How can I tone down red/orange brick? Stain, limewash, whitewash?

STAINING BRICK

Quicker and easier than painting, brick staining accentuates the natural texture of the brick rather than masking it. It absorbs into the brick rather than covering the surface like paint, so ultimately a stain acts like a dye. Preparing brick for staining is the same process as preparing it for painting: you’ll want to thoroughly clean the surface and allow it to dry fully before you start staining.

Staining works best on brick that stands in good condition.

You’ll want to start by testing the stain on an inconspicuous part of the brick. If this test does not produce a color that is desirable to you, you can darken it by adding more pigment and lighten the tone by adding water.

Once you have a color you like, spread the stain onto the brick by moving the brush in a constant direction. Or for a more uniform application, use a clean rag to wipe the stain onto the brick. This will allow it to seep in a bit more than a brush would.

Spread the stain in one thin layer, wait 24 hours, then add a second coat. And don’t forget to wear goggles and gloves.

white wash can work more water less paint the lighter the muting. You can always go lighter. We did our massive wall a couple years ago. Be prepares it takes several days to get use to the CHANGE

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/living-room/fireplaces-mantels/masive-brick-fireplace-wall-whitewash-success-38628421

You can do all of the above. Mason's stains/dyes can change the color, and are found at home stores or on Amazon. German Schmear is a technique thats popular using white portland cement or joint compound and there are great videos on YouTube on how to DIY as are whitewash videos using waterdown exterior paint.

Here's info about whitewashing, which might be a great solution to your problem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCrWL0j4ryE

Whitewash looks lovely

Hello Boo,

Water down some white emulsion paint and paint that on, It will sink in. When dry, if not toned down enough add more paint to the water and try again. Repeat until you are happy.

Hi, whitewash brick looks wonderful and you can do as much or as little whitewash as you prefer. Choose an outdoor paint and water it down and then you can either brush, roll or spray it on. The more liquid you add the softer the white will be so you can always start light and get more opaque depending on the look you like.

I love whitewashed brick and it's easy to do.

You can stain brick and the results are amazing. :)

There are lots of posts here that can help guide you: Home and Garden DIY Ideas | Hometalk