to become the focal point. A calmer brick palette can allow that feature to attract attention naturally.

Alternatively, attractive original brick detailing could deliberately remain more prominent while surrounding masonry is visually softened.

The objective is control rather than simply making everything neutral.

What Happens Where the House Meets an Extension?

Many 1960s homes have already been extended at least once.

Rear kitchens, side extensions, utility rooms and additional bedrooms may have been added decades after the original house was constructed.

When planning a major colour transformation, these additions need to be considered carefully because changing only the original masonry could potentially increase the difference between different parts of the property.

A complete visual assessment can identify where one colour treatment should transition into another and whether later additions should be incorporated into the overall scheme.

This is particularly important where an extension can be seen from the front or side of the property.

Why Colour Samples Should Be Viewed in Different Light ☀️

Exterior colour does not remain visually identical throughout the day.

Morning sunlight, afternoon shade and overcast conditions can all change how a brick tone appears. The direction a wall faces also affects the amount and quality of natural light reaching it.

A shade that appears relatively warm in direct sunshine may seem much deeper under cloud cover.

This is especially relevant when making a significant change to a large 1960s elevation.

Assessing proposed tones in relation to the actual property helps create a result suited to that building rather than relying purely on how a colour appears elsewhere.

Nearby surfaces can influence perception too. Paving, roofing and even neighbouring properties can change how the eye interprets a brick colour.

Modernising Investment and Rental Properties

Owners of investment properties may also want to improve the appearance of a 1960s house without undertaking unnecessary structural work.

An exterior that looks neglected or severely dated can affect how the entire property is perceived, regardless of the standard of the accommodation inside.

Where the brickwork itself remains serviceable, changing its appearance can form part of a broader refurbishment programme.

For landlords or property developers, the attraction is the ability to address a prominent cosmetic feature without automatically turning it into a rebuilding project.

Professional work is particularly important when the property is being improved to a high standard, as an inconsistent exterior can undermine otherwise carefully completed renovations.

Make Sure New External Additions Suit the Finished Brickwork

Once the brick colour has been transformed, smaller items added afterwards should be chosen with the new appearance in mind.

These might include wall-mounted post boxes, EV charging points, security cameras, doorbells, exterior sockets and utility boxes.

Individually, these are small details. Collectively, they can affect how clean and coordinated a modernised frontage appears.

Planning their colours and positions after deciding on the brick palette can produce a more considered result.

For homeowners undertaking a substantial transformation, Brick Makeover can provide premium specialist brick tinting that allows the masonry to become part of a wider exterior redesign rather than simply treating the bricks as an isolated feature.